title: Effectiveness of Different Models of DOTS Providers under RNTCP in Ahmedabad City, Gujarat.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most effective DOTS provider will be the one who is accessible, acceptable to the patient, and accountable to the health system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the different types of DOTS providers functioning under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Atotal of 200 patients, treated under RNTCP during September to December 2004, were selected for the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 105 and 95 patients were under the supervision of tuberculosis health visitors (TBHVs) and non-TBHVs, respectively. During the intensive phase, around 95% of the patients took the medicine under the direct observation in both the groups. Supervision of the first dose of treatment in a week during the continuation phase was significantly better with the TBHV (94.74%) as compared to the non-TBHV (79.31%). However, there was no significant difference in the cure and the completed rate which was 76.19% with the TBHV and 86.13% with the non-TBHV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available community workforce could be involved in supervising the intermittent short course chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhagyalaxmi
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Am
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadri