Predictors of adherence to treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in high-risk Latino adolescents: a behavioral epidemiological analysis.
The objective was to test whether theoretical variables predict adherence to treatment for latent tuberculosis infection in high-risk Latino adolescents. 286 Latino adolescents, age 13-18 years, were recruited from 10 middle/high schools in San Diego County, San Diego, USA. Participants completed a baseline interview and up to 9 monthly interviews. The cumulative number of pills consumed in 9 months was regressed on 16 independent variables, entered hierarchically in seven blocks. The final model accounted for 25% of the variance in adherence to isoniazid (INH), F (16, 230)=4.69, p<0.001. Adherence counseling (+), age (-), grades (+), being bicultural (+), and risk behaviors (-) were significantly related to adherence. Learning theories presume that adherence to medical regimens requires social support and freedom from physical and social barriers. Results support these theories. Future studies should explore additional precepts in order to identify additional predictors and to maximize adherence to INH among Latino adolescents and other high-risk populations. Doing so should decrease the risk of active TB among high-risk racial/ethnic and foreign-born populations.
Hovell
Melbourne
M
Center for Behavioral Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Ste 230, 92123, CA, USA. mhovell@projects.sdsu.edu
Blumberg
Elaine
E
Gil-Trejo
Laura
L
Vera
Alicia
A
Kelley
Norma
N
Sipan
Carol
C
Hofstetter
C Richard
CR
Marshall
Sandra
S
Berg
Jill
J
Friedman
Lawrence
L
Catanzaro
Antonino
A
Moser
Kathleen
K
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002140:California; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D011292:Premedication; D012309:Risk-Taking; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid