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Introduction
Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) is the most effective strategy for ensuring that tuberculosis (TB) patients adhere to treatment. DOT means that a healthcare worker or another designated person watches the TB patient swallow each dose of the prescribed drugs. However, because DOT can be time and resource intensive, cost-efficient methods of delivering DOT in a form of Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) is an alternative method to in-person DOT, in which a patient is able to record video of swallowing TB medication.
Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT)
VDOT is the use of a videophone or other video/computer equipment to observe TB patients taking their medications. The method is promising as a flexible and less invasive option to help ensure TB patient complete their treatment successfully.
Benefits of Video Directly Observed Treatment
- VDOT is highly accurate and provides reliable evidence that medications were swallowed.
- The doses are recorded whenever and whenever they are taken.
- VDOT provides patients greater autonomy and privacy compared to DOT, thereby reducing TB stigma.
- VDOT is patient-centred and increases communication with providers.
- Providers spend less time observing adherent patients, giving them more time to support patients who require more attention.
- Adherence data is used to identify poorly adherent patients, individualise patient education and promote treatment completion.
- VDOT is evidence-based and scalable.
Recorded Video
Patients record the video themselves of taking daily TB drugs and email it to TB Service daily.
Health Records
The recorded video will be reviewed by TB Specialist Nurses/Consultant daily and then it will be deleted after it has been reviewed. It will be clearly documented in writing in VDOT drug chart. The consent will be filed in the patient health records (EPIC).
Contact Details
King Edward VII/Wexham Park Hospital - TB Specialist Nurses
1. 0778 551 6431
2. 0758 480 0344
3. 07884 187 458
4. 07768 132 133
Frimley Park Hospital - TB Specialist Nurses
1. 0758 433 0974
2. 0789 906 5303
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Respiratory medicine service.
About this information
Service:
Respiratory medicine
Reference:
W/048
Approval date:
24 April 2024
Review date:
1 April 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.