Awareness of tuberculosis and the standard treatment methods among nursing undergraduates at the university of Peradeniya

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a communicable, notifiable disease that is treatable with proper care. Strict adherence is vital due to the lengthy treatment. Nurses play a crucial role in managing TB, making it important for nursing students to have a comprehensive understanding. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of tuberculosis and its standard treatments method among undergraduate nursing students enrolled at the University of Peradeniya. This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional study conducted among 178 undergraduate nursing students in all academic years of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya. Data collection was carried out for 3 months using a pre-tested, self-administered online questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26. The overall response rate was 100%, and to assess TB knowledge, participants’ answers were marked correct or incorrect based on a standard manual. A cut-off was set using the overall mean percentage of correct answers. Students scoring above the mean were classified as “knowledgeable,” while those below were labelled as having “low knowledge. The research found that 57.9% of nursing students exhibited adequate general awareness of TB. Additionally, 55.6% demonstrated adequate knowledge of treatment and management, while 44.4% exhibited notable knowledge deficiency. The Chi-Square test results revealed a significant correlation between academic year and tuberculosis knowledge levels among students. The study emphasizes significant knowledge deficiencies in TB awareness and management among nursing students, highlighting the need for improved education. It revealed significant gaps in knowledge among early academic years. While emphasizing the need for early training and addressing misconceptions in preparing students for effective TB care and management.