Impact of Antituberculosis Medication Adherence on Quality of Life in Pulmonary TB Patients

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health problem, including in Indonesia. TB affects not only physical health but is also associated with psychological and social burdens, ultimately reducing patients’ quality of life. The quality of life of TB patients is strongly influenced by the treatment process, particularly adherence to antituberculosis drugs (OAT). The prolonged duration of TB treatment often challenges patients’ ability to remain adherent, despite its crucial role in recovery and prevention of drug resistance. This analytical observational study employed a cross-sectional design with total sampling and involved 37 pulmonary TB patients undergoing treatment at Pekanbaru City Health Centre, Indonesia. Data were collected using the MMAS-8 scale to assess medication adherence and the WHOQOL-BREF instrument to measure quality of life. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman correlation test. The results showed a significant relationship between adherence to antituberculosis medication and quality of life (p 0.001, r = 0.572), indicating a moderate positive correlation. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening treatment adherence as a key strategy to improve clinical outcomes and enhance the overall well-being of TB patients. It is recommended that TB control programs integrate patient education, psychosocial support, and management of treatment-related burdens to sustain high adherence and optimize quality of life.