Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2018.57.02.05

Patient, Healthcare System and Total Delay in Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment among Serbian Population

Mihajlo Stjepanović ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia;Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Vesna Škodrić-Trifunović ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia;Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Staša Radisavljević-Pavlović ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia;
Marina Roksandić-Milenković ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia;Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Milin-Lazović ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Uroš Babić ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; 3Clinical Center of Serbia, Department of Urology, Belgrade, Serbia;
Jovana Mašković ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Ivana Buha ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Milica Stojković-Lalošević ; Clinical Center of Serbia, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Belgrade, Serbia
Mirjana Stojković ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; 4Clinical Center of Serbia, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Belgrade, Serbia
Violeta Mihailović-Vučinić ; Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia;

Abstract

Currently, topical are studies that examine diff erent reasons for delay of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and its impact on disease prognosis. The aim was to examine three time periods associated with treatment delay: patient related, health system related and total delay. This retrospective-prospective study included 100 consecutive patients hospitalized at Department of Pulmonology, Clinical Center of Serbia, in the period from March to December 2015. Study results showed median patient delay to be 92.5 days. Total delay was aff ected by patient related delay. Median healthcare delay was 18.5 days. Patients that reported excessive alcohol consumption were more likely to have prolonged time to seek medical help. Years of alcohol consumption yielded moderate positive correlation with patient related delay (r=0.362, p<0.001). Correlation between the number of cigarettes and patient delay was moderate, positive and statistically significant (r=0.314, p=0.001). Delay in seeking medical help was more likely in patients with negative family history of TB. There was no difference in the effect of the presence of symptoms on patient related delay (p>0.05). Clinical characteristics such as patient TB category and chest radiograph abnormalities were not associated with prolonged patient related delay (p>0.05). Study results point to the importance of health education and/or health intervention in the population group at a high risk of TB.

Keywords

Tuberculosis; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Serbia; Alcohol Drinking; Health Education

Hrčak ID:

207512

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/207512

Publication date:

1.6.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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