Assessment of Clinical Outcomes for Tuberculosis Patients in Makassar, South Celebes; Focusing on Quality of Life and the Efficacy of Antituberculosis Treatment

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is a highly prevalent infectious illness of the respiratory tract in Indonesia. Furthermore, tuberculosis management is incorporated into the national program of the Ministry of Health to diminish the incidence rate and enhance the recovery rate. Nonetheless, numerous individuals continue to disregard tuberculosis treatment, mainly due to the extensive array of medications required for sufferers. Objectives: This study will investigate the alterations in the quality of life of patients following antibiotic treatment for tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: This study used a cohort design with prospective sampling, utilising laboratory result parameters for efficacy and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) instrument to assess the patients' quality of life, involving a total of 41 participants. Results: This study further investigates understanding and adherence to tuberculosis therapy. The significant difference in leukocyte counts in tuberculosis patients before and after the initiation of Anti-Tubeculosis Drugs (ATDS) treatment with p-value <0.001. The questionnaire comprises eight domains encompassing a total of 36 questions, which include the physical domain, the emotional function domain, the social function domain, the physical state domain, the emotional state domain, the pain domain, the vitality domain, and the general health domain. Measurement of quality of life using SF 36 shows that most patients have a good quality of life after undergoing treatment with an average score of 61.22. Conclusion: The findings of this investigation suggest that antituberculosis therapy is not only effective in reducing neutrophil and leukocyte levels to normal but also contributes to the improvement of the quality of life of tuberculosis patients.