Awareness about Tuberculosis among Adult Patients Attending OPD of a Tertiary Health Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis disease is a major threat to the society.
Awareness about tuberculosis is insufficient in the community which
contributes to its spread. This study was conducted to assess awareness
about tuberculosis among adult patients attending the Outpatient
Department (OPD) of a tertiary healthcare hospital.
Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted
using purposive sampling method among adult patients attending OPD
of a tertiary health care hospital in Thane in the month of June 2024.
Necessary permissions and approvals were obtained. Inclusion and
exclusion criteria were defined. 422 patients were interviewed to
assess their awareness about tuberculosis and the data was recorded
in the proforma. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed.
Chi-square test was applied. The statistical level of significance was
fixed at p < 0.05.
Results: 422 patients were included in the study, of which 197 (46.68%)
were male and 225 (53.32%) were female. 55 (13.03%) subjects were
illiterate and 367 (86.97%) were literate. 349 (82.70%) patients were
from urban and 73 (17.30%) were from rural areas. 223 (52.84%)
were aware of tuberculosis of which 119 (53.36%) were male and
104 (46.64%) were female (p < 0.05), 202 (90.58%) were literate and
21 (09.42%) were illiterate (p < 0.05), 119 (53.36%) were employed/
self-employed and 104 (46.64%) were retired/ homemakers (p < 0.05).
The gender-wise distribution of awareness about tuberculosis among
subjects more than 60 years of age was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Only 52.84% of adult patients were aware of tuberculosis.
Efforts should be made to enlighten the community about tuberculosis
and its consequences. Awareness in society will help to break the chain
of transmission of tuberculosis infection crucial for its elimination.

How to cite this article:
Gurav R B, Nair A S, Geevarghese P S. Awareness
about Tuberculosis among Adult Patients
Attending OPD of a Tertiary Health Care Hospital:
A Cross-Sectional Study. J Adv Res Med 2024;
11(4): 1-6.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2349.7181.202409