Health literacy in the field of infectious diseases: the paradigm of brucellosis

The Journal of Infection
Georgios PappasEpameinondas Tsianos

Abstract

Treatment outcome for infectious diseases, including brucellosis, may be influenced by patient awareness of the disease itself, as well as by compounding socioeconomic factors. We attempted to evaluate parameters of patient awareness and disease perception in brucellosis and the ways they influence outcome. We used a specifically developed questionnaire assessing various parameters of patient literacy on brucellosis in 70 patients with a new diagnosis of brucellosis. Patients were assessed by interviewing at the time of diagnosis and during follow-up. Awareness and perception of the disease, willingness for epidemiologic surveillance, mode of referral, treatment preferences, and adherence were evaluated. Although basic disease awareness is high, willingness to collaborate in epidemiologic surveillance is limited. Patient education may improve adherence to treatment and willingness to undergo surveillance, but may also result in many false referrals for relapse. Level of academic education does not influence the results. Convenience is the major factor when determining treatment preferences. Improving health literacy may result in improved treatment outcome and improved control of disease incidence. There is a need for constant ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 7, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Georgios Pappas
Dec 29, 2007·PLoS Medicine·Javier ArizaUNKNOWN Institute of Continuing Medical Education of Ioannina
Jan 12, 2016·International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·Enrique Castro-SánchezAlison H Holmes
Sep 17, 2009·Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·G PappasM E Falagas
Dec 15, 2010·Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·G Pappas
Feb 1, 2012·Tropical Doctor·Bosilkovski MileLabacevski Nikola
Aug 4, 2020·Public Health Nutrition·Alessandra BujaVincenzo Baldo
Nov 1, 2020·Journal of Physical Activity & Health·Alessandra BujaVincenzo Baldo

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Brucellosis (ASM)

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by members of the genus brucella and remains one of the world's major zoonotic diseases. Discover the latest research on Brucellosis here.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by members of the genus brucella and remains one of the world's major zoonotic diseases. Discover the latest research on Brucellosis here.