Patient experience with pulmonary tuberculosis and its Treatment in Metztitlán, Hidalgo, Mexico, 2023

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis is the second leading cause of death among adults worldwide due to infectious diseases. The 2019 pandemic and socioeconomic inequalities have reversed years of progress in the fight against tuberculosis and have further increased the burden on those affected, especially the most vulnerable.  Objective: To understand the experiences and knowledge of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis regarding their condition and treatment. Methodology: A qualitative study using in-depth interviews with an ethnomethodological approach was conducted with four patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were treated through the Strictly Supervised Short-Course Treatment program in the municipality of Metztitlán, Hidalgo. The analysis was performed using grounded theory. The categories analyzed were: knowledge of the disease, access to the health services network, patient attitudes, patient self-care practices, perceptions of healthcare providers’ actions, and community participation. Results. Their understanding of their illness is very limited, health care services are inaccessible, and their accounts express sadness and fear of infecting their loved ones. Among the patients interviewed, two are health care workers and report adverse drug reactions. Conclusions. Conducting a qualitative analysis of the experiences of patients who have been diagnosed and are receiving drug treatment is of the utmost importance, as it allows us to identify strengths and weaknesses to design intervention strategies that will have a positive impact on this vulnerable population, which lacks knowledge, has limited access to health services, and experiences adverse treatment effects.