Tuberculosis: knowledge among nursing undergraduate students

Descriptive cross-sectional study, with quantitative approach. Data were collected through a questionnaire based on the WHO’s guide to developing evaluation instruments on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to TB. Students were classified as “with knowledge” and “with little knowledge” based on the mean percentage of correct responses to the variables analyzed. Descriptive statistics techniques were used.

Results:

60 nursing students were interviewed. “with little knowledge” was observed among students who were studying at the university for less time and who had no previous contact with the subject, and “with knowledge” was observed among those whose knowledge about tuberculosis was acquired in the health services.

Conclusion:

Knowledge gaps among undergraduate nursing students were identified, suggesting the need to rethink teaching-learning strategies on the subject.

Descriptors:
Tuberculosis; Knowledge; Attitude; Nursing Students; Health Education

Variables	n (60)	% (100%)
Socio-demographic
Gender
Male	6	10
Female	54	90
Age
18 to 25 years	43	71.7
26 to 31 years	17	28.3
Time of university education
2 to 3 years	36	60.0
4 to 6 years	24	40
Practical activities/internship in:
Hospital Services?
Yes	51	85
No	9	15
Primary Care Services?
Yes	49	81.7
No	11	18.3
Experience related to TB
Previous contact with the subject "TB"
Yes	27	45
No	33	55
Where did they hear about TB?
Health Service	10	16.7
University	46	76.7
Means of communication	4	6.6
Consider themselves well informed about TB
Yes	26	43.3
No	34	56.7
Wants to know more about TB
Yes	59	98.3
No	1	1.7
Knowledge on TB
Microorganism agent
Virus	16	26.7
Bacteria	44	73.3
TB Symptoms
Dry cough
Yes	42	70
No	18	30
TB Symptoms
Yes	46	76.7
No	14	23.3
Cough lasting more than 3 weeks
Yes	60	100
No	0	0
Hemoptysis
Yes	49	81.7
No	11	18.3
Headache
Yes	26	43.3
No	34	56.7
Nausea
Yes	24	40
No	36	60
Weight loss
Yes	51	85
No	9	15
Chest pain
Yes	40	66.7
No	20	33.3
Shortness of breath
Yes	54	90
No	6	10
Fever of unknown origin for more than 7 days
Yes	44	73.3
No	16	26.7
Transmission period after beginning of treatment
Two weeks	30	50
Six months	11	18.3
I don't know	19	31.7
Minimum duration of treatment
Six months	46	76.7
One year	10	16.7
I don't know	4	6.7
Modes of transmission of TB
Handshake
Yes	15	25
No	45	75
Insect bite
Yes	1	1.7
No	59	98.3
By air
Yes	58	96.7
No	2	3.3
Sexual contact
Yes	5	8.3
No	55	91.7
Contact with saliva (kissing, sharing cutlery...)
Yes	45	75
No	15	25
Touching public objects like doorknobs, handles...
Yes	26	43.3
No	34	56.7
How to avoid TB
Avoid handshakes
Yes	16	26.7
No	44	73.3
Using repellents
Yes	8	13.3
No	52	86.7
Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Yes	54	90
No	6	10
Closing windows
Yes	5	8.3
No	55	91.7
Avoid being in the same environment as people with TB
Yes	55	91.7
No	5	8.3
Using condoms
Yes	12	20
No	48	80
Avoid sharing glasses and cutlery
Yes	45	75
No	15	25
Washing hands after touching public objects
Yes	47	78.3
No	13	21.7
Good nutrition
Yes	38	63.3
No	22	36.7
Is TB curable?
Yes	59	98.3
No	1	1.7
Ways to cure TB
Vaccine
Yes	23	38.3
No	37	61.7
Praying
Yes	11	18.3
No	49	81.7
Using specific medications
Yes	60	100
No	0	0
Types of medication used to treat TB
Antibiotics	52	86.7
Anti-inflammatory	2	3.3
Antivirals	2	3.3
Drug cocktails	4	5.7
Test required to diagnose pulmonary TB
Sputum smear microscopy
Yes	56	93.3
No	4	6.7
Chest x-ray
Yes	46	76.7
No	14	23.3
Sputum culture
Yes	52	86.7
No	8	13.3
Tomography
Yes	21	35
No	39	65
Priority actions for TB control in Health Services
Active Search for Respiratory Symptoms
Yes	56	93.3
No	4	6.7
Request sputum smear microscopy when suspecting TB
Yes	55	91.7
No	5	8.3
Notification of confirmed cases
Yes	60	100
No	0	0
Orient patient/family on the need for the Directly Observed Treatment
Yes	58	96.7
No	2	3.3
Control contact
Yes	58	96.7
No	2	3.3
Beliefs and attitudes related to TB
I believe I can contract TB
Yes	52	86.7
No	8	13.3
Classification of TB on severity
Very severe	45	75
A little severe	15	25

