<![CDATA[Pulmonary tuberculosis is a communicable infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The prolonged and complex treatment, disease complications, and various other concerns can induce psychological stress in patients. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the duration of illness and stress levels among pulmonary tuberculosis patients at the Kota Utara Community Health Center. This was a quantitative study utilizing a cross-sectional approach. The study population consisted of 57 pulmonary tuberculosis patients within the working area of the Kota Utara Community Health Center. A sample of 50 respondents was selected using purposive sampling. Research instruments included demographic data collection and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the Spearman rank test. The majority of the sample (33 individuals, or approximately 66%) fell into the category of having suffered from the disease for more than two months. Most respondents (23 individuals, or 46%) fell into the severe stress category. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis revealed a relationship between the duration of illness and stress levels among pulmonary tuberculosis patients, with a correlation coefficient of 0.714, indicating a strong positive relationship. Furthermore, a p-value of < 0.001 indicated that this relationship was statistically highly significant. The findings suggest that the longer an individual suffers from pulmonary tuberculosis, the higher their stress level tends to be. These results are expected to provide valuable input for improving the quality of healthcare services, particularly by addressing the psychological aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis patients through stress level screening.]]>
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