The effects of health beliefs, acculturation, and a culturally appropriate teaching intervention on parents' knowledge of and compliance with tuberculosis treatment in a Mexican-American population: A preliminary analysis

Abstract

<p>The primary purpose of this research study, using a correlational and comparative descriptive design, was to examine the effects of health beliefs, acculturation, and a culturally appropriate Spanish-language audiotaped novena on knowledge of Tuberculosis (TB), and compliance with treatment and medications in Mexican-American parents' of a child with TB infection. Due to the limited number of subjects obtained (N = 31), the research data and analyses are presented as preliminary findings since meaningful hypothesis testing would be premature at this time. The theoretical model that served as the basis for this study was the Children's Health Belief Model (CHBM) (Iannotti &amp; Bush, 1993), which is an adaptation of the Health Belief Model (HBM) (Becker, 1974). The CHBM uses a developmental approach central to examining compliance behaviors in children. Application of the model to the proposed study involved minor adaptations to include the role and acculturation of an immigrant family. Three instruments were used to measure the research variables: the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans II (ARSMA-II) developed by Cu&eacute;llar, Arnold, and Maldonado (1995), the Tuberculosis Health Belief Questionnaire for Parents, and the Knowledge of TB pre and post-test Questionnaires. The Tuberculosis Health Belief Questionnaire for Parents, and the Knowledge of TB pre and post-test Questionnaires were developed and previously pilot tested by the researcher. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, Chi square, and paired t-tests. Generally, the subjects were found to have a strong Mexican orientation and to have low total acculturation scores. Moderately high TB health belief pre-test and post-test scores indicated subjects had strong beliefs about TB susceptibility and seriousness of the illness. Knowledge of TB was related to total acculturation scores. Subjects TB Knowledge scores did not improve significantly after receiving the standard educational approach used in the clinic. Findings are discussed relative to current literature and the Children's Health Belief Model. Methodological issues are discussed and suggestions for use of the findings to guide continuing research and parent education policies are offered.</p>