Skip to main content

Table 4 Selected Illustrative Quotes for Theme 3 and 4: Social Support and Health Behavior Issues for TB

From: Factors influencing quality of life in patients with active tuberculosis

Theme 3: Social Support and Functioning

Sub-Theme: Social Support

Clinic-based patients

   "My family knows and they comforted me so I felt much better". (Male)

   "My wife was calm about it and this gave me support". (Male)

   "Mom was concerned for me since her grandmother had died of TB". (Female)

Inner-city Patients

   "My friends stayed away when they found out, they thought I was contagious. I tried to tell them but still I did not see them again". (Male)

   "My friends do no want to hang around me. It's the fear of the unknown...they just know it's airborne and contagious". (Male)

   "My partner is okay with it because she has TB too". (Male)

   "I don't have any family except my aunt but she was scared to come and see me because she has two children". (Female)

Theme 4: Health Behavior

Sub-Theme: Behavior Modification

Clinic-based patients

   "I run more. I was always a runner. The endorphins help". (Female)

   "Vitamins might interact with my medications so I don't take them" (Male)

Inner-city Patients

   "I eat better... although with my income, this is difficult". (Male)

   "This diagnosis was a wake-up call to change my lifestyle. I now eat better and sleep lots" (Male)

   "I have been drinking more booze to help manage the side effects of the medications". (Female)

   "I drink bottled water and avoid tap water due to my depressed immune system" (Male)

Sub-Theme: TB Knowledge

Clinic-based patients

   "It is important to be cured but you can't get it again" (Female)

   "It is very important to get cured...if you aren't cured, you could die" (Male)

   "Family doctors should know more about TB. They didn't know what to do with respect to breastfeeding and TB. There really needs to more public education" (Female)

   "I don't think I have TB. My doctor told me I have it and now I have to take medications but I am not sure that I really have it" (Male).

Inner-city Patients

   "Once you get TB, it's in your system" (Male)

   "As long as TB can be arrested ...not necessarily cured, that would be OK (Female)"

   "People should be more active in spreading the word on the street that TB is still out there...there has to be more outreach programs" (Male)