Student elective prize for Jemima Tagal. (360G-Wellcome-083049_Z_07_Z)

Factors affecting treatment compliance in patients with spinal tuberculosis - demographics, clinical features and treatment regimens Patient compliance with treatment is a major factor in determining a successful outcome, especially in patients with tuberculosis (TB). Non-compliance results in treatment failure, disease relapse, and drug resistance. Malaysia has adopted the WHO Directly Observed Treatment, Short Course (DOTS) programme in an effort to reduce the national TB incidence. Despite this, local compliance with treatment remains a problem. Spinal TB is quite common in Malaysia, and has an extremely high morbidity. The local demographical, clinical and treatment regimen factors that may affect compliance with anti-TB treatment in Malaysia has not been analysed in patients with spinal TB. Aims of project: Consider the local demographics of patients with tuberculosis of the spine Compare the demographical and clinical features, and treatment regimens of compliant and non-compliant patients with tuberculosis of the spine The ultimate aim of this study is to identify patients at higher risk of defaulting anti-TB treatment to serve as a basis for planning health promotive interventions.