S2_Data_TSCC.xlsx

Background: Time to sputum culture conversion is critical for follow-up treatment effectiveness in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients. However, the evidence regarding time to culture conversion, treatment outcomes, and the associated factors was sparse and inconsistent. Objective: This study aimed to determine the time to culture conversion, treatment outcomes, and associated factors among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis cases in the Sidama Region from April 1 to December 31, 2024. Methods: We conducted a retrospective follow-up study on 346 patients who enrolled from January 2013 to June 2024. The researchers collected data from patients' medical records using a standardized form, entered the data, and analyzed it using SPSS 21 and Stata 16.1 software. The researchers performed the analysis using the Kaplan-Meier model for time to culture conversion, Weibull distribution gamma frailty, and logistic regression models to assess factors associated with time to culture conversion and treatment outcomes, respectively. We considered an adjusted hazard or odds ratio with a 95% CI and a P-value &lt; 0.05 to determine significance.We obtained ethical approval for this study from Hawassa University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) and a support letter from the Sidama Regional Public Health Institute. We submitted the ethical clearance documents to Yirgalem Hospital. Because the study was retrospective, we could not obtain individual patient consent. Instead, we obtained written informed consent from the director of the Yirgalem MDR-TB treatment initiation center to access and extract data from medical records. We also discussed the study’s purpose and benefits with the treatment center staff to ensure transparency. We de-identified all data, stored them securely in locked cabinets, and protected the database with passwords to maintain patient confidentiality. We conducted the study in accordance with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.<br>