What Does DOT Mean in Medical Terms?

DOT stands for directly observed therapy. Watching a patient take each medicine dose.

Where you will see DOT

You will most often see DOT in microbiology results and infection-control notes, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.

Example

A chart note might use “DOT” as shorthand for directly observed therapy when documenting a patient's care.

Related abbreviations

• 14-3-3 — 14-3-3 protein (CSF)
• 1:1 — one-to-one observation
• 2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
• 3 Cs measles — three Cs of measles (cough coryza conjunctivitis)
• 4-point restraints — four-point restraints
• A&O — alert and oriented
• A&O x4 — alert and oriented times four (person place time situation)
• A-line — A-line (arterial line shorthand)

Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.