Directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) appears to have reduced the self-care role of the-pulmonary tuberculosis patient: evidence from a correlational study between personal health beliefs (PHB) and self-care practices (SCP).

Objective: To examine the relationship between personal health beliefs and self-care practices among 69 PTB patients aged 25 to 65 years at a tuberculosis clinic in Zimbabwe, in order to determine the role patients can play in self-care.

Design: Analysis of collected demographic data, personal health beliefs (PH B) and self-care practices (SCP) of PTB patients.

Settings: Gwanda Provincial Hospital (GPH) Tuberculosis Clinic.

Participants: PTB patients in the (GPH) register who were taking treatment.

Interventions: Key components of the study included administration of an interview schedule to 69 PTB patients on treatment, and the analysis and comparison of personal health beliefs and self-care practices.

Main outcome measures: Scores of personal health beliefs, self-care practices, perceived self-efficacy, perceived threats, and cost-benefit analysis.

Results: Sixty- nine PTB patients with a median age of 38, screened during the month of March, 2009, showed a weak positive Pearson's correlational coefficient of (R2=0.177), indicating that personal health beliefs may have some influence on self-care practices. The regression analysis showed an association of 3.1%, thus health beliefs are responsible for self-care undertaken by 3.1 in a 100 PTB patients.

Conclusions: Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) seems to have reduced the self-care practice of PTS patients. It seems the PTB patient has a potential role to play in the management of his own treatment.