Determination of self-esteem levels of patients with tuberculosis

Tuberculosis patients and determining the perception of their illnesses are important in increasing treatment adaptation. Decrease in self-esteem because of illness cause losing self confidence, deteriorating social relations and giving up struggle against illness. The aim of this study was to determine self-esteem levels of patients with tuberculosis. Descriptive and cross section study. Study was done on patients (n= 120) who were treated for pulmonary tuberculosis in "Izmir Chest Diseases and Surgical, Education, Practice and Research Hospital" between January 2001 and February 2001. Average self-esteem points of the patients were found to be 57.50 +/- 14.09 (minimum 24, maximum 84). It was observed that being unemployed and housewife, not having a job, effects on economic status of the patient, not having a hope to recover, change in family and social relations and not having social support decreased average self-esteem points of the patients.