Client's perception of quality of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis treatment and car in resource-limited setting: experience from Nigeria

Abstract

Quality care is essential to the well-being and survival of people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The aim of this study is to explore how MDR- TB patients, who were voluntarily hospitalized, perceived care and treatment strategy and to assess the influence of psychosocial factors on their perception of care and treatment strategy in Nigeria. The study enrolled 98 MDR-TB patients on voluntary confinement in four MDR-TB hospitals in Nigeria. Patients' perceptions of quality of care and treatment strategy were evaluated with 28-item and 6-item instruments, respectively. Bivariate analysis was used to test for an association and multivariate analysis for factors that might contribute to the perceived quality of care. Seventy-eight per cent (78%) of the participating patients perceived the quality of care to be good. Patients with better psychosocial well-being had five times higher odds to report good quality of care. The majority of MDR-TB patients perceived the quality of inpatient health influenced their perception significantly. Health care providers need to improve treatment strategies to encourage acceptance of care as poor perception to health care service delivery may deter treatment completion and also cause relapse among clients on treatment.