Knowledge and beliefs about tuberculosis	Contact with the topic tuberculosis		TOTAL n (%)	p value
Knowledge and beliefs about tuberculosis	Yes n (%)	No n (%)
Microorganism agent
Correct	18 (66.7)	26 (78.8)	44 (73.3)	0.290
Incorrect	9 (33.3)	7 (21.2)	16 (26.7)	0.290
Transmission period after beginning of treatment
Correct	15 (55.6)	15(45.5)	30 (50)	0.436
Incorrect	12 (44.4)	18 (54.5)	30 (50)	0.436
Minimum duration
Correct	25 (92.6)	21 (63.6)	46 (76.7)	0.008
Incorrect	2 (7.4)	12 (36.4)	14 (23.3)	0.008
Does tuberculosis have a cure?
Correct	27 (100)	32 (97)	59 (98.3)	0.361
Incorrect	0 (0)	1 (3)	1 (1.7)	0.361
Type of medication used in the treatment
Correct	23 (85.2)	31 (93.9)	54 (90)	0.260
Incorrect	4 (14.8)	2 (6.1)	6 (10)	0.260
TB Symptoms
Dry cough
Correct	6 (22.2)	21 (36.4)	27 (45)	0.234
Incorrect	21(77.8)	12 (63.6)	33 (55)	0.234
Productive cough
Correct	20 (74.1)	27 (81.8)	47 (78.3)	0.468
Incorrect	7 (25.9)	6 (18.2)	13 (21.6)	0.468
Cough lasting more than 3 weeks
Correct	26 (96.3)	33 (100)	59 (98.3)	0.264
Incorrect	1 (3.7)	0 (0)	1 (1.7)	0.264
Hemoptysis
Correct	4 (14.8)	7 (21.2)	11 (18.3)	0.524
Incorrect	23 (85.2)	26 (78.8)	49 (81.7)	0.524
Headache
Correct	15 (55.6)	19 (57.6)	34 (56.7)	0.875
Incorrect	12 (44.4)	14 (42.4)	26 (43.3)	0.875
Nausea
Correct	17 (63)	19 (57.6)	36 (60)	0.671
Incorrect	10 (37)	14 (42.4)	24 (40)	0.671
Weight loss
Correct	25 (92.6)	26 (78.8)	51 (85)	0.136
Incorrect	2 (7.4)	7 (21.2)	9 (15)	0.136
Chest pain
Correct	10 (37)	10 (30.3)	20 (33.3)	0.581
Incorrect	17 (63)	23 (69.7)	40 (66.7)	0.581
Shortness of breath
Correct	3 (11.1)	3 (9.1)	6 (10)	0.795
Incorrect	24 (88.9)	30 (90.9)	54 (90)	0.795
Fever of unknown origin for more than 7 days
Correct	21 (77.8)	23(69.7)	44 (73.3)	0.481
Incorrect	6 (22.2)	10 (30.3)	16 (26.7)	0.481
Forms of transmission
Handshake
Correct	21 (77.8)	24 (72.7)	45 (75)	0.653
Incorrect	6 (22.2)	9 (27.3)	15 (25)	0.653
Insect bite
Correct	27 (100)	32 (97)	59 (98.3)	0.361
Incorrect	0 (0)	1 (3)	1 (1.7)	0.361
By air, when the person with TB coughs or sneezes
Correct	26 (96.3)	32 (97)	58 (96.7)	0.885
Incorrect	1 (3.7)	1 (3)	2 (3.3)	0.885
Sexual contact
Correct	23 (85.2)	32 (97)	55 (91.7)	0.100
Incorrect	4 (14.8)	1 (3)	5 (8.3)	0.100
Saliva (kissing, sharing glasses and cutlery...)
Correct	7 (25.9)	8 (24.2)	15 (25)	0.880
Incorrect	20 (74.1)	25 (75.8)	45 (75)	0.880
Touching public objects like doorknobs, handles...
Correct	17 (63)	17 (51.5)	34 (56.7)	0.373
Incorrect	10 (37)	16 (48.5)	26 (43.3)	0.373
How to avoid TB?
Avoid handshakes
Correct	20 (74.1)	24 (72.7)	44 (73.3)	0.906
Incorrect	7 (25.9)	9 (27.3)	16 (26.7)	0.906
Using repellents
Correct	23 (85.2)	29 (87.9)	52 (86.7)	0.760
