The use of directly observed therapy in TB: a brief pan-London survey

AIM: The objective of this study was to investigate issues regarding adherence with tuberculosis therapy and the use of directly observed therapy. METHOD: A small-scale survey of TB nurse specialists at chest clinics in London was carried out to determine the current use of directly observed therapy for patients with tuberculosis in London. RESULTS: Responses to this survey indicate that directly observed therapy is currently used in less than half the available services in London. Many of the specialist TB nurses indicated that lack of resources and time were drawbacks to implementing directly observed therapy. CONCLUSION: Directly observed therapy was found to be a strategy that was infrequently used as a last measure for those people who were previous non-adherers.