The Effectiveness of Empowerment Training to DOTS Observer in Kaohsiung City

Mei-Fang Chen1,2, Hsiao-Mei Liu3, Chung-Ting Tsai4, Min-Nan Hung2,Li-Jen Lin2, Mei-Ju Chen2,Wei-Li Lien5, Su-Jing Chiou6,Shu-Wen Tsai6, Pi-Chiao Chen6,Yeong-Gaung Han6, Chi-Kung Ho6

2011 Vol.27 NO.7

Correspondence Author： Mei-Fang Chen

Abstract：

In order to effectively control and prevent tuberculosis (TB), many countries in the world have adopted DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) strategy to elevate treatment success rate of TB cases and to prevent the increasing of multidrug resistant TB cases through the practice of “sending medicines to patient’s hands, observing patient’s intake of medicine, and leaving after checking patient’s swallowing of medicine.” Since DOTS observers are the soul of DOTS strategy, their empowerment in DOTS implementation are worthy of exploration. This study includes 44 DOTS observers in Kaohsiung City and employs one-group pretest-posttest design and five-point Likert-type scale to evaluate TB knowledge and empowerment level of DOTS observers before and after one-day empowerment training. The results indicate that training activities can improve TB knowledge and empowerment level of DOTS observers. In conclusion, we proposed five recommendations for improving DOTS observers’ quality as follows: to improve DOTS observer’s health, caring traits, and safety; to control the number of patients reasonable for one DOTS observer; to strengthen ability in recognizing TB medicine and identifying its side effect; to ensure that updated policy has been understood and implemented by DOTS observers; and to increase the experience sharing and dialogue among DOTS observers. This report can be used as a reference in planning DOTS observer’s training program and in developing DOTS policy.