Tuberculosis knowledge, attitude and practice among healthcare workers during the 2016 Hajj.

Alotaibi, Badriah, Yassin, Yara, Mushi, Abdulaziz, Maashi, Fuad, Thomas, Abin, Mohamed, Gamal, Hassan, Amir and Yezli, Saber (2019) 'Tuberculosis knowledge, attitude and practice among healthcare workers during the 2016 Hajj.'. PLoS ONE, Vol 14, Issue 1, e0210913.

Text KAP manuscript . submitted to PLOS ONE November 2018.docx - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (225kB)

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Given the inherent characteristics of the Hajj pilgrimage, the event is a risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of TB cases by knowledgeable and skilled healthcare workers (HCWs) are key in improving patients' outcome and preventing transmission during the Hajj mass gathering and globally.
METHOD
We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of HCWs deployed during the 2016 Hajj regarding TB and its management using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.
RESULTS
Data was collected from 540 HCWs from 13 hospitals. HCWs originated from 17 countries and included physicians, nurses and other non-administrative HCWs. Nearly half of HCWs declared having experience dealing with TB patients. In general, HCWs had average knowledge (mean knowledge score of 52%), above average attitude (mean attitude score of 73%) and good practice (mean practice score of 85%) regarding TB, based on our scoring system and cut-off points. Knowledge gaps were identified in relation to the definition of MDR-/XDR-TB and LTBI, smear microscopy results, length of standard TB treatment for drug-sensitive TB, 2nd line anti-TB drugs, BCG vaccination, and appropriate PPE to be used with active PTB patients. Poor attitudes were found in relation to willingness to work in TB clinic/ward and to the management and treatment of TB patients. Poor practices were reported for commencing anti-TB treatment on suspected TB cases before laboratory confirmation and not increasing natural ventilation in TB patients' rooms. Age, gender, nationality, occupation, length of work experience and experience dealing with TB patients were associated with knowledge scores. Age and occupation were associated with attitude scores while length of work experience and occupation were associated with practice scores. There was a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between score for knowledge and attitude (rs = 0.11, p = 0.009) and attitude and practice (rs = 0.13, p = 0.002).
CONCLUSIONS
While the results of the study are encouraging, important knowledge gaps and some poor attitudes and practices regarding TB were identified among HCWs during Hajj. This calls for multifaceted interventions to improve HCWs KAP regarding TB including tailored, periodic TB education and training aimed at boosting knowledge and improving behaviour.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	W General Medicine. Health Professions > Health Services. Patients and Patient Advocacy > W 85 Patients. Attitude and compliance W General Medicine. Health Professions > W 21 Medicine as a profession. WA Public Health > WA 4 Works on general hygiene WF Respiratory System > Tuberculosis > WF 200 Tuberculosis (General)
Faculty: Department:	Education
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210913
Depositing User:	Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2019 12:36
Last Modified:	20 Jun 2019 14:55
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/10092

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