Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (Nov 2023)
Psychological Distress in Adult Pulmonary Tuberculosis Sufferers: A Community-Based Survey
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and emotional symptoms of psychological distress in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) sufferers. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at six primary health centers in Makassar City, Indonesia from June to November 2022. TB patients were diagnosed using national TB program guidelines. The study included patients 18-60 years old, did not have psychosis or communication difficulties, had no difficulty understanding the questionnaire's contents and were capable to following the study protocols. Self-designed questionnaires were used to obtain data on sociodemographic characteristics and medical conditions. The outcome of the study was psychological distress among individuals with pulmonary TB, which was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Results: Of total 308 TB patients, the mean age was 40.88 ± 16.09 years. Psychological distress was observed in 239 (77.6%) patients. The median psychological distress was found significantly higher in patients with older age (p-value 0.041), senior high school (p-value 0.046), unemployed (p-value <0.001), had a monthly income below the regional minimum wage (p-value 0.015), smokers (p-value 0.049), and had abnormal blood pressure (p-value <0.001). Moreover, it was observed that tiredness (2.44 ± 0.06), fidgety (2.98 ± 0.06), sadness (2.04 ± 0.06), and hopelessness (2.02 ± 0.05) were prominent symptoms experienced by TB patients due to psychological distress. Conclusion: More than three-fourths of TB patients experienced psychological distress. Smoking and abnormal blood pressure, along with specific demographic factors, significantly influenced distress levels. Prominent emotional symptoms in distressed patients included fatigue, restlessness, sadness, and hopelessness.
