Impact of National Tuberculosis Elimination Program sensitization workshop on health-care workers in a Medical College and Hospital in Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) has been haunting humanity for decades. Even with the existing treatment modalities and preventive measures, it continues to be among the top 10 killers in the world. India had 2.69 million cases in the year 2018, with 440,000 deaths due to TB alone. Hence, in this scenario, the knowledge of the health-care providers play a crucial role in the efforts of the Stop TB strategy of the National TB Elimination Program. This study aims to assess baseline knowledge and impact of TB sensitization program among nurses, interns, and postgraduate students in a Medical College Hospital in Karnataka. Materials and Methods: The methodology involved a questionnaire to assess the baseline knowledge of the participants of the RNTCP sensitization program. The same was repeated after completion of the program. Analysis: Data were entered into excel spreadsheets and analyzed using SPSS software. Proportions and paired t-test were used to assess the impact of the training on the participants. Results: The mean baseline knowledge among nurses, interns, and postgraduate students was 38.02%, 30.61%, and 34.04%, which improved by 40%, 57%, and 60%, respectively, after the training program. Conclusions: A highly significant (P < 0.001) difference was found in the pretest and posttest scores of the nurses, interns, and postgraduate students, indicating that training increased the knowledge scores of the Health Care Workers (HCW's) significantly. Hence, regular trainings are recommended to keep the HCWs updated on TB facts and strategies in the country.

Keywords

• health-care workers
• knowledge
• revised national tuberculosis control program training
• tuberculosis