SETTING: Selected schools in East York, an ethnically diverse municipality of 110,000 people within Toronto. OBJECTIVE: To explore school staff's attitudes and beliefs about the nature of tuberculosis and its possible effect on the function and culture of schools. DESIGN: Four focus groups of 6-8 school staff, lasting from 1 to 1.5 hours, were held in the spring of 1997 at four different schools deemed to be at high risk for tuberculosis contact tracing. RESULTS: The study identified the following dominant themes: fear of tuberculosis and its impact on school, lack of knowledge and the need for education concerning tuberculosis, and issues in multiculturalism. CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis was perceived by staff of East York schools to be a source of fear. Lack of accurate and reliable information concerning tuberculosis contributes to this situation. Staff identified age-specific and culturally relevant, educational initiatives as means to reduce this fear.
SETTING: Selected schools in East York, an ethnically diverse municipality of 110,000 people within Toronto. OBJECTIVE: To explore school staff's attitudes and beliefs about the nature of tuberculosis and its possible effect on the function and culture of schools. DESIGN: Four focus groups of 6-8 school staff, lasting from 1 to 1.5 hours, were held in the spring of 1997 at four different schools deemed to be at high risk for tuberculosis contact tracing. RESULTS: The study identified the following dominant themes: fear of tuberculosis and its impact on school, lack of knowledge and the need for education concerning tuberculosis, and issues in multiculturalism. CONCLUSION:Tuberculosis was perceived by staff of East York schools to be a source of fear. Lack of accurate and reliable information concerning tuberculosis contributes to this situation. Staff identified age-specific and culturally relevant, educational initiatives as means to reduce this fear.
Authors: Paul W Colson; G Lance Couzens; Rachel A Royce; Tracy Kline; Tamara Chavez-Lindell; Sharon Welbel; Jenny Pang; Amy Davidow; Yael Hirsch-Moverman Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2014-02