title: Analysis of factors related to treatment and prognosis of leprosy patients in southern Taiwan.
abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate certain factors of leprosy, using bacterial indices, disability and regular treatment as outcome variables. One hundred and fifty seven leprosy patients were interviewed, face to face personally, using a standard questionnaire, and examined in order to grade these disabilities. Their clinic charts were reviewed and summarized. Percentage, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Most patients (88%) were of low educational level; 57% were regularly treated in 1985. About half of the patients were diagnosed within one year. Dapsone was used at first diagnosis, while multiple drug therapy was in present use. The mean correct answer rate of the knowledge of leprosy was 0.49. Interaction with family members was not unusual. The major reason for neglecting treatment of the disease was that "the time is not available". Many patients did not appreciate the severity of the disease. Univariate analysis found that both "drug usage at first diagnosis" and "current drug usage" were related to "bacterial index". Only one factor "time-to-diagnosis" was related to "disability". The factors related to "regular treatment" were the "the time is not available", and "religion". Multiple logistic regression analysis found that the results were the same as those in univariate analysis, except that two more significant continuous variables were also related to regularity of treatment: duration of disease and a score of "beliefs about leprosy", neither analyzed in univariate analysis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Soong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents