Abstract
Original Research Article
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SMJS Volume 2 Issue 2, Page 61- Page 67
MEDICAL STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS TUBERCULOSIS
Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Elmuttalut, Dr. Abdullah Saleh Abdullah Alnafeesah, Ghadah Abdulaziz Aloyaidi, Abdullah Ibrahim Almutaz, Omar Buraykan Alluhayyan, Azzam Khalaf Alharbi, Fatima Muhammad AlTurki
The lack of knowledge among health care workers leads to an increased risk of contracting the disease. Knowledge about TB among medical students is of particular importance as it helps them to protect themselves and their patients in the future. The aim of the study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice of medical students toward tuberculosis at Unaizah College of medicine (UCM), Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at UCM. 324 medical students were recruited in this study, using validated, pretested questionnaire. The results of this study showed 49.4 % of the participants had moderate knowledge about TB and 44.4 % had poor level. Gender had a significant effect on the students' level of knowledge where females seem to have higher level of knowledge (72.7 %). Older students had been found to have a higher level of knowledge about TB (p. value 0.004). The students of higher academic level (MD 4) had also been found to have higher level of knowledge about TB (P. value = 0.00). In conclusion, the study found that medical students have inadequate level of knowledge and attitude toward TB, particularly among those in the lower academic levels. Therefore, there is a need to enhance the curricula and as well providing workshops and courses to address these gaps. Further research studies are also needed to explore the reasons behind these results.
Key words: Tuberculosis (TB), Knowledge, Practice, Qassim, KSA
To cite this article: Elmuttalut MAM, Alnafeesah ASA, Aloyaidi GA, Almutaz AI, Alluhayyan OB, Alharbi AK, AlTurki FM. Medical Students' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Tuberculosis. Saudi Med J Students. 2021;2(2): 61-67
