@article{16125,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Dapsone, Female, Humans, India, leprosy, Male, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Patient Compliance, Time Factors, Urban Population},
  author = {Kumar A and Sivaprasad N and Anbalagan M and Thangavel N and Durgambal K},
  title = {Utilization of medical agencies and treatment compliance by urban (Madras) leprosy patients.},
  abstract = {<p>The utilization of medical agencies and treatment compliance by 3880 leprosy patients registered with Govt. Leprosy Control Unit, Saidapet, Madras were studied. It was observed that 39% patients waited for 1.32 (+/- 1.75) years before medical consultation, for their negligence and unawareness of disease. About 16% and 4% patients consulted Gen. Hospitals and Private Practitioners, respectively. The leprosy clinics were most popular, 35% patients changed medical agencies. On an average, one patient had consulted 1.47 (+/- 0.51) medical agencies and 1.23 (+/- 0.52) leprosy clinics, for treatment of leprosy. Only 45% patient attended clinic regularly, others attended irregularly (22.5%) or discontinued (32.4%). The unsuitable clinic timing (morning) was an important factor for defaulting the clinics. Of the 2625 (67.66%) patients who attended last clinic, one patient had missed an average of 5.5 (+/- 8.3) DDS tablets in a month. The implications of findings and suggestions to improve the service utilization with good compliance by patients, are discussed in this communication.</p>},
  year = {1983},
  journal = {Leprosy in India},
  volume = {55},
  pages = {322-32},
  month = {1983 Apr},
  issn = {0024-1024},
  language = {eng},
}