Assessment of the level of awareness about tuberculosis among the different stakeholders of a medical college, Tamil Nadu

2016-10-10T18-48-24Z
Source: TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin
Saurabh RamBihariLal Shrivastava, Prateek Saurabh Shrivastava, Jegadeesh Ramasamy.
Background: Globally, tuberculosis (TB) has been acknowledged as one of the deadliest infectious disease. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of awareness about TB among the different stakeholders of a medical college and to formulate a comprehensive action plan to strengthen the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) activities. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of five months duration (September 2015 to January 2016) was conducted among the representative section of the various stakeholders of a medical college. A pre-tested, semi-structured schedule was designed after thoroughly studying the national TB training modules. All the study participants were interviewed using the schedule after obtaining their informed consent. In addition, a thorough inspection of the hospital and medical college was done to assess the status of ACSM activities. Results: Among the different stakeholders (doctors, paramedical staff, patients, relatives) who participated in the study, the clinicians 38(24.8%) group accounted for maximum respondents. The knowledge level of medical fraternity (viz. specialists / pre and para-clinical doctors and MBBS doctors) pertaining to the definition of cure, drugs used for multi-drug resistant TB, honorarium for DOT provider, and utility of Mantoux test among adults was quite poor and recorded as only 31.1%, 37.7%, 44.3%, and 42.6% respectively. Conclusion: To conclude, the present study has provided valuable insights about the knowledge of TB among all the stakeholders and the status of the ACSM activities in a medical college. Based on the study findings, a comprehensive action plan has been developed to bridge the existing gaps and strengthen the overall ACSM activities pertaining to TB within the medical college settings.


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