Language in tuberculosis services: Can we change to patient-centred terminology and stop the paradigm of blaming the patients?

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorZachariah R.
dc.contributor.authorHarries A.D.
dc.contributor.authorSrinath S.
dc.contributor.authorRam S.
dc.contributor.authorViney K.
dc.contributor.authorSingogo E.
dc.contributor.authorLal P.
dc.contributor.authorMendoza-Ticona A.
dc.contributor.authorSreenivas A.
dc.contributor.authorAung N.W.
dc.contributor.authorSharath B.N.
dc.contributor.authorKanyerere H.
dc.contributor.authorVan Soelen N.
dc.contributor.authorKirui N.
dc.contributor.authorAli E.
dc.contributor.authorHinderaker S.G.
dc.contributor.authorBissell K.
dc.contributor.authorEnarson D.A.
dc.contributor.authorEdginton M.E.
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-06T07:59:58Z
dc.date.available2012-06-06T07:59:58Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstractThe words 'defaulter', 'suspect' and 'control' have been part of the language of tuberculosis (TB) services for many decades, and they continue to be used in international guidelines and in published literature. From a patient perspective, it is our opinion that these terms are at best inappropriate, coercive and disempowering, and at worst they could be perceived as judgmental and criminalising, tending to place the blame of the disease or responsibility for adverse treatment outcomes on one side -that of the patients. In this article, which brings together a wide range of authors and institutions from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific, we discuss the use of the words 'defaulter', 'suspect' and 'control' and argue why it is detrimental to continue using them in the context of TB. We propose that 'defaulter' be replaced with 'person lost to follow-up'; that 'TB suspect' be replaced by 'person with presumptive TB' or 'person to be evaluated for TB'; and that the term 'control' be replaced with 'prevention and care' or simply deleted. These terms are non-judgmental and patient-centred. We appeal to the global Stop TB Partnership to lead discussions on this issue and to make concrete steps towards changing the current paradigm. © 2012 The Union.
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
dc.identifier.citation16
dc.identifier.citation6
dc.identifier.citation714
dc.identifier.citation717
dc.identifier.issn10273719
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.5588/ijtld.11.0635
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21281
dc.subjectControl
dc.subjectDefaulter
dc.subjectLanguage
dc.subjectLoss to follow-up
dc.subjectSuspect
dc.subjectTB
dc.titleLanguage in tuberculosis services: Can we change to patient-centred terminology and stop the paradigm of blaming the patients?
dc.typeReview
Files
Collections
Stellenbosch University - Scopus Publications