Role of ‘patient sensitization on patient charter’ for tuberculosis care and support: The beneficiaries’ perspective

Improvement of knowledge regarding the rights and responsibilities of patients with tuberculosis (TB) (patient charter) through sensitization meeting may have a positive effect on their life and yield better treatment outcomes. With the objective to understand beneficiaries’ (who availed TB care and support services) perspective, 30 patient interviews from eight districts of Jharkhand were conducted with a semistructured questionnaire. The sample was drawn from 120 cured patients with TB of 770 patients with TB sensitized on patient charter. Of 30 respondents, 23.3% (7, n=30) are female; 6.6% (2, n=30) belong to extrapulmonary cases; 10% (3, n=30) and 6.6% (2) are diagnosed through fine needle aspiration cytology and chest radiography modes, respectively; and all of them got detected at public health facilities. Most of the respondents are empowered completely or partially. Overall, 56.6% (17, n=30), 13.3% (4, n=30) and 30% (9, n=30) of the respondents are satisfied, unsatisfied, and neutral about patient charter role on treatment outcome. Only 13.3% (4, n=30) acted as TB ambassadors. Three thematic areas emerged out of this study: empowered patients with TB [100%, (30, n=30)], content patients with TB [56.6% (17, n=30)], and TB ambassadors [13.3% (4, n=30)]. Here empowered patients with TB refers to those who acquired the requisite knowledge about TB, content patients with TB refer to those who are satisfied with the information and services of patient charter meeting, and TB ambassadors are those who helped the neighborhood in getting rid of TB. Moreover, empowerment is considered when knowledge-related questions were responded properly, and satisfaction is considered when needed information and services were offered leading to better treatment outcome. It is evident from the study that the patient charter has substantially empowered the attendees in getting positive treatment outcome; however, further improvement is needed with the help of other stakeholders involved in TB control. Moreover, the charter should be creating more TB ambassadors which would help in mobilizing the community to identify the hidden cases of TB for control through ‘word of mouth’.