Tuberculosis in Lombok

A study investigating the treatment adherence of tuberculosis (TB) patients in East Lombok utilized a questionnaire grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM) as its primary instrument. The questionnaire was designed to assess six key components: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy. Responses were recorded using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” The study included 112 TB patients, most of whom were male (57.1%) and aged over 50 (44.6%). A significant portion of participants were smokers (41.1%), while alcohol use was minimal (8.9%). Educational levels were generally low, with 35.7% having only completed primary education, and unemployment was common among respondents (40.2%).

The findings revealed that most participants held moderate perceptions of vulnerability (44.6%) and seriousness (53.6%) regarding TB. Similarly, 49.1% had moderate perceptions of treatment benefits, while 40.2% reported relatively low perceived barriers. Half of the participants (50.9%) reported receiving external support, categorized as cues to action, and 31.3% exhibited low self-efficacy. In terms of health behaviors, 58% of TB patients were adherent to their treatment regimens, whereas 42% were not. Statistical analysis indicated that perceived susceptibility (p = 0.022) and perceived benefits (p = 0.006) were positively associated with adherence. Patients with high perceived susceptibility were 1.617 times more likely to adhere to treatment. On the other hand, perceived barriers (p = 0.045) were negatively associated with adherence, reducing the likelihood of adherence by 31.6%. Additionally, cues to action (p = 0.004) and self-efficacy (p = 0.009) also had significant positive effects.

While the results offer valuable insights, the study’s cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality between HBM components and TB-related health behaviors. Furthermore, reliance on self-reported data introduces the possibility of social desirability bias, where participants may have provided responses they deemed more socially acceptable. Despite these limitations, the study highlights the importance of addressing both psychological and contextual factors to improve TB treatment adherence. Interventions that strengthen positive perceptions and reduce barriers—while being sensitive to local cultural and social realities—may lead to more effective public health strategies in regions like East Lombok.

Source: Suprijandani, S., Setiawan, S., Pathurrahman, P., Wardoyo, S. and Rahayyu, A.M., 2025. The behaviour of TB patients in East Lombok through a health belief model approach. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), p.23.