Hospital papers
What Is Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)? TB Treatment
Directly observed therapy · say it: dih-REKT-lee ub-ZERVD THER-uh-peeAlso written: DOT, DOTS, directly observed treatment, video observed therapy, VOT
Short answer
Directly observed therapy (DOT) means a health worker watches you take each dose of a medicine, most often for tuberculosis treatment.
What it means
Directly observed therapy, or DOT, is a way of supporting treatment where a trained person watches a patient swallow each dose. It is most widely used for tuberculosis (TB), where treatment lasts many months and missed doses can let the bacteria become resistant. The observer may be a nurse, a community health worker or a trained volunteer, and some programmes now use video calls (video observed therapy).
TB medicine labels and treatment guidelines mention DOT because taking every dose matters a great deal for TB. Missing doses can make treatment fail and can lead to drug-resistant TB, which is harder to treat and can spread to others. DOT is a support, not a punishment: it helps people complete a long course, and gives a chance to report side effects early.
DOT is different from an ordinary prescription, where you take doses on your own. It is often used alongside other support, such as help with travel or reminders.
Where you may see it
- The 'Dosage and Administration' section of TB medicine labels
- TB clinic treatment plans and letters
- Public health programme leaflets
📄 How it looks on a report
Directly observed therapy should be used when possible to ensure adherence to the treatment regimen.
🙅 What it does not mean
- DOT does not mean you are not trusted; it is a standard support for long, important treatments.
- It does not always mean going to a clinic daily; video and community options may be available.
- DOT does not replace telling your team about side effects; it is a chance to do so.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Directly observed therapy”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Directly observed therapy”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Isoniazid
An antibacterial medicine of the antimycobacterial type, used against tuberculosis bacteria
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Directly observed therapy” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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