Knowledge about Tuberculosis among Undergraduate Medical Students in a Government Medical College in Tamilnadu, India

Tuberculosis is a global public health problem. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in India. Despite a persistent effort from government through revised RNTCP guidelines and by daily regimen (fixed dose combination). Multi drug resistant and extensively drug resistant are other threats for the persistent health problem. Methods: This study was undertaken to assess knowledge of undergraduate medical students about Tuberculosis under various sub headings. The present cross sectional study was done in the rural government medical college in Tamilnadu, India, among 96 undergraduate third year medical students. Results: Knowledge of Tuberculosis about routes of transmission and sites are affected was 98 %, knowledge about causes, clinical features are about 80 %, but knowledge about the diagnosis was 70 % only. Same time the treatment categories and drugs availability was known to 85 % of medical students. Consequences of irregular treatment was not known to 33 % of medical students. Conclusion: Awareness created through theory classes, during world Tuberculosis day, through CME, but there is a need for hands on training by attending patients and by giving treatment should be given to make them more fluent in Tuberculosis in this crucial period of learning.