title: Assessment of tuberculosis treatment completion in an ethnically diverse population using two data sources. Implications for treatment interventions.
abstract: Many adolescents who are prescribed therapy for tuberculosis (TB) infection fail to complete it. This article presents the results of a demographic and epidemiological assessment of TB treatment completion in adolescent populations using (a) surveillance data from the Los Angeles Health County Department and (b) a prospective/retrospective medical chart review from targeted clinics. Patients who did not complete the 6-month recommended medical treatment for latent tuberculosis therapy (LTBI) averaged 13 weeks in care. Younger age (OR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.29), birth in the United States (OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.14-3.22, compared to Mexico), and Asian ethnicity were associated with completion of care. In multiple logistic regression analysis, age (OR = .88; 95% CI .78-.98) and Latino ethnicity (OR = .53; 95% CI .29-.95) remained significant predictors of completion of treatment. These findings indicate the need for age-specific educational reinforcement and cultural differentials in completing care for LTBI.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Morisky
authors.forename: Vicki J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Ebin
authors.forename: C Kevin
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Malotte
authors.forename: Astou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coly
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kominski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology