To Assess the Efficiency and Satisfaction of Pharmacist Giving Patient-centred Advice on Telephone Consultation in TB Patients: Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic

To Assess the Efficiency and Satisfaction of Pharmacist Giving Patient-centred Advice on Telephone Consultation in TB Patients: Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic might be an opportunity to review and refine our practices in anti TB treatment. For the follow-up of selected patients, telephone consultations may be efficient and cost-effective. The aim of the study is to assess the efficiency and the satisfaction with telephone consultation for the pharmacist and the TB patient. The study was conducted in tertiary care hospital TB control centres patients.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's biggest killer among infectious diseases, claiming more than 4000 lives each day. The unprecedented coronavirus pandemic seriously impacts people with pre-existing health conditions. People who have TB are usually more vulnerable to other infections, including the novel coronavirus, due to pre-existing lung damage. They are at a higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19. Certain populations are at greater risk of TB, because of where they live, where they work or because of other socio-economic factors which result in them experiencing barriers to accessing health services.

Inclusion Criteria:

New, smear-positive drug-susceptible TB who have been on treatment for less than two weeks Access to a mobile phone (self-reported)

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who do not have regular access to a mobile phone Patients who have previously received TB treatment Patients who have another member in their household who is already a part of the study