Trata-se de um estudo exploratório cujo objetivo foi avaliar o “desempenho" dos serviços de saúde que executam o DOTS/TS Domiciliar no Programa de Controle da Tuberculose (PCT) em Unidades de Saúde do Município de Ribeirão Preto. Utilizou-se como referencial metodológico os enfoques básicos para avaliação da qualidade da atenção médica Estrutura-Processo-Resultado proposto por Donabedian (1980) e modificado por Tanaka e Melo (2001) e Starfield (2002). Elaborou-se os seguintes indicadores: Cobertura, Aproveitamento dos recursos, Agilidade do desempenho, Monitoração da administração da medicação e Tempo gasto por visita domiciliar. Os dados foram coletados em 4 PCT por meio da Técnica de Observação Sistemática das visitas domiciliares, realizadas pelo profissional de saúde responsável pela supervisão do tratamento do paciente durante o mês de julho de 2003. Foram acompanhados todos os pacientes que no período em estudo receberam DOTS/TS no domicílio e aqueles que foram incluídos na supervisão durante a coleta de dados. A avaliação do desempenho foi realizada na relação de indicadores e complementada em função da análise por indicador a partir da média e do intervalo de confiança. Os indicadores estudados mostraram que o planejamento de recursos, a organização do trabalho pela equipe de saúde, a definição de funções e a sistematização das ações no processo de tratamento do doente de tuberculose podem influenciar no melhor desempenho do serviço de saúde em termos de cobertura, aproveitamento dos recursos, agilidade, monitoração da administração da medicação e tempo gasto por visita domiciliar. Assim, perante as restrições de recursos humanos e materiais no setor saúde, existe a necessidade de reconsiderar outras formas de supervisão e/ou integração das atividades de tratamento e controle da doença a outras estratégias de intervenção que resultem no uso racional dos recursos, melhor cuidado de saúde e sucesso do tratamento. / This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the “performance" of health services that execute Domiciliary DOTS/TS in the Tuberculosis Control Program (TCP) at Health Units in Ribeirão Preto. The methodological reference framework was based on the basic focuses for medical care quality evaluation Structure-Process-Outcome proposed by Donabedian (1988) and modified by Tanaka and Melo (2001) and Starfield (2002). The following indicators were elaborated: Coverage, Use of recourses, Performance agility, Medication administration monitoring and Time spent per home visit. Data were collected in 4 TCP by means of the Systematic Observation Technique of home visits, realized by the health professional who was responsible for supervising the patient’s treatment in July 2003. All patients were accompanied who were receiving domiciliary DOTS/TS during the study period, as well as those included in the supervision during data collection. The performance evaluation was accomplished in the indicator list and complemented in function of the analysis per indicator, based on mean values and confidence intervals. The studied indicators demonstrated that the planning of resources, the health team’s organization of its work, the definition of function and the systemization of actions in tuberculosis patients’ treatment can influence in the sense of achieving a better performance by the health service in terms of coverage, use of resources, agility, medication administration monitoring and time spent per home visit. Thus, in view of health sector restrictions in terms of human and material resources, there is a need to reconsider other forms of supervising and/or integrating treatment and control activities with other intervention strategies that can result in the rational use of resources, a better healthcare and a successful treatment.

