Representations and meanings about the exposure of the tuberculosis diagnosis and the relations with adherence to treatment

Abstract

This regards an ongoing MSc Research that addresses the diagnosis exposure of tuberculosis as (a) an educational process aiming to build certain knowledge and to transform a given situation. From November 2010 to February 2011, 34 patients under treatment for tuberculosis and 39 health professional involved with the exposure of tuberculosis diagnosis (doctors, nurses and nursing assistants) were interviewed. The used instruments were semi-structured interviews aiming to raise social representations of both social realms (professionals and patients) about the way  to communicate diagnosis and the adherence to treatment. As preliminary results, patients identified some discursive categories, which were important when thinking about a transformation process during the moment of the diagnosis exposure. Such transformation can facilitate adherence to treatment at this moment. These categories describe how the professional communicates the news, on the explanation given about what the disease consists (of) and the patient who does not understand (state of not understanding) the treatment process (by the patient). These are some of the categories that indicate the importance of undertaking a transforming diagnostic exposure, if targeted to change a reality.