"We don't really do doctors." messages from people diagnosed with occupational leptospirosis for medical professionals on infection, hospitalisation, and long-term effects.
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Date
2023-09
Open Access Location
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Rights
(c) 2023 The Author/s
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
Leptospirosis is largely an occupational disease for people working with livestock in Aotearoa New Zealand. Introduction of livestock vaccination and use of personal protective equipment has been associated with a reduction in the incidence. However, the incidence of occupational leptospirosis remains high, with significant burdens for affected families and healthcare system. For this article, a subset of thirteen participants from a nationwide leptospirosis case-control study (2019-2021) who were diagnosed with leptospirosis and worked with livestock at the time of illness were invited and agreed to a semi-structured interview. Interviewees reflected on their experiences as messages for medical professionals. The analysis of transcripts reveals widely shared experiences with infection, hospitalisation, and treatment, as well as long-term effects and recovery. Conclusions for medical professionals include that ill workers continue to have their diagnosis of leptospirosis delayed. This delay may contribute to more than half the people ill with leptospirosis hospitalised. Further, medical professionals' communication and relationship with ill people strongly colours the latter's experience, for good or for bad. Moreover, most interviewees experienced a recovery process that took several months of feeling tired, which undermined professional performance and emotional wellbeing.
Description
Keywords
Diagnostic testing, Lived experiences, Long-term effects, Occupational leptospirosis, medical communication
Citation
Prinsen G, Baker M, Benschop J, Collins-Emerson J, Douwes J, Fayaz A, Littlejohn S, Nisa S, Quin T, Yeung P. (2023). "We don't really do doctors." messages from people diagnosed with occupational leptospirosis for medical professionals on infection, hospitalisation, and long-term effects.. Heliyon. 9. 9. (pp. e19303-).