Role of Education on Perceptions, Social Consequences and Compliance among Tuberculous Patients: A Study Conducted in Teaching Hospitals, Lahore

Abstract

Abstract

Objectives:  To see the affect of education on percep-tions, social consequences of tuberculosis and comp-liance on treatment among patients.

Study Design:  A descriptive cross sectional study.

Setting and Duration:  This study was conducted in five teaching hospitals, in public sector in Lahore, namely Mayo hospital, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, Servi-ces hospital, General hospital, Jinnah hospital, from July 2008 to May 2009.

Methodology:  Four hundred T.B patients aged 15 years and above registered under TB DOTS in OPD were selected by convenience sampling technique for interview. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Closed - ended questions with multiple choices were used; with a last choice allowing the par-ticipants to give his/her own opinion as required, if it was different from the choices listed for the question.

Results:  Educated patients had better knowledge about the etiology (75.5%), transmission of disease (59.4%), period of communicability (71.4%), curabi-lity of disease (67.3%), DOTS and the standard long course treatment regimen for TB (58.2%), consequen-ces of incomplete treatment (57.9%). Moreover educa-ted patients had better compliance (60.2%) on treatment.

Conclusion:  Education has deep impact on the per-ceptions, social pattern and compliance of the patients on treatment.

Key words:  TB DOTS, TB Perceptions, TB social consequences, Compliance on TB treatment.