Assessment of Knowledge Attitude and Practice on Tuberculosis Patients on Dots Therapy

Introduction: An estimated incidence figure of 2.2 million cases of Tuberculosis (TB) out of a global incidence of 8.6 million cases was found, making India the world's highest Tuberculosis burden country in 2014. Effective treatment of TB requires compliance to a minimum of 6 months treatment with multiple drugs.Patient adherence to the standard anti-TB therapy in developing countries has been estimated to be as low as 40%. Hence, this study assessed the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among patients on DOTs (Direct Observed Treatment,Short-course) therapy across various DOTS centres in Bengaluru, South India.

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess KAP of TB patients in DOTs centers

Methodology: A Prospective-Educational Interventional study on 113 patients, receiving DOTS therapy was conducted on DOT's centres in Hoskote region for a period of six months.Patient's level of knowledge attitude and practice were assessed using suitable KAP questionnaire.

Result & Discussion: Out of 113 patients studied, 46.9 % (N=53) were found to have poor KAP, 52.2 %( N=59) were found to have medium KAP and 0.88% (N=1) were found to have high KAP during the baseline interview. Only sixteen percent of the respondent's family had acceptable attitude whereas eighty two percent of the respondents had non-acceptable attitude. From the study it was clear that there is still a need to strengthen the educational activities on TB through mass media; they are excellent venues for information-dissemination and pharmacist assisted care/counseling.

Conclusion: The prospective-educational study revealed that although knowledge regarding curability and duration of treatment were satisfactory, but knowledge about symptoms, mode of transmission, preventive measures, life style modifications were not up to the mark. There is still a great need to educate individuals on priority basis.