ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Tuberculosis among the elderly: health care system gateway and late diagnosis

Séfora Luana Evangelista de Andrade^I; Débora César de Souza Rodrigues^II; Anne Jaquelyne Roque Barrêto^III; Annelissa Andrade Virgínio de Oliveira^IV; Ana Rita Bizerra do Nascimento Santos^V; Lenilde Duarte de Sá^VI

^I Nurse. Ph.D. student of the Graduate Program in Nursing at the Federal University of Paraíba. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: seforaejoab@hotmail.com
^II Nurse at the Family Health Strategy. Municipal Health Secretary. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: deboracesarufpb@gmail.com
^III Nurse. Professor at the Federal University of Campina Grande. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: annejaque@gmail.com
^IV Nurse. Ph.D. student of the Graduate Program in Collective Health of the University of Brasília. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: annelissa_ufpb@hotmail.com
^V Nurse. Master degree in Nursing by the Graduate Program in Nursing of the Federal University of Paraíba. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: anaritabizerra@hotmail.com
^VI Nurse. Ph.D. in Nursing. Associate Professor of the Department of Nursing at the Federal University of Paraíba. João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. E-mail: lenilde_sa@yahoo.com.br

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12957/reuerj.2016.5702

ABSTRACT

Objective: to examine the factors related to late diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) among the elderly in a town in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil, and evaluate them in relation to the system gateway. Method: in this qualitative study with the participation of seven elderly individuals, data were collected by semi-structured interview and analyzed by thematic content analysis. The study was approved by the research ethics committee (Protocol No. 0589/2008). Results: primary health care (PHC) did not figure as the main gateway for the elderly for diagnosis of tuberculosis in the city studied, revealing that PHC organization suffers from weaknesses relating to health actions, access and bonding, which interfere with the utilization of PHC as a gateway. Conclusion: a new work process logic is required in which health practices prioritize technologies that potentiate reception and bonding, for earlier confirmation of diagnosis and start of TB treatment.

Keywords: Primary health care; family health strategy; health of the elderly; tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a problem of global importance. Even after more than a century of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus identification and about 50 years after the discovery of a specific and effective medicine treatment, TB continues to increase in an absolute number of cases, characterized as a neglected calamity¹.

In Brazil, the TB control is a priority in the government health policies, and its implementation is carried out by the of the Family Health Strategy teams (ESF) which, under the concept of primary health care (APS) the responsibility is for the care of the patient with TB². Therefore, it is noteworthy that the ESF is configured as an APS model in Brazil³ .

In this sense, it should be noted that in Brazil, to differentiate the selective design of existing APS in other countries, the name of Primary Health Care (ABS) started to be used³ - defined as health actions at the individual and collective level, located on the first level of attention focused on health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and health maintenance⁴. Therefore, in this study, ABS and APS were adopted as synonyms and acronyms.

The ABS have the following dimensions: access, door entry, link, service list, coordination, family focus, community orientation and training. This study is based on the door entry dimension, which involves access and the use of the ABS service in every new problem or a new episode of a problem for which people seek health care, always like the first sought care, except in emergency cases⁵.

Thus, the ESF, incorporating the main control measures for TB, should act as the patient´s door entry to the various health care levels. However, the decentralization of TB control actions to the door entry of municipal health systems has been hampered by favoring then abandoning the treatment of TB⁶ and delay diagnosis.

Following the global trend of population aging, there is the incidence of TB in the higher age groups in Brazil even slowly^7,8. Thus, the elderly population growth together with the resurgence of TB gives greater concern to scholars and the health authorities, justifying detailed studies and incisive action against the disease in this age group⁹.

Considering TB in the elderly is an emerging and complex health problem, given the peculiarities of the disease and the presence of other features that favor its severity⁷ and, despite the efforts made in the care of that patient, the delay to diagnosis remains a stumbling block, aggravating and enhancing the spread of the disease. It is necessary to study the elements related to this event to identify their weaknesses and strengths to optimize the production of care to the patient within the ABS.

Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the factors related to delayed diagnosis of TB in the elderly in one of the municipalities in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa/Paraíba, Brazil, evaluating them under the door entry dimension.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The increased incidence of TB in the higher age groups is not a reality only in Brazil, because, according to different studies, this epidemiological problem is being recorded and experienced by other countries in the world, which indicate that although the number of TB cases have decreased, there is an increased incidence of cases in the elderly compared to the general population^10-13.

Following the highest incidence of TB in the elderly, there is also an increase in mortality rates from the disease in this age group, associated scenario mainly due to increase in the elderly population; the specific conditions of age; the socioeconomic components and health policies⁹.

