title: Patients' Experience of Tuberculosis Treatment Using Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS): A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite effective diagnosis and treatment, prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) is still growing. The directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) strategy to treat TB was introduced by the World Health Organization more than a decade ago. Little is known about patients' experience of TB treatment, according to DOTS, in Iran.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to understand the patients' experience of tuberculosis treatment according to DOTS in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a qualitative study, using content analysis to examine patients' experience of TB treatment and to understand their compliance during DOTS. In this study, a semi-structured interview with open questions was answered by 40 patients, who had a diagnosis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and improved during the course of their treatment. The method of sampling was purposive sample and the interview process lasted until data saturation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis resulted in the extraction of six themes, which reflect the experiences of the study participants. The themes are: 1) individual factors; 2) change of the attitudes and beliefs of patients on TB treatment; 3) support terms of patients with tuberculosis; 4) the role of health care professionals; 5) social factors and 6) the financial burden.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Successful completion of TB treatment requires an effective partnership between the patient and health care professionals, and a harmony between the cultural context, attitude of the patient, family support and health literacy. Future health policies should address these issues to improve patients' adherence to DOTS.
authors.affiliation: Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran ; Department of Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Faculty of Health, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behzadifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behzadifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, Faculty of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Abouzar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keshavarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Faculty of Health, University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran ; Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behzadifar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saran
keywords: Iran; Qualitative Research; Treatment; Tuberculosis