OBJECTIVE: To identify newly arrived Vietnamese refugees' beliefs about tuberculosis (TB) and TB education needs. METHODS: In 1994, the New York State Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a survey of 51 newly arrived adult Vietnamese refugees in two New York counties. After being trained in interview methods, two bilingual researchers asked 32 open-ended questions on the causes of TB, TB treatment, and the disease's impact on work and social relationships. RESULTS: Respondents correctly viewed TB as an infectious lung disease with symptoms such as cough, weakness, and weight loss. Hard manual labor, smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition were believed to be risk factors. Many respondents incorrectly believed that asymptomatic latent infection is not possible and that infection inevitably leads to disease. Nearly all respondents anticipated that having tuberculosis would adversely impact their work, family, and community activities and relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted patient education is needed to address misconceptions about TB among Vietnamese refugees and to help ensure adherence to prescribed treatment regimens.
OBJECTIVE: To identify newly arrived Vietnamese refugees' beliefs about tuberculosis (TB) and TB education needs. METHODS: In 1994, the New York State Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a survey of 51 newly arrived adult Vietnamese refugees in two New York counties. After being trained in interview methods, two bilingual researchers asked 32 open-ended questions on the causes of TB, TB treatment, and the disease's impact on work and social relationships. RESULTS: Respondents correctly viewed TB as an infectious lung disease with symptoms such as cough, weakness, and weight loss. Hard manual labor, smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition were believed to be risk factors. Many respondents incorrectly believed that asymptomatic latent infection is not possible and that infection inevitably leads to disease. Nearly all respondents anticipated that having tuberculosis would adversely impact their work, family, and community activities and relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted patient education is needed to address misconceptions about TB among Vietnamese refugees and to help ensure adherence to prescribed treatment regimens.
Authors: Lawrence A Palinkas; Sheila M Pickwell; Kendra Brandstein; Terry J Clark; Linda L Hill; Robert J Moser; Abdikadir Osman Journal: J Immigr Health Date: 2003-01
Authors: Erica D Woodall; Victoria M Taylor; Yutaka Yasui; Quyen Ngo-Metzger; Nancy Burke; Hue Thai; J Carey Jackson Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2006-07
Authors: Meredith M Howley; Chaturia D Rouse; Dolores J Katz; Paul W Colson; Yael Hirsch-Moverman; Rachel A Royce Journal: J Immigr Minor Health Date: 2015-10
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
Authors: Melbourne F Hovell; Carol L Sipan; Elaine J Blumberg; C Richard Hofstetter; Donald Slymen; Lawrence Friedman; Kathleen Moser; Norma J Kelley; Alicia Y Vera Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-11 Impact factor: 9.308