Illness perceptions and quality of life among tuberculosis patients in Gezira, Sudan.

S Muhammed,S Morten,S Nagla

doi:10.4314/ahs.v15i2.11

Abstract

This study aimed to answer the following research question: What is the level of illness perceptions and quality of life among TB patients in Gezira state?. A descriptive study design was used. Newly diagnosed smear positive TB patients registered in Gezira state in 2010 (n=425) formed the study population. The illness perceptions were measured by using Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (BIPQ). Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) was assessed by means of the 12-item short form Health Survey questionnaire (FS-12). TB patients saw TB as having minor consequences, TB not being very well controlled by treatment, and TB as lasting long as a disease; they also associated several symptoms with TB. Furthermore, the patients had relatively poor physical and mental quality of life. Identity, consequences, personal control and emotional representations were associated with poor physical quality of life while concern about illness was associated with poor mental quality of life. The illness perceptions of the TB patients might influence their adherence to treatment. The poor quality of life of the TB patients in the different areas of quality of life such as daily activities and work, calls for programmes to strengthen TB information, education and counselling.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) persists as a global public health problem of a serious magnitude requiring urgent attention[1]
Aims: This study aimed to answer the following research question: What is the level of illness perceptions and quality of life among TB patients in Gezira state?
To answer the research question: What is the level of illness perceptions and quality of life among TB patients (n=425) in Gezira state, Sudan, the following main findings are summarized: Illness perceptions The TB patients perceived that TB lasted long; they indicated several symptoms to TB; they saw TB not being well controlled by treatment but they saw minor consequences from TB

Summary

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) persists as a global public health problem of a serious magnitude requiring urgent attention[1]. Current global efforts to control TB have three distinct but overlapping dimensions: humanitarian, public health and economic. Illness perceptions are increasingly being shown to be related to important outcomes in a number of illnesses. There is evidence that patients attending for medical investigations, who have already developed negative illness perceptions of their condition, are less reassured by findings showing no pathology[2]. A number of studies have shown that when patients hold generally negative illness perceptions about their illness (e.g. a large number of symptoms associated with the condition, more severe consequences, and longer timeline beliefs) these perceptions are associated with increased future disability and a slower recovery, independent of the initial medical severity of the condition[3]

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion