"DOTS doesn't work. You must teach us patients how to take our TB drugs rather than DOTS-ing us,".... "I have had TB three times and have never been told about how the treatment works or even the consequences if I don't finish my course of medication." --Zinhle Thabethe, Educator and Tuberculosis Patient, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Tuberculosis is a global health concern. Many people who acquire the disease go through treatment that is difficult and often ineffective when implemented incorrectly. Tuberculosis is a completely curable disease when treated correctly. This guideline is a summary of the current literature concerning the possible benefits of patient education regarding treatment in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients.