A mixed-method study on coping strategies of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in an urban block of West Bengal
Sagnik Chakraborty, Subhajoy MaitraAbstract
Background:
Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB) is a major public health issue, requiring long treatment with potentially toxic and less effective second-line drugs. DRTB patients have reported stigma, discrimination, and fear of disease contagiousness, leading to self-isolation from family and friends, mental health problems, nonadherence, and treatment failure. Thus, it is of utmost importance to know their predominant coping mechanisms and to explore them.
Material and Methods:
This mixed-method explanatory sequential study was done in the District Tuberculosis Center from February to June 2022. For the quantitative study, a face-to-face interview was conducted for 34 patients selected by census method with a pretested and prevalidated questionnaire comprising the Brief-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced scale, and for the qualitative component, 5 focus group discussions were conducted among patients and caregivers, and thematic analysis was done.
Results:
The mean age of study participants was SD=±12.57, and 52.9% were male. 61.8% were on an all-oral longer regimen, and 58.8% belonged to the lower middle class. The mean coping score was 64.74 (SD=±4.98). All study participants (100%) had problem-focused coping as their predominant coping method. Emotion-focused coping and avoidant coping were present in 88.2% and 11.8% of study participants, respectively, as the second most common mechanisms of coping. Problem-solving coping was associated with proper treatment-seeking behavior and good adherence to treatment.
Conclusion:
Proper counseling and support through family, friends, and peer groups can go a long way in helping such people cope; this necessitates the appointment of counselors at the point of treatment.