Abstract

• This is a study of 21 tuberculosis patients receiving medical treatment at the Public Health Center in Kyongi Do, Pu Chun Gun and at the General Hospital. The results cover the findings of the period from May, 1969 to November 1970. The information obtained is based on personal interviews with the patients, and symptomatic diagnosis made from observations. The following statistics when not equalling 100% contain only the responses of the two extremes in each case. The findings of the research are as follows: 1. 52.3% of the patients in the study are males and 47.7% are females. 28.6% of the subjects are between 20 and 29 years- of age and an equal percent are between 30 and 39 years. 2. 47.5% of the subjects had graduated from primary school, while only 4.8% had graduated from high school. 3. 57.1% of the patients said they had no religions beliefs, while 4.8% professed to being Buddhists or believing in superstition. 4. 47.3% of the people said they were unemployed, while 4.8% classified themselves as labourers. 5. In response to how tuberculosis was first detected in their respective cases, 52.6% became aware of their disease through X-ray results, while 4.8% were discovered to have tuberculosis when being treated for other diseases at the hospital. 6. When asked bow many of the patients knew anything about their disease when treated, 57.1% knew nothing about tuberculosis when they received treatment, while 42.9% bad some knowledge of the disease. 7. Of those who knew something about tuberculosis, 61.9% learned about from doctors and nurses, while 4.8% learned from other people. 8. 57.1% of the patients knew that tuberculosis is a communicable disease, while 42.9% did not know. 9. 52.4% of the patients did not know the cause of tuberculosis while 4.9% believed the disease was caused by a curse. 10. When asked about the extent of treatment, 52.4% responded that they had undergone continuous treatment, while 4.8% had not received treatment. 11. The reasons given for not continuing treatment were the following: economic factors 55.6%; side reactions to the treatment, lack of knowledge of how to get treatment, of the need for treatment, or of the positive effects of treatment 11.1%. 12. 61.9% of the subjects usually took the medical treatment at home, while 9.5% took it in the mountains or at the beach. 13. 42.9% of the patients received drugs for treatment at the local public health center, while 4.8% received them at the hospital. 14. 33.3% of the patients received P.A.S.+I.N.H.+S.M. for treatment of tuberculosis, while 4.8% received P.A.S. +S.M. and some secondary drug. 15. Of the patients who took some extra medicine for tuberculosis, 38.1% took a Chinese drug, while 9.5% took herb medicine. 16. 38.1% of the patients had continued treatment for three years, while 4.8% had interrupted the treatment. 17. When asked about the development of the disease after treatment, the patients gave the following information: after one month, 90.5% thought the treatment helped, while 9.5% weren't sure; after one year, 55.6% thought it was good, while 5.5% thought it was not; after three years, 63.6% had a very bad condition, while 4.8% didn't know. 18. 61.9% of the patients were unconcerned about covering their mouths when they coughed, while 38.1% covered their mouths. 19. 57.2% were unconcerned they spit, while 23.8% spit into a waste basket. 20. 66.7% were unconcerned about sterilizing tableware, while 9.5% handled it separately. 21. 66.7% were unconcerned about ventilating their room, while 9.5% ventilated the room twice a week.

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