Educational needs of tuberculosis patients based on their experiences in Karachi, Pakistan /
Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)
Department
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan
Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the educational needs of tuberculosis patients, based on their experiences in Karachi, Pakistan. Moreover, this study aimed to understand the challenges that the TB patients face in managing their disease. Methodology: This research study was guided by a qualitative exploratory descriptive design. The purposive sampling technique was used to recruit participants for the study, and a total of ten TB patients were recruited from two TB treatment and diagnostic centers of the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC), Karachi, Pakistan. The data was collected through face-to-face, semistructured in-depth interviews. Data analysis for the study was done manually by following the five steps of content analysis, as discussed by Creswell (2013). Findings: Two major categories and associated sub-categories emerged from the analysis of the participants' narratives. The first category comprises perceptions and misperceptions of TB Patients about their disease process, in terms of signs and symptoms, causes and spread, complications, and its treatment. The second category discusses the impact of TB on patients' lives; the financial hardships and the challenges faced by TB patients, such as those related to physical, psycho-social, sexual, and marital life. Conclusion: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health issue globally, and Pakistan is included in high TB burden countries. This study highlights that educational needs for TB patients are very important. The burden of TB can be reduced in Pakistan, and the care of TB patients can be improved through effective training of health care professionals . Moreover, further research and awareness programs at different levels can play a pivotal role in controlling and reducing the spread of this disease.
Recommended Citation
Shah, M. (2014). Educational needs of tuberculosis patients based on their experiences in Karachi, Pakistan / (Unpublished doctoral thesis). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.