Effects of Health Education Media and Home-based Continuous Care on New and Relapse Tuberculosis Patients at Tuberculosis Clinic, Kongkrailat Hospital, Sukhothai Province.

Abstract

      This study was quasi-experimental research employed a two-group pretest-posttest design with a control group. The objectives were to: 1) develop health education media and compare knowledge levels, behaviors, cooperation in tuberculosis prevention, TB Success Rate, and TB Death Rate between the group receiving health education media and continuous home-based follow-up care and the group receiving standard care, and study patient satisfaction levels. The study was conducted over 24 weeks from August 2025 to March 2026. The sample consisted of 62 new and relapsed tuberculosis patients, divided into an experimental group of 31 patients and a control group of 31 patients. Research instruments included: 1) general information questionnaire, 2) tuberculosis knowledge assessment, 3) infection prevention behavior assessment, 4) treatment adherence assessment, 5) clinical data and treatment outcome records, and 6) program satisfaction assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test for pre-post comparisons, and independent t-test for between-group comparisons.

      Results showed that the health education media and continuous home-based follow-up care program was effective in improving knowledge, infection prevention behaviors, treatment adherence, and treatment outcomes. The program was implemented over 24 weeks, divided into 4 phases according to follow-up intensity, including health education, DOT supervision, home visits, and support network development. Evaluation results showed that knowledge scores increased from 11.68±3.90 to 18.06±1.96, infection prevention behavior scores increased from 33.25±6.84 to 44.87±3.26, and treatment adherence scores increased from 35.16±7.23 to 46.39±2.48. Statistical testing showed significant changes at the 0.05 level (p<0.001). The TB Success Rate in the experimental group was 96.77%, higher than the control group at 77.42%. The TB Death Rate in the experimental group was 3.23%, lower than the control group at 6.45%. The experimental group had no patients lost to follow-up. Satisfaction with the program was at the highest level (4.68±0.28).