The effect of tuberculosis and tuberculosis contact tracing on school function: an exploratory focus group study.
METHODS
Selected schools in East York, an ethnically diverse municipality of 110,000 people within Toronto.


OBJECTIVE
To explore school staff's attitudes and beliefs about the nature of tuberculosis and its possible effect on the function and culture of schools.


METHODS
Four focus groups of 6-8 school staff, lasting from 1 to 1.5 hours, were held in the spring of 1997 at four different schools deemed to be at high risk for tuberculosis contact tracing.


RESULTS
The study identified the following dominant themes: fear of tuberculosis and its impact on school, lack of knowledge and the need for education concerning tuberculosis, and issues in multiculturalism.


CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculosis was perceived by staff of East York schools to be a source of fear. Lack of accurate and reliable information concerning tuberculosis contributes to this situation. Staff identified age-specific and culturally relevant, educational initiatives as means to reduce this fear.
Upshur
R E
RE
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto. rupshur@idirect.com
Deadman
L
L
Howorth
P
P
Shortt
L
L
D001294:Attitude to Health; D016358:Contact Tracing / Q000379:methods*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005178:Faculty; D005239:Fear; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*