Under which national program is DOTS Therapy provided?

P.CHO-2019

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: P.CHO-2019

Explanation

DOTS, which stands for Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course, is the internationally recommended strategy for ensuring adherence and cure in Tuberculosis (TB) patients.
In India, the DOTS strategy was officially implemented under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) starting in 1993 to improve the low success rates of the previous program.
The core principle of DOTS is that a trained observer watches the patient take their medication, which is crucial for completing the long treatment course and preventing drug resistance.
The RNTCP has been renamed the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), but DOTS remains the fundamental strategy for TB treatment and control.

Option B: The Malaria control programme focuses on vector control (like using mosquito nets) and treating patients with antimalarial drugs, most commonly Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT).
Option C: The Leprosy control programme (National Leprosy Eradication Programme - NLEP) uses Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), which involves a combination of drugs like dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.
Option D: The HIV/AIDS control programme (National AIDS Control Programme - NACP) manages the disease using Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which is a lifelong treatment to suppress the virus.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing National Health Programs and Communicable Disease Control helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are central to the success of DOTS. They often act as DOTS providers, administer medications, monitor patients for adverse drug reactions (e.g., hepatotoxicity, peripheral neuropathy), and provide crucial health education on nutrition and infection control.
Accurate record-keeping on the DOTS treatment card and digital entry into the Nikshay portal are critical nursing responsibilities for ensuring treatment continuity and program monitoring.
What if? If a patient on DOTS reports dark urine, nausea, and yellowing of the eyes, the nurse must immediately suspect drug-induced hepatitis. The standard protocol is to withhold the medication, notify the medical officer, and facilitate urgent liver function tests. This is a critical patient safety intervention.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'DOTS Therapy'.
Recall or deduce the full form of DOTS: Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course. The 'T' is a strong clue for 'Treatment' or 'Tuberculosis'.
Associate the concept of 'Directly Observed' treatment with a disease that requires a long, strict medication regimen to prevent drug resistance. This points directly to Tuberculosis.
Scan the options to find the national program specifically designed for Tuberculosis control.
Option A, 'Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP)', explicitly mentions Tuberculosis, making it the most logical and correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 102-104

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-275 of 550) p. 77-79