title: [Access to healthcare services for tuberculosis: analysis of patient satisfaction].
abstract: Tuberculosis remains a pubic health challenge. Uncountable efforts are made to control the disease, and patient treatment and accessibility to healthcare can hinder reaching a cure. The objective of this article is to analyze the satisfaction of tuberculosis patients regarding tuberculosis control services. This is an epidemiological, prospective study, using both a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants included 77 patients. The quantitative data were positively evaluated, and the qualitative data permitted an understanding of the patients' experience regarding their accessibility and treatment. Aspects such as the criteria for performing Directly Observed Treatment and the proximity of the healthcare facility to the patients' residence affected their satisfaction, which implies the need to reorganize healthcare services in order to provide more appropriate care to tuberculosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Organização Mundial da Saúde, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. palha@eerp.usp.br
authors.forename: Pedro Fredemir
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Palha
authors.forename: Laís Mara Caetano
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Anneliese Domingues
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.forename: Rubia Laine de Paula
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Simone Teresinha
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.forename: Lúcia Marina
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Scatena
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina Scatena
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Villa
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000628:therapy