Which nursing intervention is most important for a hospitalized patient on antitubercular therapy who has a history of nonadherence?

Which nursing intervention is most important for a hospitalized patient on antitubercular therapy who has a history of nonadherence?

• A. Observing the client taking the medications.
• B. Administering all meds intravenously.
• C. Scheduling therapy once weekly.
• D. Providing nutritional supplements only.

Answer: (A)

Adherence to antitubercular therapy is essential because TB treatment is long and uses multiple drugs. If doses are missed, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive and develop resistance, making treatment harder and longer. In the hospital, directly observed therapy—watching the patient take each dose—ensures that every prescribed dose is actually ingested, helping to complete the full course and prevent resistance. This approach also allows immediate monitoring for adverse effects and drug tolerance, which is important for someone with a history of nonadherence. Other options don’t address adherence as effectively. Intravenous administration of all meds isn’t required for TB drugs, which are primarily given orally. Scheduling therapy only once weekly doesn’t maintain consistent drug levels or reliably prevent relapse and resistance. Providing nutritional supplements alone helps with nutrition but doesn’t ensure that the patient takes the medications as prescribed.

Adherence to antitubercular therapy is essential because TB treatment is long and uses multiple drugs. If doses are missed, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive and develop resistance, making treatment harder and longer. In the hospital, directly observed therapy—watching the patient take each dose—ensures that every prescribed dose is actually ingested, helping to complete the full course and prevent resistance. This approach also allows immediate monitoring for adverse effects and drug tolerance, which is important for someone with a history of nonadherence.

Other options don’t address adherence as effectively. Intravenous administration of all meds isn’t required for TB drugs, which are primarily given orally. Scheduling therapy only once weekly doesn’t maintain consistent drug levels or reliably prevent relapse and resistance. Providing nutritional supplements alone helps with nutrition but doesn’t ensure that the patient takes the medications as prescribed.