Incorrect	4 (14.8)	4 (12.1)	8 (13.3)	0.760
Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Correct	3 (11.1)	3 (9.1)	6 (10)	0.795
Incorrect	24 (88.9)	30 (90.9)	54 (90)	0.795
Avoid being in the same environment as people with TB
Correct	25 (92.5)	30 (90.9)	55 (91.7	0.814
Incorrect	2 (7.4)	3 (9.1)	5 (8.3)	0.814
Using condoms
Correct	22 (81.5)	26 (78.8)	48 (80)	0.795
Incorrect	5 (18.5)	7 (21.2)	12(20)	0.795
Avoid sharing glasses and cutlery
Correct	7 (25.9)	8 (24.2)	15 (25)	0.880
Incorrect	20 (74.1)	25 (75.8)	45 (75)	0.880
Washing hands after touching public object
Correct	7 (25.9)	6 (18.2)	13 (21.7)	0.468
Incorrect	20 (74.1)	27 (81.8)	47 (78.3)	0.468
Closing windows
Correct	26 (96.3)	29 (87.9)	55 (91.7)	0.240
Incorrect	1 (3.7)	4 (12.1)	5 (8.3)
Good nutrition
Correct	19 (70.4)	19 (57.6)	38 (63.3)	0.3062
Incorrect	8 (29.6)	14 (42.4)	22 (36.7)	0.3062
Tests required to diagnose pulmonary TB
Sputum smear microscopy
Correct	24 (88.9)	32 (97)	56 (93.3)	0.211
Incorrect	3 (11.1)	1 (3)	4 (6.7)	0.211
Chest x-ray
Correct	20 (74.1)	26 (78.8)	46 (76.7)	0.667
Incorrect	7 (25.9)	7 (21.2)	14 (23.3)	0.667
Sputum culture
Correct	27 (100)	25 (75.8)	52 (86.7)	0.250
Incorrect	0 (0)	8 (24.2)	8 (13.3)	0.250
Tomography
Correct	20 (74.1)	19 (57.6)	39 (65)	0.182
Incorrect	7 (25.9)	14 (42.4)	21 (35)	0.182
Priority actions for TB control in Health Services
Active search for respiratory symptoms
Correct	25 (96.3)	31 (87.9)	56 (93.3)	0.835
Incorrect	2 (3.7)	2 (12.1)	4 (6.7)	0.835
Request sputum smear microscopy when suspecting TB
Correct	26 (96.3)	29 (87.9)	55 (91.7)	0.240
Incorrect	1 (3.7)	4 (12.1)	5 (8.3)	0.240
Orient patient/family on the need for the Directly Observed Treatment
Correct	26 (96.3)	32 (97)	58 (96.7)	0.885
Incorrect	1 (3.7)	1 (3)	2 (3.3)	0.885
Control contact
Correct	27 (100)	31 (93.9)	58 (96.7)	0.193
Incorrect	0 (0)	2 (6.1)	2 (3.3)	0.193
TOTAL	27 (45)	33 (55)	60 (100)

Characterization variables	With knowledge		With little knowledge		Total
Characterization variables	n	%	n	%	Total
Gender
Female	28	87.5	26	92.9	54
Male	4	12.5	2	7.1	6
Age
18 to 25	22	68.8	21	75	43
26 to 31	10	31.3	7	25	17
Time in UFMS
Up to 3 years	16	50	20	71.5	36
4 to 6 years	16	50	8	28.5	24
Practical activities/internship in:
Hospital Services?
Yes	25	78.1	26	92.9	51
No	7	21.9	2	7.1	9
Primary Care Services?
Yes	24	75	25	89.3	49
No	8	25	3	10.7	11
Where did they hear about TB
Health Services	7	21.9	3	10.7	10
University	24	75	22	78.6	46
Means of communication	1	3.1	3	10.7	4
Contato com o tema TB
Yes	16	50	11	39.3	27
No	16	50	17	60.7	33
TOTAL	32	100	28	100	60

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[1] Corresponding Author: Anneliese Domingues Wysocki E-mail: lilisew@yahoo.com.br