The experiences of high school students with pulmonary tuberculosis in China: a qualitative study

BMC Infectious Diseases

Research Article

Yahui Fan¹  Yuelu Li¹  Shaoru Zhang¹  Xiaohong Li²  Tianhua Zhang³ 

[1] Department of Nursing, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710061, Xian, China;Department of Nursing, Xi’an Medical University, 710021, Xian, China;Shanxi Provincial Institute for TB Control and Prevetion, 710048, Xian, China;

关键词: High School Student;    Illness Experience;    Public Health Emergency;    College Entrance Examination;    Chinese School;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-016-2077-y

 received in 2016-01-14, accepted in 2016-11-29,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundClustered tuberculosis (TB) still occurred nationally in Chinese schools every year, where high school students patients accounts for the highest proportion. These young TB patients are in a critical period of physical and psychological growth. Research on their illness experience and analysis of underlying causes remains blank. The purpose of this study is to explore the overall illness experience of Chinese high school TB patients and to investigate the individual and social causes of such experience.MethodsTwenty-two high school TB patients in a certain county of Shaanxi province were interviewed in-depth twice when initial diagnosed and during intermediate treatment periods. Interview data were analyzed by framework approach.ResultsThe high school TB patients worried about interruption of studies rather than the disease. They generally showed a lack of awareness of tuberculosis, were highly dependent on parents, and received assistance from teachers and students during the treatment. Most of them did not show obvious stigma.ConclusionThe unique education system and sociocultural factors in China are the root of special illness experience of high school TB patients. Huge pressure in college entrance examination leads sick students to worry about interruption of studies more than the disease itself. Their serious lack of awareness of TB, caused by the ignorance of school, parents and the students, becomes the biggest obstacle to timely diagnosis and treatment. Whether high dependence on parents is conducive to disease recovery varies with each individual. Meanwhile, patients’ weak stigma could play a positive role in disease recovery. Educational and medical institutions should develop more effective TB control strategies based on these factors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016