Publication: The Prevalence and Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (Kap) of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Medical And Nursing Students in Negeri Sembilan.
Loading...
Date
2024-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Abstract
Malaysia is rated as having an intermediate burden of tuberculosis, with a notification
rate of 78 cases per 100,000 population and a mortality rate of 7.9 per 100,000
population in 2022. Previous studies demonstrated that there were moderate to high
prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the medical and nursing
students. The World Health Organisation has highlighted detection, diagnosis, and
treatment of LTBI as a critical strategy for TB eradication. To stop the cycle of TB
transmission and infection, screening is the initial step in treating patients who have
LTBI. However, with 25% of the world's population having a past infection of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and remaining asymptomatic, and 1 in 10 with
LTBI progressing to active TB, eliminating TB must begin with an awareness of who
to screen. Following this, we conducted a study to determine the prevalence and the
level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on LTBI among medical and nursing
students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the medical and nursing
students via stratified random sampling. Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Interferon-
Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) were used for prevalence of LTBI. KAP questionnaire
was adapted from previous studies and data were collected via online form. A total of
345 respondents (medical students=171, nursing students =174) participated in this
study. Due to movement control order during the pandemic, the LTBI prevalence study
among nursing students could not be completed. The prevalence of positive TST among
medical students was 3.5% and the prevalence of LTBI from IGRA test was 0.6%. The
level of knowledge on LTBI among both medical and nursing students was moderate
(40.9%), a positive attitude towards LTBI was high (88.1%) and a good practice on
prevention of LTBI was also high (97.1%). Factors associated with higher knowledge
were age (p=0.001), year of study (p=0.001), clinical exposure (p=0.003), program of
study (p=0.001) and five TB exposure variables. Factors associated with positive
attitude were age (p= 0.047), program of study (p=0.044), clinical exposure (p=0.001)
and two TB exposure variables. Factors associated with good practice were gender
(p=0.014), program of study (p=0.010) and clinical exposure (p=0.037). The prevalence
of LTBI among medical students in Negeri Sembilan was low. Even though medical
and nursing students have moderate knowledge on LTBI, they have a positive attitude
towards LTBI and good practice in prevention of LTBI. Active surveillance for TB and
LTBI among medical and nursing students should be implemented routinely for early
detection and intervention.
Description
Matric: 3182469 (FPSK)
Keywords
Tuberculosis, Nursing student, Prevalens, Knowledge, Attitude, Medical student, Infection
Citation
Lailatul Hazzliza Binti Musa. (2024). The Prevalence and Knowledge, Attitude And Practice (Kap) of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Medical And Nursing Students in Negeri Sembilan. [Master’s thesis, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia]USIM Research Repository.