This study based on an individualistic model examines the significance of factors such as symptom awareness, knowledge about the disease, recall of clinic instructions, economic problems and social interaction in the treatment regularity of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis through a multi dimensional comparison of regular patients, irregular patients and their households. There was no difference in the symptom awareness of the two groups of patients. Thus frequency of medical visits is to adopt the sick role than of stress. In NTP patients are denied the sick role has “rest” and “special diet” the vital elements of traditional treatment are not recommended as part of treatment. Yet, three of the four cardinal symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, cough fever and haemoptysis being of a nature observable by others, have been observed by the households to the extent similar to patients awareness. Most of the patients who take treatment from non- paying centres such as the LWTDTC live in overcrowded areas where there is generally a high degree of neighbourhood interaction not only social but in sharing common utilities such as courtyard, water tap, bath room, toilet etc. It is therefore not surprising that nearly half of the patients and households said that the neighbours knew about the patient's illness.

Seeking multiple sources of treatment is a common behaviour pattern of patients. Yet, it is disconcerting to find that tuberculosis patients who can ill afford to pay and who need to be under treatment for a long period should 'shop around' for treatment. It is the irregular patients who have sought treatment at other agencies more often. The study shows that patients showing regular drug collection have had help from household members in collecting the drugs. They have also had help from household members in remembering to consume the drugs. More of the households of the regulars mentioned LWTDTC as the place of treatment while in the in case of the households of the irregulars mentioned several places of treatment.

No significant differences were seen between the regular and irregular patients in their social interactions within the households or in the behaviour of households towards the patients. To the household, economic difficulties were the most important, perhaps for the reason that the patients were men in the working age group. Though economic difficulties were important to patients also the predominant aspect was pain and discomfort the physical dimensions of suffering. A treatment agency that can pay adequate attention to the relief of physical suffering and non- relapse of symptoms can perhaps help to improve treatment regularity of tuberculosis patients appreciably.