Cigarette smoking and health-promoting behaviours among tuberculosis patients in rural areas.
OBJECTIVE
To explore cigarette smoking and health-promoting behaviours among disadvantaged adults before their tuberculosis diagnosis and after their tuberculosis treatment.


BACKGROUND
Although tuberculosis infection is associated with impaired immune function, healthy lifestyle habits can play a role in improving the immune system. However, limited research has explored the health-promoting behaviours and cigarette smoking habits among tuberculosis patients in Taiwan.


METHODS
A cross-sectional retrospective study with a convenience sample.


METHODS
This study was conducted between May 2013-June 2014 with 123 patients at a rural district hospital in Chiayi County, Taiwan. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, univariate analysis and stepwise regression analysis.


RESULTS
Tuberculosis tended to be associated with less education, male sex, malnutrition, cigarette smoking and unhealthy lifestyle habits before the tuberculosis diagnosis. The percentage of smoking decreased from 46·9% before to 30·2% after the tuberculosis diagnosis. Body mass index and health-promoting behaviours also significantly improved after tuberculosis treatment. After controlling for potential confounding factors, multivariate analysis identified chronic disease and completed treatment as significant factors that were associated with current health-promoting behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of cigarette smoking and low levels of health-promoting behaviours were observed before the diagnosis and during or after completing tuberculosis treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study's findings indicate the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle changes among tuberculosis patients; aggressive measures should be implemented immediately after the first diagnosis of tuberculosis. Furthermore, health promotion and smoking cessation programmes should be initiated in the general population to prevent activation of latent tuberculosis infection, and these programmes should specifically target men and rural residents.
Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan.
Shu-Lan
SL
Tsai
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan.
Chun-Liang
CL
Lai
Department of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan.
Miao-Ching
MC
Chi
Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chiayi, Chiayi County, Taiwan. meiyen@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
Mei-Yen
MY
Chen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; D055815:Young Adult
cigarette smoking; health-promoting behaviours; rural; tuberculosis