Increase awareness of the importance of completing Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) treatment and improving completion rate of LTBI treatment by using picture education material to non-English speaking patients

Adherence with latent tuberculosis infection treatments and monthly follow ups to evaluate the treatment compliance has been a challenge among patients living in Maricopa County, Arizona due to the language barrier and low literacy among refugee and immigrant patients. Completion of LTBI treatment will reduce the risk of developing active tuberculosis and could decrease tuberculosis antibiotic resistance. The synthesis of the evidence reviewed reveals that using pictures or pictograms with oral or written education will increase adherence to the treatment, decrease the no show rate for the appointments, and an evidence-based practice project based on this evidence was developed to address increasing the treatment completion rate. The patients who agree to be a part of this project will receive disease education, treatment information, and a list of side effects to report during office visits. These patients will receive the information using picture education materials, provided in a brochure format, and will have a follow-up appointment within a month. It is expected that this additional education will significantly improve treatment adherence, compliance with follow up appointments and the treatment completion rate. This evidence-based practice project is based on necessary public services for patient and public safety by decreasing TB cases. By completing their treatment, the chance of developing active tuberculosis decreases, therefore, benefitting the general public’s health. The nurse practitioners need to identify needs for change, the planned changed process, and change to make it permanent, such as putting it into policy, to see the change be successful.