DOT Full Form

DOT Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jan 17, 2023 02:18 PM IST

What is the full form of DOT?

Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) is a drug administration technique in which a medical professional observes the patient as they take each dose. To make sure the patient obtains and takes all prescription meds as directed and to track treatment response, directly observed therapy (DOT) is employed. DOT is frequently used to treat TB conditions. DOT is also known as directly delivered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) when used for HIV treatment.

This Story also Contains
  1. What is the full form of DOT?
  2. Who is DOT capable?
  3. Side Effects of DOT
DOT Full Form
DOT Full Form

Treatment for tuberculosis (TB) must last at least six months. Patients might not recover if treatment is not completed, and medication resistance might emerge. Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) is a particular approach that the World Health Organization (WHO) supports in order to increase adherence by mandating that medical personnel, community volunteers, or family members watch and record patients as they take each dose.

  • Who will take their drugs as prescribed and who won't be predicted? Medication adherence issues can affect people of all ages, genders, races, social groups, and educational levels.

  • According to studies, 86–90% of patients undergoing DOT finish their treatment, compared to 61% of patients receiving self-administered therapy.

  • DOT aids patients in completing their TB treatment as swiftly and without pauses as possible.

  • DOT aids in limiting the transmission of TB.

  • DOT reduces the possibility of medication resistance brought on by inconsistent or insufficient treatment.

  • The likelihood of treatment failure and relapse is reduced by DOT.

Who is DOT capable?

  • DOT is often given by a nurse or supervised outreach worker from the patient's county public health department.

  • Under the direction of the local health department, it may be beneficial in some circumstances for clinics, home care providers, jails, treatment centers, schools, workplaces, and other facilities to supply DOT.

  • The use of family members for DOT is not advised. Providers of DOT must maintain objectivity.

  • Home care agencies may offer DOT or split responsibility with the neighborhood health department for complex regimens involving IV/IM drugs or twice-daily dosage.

  • Patients who are most at risk should receive priority if DOT resources are inadequate. Identifying patients with a high priority should be done using the MDH DOT Risk Assessment form.

Side Effects of DOT

Any indications and symptoms of negative medication responses should be reported by patients receiving therapy for latent TB infection (LTBI) or TB disease to their healthcare provider, including

  • dark urine, jaundice, nausea, or vomiting that are not explained (yellowing of skin or eyes)

  • persistent burning, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet

  • persistent weariness, weakness, fever, or discomfort in the abdomen

  • Simple bleeding or bruising

  • vision changes or fuzziness

Patients taking rifampin (RIF) or rifapentine (RPT) should be made aware that their urine and possibly other bodily fluids will turn orange. That is typical.

  • To prevent drug interactions, patients should provide a list of their current medications. the following interactions:

  • Phenytoin (Dilantin) and disulfiram blood levels are elevated by isoniazid (INH) (Antabuse)

  • Oral contraceptives, warfarin and other anticoagulants (also known as "blood thinners"), sulfonylureas (used to treat diabetes), and methadone are just a few of the medications that RIF and RPT lower blood levels of.

  • Protease inhibitors (PIs) and the majority of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are contraindicated in HIV-infected individuals.

Patients receiving the 12-dose, once-weekly regimen of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) from healthcare professionals should

  • Instruct the patient (parents/legal guardians of a paediatric patient) to seek medical assistance as soon as any indications of potential side effects first occur.

  • Conduct periodic reviews for information on adverse events related to treatment.

  • Patients with the following conditions should have baseline liver chemistry blood tests performed: HIV infection, liver disorders, postpartum (within three months of delivery), regular alcohol consumption, injection drug use, or taking drugs with known potential interactions with isoniazid or rifapentine. Consider a baseline liver chemistry blood test for each older patient, especially if they are taking medication for a long-term illness.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the DOTS strategy's five components?

Observed Directly Therapy Political commitment, microscopy services, drug supply, surveillance and monitoring systems, adoption of highly effective regimens, and direct observation of treatment are the five main components of a short course (DOTS).

2. Why is it referred to as 99 DOTS?

It is known as 99DOTS because a very high success rate (of approximately 99%) is anticipated by this remote in-built technological monitoring.

3. How much time is DOT for TB?

Treatment for tuberculosis: Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)

Patients with tuberculosis (TB) need to get treatment for six to nine months while being closely monitored, both for their personal recovery and to prevent the spread of the illness to others.

4. How does DOTS plus for TB work?

The DOTS-Plus strategy (the tested strategy) includes extra steps like ongoing drug resistance monitoring, culture, drug susceptibility testing for TB patients, and customizing each patient's drug regimen by using first- and second-line medications.

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