Knowledge about tuberculosis among undergraduate medical students in a private college in Chennai

Authors

  • Revathi R. Department of Community Medicine, Chengalpattu Medical College, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Dharanisri R. Department of Community Medicine, Chengalpattu Medical College, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20180243

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, Knowledge, Medical students, Chennai

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is an ancient global public health problem. In India despite of persistent government efforts in the form of revised national anti-tuberculosis programme (RNTCP) and directly observed treatment strategy (DOTS), TB still remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in India. Multi-drug resistant TB and extensively drug resistant TB are other threats to present anti-TB strategies.

Methods: Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of undergraduate about tuberculosis under various headings of about tuberculosis, etiology, risk factors, diagnosis, complications and treatment. The present cross-sectional study was done in the private medical college in Chennai among 90 undergraduate medical students.

Results: Regarding knowledge of tuberculosis, clinical features of TB, was more than 80% in interns. But the knowledge about diagnosis was only 70%. At the same time the treatment options and drugs available was known to 85% of undergraduates. Correct duration in months and schedule of giving drugs on alternate days was not known to 15% of students.

Conclusions: Although awareness is created through world tuberculosis day, CMES, conferences, yet hands on training in treating tuberculosis to be given to the undergraduates as this the crucial period for learning. 

References

World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report, 2012. Available at: www.who.int/tb/ publications/global_report /en/. Accessed on 5 November 2013.

Central TB division, Ministry of health and family welfare. TB India 2013: RNTCPAnnual Status Report. New Delhi: NirmanBhavan; 2013.

Sarin R. MDR-TB-Interventional strategy. Indian J Tuberc. 2007;54:110-6.

Kiefer E, Shao T, Carasquillo O. Knowledge and attitudes of tuberculosis Management in San Juan de Lurigancho district of Lima, Peru. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2009;3(10):783-8.

Kutare A, Rosario M, Goudb N. A Study on Knowledge of Tuberculosis, DOTS And MDR-TB among Interns of Medical Colleges in Bangalore. Int J Health Sci Res. 2012; 2(3):32-8.

Khan JA, Zahid S, Khan R, Hussain SF, Rizvi N, Rab A, et al. Medical interns’ knowledge of TB in Pakistan. Trop Doct. 2005;35:144-7.

Rajpal S, Mittal A, Dhingra VK, Malhotra R, Gupta R, Malhotra C, et al. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding Tuberculosis and DOTS among interns in Delhi. Ind J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2007;17:457-61.

Giri PA, Phalke DB. Impact of sensitization workshop on knowledge regarding tuberculosis among final year medical students. International Journal Medicine Public Health. 2013;2(3):100-3.

Busari O, Adeyemi A, Olusogo B. Knowledge of tuberculosis and its management Practices among medical interns in a resource-poor setting: implications for disease control In sub Saharan Africa. The Internet Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2013;6(2):1-5.

Singla N. Survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices for tuberculosis among general practitioners in Delhi, India. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 1998;2(5):384-9.

Downloads

Published

2018-01-24

How to Cite

R., R., & R., D. (2018). Knowledge about tuberculosis among undergraduate medical students in a private college in Chennai. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 5(2), 644–646. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20180243

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles