“Knowledge, attitude and perception towards multi drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis among health care professionals” – A cross sectional study

Health care professionals play a major role in the management of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB). The goal of the current cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge, Attitude and Perception towards MDR and XDR-TB among health care professionals. Assessing their KAP towards MDR and XDR-TB will have an impact on the treatment success or failure rate. One hundred and thirteen health care professionals (General Physicians, Pulmonologists, pharmacists, Physician assistants and nurses) responded to our structured, validated questionnaire. A majority [66.7%] of the study participants were female. Overall half of the participants [64.2%] exhibited fair/ good knowledge towards MDR and XDR-TB. How-ever their Attitude towards new drugs in MDR and XDR-TB was not satisfactory. In terms of perception almost 51% showed a positive perception towards MDR and XDR-TB. Though the knowledge, Attitude and Perception towards MDR and XDR-TB was good in more than 50% of the respondents, there is room to improve. Structured periodic training towards MDR and XDR-TB will improve their KAP. Further active educational programs will help them to deliver good MDR and XDR-TB patient care, thereby can help in preventing the transmission of drug resistant TB.