Assessment of Loneliness and Depression Status of Tuberculosis Patients Who Applied to Sakarya Tuberculosis Control Dispensary

Abstract

Background: This study was planned by using a descriptive and cross-sectional research model in order to examine the loneliness and depression status of tuberculosis patients who applied to Sakarya Tuberculosis Control Dispensary. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out with 100 tuberculosis patients who applied to Sakarya Tuberculosis Control Dispensary between September 2016 and February 2017, after obtaining institutional permission and ethics committee approval. Analysis of data collected using information form including socio-demographic characteristics, UCLA III Loneliness Scale and Beck Depression Scale were performed using percentage, mean, Independent Sample t test, One Way Variance Analysis (ANOVA) and Pearson Correlation test in computer environment. Results: The mean UCLA III score of the patients was calculated as 44.02±14.09 and the mean score of the BDS was calculated as 35.61±10.00. It was determined that age and income level did not affect loneliness levels, however depression scores were significantly affected, mean loneliness scores decreased significantly as education level increased, and loneliness scores of long-term treated patients were high. It was determined that there was no significant difference between the characteristics of gender, marital status, working status and disease, and loneliness and depression status. It was observed that as the level of loneliness increased, depression levels increased as well. Conclusions: As a result, it was determined that tuberculosis patients experienced loneliness and depression. For this reason, it is recommended that tuberculosis patients should be regularly evaluated in terms of these parameters and should receive the necessary professional support.