Evaluation of the directly observed therapy for treating tuberculosis according to the dimensions of policy transfer

ABSTRACT

Objective  To evaluate the directly observed therapy for treating tuberculosis in the Primary Health Care Service according to the dimensions of policy transfer.

Method  Descriptive study, conducted with professionals from Basic Health Units in the city of São Paulo, SP state. The interviews were conducted from May to July/2016, using a validated, self-administered instrument with 39 items on a five-point Likert scale. The variables were organized in the dimensions: information, knowledge and innovation. The mean of the responses was calculated: the means between four and five were classified as adequate, between two and a half and three and a half as fair, and between one and two as inadequate.

Results  112 health professionals participated in the study. In the dimension of information, participation of the community in the treatment was considered fair. In the dimension of knowledge, the treatment routine in the unit and the participation of the professionals in trainings were classified as fair. In the dimension of innovation, the unit infrastructure, the use of community resources and the creation of strategies to promote patient adherence were evaluated as fair. The other variables were adequate.

Conclusion  The transfer of the directly observed therapy for treating tuberculosis in the Primary Health Care assessed has been occurring gradually and successfully.

DESCRIPTORS Tuberculosis; Directly Observed Therapy; Primary Health Care; Public Health Policy