| Abstrakt: |
Introduction: In order to effectively manage tuberculosis (TB), health professionals affiliated with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) and the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) are essential. Healthcare personnel' attitudes, expertise, and procedures about tuberculosis have a substantial impact on whether a patient receives treatment successfully or not. The purpose of this study is to evaluate healthcare personnel's knowledge, training, and sociodemographic profile in relation to NTEP/RNTCP in the context of patient loss to follow-up. Methodology: This observational study at BMIMS, Nalanda, Bihar, assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of all medical personnel involved in the NTEP over one year (January 2022 to March 2023). Through semi-structured interviews, it evaluated socio-demographic profiles, training status, and tackled potential selection biases. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel, focusing on variables related to TB management and healthcare worker profiles. Results: The bulk of the medical staff consisted of educated men in their thirties who were wellversed in the causes and modes of transmission of tuberculosis. Almost all had taken part in training related to their line of work. A sizable majority (71.41%) believed that the main causes of patients' failure to follow up with TB treatment were adverse drug reactions, patients' sense of wellbeing (57.62%), and patients' alcohol use (33.48%). Conclusions: In particular, 19.7% of healthcare personnel did not know the definition of loss to follow-up. Many believe that medicine side effects, a sense of well-being, and alcohol usage are the main causes of TB patients' follow-up loss. To prevent loss to follow-up, educational activities must be improved and more female health workers must be recruited. Recommendation: To address the gaps identified in the study, it is recommended to implement comprehensive and ongoing training programs for healthcare workers associated with NTEP/RNTCP, focusing on the accurate understanding of loss to follow-up and its contributing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
