The effect of a cultural intervention on adherence to latent tuberculosis infection therapy in Latino immigrants.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a cultural intervention (CI) on increasing adherence to latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) therapy among Latino immigrants.


METHODS
This clinical study used a preexperimental design. A nonprobability sample of 86 Latino immigrant clients who were starting LTBI therapy were enrolled in the intervention. The comparison group was an historical sample of 131 clients' records randomly selected from the previous year.


METHODS
The CI, designed by the principal investigator, was delivered by 2 Spanish-speaking interventionist nurses at each of 9 clinic visits. The intervention was based on Latino cultural values and included 5 components.


METHODS
The patients' adherence was measured by a self-report of the number of pills taken.


RESULTS
The findings of this study were that clients in the CI group took a significantly greater number of doses of INH than those in the historical sample.


CONCLUSIONS
Using a CI to increase adherence to LTBI therapy shows promise for public health nursing practice.
Ailinger
Rita L
RL
School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia 20007, USA. rla22@georgetown.edu
Martyn
Diona
D
Lasus
Howard
H
Lima Garcia
Natalie
N
D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003142:Communication; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000458:organization & administration; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000193:education / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000208:ethnology*; D019303:Multilingualism; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014768:Virginia
D000995:Antitubercular Agents