Sudan Dharampal Singh, Swain Neetu
Indian J Tuberc. 2014 Oct;61(4):307-11.
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major public health problem in India. This study was aimed to know the awareness and impact of Information, Education, Communication (IEC) activities about TB and RNTCP & DOTS among general population around Bathinda area of Malwa region of Punjab through patients attending chest OPD of a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical college of this region.
MATERIAL & METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in above stated hospital from 1st June, 2012 to 31st May 2013, for a period of one year using a questionnaire and a pictorial poster, which was pilot-tested and results were included in the main study.
A total Of 19,259 patients attended chest OPD in the given time period. It included 11412 (59%) male and 7847(41%) female patients. Average age of the patients was 46.8 years. Majority of patients were in the age-group of 26-50 years which is a most active and economically productive age group.
Although this study shows that knowledge about symptoms, mode of transmission of infection, treatment under RNTCP by DOTS is satisfactory but still IEC activities for RNTCP and DOTS need more and more and repeated sensitization of the general population. It is recommended that such, studies are to be conducted for better implementation of RNTCP and DOTS programme in the country, particularly in the light of HIV and drug resistant Tuberculosis.
结核病在印度仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题。本研究旨在通过该地区一所医学院附属三级医院胸科门诊的患者，了解旁遮普邦马尔瓦地区巴辛达周边普通人群对结核病、国家结核病控制规划（RNTCP）及直接观察短程治疗（DOTS）的信息、教育、沟通（IEC）活动的知晓情况及影响。
于2012年6月1日至2013年5月31日在上述医院进行了一项为期一年的横断面研究，采用问卷和图文海报，问卷进行了预测试，结果纳入主要研究。
在给定时间段内，共有19259名患者到胸科门诊就诊。其中男性患者11412名（59%），女性患者7847名（41%）。患者的平均年龄为46.8岁。大多数患者年龄在26 - 50岁之间，这是最活跃且经济上最具生产力的年龄组。
尽管本研究表明，关于症状、感染传播方式、国家结核病控制规划下的直接观察短程治疗的知识令人满意，但国家结核病控制规划和直接观察短程治疗的信息、教育、沟通活动仍需要对普通人群进行越来越多且反复的宣传。建议开展此类研究，以便在该国更好地实施国家结核病控制规划和直接观察短程治疗项目，特别是鉴于艾滋病毒和耐药结核病的情况。
