Boonlue Chimbanrai. Treatment-seeking behavior of tuberculosis patients and the development of intensive traid model program in Samut Prakan province Thailand. Doctoral Degree(Tropical Medicine). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Treatment-seeking behavior of tuberculosis patients and the development of intensive traid model program in Samut Prakan province Thailand
Abstract:
The aims of the study were to determine tuberculosis patients’ treatment-seeking
behaviors and the factors affecting them, and to develop an appropriate model to strengthen the
existing DOTS program. Both quantitative and qualitative study methods were used. A crosssectional
study conducted in all government TB clinics in SamutPrakan Province, Thailand, found
that only 83 (27.7%) of the 300 eligible TB patients chose a TB clinic for first-line treatment,
while among the others, 217 (72.3%) chose other healthcare facilities, including self-care.
Persistent cough ≥3 weeks was one of the most important symptoms prompting patients to act.
Since the patients considered the initial TB symptoms not to be serious and had low levels of
awareness, the most common behaviors for dealing with initial symptoms were self-care and
purchasing drugs from a drugstore. These behaviors delayed seeking effective treatment and were
significantly associated with complications, i.e. evening fever (p=.04), weight loss (p<.001), chest
pain (p=.005) phlegm with blood (p=.006), coughing up blood (p=.001), loss of appetite (p=.03),
and chills (p=.02). Socio-demographic factors significantly associated with coming straight to a
TB clinic for first-line treatment were patients’ age (p=.01), marital status (p=.02), education
(p<.001), and occupation (p=.001). Knowledge of, and attitudes towards, TB were significantly
associated with choosing a TB clinic first; psychosocial factors significantly associated with
choosing a TB clinic first were perceived susceptibility (p<.001), perceived barriers (p=.001), cues
to action (p=.02), self-efficacy (p=.03), patient-healthcare provider relationship (p=.001), social
support (p=.003), subjective norms (p<.001), perceived illness status (p<.001), and suspicion of
having TB (p=.002). Information from in-depth interview revealed that most TB patients initially
defined early TB symptoms as similar to other respiratory diseases and thus not serious.
Therefore, they first chose self-care or purchased drugs from drugstores; only when the symptoms
failed to diminish did they choose to see a doctor, thus delaying appropriate treatment.
Pilot study was carried out to improve patient adherence to TB treatment regimens. A
quasi-experimental study was conducted among 103 TB patients recruited from 4 of 5 TB clinics
in district government hospitals. 50 TB patients were assigned to an experimental group and
another 53 TB patients comprised a control. The results showed that the knowledge and attitude
levels of the subjects in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group.
The successful-treatment rate in the experimental group was higher than the control group. The
confirmed-cure rate was also significantly higher in the experimental group (p=.02).
The results of this study should be used to inform the National Tuberculosis Control
Program. Health education efforts should increase public awareness of TB symptoms and the
importance of seeking appropriate treatment early, and at places where specific TB-control
services are provided. Finally, to strengthen the existing DOTS program, patients and their
treatment observers must be trained