Association between Medication Adherence and Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study at a Primary Health Center in Kediri, Indonesia

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health burden in Indonesia, where treatment success is often limited by poor patient adherence. This study aimed to evaluate the association between medication adherence and treatment outcomes among TB patients at the North Region of Kediri City primary healthcare centre, Indonesia. A retrospective cohort design was employed involving 38 patients who received clinical pharmacy services between 2024 and 2025. Adherence was measured using pharmacist records from the Drug Therapy Monitoring (DTM) log, while treatment outcomes were determined from final treatment status. Statistical analysis using Spearman’s correlation demonstrated a significant association between adherence and treatment outcomes (p = 0.002; r = 0.519). Patients with high adherence were more likely to achieve cure, whereas all non-adherent patients experienced incomplete treatment. These findings underscore the crucial role of pharmacists in strengthening patient adherence through sustained counseling and education. Optimizing clinical pharmacy services at the primary care level may therefore enhance treatment success and contribute to national TB elimination efforts.