title: An Innovative Method to Enhance the Modified DOTS for TB Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays establishing communication and educating patients to enhance their knowledge regarding disease and treatment process at home is one of the most important principles in providing patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semi-experimental study was done on 57 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis in two care groups namely professional - family mix directly observed treatment short- course (PFM-DOTS) and family based-DOTS (FB-DOTS). The patients were referred to the tuberculosis and lung diseases research center for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Both the patient and a family supervisor were evaluated regarding their level of knowledge of the disease and the treatment regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant difference between the degree of knowledge of groups of patients and the groups of family relatives before and after the intervention was indicated, with a higher increase in PFM-DOTS group than in F-B-DOTS group (P< 0.001). In PFM- DOTS group 100% of the patients, and in the FB-DOTS group 86.8% of the patients followed the recommended drug regimen (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the treatment recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) for appropriate implementation of DOTS project combating TB, it seems the PFM-DOTS implementation is a more suitable method with greater effects on correct care and treatment of tuberculosis patients.
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Yekrang Sis
authors: Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Jalil
authors: J
authors: Rashedi
authors: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Azabdaftari
authors: Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Behroz
authors: B
authors: Mahdavi Poor
authors: Biotechnology Research Center and Faculty of Paramedicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Asgharzadeh
authors: Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Jannati
authors: Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Asghari Jafarabadi
keywords: Directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS); Knowledge; Patients; Tuberculosis