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

Abstract

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.

Tuberculosis among Full-Time Teachers in Southeast China, 2005–2016

“…According to a large number of school TB outbreak reports, clustering epidemics commonly occur, especially in senior schools and universities [ 9 ]. In China, students with TB accounted for 4.02% of total TB patients in 2014 [ 10 ], and TB outbreaks often occurred. Teachers who work in schools are at risk of being infected with TB or to becoming a source of infection [ 11 ].…”

What affected Chinese parents’ decisions about tuberculosis (TB) treatment: Implications based on a cross-sectional survey

“…However, specifically in China, another important reason may be that Chinese individuals tend to underestimate the threat of TB [ 6 , 7 ]. The progress in TB treatment made them perceive TB as less threatening and easy to cure [ 6 , 7 ]. Thus, the present research aims to investigate what factors shaped Chinese parents’ risk perception of TB and their efficacy appraisal in TB treatment.…”

Tuberculosis outbreaks among students in mainland China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…According to the fifth national tuberculosis epidemiological survey conducted in 2010, the prevalence of active pulmonary TB and smear-positive pulmonary TB was 459/100,000 and 66/100,000, respectively, in the population aged over 15 years [5]. In 2012, the reported incidence of PTB was 16.63 per 100,000 students [6]. According to the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, student TB patients accounted for 4.02% of total TB patients in 2014 [6].…”

“…In 2012, the reported incidence of PTB was 16.63 per 100,000 students [6]. According to the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, student TB patients accounted for 4.02% of total TB patients in 2014 [6]. The top five provinces had the highest TB incidence rates among school students, including Tibet(79.95/100,000), Qinghai(59.09/100,000), Guizhou(36.54/100,000), Chongqing(33.06/100,000) and Xinjiang(26.08/100,000) [7, 8], which are mainly western regions of china.…”