Tuberculosis beliefs among recent Vietnamese refugees in New York State.
OBJECTIVE
To identify newly arrived Vietnamese refugees' beliefs about tuberculosis (TB) and TB education needs.


METHODS
In 1994, the New York State Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a survey of 51 newly arrived adult Vietnamese refugees in two New York counties. After being trained in interview methods, two bilingual researchers asked 32 open-ended questions on the causes of TB, TB treatment, and the disease's impact on work and social relationships.


RESULTS
Respondents correctly viewed TB as an infectious lung disease with symptoms such as cough, weakness, and weight loss. Hard manual labor, smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor nutrition were believed to be risk factors. Many respondents incorrectly believed that asymptomatic latent infection is not possible and that infection inevitably leads to disease. Nearly all respondents anticipated that having tuberculosis would adversely impact their work, family, and community activities and relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Targeted patient education is needed to address misconceptions about TB among Vietnamese refugees and to help ensure adherence to prescribed treatment regimens.
Carey
J W
JW
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. fjc9@oddhiv1.em.cdc.gov
Oxtoby
M J
MJ
Nguyen
L P
LP
Huynh
V
V
Morgan
M
M
Jeffery
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D012036:Refugees / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology