Inappropriate use of Tuberculosis medications among TB patients in Vientiane capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Authors

  • Chansouk Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
  • Chitdavonh Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
  • Chanthanom Lao Red Cross, Ministry of Health, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
  • Sounantha Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
  • Khamla Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
  • Khamla National Tuberculosis Control Centre, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62992/812d4947

Keywords:

Behaviour, Tuberculosis, Anti-Tuberculosis drugs

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which has been declared a global public health emergency by World Health Organization.

Objectives: To study the inappropriate use of anti-tuberculosis medications among tuberculosis patients in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey, conducted in three central hospitals in Vientiane Capital. The study focused on tuberculosis patients aged 18 and older who were receiving anti-tuberculosis drug treatment. The sample was selected using a random sampling method. Data collected from face-to-face interviews were analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests using statistical analysis software (IBM SPSS, version 17).

Results: The study involved 221 participants of whom 60.6% were men, and 31.2% of all patients were between 29 and 39 years old. 36.3% of participants were found to have low knowledge regarding appropriate medication use and practices. Nearly 81.4% of participants answered incorrectly or did not know that tuberculosis can be resistant to medication. In total, 38.9% of the participants used inappropriate drugs, 29.0% did not take their medication on time every day, and 20.4% forgot to take medication. The study found inappropriate medication administration or behaviours were associated with increased risk of treatment failure or disease recurrence (ꭓ2 = 4.73, P-value < 0.05).

Conclusion: Inappropriate medication use among those treated for TB is common in Lao PDR. This raises concerns about possible treatment failure and increased risk of drug-resistant tuberculosis in the sample group.

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Published

31-12-2024

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How to Cite

1.
Inappropriate use of Tuberculosis medications among TB patients in Vientiane capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. IJPHAP [Internet]. 2024 Dec. 31 [cited 2025 Feb. 17];3(7):75-8. Available from: https://ijphap.com/index.php/home/article/view/101