Emotional representation of tuberculosis with stigma, treatment delay, and medication adherence in Russia.

This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to explore emotional representation and illness coherence, the understanding a person has about an illness which helps them make sense of the experience, in Russians with tuberculosis. In a secondary analysis of questionnaires from 105 Russians treated for pulmonary tuberculosis, social isolation and disease consequences were predictors of negative emotions related to tuberculosis and accounted for 49 percent of the variance. Participants who scored higher on illness coherence were less likely to experience negative emotions. Development of programs to help patients understand tuberculosis and to manage emotional responses and stigma is suggested.