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Americans' Knowledge and Perceived Risk of Tuberculosis
Author(s) -
Ailinger Rita L.,
Lasus Howard,
Dear Margaret
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1046/j.0737-1209.2003.20308.x
Subject(s) - seriousness , public health , tuberculosis , medicine , risk perception , ethnic group , population , family medicine , national health interview survey , general knowledge , environmental health , nursing , psychology , social psychology , perception , pathology , neuroscience , sociology , political science , anthropology , law
Tuberculosis (TB) has resurged as a major public health problem in the United States, but there is minimal information on the public's knowledge of TB. The general population must become aware of the seriousness of the reemergence of TB. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey Supplement, this study examined knowledge and perceived risk of TB of 14,727 U.S. respondents. Results demonstrated some general knowledge of TB, several misconceptions, and low concern regarding their risk of contracting TB. Only 10.2% of the respondents perceived risk for themselves. Respondents reported perceived knowledge of TB at a high level, while their actual knowledge was lower. Gender, education, income, and ethnicity were associated with knowledge and perceived risk. Older people responded correctly to questions about TB knowledge more often than younger people. Conclusions were that public health nursing efforts need to be redirected toward health education regarding TB risk and spread, complementing existing screening and therapy programs.