| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
|
| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 5
| Issue : 3 | Page : 206-208 |
|
|
To study the knowledge about tuberculosis management and national tuberculosis program among medical students and aspiring doctors in a high tubercular endemic country
Dinesh Mehta1, Rishabh Bassi2, Manjeet Singh3, Chavi Mehta4
1 Department of Pulmonary Medicine, MMIMSR, Ambala, India
2 Department of Anaesthesiology, LNJP, Delhi, India
3 Department of Physiology, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
4 Department of ENT, Mehta Hospital, Yamunanagar, Haryana, India
Correspondence Address:
Dinesh Mehta
406, Model Colony, Yamunanagar, Haryana - 135001
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.98620
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
| [FULL TEXT] [PDF]* |
|
 |
|
