摘要 :
This study aimed to determine the psychosocial factors associatedwith delayed test-seeking among tuberculosis patients. The durationof symptoms before seeking medical care was assessed by interviewfor 108 newly diagnosed pulmon...
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This study aimed to determine the psychosocial factors associatedwith delayed test-seeking among tuberculosis patients. The durationof symptoms before seeking medical care was assessed by interviewfor 108 newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in thecity of Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon, which has high tuberculosisincidence. Beliefs associated with test-seeking behavior anddelay was assessed in these patients. The median delay fromsymptom onset to seeking diagnostic testing was 61 days (inter-quartilerange 30–91 days). The belief that tuberculosis is curablewas associated with a 100% longer test-seeking delay; the perceptionthat tuberculosis was common was associated with a 57% longerdelay; male gender was associated with a 48% longer delay; andeducation less than complete secondary schooling was associatedwith a 44% longer delay. In conclusion, current health promotionactivities that emphasize tuberculosis curability and high prevalencemay paradoxically increase test-seeking delay and thereforerequire prospective evaluation.收起
