01 February 2004
Factors affecting delays in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in a tertiary care hospital in Istanbul, Turkey
Döndü Güneylioglu, Adnan Yilmaz, Sevinc Bilgin, Ummuhan Bayram, Esen AkkayaMed Sci Monit 2004; 10(2): CR62-67 :: ID: 11577
Abstract
Background: To investigate delays in the diagnosis and treatment of inpatients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis and to identify factors affecting these delays.
Material/Methods: 204 hospitalized patients with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were identified. The clinical files of the patients were analyzed and questionnaires were created.
Results: Mean application interval was 31.4 days, mean referral interval was 22.1 days, mean diagnosis interval was 3.3 days, and mean initiation of treatment interval was 1.4 days. Patient delay was present in 34.8 percent of the patients. The application interval was shorter for patients having an index case for tuberculosis (p=0.039) and for those with good economic status (p<0.005). 167 patients (81.9%) had institutional delay. The referral interval was longer for female patients than for male patients (p=0.015). The most common causes of institutional delays were a low index of suspicion for tuberculosis, health care system delays, and underutilized chest X-ray examinations. One hundred and three patients (50.5%) had delays in diagnosis and 51 patients (25.0%) had delays in treatment. The most frequent reason for diagnostic delay was health care system delays (35.9%).
Conclusions: There were several delays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis patients. For an effective tuberculosis control, efforts should be made to reduce these delays. Physicians and the public should be educated about tuberculosis. Health care system and laboratory delays should be improved.
Keywords: Adolescent, Aged, 80 and over, Delivery of Health Care - standards, Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data, Demography, Hospitals, General, Medical Records, Patient Care Management - standards, Patient Care Management - statistics & numerical data, Patient Education, Physician's Practice Patterns, Questionnaires, Referral and Consultation, Time Factors, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - therapy, Turkey, Adolescent, Aged, 80 and over, Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data, Demography, Hospitals, General, Medical Records, Patient Care Management - statistics & numerical data, Patient Education as Topic, Physician's Practice Patterns, Questionnaires, Referral and Consultation, Time Factors, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - therapy, Turkey
585 16
Editorial
01 May 2023 : Editorial
Editorial: Twenty Years On from Sequencing the Human Genome, Personalized/Precision Oncology Prepares to Meet the Challenges of Checkpoint Inhibitor TherapyDOI: 10.12659/MSM.940911
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940911
In Press
31 May 2023 : Review article
Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Management of Eclampsia and the Need for Improved Maternal Care: A ReviewMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.939919
30 May 2023 : Clinical Research
A Case-Control Study of Cognitive Function in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Before and After Hemodi...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.940409
30 May 2023 : Review article
A Review of the Role of the Zebrafish (Danio reiro) in Preclinical and Clinical Models of Biomarker Identif...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.940550
30 May 2023 : Database Analysis
The COVID-19 Crisis and the Incidence of Alcohol-Related Deaths in PolandMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.940904
Most Viewed Current Articles
13 Nov 2021 : Clinical Research
Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination and Its Associated Factors Among Cancer Patients Attending the Oncology ...DOI :10.12659/MSM.932788
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e932788
30 Dec 2021 : Clinical Research
Retrospective Study of Outcomes and Hospitalization Rates of Patients in Italy with a Confirmed Diagnosis o...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935379
Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e935379
08 Mar 2022 : Review article
A Review of the Potential Roles of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Approaches for the Man...DOI :10.12659/MSM.936292
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e936292
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952