Online Program

289848
Knowledge of tuberculosis among medical students in Southwest China: A cross-sectional survey


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 1:15 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.

Ying Zhao, 1Class 3 of 2009 in Nursing school, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China, Chengdu, China
John Ehiri, PhD, University of Arizona, AZ
Daikun Li, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
Ying Li, PhD, Division of Health Promotion Sciences, University of Arizona, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, AZ
Background Several studies have identified inadequate knowledge of TB as a major challenge for TB control in China. To elucidate the extent of the problem, we assessed TB knowledge levels of undergraduate students in two medical universities in southwest China where TB prevalence is highest in the country. Methods A cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire survey of 1,486 undergraduate students in southwest China. Results Undergraduate students in medical universities had inadequate TB knowledge in southwest China. Less than 10% was aware of the classic symptoms of TB (cough and sputum with blood). Only 14.7% could identify two major ways of TB transmission (blood-tinged sputum and chronic cough for 3 weeks). Very few (14.5%) had heard about the Directly Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTs) program, and many were unaware of the country's TB control policy. Conclusion Increasing knowledge about TB transmission, prevention, and control among all sectors of the population should be seen as a priority for TB control efforts in China.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate status of TB knowledge among medical students in China Demonstrate the emergency of strenghtening TB health promotion in China

Keyword(s): TB, Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Design and implement the study
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.