Trata-se de um estudo exploratório cujo objetivo foi avaliar o “desempenho” dos serviços de saúde que executam o DOTS/TS Domiciliar no Programa de Controle da Tuberculose (PCT) em Unidades de Saúde do Município de Ribeirão Preto. Utilizou-se como referencial metodológico os enfoques básicos para avaliação da qualidade da atenção médica Estrutura-Processo-Resultado proposto por Donabedian (1980) e modificado por Tanaka e Melo (2001) e Starfield (2002). Elaborou-se os seguintes indicadores: Cobertura, Aproveitamento dos recursos, Agilidade do desempenho, Monitoração da administração da medicação e Tempo gasto por visita domiciliar. Os dados foram coletados em 4 PCT por meio da Técnica de Observação Sistemática das visitas domiciliares, realizadas pelo profissional de saúde responsável pela supervisão do tratamento do paciente durante o mês de julho de 2003. Foram acompanhados todos os pacientes que no período em estudo receberam DOTS/TS no domicílio e aqueles que foram incluídos na supervisão durante a coleta de dados. A avaliação do desempenho foi realizada na relação de indicadores e complementada em função da análise por indicador a partir da média e do intervalo de confiança. Os indicadores estudados mostraram que o planejamento de recursos, a organização do trabalho pela equipe de saúde, a definição de funções e a sistematização das ações no processo de tratamento do doente de tuberculose podem influenciar no melhor desempenho do serviço de saúde em termos de cobertura, aproveitamento dos recursos, agilidade, monitoração da administração da medicação e tempo gasto por visita domiciliar. Assim, perante as restrições de recursos humanos e materiais no setor saúde, existe a necessidade de reconsiderar outras formas de supervisão e/ou integração das atividades de tratamento e controle da doença a outras estratégias de intervenção que resultem no uso racional dos recursos, melhor cuidado de saúde e sucesso do tratamento. / This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the “performance” of health services that execute Domiciliary DOTS/TS in the Tuberculosis Control Program (TCP) at Health Units in Ribeirão Preto. The methodological reference framework was based on the basic focuses for medical care quality evaluation Structure-Process-Outcome proposed by Donabedian (1988) and modified by Tanaka and Melo (2001) and Starfield (2002). The following indicators were elaborated: Coverage, Use of recourses, Performance agility, Medication administration monitoring and Time spent per home visit. Data were collected in 4 TCP by means of the Systematic Observation Technique of home visits, realized by the health professional who was responsible for supervising the patient’s treatment in July 2003. All patients were accompanied who were receiving domiciliary DOTS/TS during the study period, as well as those included in the supervision during data collection. The performance evaluation was accomplished in the indicator list and complemented in function of the analysis per indicator, based on mean values and confidence intervals. The studied indicators demonstrated that the planning of resources, the health team’s organization of its work, the definition of function and the systemization of actions in tuberculosis patients’ treatment can influence in the sense of achieving a better performance by the health service in terms of coverage, use of resources, agility, medication administration monitoring and time spent per home visit. Thus, in view of health sector restrictions in terms of human and material resources, there is a need to reconsider other forms of supervising and/or integrating treatment and control activities with other intervention strategies that can result in the rational use of resources, a better healthcare and a successful treatment.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a major public health challenge in South Africa and in the Northern Cape Province. The province has the third highest in TB incidence rate in the country. Poor adherence to TB treatment impacts negatively on treatment outcomes. Siyanda district in the Northern Cape Province has the second highest number of TB defaulters in the province despite the fact that 79.9% of these patients are on Community Based Direct Observation of Treatment (CBDOT). Aim: To explore the reasons for defaulting of TB patients from TB treatment in the CBDOT Programme in the Siyanda district, Northern Cape Province Study design: This was a qualitative exploratory study. Study population and sampling: Two TB nurses with varying years of experience in the TB Control Programme serving as key informants were selected from the participating facilities in the study area. Ten TB defaulters who were on the CBDOT programme were selected from the Electronic TB Register. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising of purposively selected DOT Supporters (five in one group and six in the other) from different NGOs in the community were selected for maximum variation. Data collection: Key informant interviews were conducted with the TB nurses. Records of all defaulters in the study population were reviewed including clinic progress notes and patient TB treatment cards. In-depth interviews were conducted with the TB patients. FGDs were conducted with DOT supporters. Analysis: Analysis commenced simultaneously with collection of data. This enabled the researcher to continuously review and reflect on the data collected. Thematic content analysis was done.Categories emerged through the inductive process of the data analysis. Notes that were kept during data collection, reflections, audiotapes and transcripts were used to support the thick description of the findings. Results: The participants generally appreciated the programme and mostly had a good relationship with the DOT supporters. However, the quality of care exacerbated by inadequate health services such as lack of adherence counselling training of health professionals, low levels of education amongst TB defaulters, were found to be major contributory factors to TB defaulting. The patients interrupted treatment several times before defaulting, were not counselled during the interruption phase and understood TB messages differently. TB defaulters in the Siyanda District face socio economic challenges which include alcohol abuse, a major historic ill in the district and the grape farming community in the region. The impact of the disability grant on TB treatment adherence remains anecdotal and requires further research as TB defaulters did not admit to defaulting so that they could continue benefiting from the disability grant although these statements were refuted by the DOT supporters and key informants. The attitude of employers and fear of losing employment were also contributing factors. Conclusion and recommendations: It has become evident that TB in the Siyanda District is a public health issue. The predominantly rural, impoverished and transient community that moves to the farms to seek employment requires a CBDOT programme that will address pertinent challenges in the district to achieve a positive reduction in the TB defaulter rate. It will require collaboration with stakeholders including farmers, to address the challenges posed by the disease. Improved staff allocation, staff capacity development and community education are also recommended to improve quality of care.