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- Carlsson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Nurses’ roles and experiences with enhancing adherence to tuberculosis treatment among patients in Burundi : a qualitative study
- 2014
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Ingår i: Tuberculosis Research and Treatment. - : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 2090-150X .- 2090-1518. ; 2014, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundIn TB control, poor treatment adherence is a major cause of relapse and drug resistance. Nurses have a critical role in supporting patients in TB treatment process. Yet, very little research has been done to inform policymakers and practitioners on nurses’ experiences of treatment adherence among patients with TB.Aim.To describe nurses’ experiences of supporting treatment adherence among patients with tuberculosis in Burundi.Method The study adopted qualitative approach with a descriptive design. A purposive sampling was performed. Eight nurses were selected from two TB treatment centers in Burundi. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultAccording to the nurses,most patients complete their treatment. Educating patients, providing the medication, observing and following up treatment, and communicating with the patients were the key tasks by nurses to support adherence. Causes for interruption were medication-related difficulties, poverty, and patients’ indiscipline. Treatment adherence could also be affected by patients’ and nurses’ feelings. Providing transportation and meals could enhance treatment compliance.ConclusionNurses are critical resources to TB treatment success. In a poverty stricken setting, nurses’ work could be facilitated and adherence further could be enhanced if socioeconomic problems (transportation and nutritional support) were alleviated.
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| 2. |
- Shuaib, YA, et al.
(författare)
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Smear Microscopy for Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan
- 2018
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Ingår i: Tuberculosis research and treatment. - : Hindawi Limited. - 2090-150X .- 2090-1518. ; 2018, s. 8038137-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. In Sudan, tuberculosis diagnosis largely relies on clinical symptoms and smear microscopy as in many other low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the positive predictive value of a positive sputum smear in patients investigated for pulmonary tuberculosis in Eastern Sudan. Methods. Two sputum samples from patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis were investigated using direct Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining and light microscopy between June to October 2014 and January to July 2016. If one of the samples was smear positive, both samples were pooled, stored at −20°C, and sent to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Germany. Following decontamination, samples underwent repeat microscopy and culture. Culture negative/contaminated samples were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. A total of 383 samples were investigated. Repeat microscopy categorized 123 (32.1%) as negative, among which 31 were culture positive. This increased to 80 when PCR and culture results were considered together. A total of 196 samples were culture positive, of which 171 (87.3%), 14 (7.1%), and 11 (5.6%) were M. tuberculosis, M. intracellulare, and mixed species. Overall, 15.6% (57/365) of the samples had no evidence of M. tuberculosis, resulting in a positive predictive value of 84.4%. Conclusions. There was a discordance between the results of smear microscopy performed at local laboratories in the Sudan and at the NRL, Germany; besides, a considerable number of samples had no evidence of M. tuberculosis. Improved quality control for smear microscopy and more specific diagnostics are crucial to avoid possible overtreatment.
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