title: Latino immigrants' knowledge of tuberculosis.
abstract: This study examined tuberculosis (TB) knowledge in Latino immigrants receiving latent TB infection (LTBI) therapy. The study design was descriptive correlational. Knowledge was measured using the LTBI Knowledge Instrument. The convenience sample included 82 Latino immigrants primarily from Central America and Bolivia who attended a public health clinic for their LTBI therapy. The mean TB knowledge score was 66%. Knowledge scores were correlated with years of education, but not with age or number of years in the United States. More than 80% of study participants correctly answered questions about the importance of keeping monthly appointments and how Isoniazid works to eradicate TB germs in the human body. Questions that pertained to the contagiousness of active TB and how the disease spreads received the most incorrect responses. Public health nursing interventions should focus on increasing Latino immigrants' knowledge of TB, both in public health clinics and in the community.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444, USA. railinge@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Rita L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ailinger
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Nga
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lasus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001838:Bolivia / Q000208:ethnology; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011637:Public Health Nursing; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents