biostudies-literatureUnknown16Trajman A<h4>Background</h4>Shortened treatment regimens for tuberculosis are under development to improve treatment outcomes and reduce costs. We estimated potential savings from a societal perspective in Brazil following the introduction of a hypothetical four-month regimen for tuberculosis treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were gathered in ten randomly selected health facilities in Rio de Janeiro. Health service costs were estimated using an ingredient approach. Patient costs were estimated from a questionnaire administered to 126 patients. Costs per visits and per case treated were analysed according to the type of therapy: self-administered treatment (SAT), community- and facility-directly observed treatment (community-DOT, facility-DOT).<h4>Results</h4>During the last 2 months of treatment, the BMC health services research27https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4722708biostudies-literatureShortened first-line TB treatment in Brazil: potential cost savings for patients and health services.PMC4722708Calaca JTrajman ABelo MVassall AGaspar JBrito RTWells WADos Santos CMBastos MLDos Santos AMCobelens FGGomez GBfalseShortened first-line TB treatment in Brazil: potential cost savings for patients and health services.<h4>Background</h4>Shortened treatment regimens for tuberculosis are under development to improve treatment outcomes and reduce costs. We estimated potential savings from a societal perspective in Brazil following the introduction of a hypothetical four-month regimen for tuberculosis treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were gathered in ten randomly selected health facilities in Rio de Janeiro. Health service costs were estimated using an ingredient approach. Patient costs were estimated from a questionnaire administered to 126 patients. Costs per visits and per case treated were analysed according to the type of therapy: self-administered treatment (SAT), community- and facility-directly observed treatment (community-DOT, facility-DOT).<h4>Results</h4>During the last 2 months of treatment, the 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Jan2026-07-15T22:16:22.136Z2026-07-09T10:19:00.203ZS-EPMC47227082680067710.1186/s12913-016-1269-x