Knowledge and Awareness of Tuberculosis among Patients Attending Out-Patient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis, though being an age old infectious disease, India still finds it difficult to combat this infection due to lack of knowledge and awareness among general population. This disease still remains a social stigma and many patients try to conceal their illness from family, friends and relatives. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis among general patients attending outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in patients >18yrs of age attending general outpatient department, after obtaining informed consent using a structured pretested standardized questionnaire. Sample size was 420 patients. Data entered in excel sheet and results given in percentage. Results: About 86.19% knew that India had high TB burden, 72.86% were aware of the infective etiology. 51.19% thought it affected all ages with a male preponderance (63.09%).80.48% considered cough as most common symptom. Only 48.10% knew about DOTS centers, 40.95% of the free treatment available ,53.10% of the curability of the disease and 55.48% about the fact that TB can lead to death. Conclusion: Though the awareness of symptoms, causative agent, mode of spread were reasonably good, knowledge on availability of DOTS centers, free treatment, curability and TB possibility leading to death is still poor among rural population.