Treatment compliance in relation to sources of referral and initial reaction to the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Beena Thomas; Suryanarayanan, D.; Sudha Ganapathy.

Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 1999; 46; 179-182.          

The source of referral and patient's reaction to diagnosis were studied in relation to regularity of treatment in 107 patients attending Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), Chennai. In all, 29% of the patients were referred by family members, 27% by neighbours and friends, 11% attended on their own, private practitioners referred 18% and government facilities/NGOs referred 15%. The initial reactions to diagnosis of tuberculosis were anxiety, fear, worry and/or shock in 59%. Only 31% of the patients were hopeful of cure at the time.

     All those who attended on their own completed > 80% of treatment as did 90% of those who were hopeful of cure at the time of diagnosis. And, 86% of those who experienced a negative reaction (fear of death, anxiety and worry) completed > 80% of treatment.

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