APPLICATION OF HEALTH BELIEF MODEL ON FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO RELAPSE, FAILURE AND LOSS TO FOLLOW UP IN TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS.

Background: There are numerous public health and clinical consequences of incomplete TB treatment. Treatment with second-line drugs is less successful and more toxic. Relapse and treatment failure are also important problems because patients can harbor drug resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli. Objective: To explore the patients' perspective about factors associated with loss to follow up, relapse and treatment failure in tuberculosis patients based on concepts of Health Belief Model. Materials and Methods: This phenomenological study was conducted on 12 patients registered at DOTS centers, U.T. Chandigarh. Purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. A pre validated semi structured interview guide was used to collect the data. In-depth interviews were conducted. Audio recording was done following permission from the participants. Principle of redundancy was followed for data collection. Results: Based on patients' verbatim 12 themes were formulated. These were Factors contributing to relapse; Factors contributing to loss to follow up; Factors contributing to relapse; Physical problems related to disease conditions; Emotional stress; Stigma related to disease; Economic challenges; Job related challenges; Family support; Health care system related challenges; Attitude of DOTS Providers; Expectations of National Programme. Each theme was further divided in to various sub-themes to categorize the information more appropriately.