Management of Tuberculosis in Taiwan:A Look into the Shared Responsibilities of the Government, General Public and Medical Students

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly infectious disease worldwide due to its high incidence and mortality rate. Its impact on Taiwan is no exception. This paper aims to examine effectiveness of national policies on TB control, assess public awareness, and evaluate whether involvement of medical students would have a positive effect towards TB control in Taiwan. Literatures were first reviewed to assess effectiveness of Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS). Although there is limited improvement in treatment success in Taiwan, there is an overall positive effect. Questionnaires designed to assess public knowledge and behaviors revealed inadequate public knowledge about DOTS, which could have led to the lack of distinct success in the national policy. Healthcare workshops were conducted by medical students, with survey results showing a significant improvement in participants ’ knowledge. Thus, medical students are recommended to engage in healthcare activities to effectively aid TB control