The clinical presentation of TB in the elderly is variable¹⁴, moving away from the classic symptoms and features, especially not characteristic symptoms, such as anorexia, weakness, weight loss and mental changes^14,15. This often means a delay in diagnosis by the difficulty of recognizing the clinical picture, which is often confused with aging changes for health professionals and family members, or not properly reported by the patient^7,14,16,17.

There is still no consensus about the time that sets the delay in the diagnosis of TB. Studies show that, in this delay, the time ranged from 30-162 days, and the health system 2-18 days. The delay in diagnosis related to TB patient reflects the delay in seeking medical service after the onset of symptoms of the disease, and, in the health service, the time interval between the first visit at any health unit until the date of diagnosis^18,19.

Access to the diagnosis of TB should be provided at first contact with the patient, and this happens in the system is the door entry. The National Primary Care Policy (PNAB) in Brazil provides that the ABS is responsible for providing services in primary care, acting as a door entry to the health system⁴.

Thus, the ABS contemplating the main actions for the control of TB should work as a patient entrance door with TB for the various health care levels, enabling a comprehensive service and more resolute, especially to old people.

METHODOLOGY

This is a qualitative research, conducted by the content analysis technique, thematic mode²¹. It was developed in one of the municipalities in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa/PB, considered a priority for TB control by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Participants were seven elderly people who underwent the treatment of TB. The inclusion criteria were: to be over 60, have completed TB treatment in health units in the city setting and reside in it. Elderly people who fit the study profile were identified by the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) and are identified by the letter C of customers, and arranged in the sequence they were interviewed, that is C1 to C7.

The empirical material was obtained by the technique of a semi-structured interview. Information was collected from December 2010 to February 2011 in the residence of the participants and recorded individually, with the audio handset.

For the treatment of information, the content analysis technique (AC) was used, a thematic mode proposed by Bardin²². The steps used for processing the data were pre-analysis in which the initial reading of the testimony was conducted, constituted by the analysis of the corpus, followed by an exhaustive reading of the material; analysis where the registration units were selected (phrases), forming a cut of the reports and subsequent organization. Then, the themes were built emerging the following categories: Health Care Network Use Flow for elderly people with TB and Weaknesses in the professional bond/service - patient.

Considering the ethical aspects and by Resolution Nº 196/96 CNS, the research project was submitted to the Ethics Committee on Research of the Health Sciences Center of the Federal University of Paraíba - CCS/UFPB being approved on December 17, 2008, under Protocol Nº 0589.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Health Care Network Use Flow for elderly people with TB

Through the ESF, THE PNAB consolidates the ABS as the preferred door entry to the Unified Health System (SUS) and the starting point for the structuring of local health systems being responsible for servicing the first level of health care⁴. In theory, the ESF is configured as the health service gateway, helping to maintain healthy habits and better quality of life for human beings, seeking health promotion and disease prevention for all²³.

However, the elderly in their reports showed that the first health services sought for diagnosis and treatment of their disease were the specialist hospital, the private hospital, and other health services. It is noteworthy that only one mentioned searching ESF for initial care, and in this case, it was the search for a referral to a more specialized level:

Thus, the ESF was not the door entry to elderly people with TB in the city studied. In this sense, this study confirms the results of other research showing that the ABS services are not the first sought by TB patients and not the first to be effective for diagnostic confirmation^24,25. This reveals the incipient performance of these services in the diagnosis and control of TB that in this case is extensive to the elderly²⁴.

The results showed a parallel performance of services, in which the ESF does not work as a mandatory filter for specialized care, accessed directly by the patient, suggesting weaknesses in the health services network organization of the municipality studied. This may contribute to the delay in diagnosis, being a threat to the control and early diagnosis of TB, and contribute to the worsening of the patient´s health status, once the disease at an advanced stage and the extension the transmission period of the disease are discovered.

A study in a Brazilian Northeast capital evaluating the access to diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in the ESF showed that although most patients seek health facilities for diagnosis of the disease, such services were not prepared and not organized to meet the needs of patients, not effectively ensuring early diagnosis²⁶.

For the gradual horizontalization of the health care organization²⁷, the ESF must observe the principle of comprehensiveness, articulated to a set of health actions on the individual and the environment to control this disease, the protection of vulnerable groups or exposed the risks and access to health services²⁸ that is, in a conformation in health care networks. The care networks are the organization of health services oriented non-hierarchical relationships of common goals sharing among various actors with the exchange of resources among themselves²⁹.

Thus, this understanding enables the formation of a horizontal network of health care centers in different technological densities and their support systems, without order and degree of importance between them²⁹. Thus, the ESF has been adopted as the care model change of perspective in the ABS with the constitution of this strategy as the preference gateway²⁶.

The organization of the health services network flow use with the ESF as the first contact of the patient with the service is also expected in the elderly care, as established by the policy. It defines the health care of this age group to be the ABS gateway, concerning the network of specialized services of medium and high complexity³⁰. In this context, proposed as the point of the first contact with the patient, the ABS should identify the real submitted care needs to maximize the effectiveness of primary and specialized care services. Thus, it diminishes the occurrence of unnecessary and excessive specialized interventions that generate high costs for the health care system, and thereby strengthen the principle of equity⁵.

However, the reports of the elderly reveal a contradiction with what is recommended. Thus, it emphasizes the transfer of responsibilities of the family health units (USF) to the highest technological content services:

It is observed that despite the ESF has the potential to organize and develop the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of TB³¹ , it is not being sought by the elderly affected by the disease for their diagnosis and treatment, occurring the reverse referral, that is, the specialized service for the next USF of residence, reflecting disruption of the flow of the elderly people with TB in the network of health services.

When seeking the specialized service, the elderly with TB recognizes the referral hospital as the appropriate place for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases such as TB, using local historically defined and socially recognized place as effective to do it. Thus, it must also be pointed out the influence of prejudice that still accompanies the disease in this search process by the health service, since there is no denying that the stigma surrounding the compete disease to undermine the process of decentralization of TB control actions for the services of ABS³² .

Weaknesses in the professional bond/service - patient

From the reports, it is evident that older people believe in resolute proposal by technologies used in other levels of care, which can interfere with their relationship of trust/distrust as to obtain successful results in the services offered by USF and its role as gateway to the health system:

The way patients are welcomed, and the link established between them and the health service reinforce feelings of reliability. This facilitates the demand for services closer to solving their needs. However, the pursuit of other health levels by the elderly of this study reveals that there was no training services link between professionals and the community in which they live. That is, this reality contradicts the existence of a regular supply of care by health staff and their consistent use over time, in an environment of the mutual and humane relationship between health staff, individuals, and family³³.

The link is considered a dimension of ABS and presupposes the existence of a regular source of care and use over time³⁴. Existing weaknesses in its construction, between the healthcare team and the TB patient, can lead to decreased quality and effectiveness of control actions of the disease within the ABS³³. One of the actions identified in a study to bring more health professionals of tuberculosis patients was the home visit. This visit is a health promotion space and building links that strengthen the care³⁵.

Another event that draws attention to the reports of the participants is that even aware of the existence of USF, next to their home, these elderly people have chosen to look for another health service in search of the diagnosis of TB, passing, most of the time, by problems of transportation to the more distant services:

The decentralization of TB control actions to the ABS services was based on the way these services are organized: by territories. The geographical proximity of the individual with the health service facilitates access to diagnosis and adherence to treatment of the disease. However, only the geographical proximity does not determine the patients´ choice for health services, which is influenced by the relationship between patients and professionals, motivating them to seek certain health service, even more distant²⁵.

Although the expansion of the basic network have contributed to improving geographical accessibility³⁶, it is observed that having health units close to the patients´ home, it did not improve to seek for this service to identify it as a gateway to the network of health services. By choosing the demand for reference services or hospitals, the elderly found geographical barriers related to distance and transportation costs. It is known that the most affected group by geographical barriers, with difficult access to the network at the time of greatest need, is that one formed by older people with limited socioeconomicconditions^37,38. In this sense, it is evident the need for strengthening of host actions and the link between the professionals of the health services of ABS and patients, to enhance the ABS as the gateway and to minimize the impact of barriers identified.

CONCLUSION

This study enabled to verify that the ABS is not configured as a major door entry of respiratory symptomatic elderly of TB for diagnosis in the city studied, revealing that the organization of ABS has weaknesses relating to health actions, access and link, that interfere with the pursuit of ABS as a gateway. This fact contributes to the delay in diagnosis, being a threat to the control and early diagnosis of TB and contributing to the worsening of the health status of patients and extension of transmission of the disease.

Thus, a new logic of the work process is required for the execution of the ABS as the main gateway to the local health system, based on changes in local health policy to universalize health care as recommended by SUS. In this sense, it is essential that health practices prioritize technologies that enhance host and link, to abbreviate the confirmation of the diagnosis and early treatment of TB and other diseases.

As a study limitation, the difficulty of the location and access to research participants is highlighted, since the collection of the reports was the residence of the elderly and the first contact depended on the availability of community health worker unit in which the elderly completed the TB treatment. Also, the study has a limit of not contemplate elderly residing in all health districts of the county health scenario. Moreover, despite not allow generalizations, the results raise discussions about the fragility of ABS as an entrance door of the elderly with TB to health care services.

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