Abstract
Introduction: Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable disease but still is second most common cause of death among infectious diseases in India. But in a country like India, early diagnosis of active cases are still an area of difficulty. Early diagnosis and management by knowledgeable and skilled healthcare workers (HCWs) are key in addressing this health issue. Tuberculosis (TB) is a one major public health problem in India, thus assessment of knowledge is essential to plan, implement, and evaluate advocacy and may improve the case detection rate.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in National Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. A questionnaire was given to 150 healthcare workers including 75 doctors, 50 nursing staff and 25 technicians. The responses were then analysed.
Result: The total number of respondents was 150, 75 were doctors, 50 were nursing staff and 25 were technician. Study population consisting of 66.66% male and 33.33% female. All participants were over 15 years old and more than half of them (65.32%) were within 30-50 years. About 96% were residing in rural areas. Most of the patients belong to 30-49 years (38.66%) with 35% males and 23% of female in this category. Among 150 healthcare workers, doctors were well aware of tuberculosis, but knowledge of nurses and technicians were slightly lacking. Although 90% and 80% of nursing staff and technicians respectively knew that pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious. 67.33 % of healthcare workers were of rural area, out of which 88% are technicians and 98% are nursing staff. 60% of doctors belong to urban area.
Conclusion: In conclusion, after assessing data doctors are well aware of knowledge regarding tuberculosis, but nursing staff and technicians lack sufficient knowledge. They are still in need of continuing programs to educate them regarding control and prevention of this disease. Initiative should be taken in each and every hospital to start RNTCP sensitization program at regular intervals. Thus improved knowledge on tuberculosis of healthcare workers will contribute to better management of this disease and will help in long term plan to eradicate tuberculosis from India.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, knowledge, healthcare workers, infection, nursing staff, doctors, technicians.
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Corresponding Author
Dr Manan Bedi
Junior Resident, Department of Respiratory Medicine, NIMS &R, Jaipur, Rajasthan
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i10.11
