Patients' satisfaction with tuberculosis care and associated factors among patients on anti-tuberculosis treatment in pastoralist communities, Lagahida woreda, Bale zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Satisfied client is more likely to comply with prescribed medical treatment and completion of treatment. This is crucial for Tuberculosis prevention control programs especially in high burden countries like Ethiopia. In pastoralist settings of Ethiopia, tuberculosis treatment is exclusively given by public health facilities using directly observed treatment approach but little is known about patients‟ satisfaction about the service. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine patients‟ satisfaction with TB care and its determinants at Laga Hida Woreda of Bale zone, Oromia region. Methods: Facility based cross sectional study was undertaken May 25 to June 25, 2016. Structured questionnaire was used to conduct exit interview to all TB patients who were on treatment for at least one week during study period. Data was entered Epi data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive data was presented using text, tables and graphs. Logistic regression was used to determine association between the dependent and independent variables. A P-value at 95% CI was declared statistically significant. Result: Two hundred five (93%) of TB patients were participated in the study. The finding revealed that 70.2% of TB patients satisfied towards the overall TB care while, higher study participants, 184(89.7%) and 189(92%) were satisfied with the cleanliness of instruments used by the provider and completeness of information given to them respectively. Meanwhile, quite low patients, 103(50.2%) and 113(55%) were satisfied with physical accessibility to DOTS facility/the health center/ and with overall comfort of the waiting area. Being informed about side effects of the drug [AOR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.55] and length of waiting time [AOR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.046, 0.26] were found to be significantly associated with the overall satisfaction. Conclusion: Majority of the study participants were satisfied toward the general TB care services received. Information provision on possible side effects and length of time spent at waiting area were found to be significantly associated with overall satisfaction and, hence, giving great emphasis for information on the possible side effects of regimen and making efforts to reduce waiting times (to 30 min at most) are forwarded consideration.