title: Comparison of tuberculosis treatment outcomes by method of treatment supervision in the Fiji Islands.
abstract: METHODS
  The National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) in Fiji.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes stratified by method of treatment supervision (i.e., self-administered treatment [SAT] vs. supervision by a family member).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective descriptive study of all tuberculosis (TB) patients registered with the NTP in Fiji between January 2011 and June 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 563 TB patients registered, information on the type of treatment supervisor was available for 470 (83%). Of these, most (n = 401, 85%) had their treatment supervised by a family member, while 69 (15%) elected SAT. SAT patients had a treatment success rate of 79.4% compared to 88.5% in those supervised by a family member; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.0374).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes were more likely to be successful in patients who were supervised by a family member than in SAT patients. As this method of treatment supervision is not likely to be resource-intensive, we recommend that it continue in Fiji. Further prospective operational research could be carried out to determine patient preferences for anti-tuberculosis treatment supervision in Fiji, to promote a patient-centred approach.
authors.affiliation: Grant Management Unit, Ministry of Health Fiji Islands, Suva, Fiji.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.affiliation: Public Health Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Nouméa, New Caledonia ; National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viney
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Medicine and Health Sciences, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varman
keywords: Fiji; directly observed treatment; self-administered; tuberculosis