To study the knowledge about tuberculosis management and national tuberculosis program among medical students and aspiring doctors in a high tubercular endemic country

Abstract

Background: More than eight million people develop active tuberculosis annually and most of the cases are detected in the developing world. This study aims to describe the knowledge about tuberculosis management and knowledge about national tuberculosis control program among medical students and young doctors in a developing country. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire based survey was conducted among 112 interns and post graduate students of a tertiary care hospital to study the knowledge about tuberculosis and national tuberculosis control program among these doctors. Results: Of the 112 respondents to the questionnaire The number of sputum specimens required for diagnosis under RNTCP was responded correctly by only 57%, the time duration in which sputum specimen should be processed was told correctly by only 42.5%, while the sputum examination guidelines for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was responded correctly by only 27%. The awareness of serious forms of sputum-negative pulmonary tuberculosis was 21%, while serious form of extra pulmonary tuberculosis was known to be only 33%. The correct categorization of tuberculosis patients was done by only 56% of the respondents, while treatment of tubercular meningitis was marked correctly by 69% of the respondents. Conclusions: This study indicates a low level of knowledge among participants despite DOTS covering the entire country at present. This study indicates an enormous challenge and an urgent need to revamp and reform undergraduate medical education and change in medical curriculum with need instituting practical training at Directly Observed treatment Short Course (DOTS) centers in the curriculum of medical students in India.

Assessment of Knowledge on management of Pulmonary Tuberculosis under RNTCP among graduating Interns and Postgraduate students in RIMS Imphal.

“…[8] The number of sputum specimens required for diagnosis under RNTCP was responded correctly by only 57% and correct categorization of tuberculosis patients was done by only 56% of the respondents. In our study 78.9% of the respondents could correctly answer the number of sputum samples required for diagnosis and 63.2% correctly answered the categorization of patients in RNTCP.…”

Assessment of knowledge regarding tuberculosis in the context of revised national tuberculosis control program among budding doctors

“…Corresponding figures among interns, postgraduate students and private practitioners were in Hoogly by Datta et al (26%), [3] in Nagpur by Khadse et al. (26.1%), [4] in Davangere by Jayaprakash (58.0%), [5] in Kolkata by Dasgupta and Chattopadhyay (43.8%), [6] in Varodara by Baxi and Shah (30.7%), [7] in Jamnagar by Yadav et al (21.4%), [8] in North India by Mehta et al (57.0%), [9] and in Pune by Bogam and Sagare (52.7%), [12] correct method of sputum collection was known to about 42.5% [9] and 44% of the participants [6] respectively.…”

“…[1] Although some studies in India [3][4][5][6][7][8] have documented inadequate TB knowledge among practicing physicians, such studies among medical interns are very few in our country. [9][10][11][12] With this view of context, the present study was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness about various aspects of TB among junior doctors (future physicians) of tertiary care hospitals of West Bengal and their adherence to the RNTCP guidelines in India and hence that this current status of knowledge can help the authority to develop the strategy for improving the situation in the future.…”

Assessment of knowledge of intern doctors of a medical college hospital in Karnataka on revised national TB control programme

“…6 In a study done by Bogam R R in a medical college in Maharashtra in 2013, 15 (14.7%) could correctly identify the number of sputum samples required for TB screening and diagnosis. 7 Whereas 79.51% (66) of the respondents correctly identified the case definition of smear positive TB in our study.…”