title: What stops people completing multi-drug therapy? Ranked perspectives of people with leprosy, their head of family and neighbours--across four Indian states.
abstract: Summary To maximise successful completion of multi-drug therapy (MDT) and optimise treatment outcomes for people with leprosy, it is vital to understand the relative importance of perceived factors which prevent them from completing the required number of doses in time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore personal, family, social, community, attitudinal, practical, geographical, cultural and traditional factors which may influence adherence to treatment, a two-phase study was undertaken comprising issue identification via focus groups, and a ranking exercise via individual interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  The perspectives of 895 respondents (320 people affected by leprosy who were not able to complete treatment, 302 of their 'operational heads of family', and 273 of their nearby community members) across four states of India namely i.e. Andhra Pradesh (Salur), Chhattisgarh (Chandkhuri), Maharashtra (Kothara) and Uttar Pradesh (Barabanki) were collected, using a checklist interview method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings suggest that seeing positive changes in their symptoms as well as not seeing improvement can lead to non-completion of MDT. Problems with scheduling and travel expenses were also key issues. Better management of the expectations of people affected by leprosy and reducing the burden of treatment may be important strategies. The importance of stigma and poverty were noted through a number of issues, none of which were particularly highly ranked.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nature and diversity of perceived issues identified across respondent type and particularly region, suggest that the determinants of adherence are complex and multi-factorial. More community based approaches with greater coordination at the community level are recommended.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Raju
authors.forename: Annamma S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuipers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents