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 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2019  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 37-40

Compliance and effectiveness of syndromic approach in females with reproductive tract infections


Department of Pharmacology, MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India

Date of Submission12-Oct-2018
Date of Acceptance10-Jan-2019
Date of Web Publication14-Jun-2019

Correspondence Address:
Divya Goel
1154-A, Sector 32, Chandigarh
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/phmj.phmj_17_18

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  Abstract 


Background: India has strengthened its fight against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) by implementing syndromic approach at peripheral health centres. However, effective control of STIs and RTIs still remains a huge challenge. One of the biggest hurdles could be patient compliance towards the complete course of treatment. Yet, little is known about its association with the effectiveness of syndromic management of STIs and RTIs.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the patient compliance with syndromic management and its effectiveness.
Methods: A prospective, analytic study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Haryana, India, from March to November 2016. One hundred female patients suffering from any of the following complaints, (a) vaginal discharge; (b) cervical discharge; (c) lower abdominal pain; (d) burning micturition and (e) itching, were screened for RTIs. All eligible patients were interviewed in depth, and treatment was given to them according to syndromic management guidelines of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). Patients were assessed in terms of clinical cure at the end of the treatment. Assessment of compliance to treatment regimen was made by using modified Morisky scale. Data were entered into excel sheet and analysed by SPSS software version 20 by IBM, Chicago, IL, USA. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were applied. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Out of the 100 patients, 68 were cured. Of the 68 cured patients, 66 (97.1%) participants had high motivation, whereas 57 (83.8%) patients had high knowledge. Of the 32 patients who were not cured, 29 (90.6%) participants had low motivation and 30 (93.8%) participants had low knowledge. P values of motivation (<0.001) and knowledge (<0.001) between cured (66) and uncured (32) patients were highly statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study showed the effect of compliance on the effectiveness of syndromic management but did not find the array of factors which could affect the compliance.

Keywords: Compliance, reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, syndromic management


How to cite this article:
Kaur H, Goel D. Compliance and effectiveness of syndromic approach in females with reproductive tract infections. Port Harcourt Med J 2019;13:37-40

How to cite this URL:
Kaur H, Goel D. Compliance and effectiveness of syndromic approach in females with reproductive tract infections. Port Harcourt Med J [serial online] 2019 [cited 2024 Mar 28];13:37-40. Available from: https://www.phmj.org/text.asp?2019/13/1/37/260225




  Introduction Top


Sexually transmitted diseases are one of the major health problems of adult population. In women of childbearing age, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) are next to pregnancy-related issues in terms of morbidity and mortality.[1] Early and effective treatment of STI not only reduces the morbidity and complications in individuals suffering from it, but also reduces its transmission in the community.[2] There are a number of pathogens responsible for these sexually transmitted RTIs, which can be managed by effective antimicrobial treatment. In spite of this, STIs still pose a major public health concern. To overcome the various challenges in the treatment of STIs, the World Health Organization (WHO) came up with syndromic management of STIs and RTIs.[3] The syndromic management classifies STIs/RTIs into various syndromes based on symptoms/signs, and the patient is treated for the most common pathogens responsible for these syndromes.[3] India has also adopted syndromic management under the NACO guidelines.[4]

For effective management of STIs/RTIs, full curative course of antimicrobials must be taken. In this regard, four Cs act as the pillar apart from diagnosis and treatment. These four Cs include compliance with treatment, counselling, condom promotion and contacting partners for treatment.[5] Healthcare providers must explain the importance of completing the drug regimen even after all symptoms have disappeared. Concerns have been raised, from time to time, about the use of syndromic approach in STIs such as overdiagnosis of STIs and its possible risks such as relationship problems, partner management and compliance to treatment regimen.[6],[7] Very limited data are available regarding these; therefore, this study was planned to assess the patient compliance with syndromic management and its effectiveness.


  Methods Top


A prospective, analytical study was conducted in association with the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at a tertiary care hospital (MMIMSR) from March 2016 to November 2016. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), IEC approval no. IEC/MMIMSR/16/207. The target population consisted of women visiting the gynaecology outpatient department for the first time with the following complaints: (a) vaginal discharge, (b) cervical discharge, (c) lower abdominal pain, (d) burning micturition, (e) itching and were screened for RTIs.

Sample size

The sample size was calculated as per the WHO algorithm. Assuming 30% clinical failure of syndromic management in STIs and keeping confidence level of 95% with precision d 10%, the sample size was calculated as 81. Expected withdrawal was assumed to be 20%, so the sample size was adjusted after it reached 96. We recruited 100 female patients of 18–65 years of age. Pregnant females and patients with other illness, i.e., diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, other terminal illness and allergic to drugs being used in the study, were excluded from the study.

Procedure

After obtaining informed consent, patients were interviewed in depth, and their present complaint, sexual history and partner history were noted. After doing per-speculum examination, syndromic diagnosis as per the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) guidelines was made.[8] Patients were screened by Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay for syphilis and 4th-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for HIV.

They were managed as per the NACO guidelines,[8] and the assessment of compliance to treatment regimen was made by using modified Morisky scale.[9]

Various factors including demographic factors, i.e., age groups, religion, area of residence and occupation, treatment duration and syndromic diagnosis, were studied in relation to compliance.

Statistical analysis

Data were entered into excel sheet and analysed by SPSS software version 20 by IBM Chicago, IL, USA. The categorical data were used to provide a descriptive summary (%), comparing each categorical variable, i.e., age, occupation, syndromic diagnosis knowledge and motivation. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were applied. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


  Results Top


Out of the 100 patients, RTI was most common in patients aged between 26 and 35 years (52%); percentage of SITs reduces as the age advances [Table 1]. Majority (95%) of the females were homemakers, and most of them resided in the rural area (59%) [Table 1]. Apart from vaginal discharge (78%), lower abdominal pain (62%), foul-smelling discharge (29%), burning micturition (17%) and itching in the perineal region (13%) were the common complaints of the participants [Table 2]. Based on syndromic diagnosis, the most common syndrome was vaginitis (39%), followed by lower abdominal pain (37%) and cervicitis (24%) [Table 3].
Table 1: Sociodemographic profile of the study population

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Table 2: Symptomatic distribution of reproductive tract infections (n=100)

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Table 3: Distribution of syndromic diagnosis as per the National AIDS Control Organisation guidelines (n=100)

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The most common drugs used in 63 (63%) patients was a combination of ciprofloxacin + doxycycline + metronidazole 2 g stat, followed by clotrimazole + doxycycline + ceftriaxone + metronidazole in 55 (55%) patients [Table 4]. After treatment, as per the NACO guidelines, 68 (68%) patients were cured and 32 (32%) patients were not cured at the end of treatment. In 11 (11%) cases, the treatment was changed, whereas in 89 (89%), no change in treatment was required.
Table 4: Percentage distribution of various drugs used in management of patients

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While using the modified Morris scale of compliance, it was found that 69% of participants had high motivation, whereas 31% had low motivation, and the knowledge about RTI symptoms was high in 59% and low in 41% of participants. Overall 58% of participants had high motivation and high knowledge [Table 5]. Data for compliance were analysed to find any association with demographic factors, i.e., age groups, religion, area of residence and occupation. There was no statistically significant difference towards compliance in relation to any of the following demographic factors: motivation (P = 0.712) and knowledge (P = 0.912) in relation to age, motivation (P = 0.729) and knowledge (P = 0.588) in relation to religion, motivation (P = 0.899) and knowledge (P = 0.623) in relation to area of residence and motivation (P = 1.000) and knowledge (P = 1.000) in relation to occupation. Compliance in relation to treatment duration, i.e., <7 or >7 days, also showed statistically insignificant P value (0.573) of motivation and P value (0.286) of knowledge. There was no statistical difference for the compliance with different syndromic diagnosis, i.e., motivation (P = 0.473) and knowledge (P = 0.767).
Table 5: Compliance of the study patients towards full treatment as per the Modified Morisky Scale

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When compliance was analysed in relation to final treatment outcome, of the 68 cured patients, 66 (97.1%) participants had high motivation, whereas 57 (83.8%) patients had high knowledge. Of the 32 patients who were not cured, 29 (90.6%) participants had low motivation and 30 (93.8%) participants had low knowledge. P values of difference in motivation (<0.001) and knowledge (<0.001) with outcome were highly statistically significant [Table 6].
Table 6: Compliance in the association of outcome

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  Discussion Top


The study was designed to gather the sociodemographic data and data related to various factors, i.e., duration of treatment, syndromic diagnosis that could affect the compliance of the patients suffering from STIs and compliance and association of various factors with compliance in relation to treatment outcome in patients suffering from STIs. After treatment, as per the NACO guidelines, 68% of patients were cured. We found that patients who got cured were more compliant to treatment regimen than those who were not cured. In spite of the well-known problem of non-compliance and adverse health outcome, this issue is still a major contributor of effective healthcare.[10] In this study, most of the participants were of 26–35 years age, but there was no statistically significant relation between age and treatment compliance. Although few researchers have found relationship between age and compliance,[11] majority of the studies have not found any relation between demographic factors and compliance as these might not be true independent factors for compliance as shown in this study. Our study showed no significant relationship between other sociodemographic parameters such as religion, area of residence and occupation to treatment compliance. As per syndromic diagnosis, the most common syndrome in this study was vaginitis (39 [39%]), but we could not find any significant relation between type of syndromic diagnosis and treatment compliance. Disease type and disease severity have been found to affect treatment compliance,[12] but this study failed to find any such relationship, which might be due to the short course of treatment in the majority of STIs.

Non-compliance in STI patients to drug regimen not only leads to treatment failure, but also increases the drug resistance, which, as of now, is a major challenge.[7]


  Conclusion Top


In our study, compliance was found to play a role in the success of syndromic approach, so we concluded that syndromic approach can help in rapid cure in STI patients, but healthcare professionals need to make sure that patients imply to their directions. However, this study failed to show the factors which might be affecting compliance; hence, we need to study other factors which could affect compliance so that effective measures can be taken to increase compliance.

Limitations

Although our methods showed the association between compliance and treatment outcome, they did not show any factor affecting the compliance. It could be because of the small sample size and failure in identifying the factors which might have relation to compliance. More studies of factors influencing compliance in STI patients should be conducted to fill the gap in knowledge.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
World Health Organisation. Global Prevalence and Incidence of Selected Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections: Overview and Estimates. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2001.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
World Health Organisation. Sexually Transmitted Infections. Fact Sheet No 110: World Health Organisation, 2013. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs110/en/index.html. [Last accessed on 2018 Sep 14].  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
World Health Organisation. Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections. World Health Organisation, 2014. Available from: http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/sti/pub6/en/. [Last accessed on 2018 Sep 4].  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
National Guidelines on Prevention, Management and Control of Reproductive Tract Infections. New Delhi, India: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, 2007. Available from: http://www.naco.gov.in/sites/default/files/National_Guidelines_on_PMC_of_RTI_Including_STI%201.pdf. [Last accessed on 2018 Oct 19].  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
STD Management. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Contraceptive Technology and Reproductive Health Series. Available from: https://www.fhi360.org/sites/default/files/webpages/Modules/STD/intro.htm. [Last accessed on 2018 Sep 18].  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Bosu WK. Syndromic management of sexually transmitted diseases: Is it rational or scientific? Trop Med Int Health 1999;4:114-9.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Ortayli N, Ringheim K, Collins L, Sladden T. Sexually transmitted infections: Progress and challenges since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Contraception 2014;90:S22-31.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Operational Guidelines for Programme Managers and Service Providers for Strengthening STI/RTI Services. National AIDS Control Organisation, 2011.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Modified Morisky Scale. Updated, 2015. Available from: http://www.hqpsocal.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/modified-morisky-scale.pdf. [Last accessed on 2018 Nov 05].  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
World Health Organization. In: Sabaté E, editor. Adherence to Long-term Therapies: Evidence for Action. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2003.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Hadji P, Jacob L, Kostev K. Gender- and age-related treatment compliance in patients with osteoporosis in Germany. Patient Prefer Adherence 2016;10:2379-85.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Jin J, Sklar GE, Min Sen Oh V, Chuen Li S. Factors affecting therapeutic compliance: A review from the patient's perspective. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2008;4:269-86.  Back to cited text no. 12
    



 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3], [Table 4], [Table 5], [Table 6]



 

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