1Associate Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Barnala Road, Bathinda-151101, Punjab, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Barnala Road, Bathinda-151101, Punjab, India
*Corresponding author email id: dharampalsudan@gmail.com
Online published on 16 December, 2014.
Awareness and knowledge for tuberculosis and Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program – Directly Observed Treatment Short course (RNTCP-DOTS) among doctors working and teaching in a tertiary care institute is always a challenge.
Aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of doctors of AIMSR, Bathinda, Punjab regarding RNTCP-DOTS.
We included secondary population in this study, who is working in this institute. A questionnaire from medical officers training module I–V of RNTCP was prepared and given to them to answer. One hundred thirty-five doctors including Interns from various clinical departments took part during a sensitisation session held for this purpose.
In this study, 85.9% participants has correct knowledge about the symptoms of tuberculosis. Eighty per cent doctors answered that two sputum samples are examined for detecting a case of tuberculosis (TB) as compared to 46.6% interns. Anti-TB drugs can cause jaundice and joint pain was answered correctly by 87% and 90% doctors, respectively, where as 89.3% and 70.6% interns answered correctly respectively.
Efforts should be made to bridge the gap in the awareness of TB in doctors and Interns. The internship training period should included at least 7 days practical training on RNTCP-DOTS, goals, objectives, policies, guidelines along with sputum microscopy and staining practice.
Knowledge, Target population, Questionnaire based study, Tuberculosis, Awareness, Analysis, Revised national tuberculosis control program, Directly observed treatment-shortcourse
