[DOTS in Japan--Tokyo area].
The resurgence of tuberculosis has required a successful strategy to control TB in Japan. The World Health Organization has recommended the so-called DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy, Short-Course) strategy since 1995 and DOTS has been used with great success not only in many developing countries, but also in many developed countries. In Tokyo, especially in urban areas with a high prevalence of TB, DOT has been started. Using DOT, Sanya in Taito-ku (ward) and Arakawa-ku (ward), have shown high treatment completion--more than 90% since 1997. In 2000, other health care offices in Shinjuku-ku (ward), Yokohama city, Kawasaki city and Nagoya city started DOT for groups of homeless with TB. Presently, DOT is applied only to homeless people. However, the number of people who need DOT is much higher, due to poor adherence. It is also important to reconsider cost-efficiency for TB control in Japan.
Toyota
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Department of Respiratory Disease, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo, Japan.
D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003153:Community Health Services; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D014041:Tokyo / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control