Adherencia a la quimioprofilaxis antituberculosa. Empleo de técnicas de marketing sanitario y educación para la salud en el medio penitenciario

The aim of this study is to evaluate adherence to INHI preventive therapy after a health education program in Zaragoza prison in 1996. A qualitative approach was used as a research base to discover prisioners’ attitudes towards tuberculosis. These were used to create a video spot that was produced to encourage infected patients to take preventive therapy. The video was shown daily for three months in the TV room, while in the prison school time was given over to sessions giving information on the subject. Preventive therapy was given twice a week at the prison clinic. The intervention was evaluated according to the number of pills requested and received by the patient. Results showed a significant increase in adherence (Chi-squared = 6.07; p = 0.03). Before the prevention program was set in motion, 35% of the inmates demanded therapy. This figure increased to 76% in the middle of the study period. Intervention in the form of health education appears to be useful as a way of increasing adherence. Key words: Health education. Marketing of Health Services. Prison. Tuberculosis