Factors affecting compliance and non-compliance among patients with tuberculosis in Egypt: a descriptive correlational study

Purpose: This study aimed to assess factors associated with compliance and non-compliance among patients with tuberculosis (TB).Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of Abbassia Chest Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. A sample of 80 patients with TB who had been prescribed treatment regimens was recruited. Patients were interviewed using a structured form with fixed response options to identify factors associated with treatment compliance or non-compliance.Results: A significantly higher proportion of non-compliant patients (72.5%) experienced severe symptoms compared with patients in the compliant group (30.0%). Furthermore, most compliant patients (82.5%) demonstrated satisfactory overall knowledge of pulmonary TB, whereas only about half (52.5%) of patients in the non-compliant group did. This difference in knowledge level was statistically significant and was associated with treatment adherence. Among compliant patients, knowledge levels were also significantly influenced by age, sex, education, and employment status, a pattern that was not observed in the non-compliant group. Conclusion: Key factors associated with non-compliance included insufficient income to support treatment, lack of home support for treatment regulation, and decreased motivation to improve health. These findings underscore the need for targeted patient education and counselling programs to increase disease awareness and improve treatment adherence among patients with TB.