Dataset Information

A survey of TB knowledge among medical students in Southwest China: is the information reaching the target?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Tuberculosis (TB) control in schools is a concern in low-income and middle-income countries with high TB burdens. TB knowledge is recognised as important for TB control in China, which has one of the highest TB prevalence in the world. Accordingly, National TB Control Guideline in China emphasised TB-health education in schools as one of the core strategies for improving TB knowledge among the population. It was important to assess the level of TB knowledge in schools following 5-year implementation of the guideline, to determine whether the information was reaching the targets.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Methods and study setting

This survey assessed TB knowledge and access to TB-health information by questionnaire survey with 1486 undergraduates from two medical universities in Southwest China.

Results

Overall, the students had inadequate TB knowledge. Only 24.1%, 27.2% and 34.1% of the students had knowledge of TB symptoms of cough/blood-tinged sputum, their local TB dispensaries and free TB treatment policy, respectively. Very few (14.5%) had heard about the Directly Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS), and only about half (54%) had ever accessed TB-health education information. Exposure to health education messages was significantly associated with increased knowledge of the five core TB knowledge as follows: classic TB symptoms of cough/blood-tinged sputum (OR (95% CI) 0.5(0.4 to 0.7)), TB modes of transmission (OR (95% CI) 0.4(0.3 to 0.5)), curability of TB (OR (95% CI) 0.6(0.5 to 0.7)), location and services provided by TB local dispensaries (OR (95% CI) 0.6(0.5 to 0.8)) and the national free TB treatment policy (OR (95% CI) 0.7(0.5 to 0.8)).

Conclusions

The findings pose the question of whether it is time for a rethink of the current national and global approach to TB-health education/promotion which favours promotion of awareness on World TB Days rather than regular community sensitisation efforts.

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3780336 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A survey of TB knowledge among medical students in Southwest China: is the information reaching the target?

Zhao Ying Y Ehiri John J Li Daikun D Luo Xingneng X Li Ying Y

BMJ open 20130919 9

<h4>Objectives</h4>Tuberculosis (TB) control in schools is a concern in low-income and middle-income countries with high TB burdens. TB knowledge is recognised as important for TB control in China, which has one of the highest TB prevalence in the world. Accordingly, National TB Control Guideline in China emphasised TB-health education in schools as one of the core strategies for improving TB knowledge among the population. It was important to assess the level of TB knowledge in schools followin ...[more]

PMID: 24056486

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Project description:BackgroundIn the United States, syphilis cases have increased dramatically over the last decade. Recognition and timely diagnosis by medical providers are essential to treating syphilis and preventing further transmission.MethodsFrom 2016 to 2017, a cross-sectional survey was performed among medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians in Rhode Island. Topics included demographics, level of medical training, experience diagnosing and treating syphilis, and familiarity with the reverse testing algorithm. Participants were asked 25 true/false questions to assess basic knowledge of syphilis, which covered five domains: epidemiology, transmission, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to determine knowledge levels across provider characteristics. Significance was defined as p < 0.05.ResultsOf the 231 participants, 45% were medical students, 34% were residents or fellows, 11% were medicine attendings (non-infectious diseases), and 10% were infectious diseases attendings. The overall mean score was 9.79 (out of 25; range = 0-23, p ⩽ 0.001). Mean scores differed significantly (p < 0.001) across groups, including 7.68 for students (range = 0-16), 10.61 for residents/fellows (range = 3-17), 10.41 for non-infectious diseases attendings (range = 4-18), and 16.38 for infectious diseases attendings (range = 6-23). Familiarity with the reverse sequence algorithm was low with only 22% having heard of it. Infectious diseases attendings were significantly more knowledgeable compared to other groups. Overall and across domains, infectious diseases attendings had significantly higher scores except when compared to non-infectious diseases attendings in the epidemiology domain and residents/fellows in the transmission domain.ConclusionOverall syphilis knowledge among non-infectious diseases medical providers was low. Improved education and clinical training are needed to promote early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention efforts.

Dataset Information

A survey of TB knowledge among medical students in Southwest China: is the information reaching the target?

Objectives

Design

Methods and study setting

Results

Conclusions

Publications

A survey of TB knowledge among medical students in Southwest China: is the information reaching the target?

Similar Datasets

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