Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge globally, particularly in high-burden countries like India. Nurses and allied health staff play a critical role in TB control, and their knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) are vital for effective prevention and management. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to TB among nurses and allied health science (AHS) staff working in a tertiary care hospital in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 206 randomly selected staff nurses and AHS staff from November 2023 to January 2024. A self-administered structured questionnaire, developed using the WHO STEPS framework, was used for data collection via Google Forms. Descriptive statistics and inferential analysis (Chi-square and t-test/ANOVA) were performed using SPSS version 25. Results: The mean age of participants was 27.6 ± 6.42 years; 94.7% were female. Overall, 59% demonstrated good knowledge, while 41% had poor knowledge about TB. A significant association was observed between knowledge levels and years of experience ( P < 0.001). Although most participants recognized TB as a serious condition and a treatable bacterial infection, misconceptions regarding transmission and treatment persist. Attitudinal stigma and mixed practices regarding infection control were also noted. Conclusion: The study highlights moderate awareness and varying attitudes and practices among healthcare staff. Targeted educational interventions are necessary to bridge knowledge gaps, reduce stigma, and promote effective TB control strategies.
Naren et al. (Thu,) studied this question.