Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Medication Adherence among Tuberculosis Patients in Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), a highly contagious and dangerous disease, impacts millions globally, with India topping the list of affected countries. The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, practice, and medication adherence of TB patients. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in total of 150 tuberculosis patients. The study aimed to understand patients' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards medication and disease, through a binary questionnaire. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). Based on a 50% cut-off, the knowledge, attitude, practice and medication adherence scores were separated into good and poor categories. Results were analyzed using SPSS and obtained through Chi-Square test, with a p-value<0.05 considered significant. Results: In this study, the average patient age was 42.27 with a range of 18 to 80, with the largest group being 61 to 70. The highest KAP level was in the 41-50 age group and the lowest in the 71-80 age group. Education level had a significant impact, with 62% being literate and having higher KAP levels than illiterate patients. A significant association was found between home location and KAP level, with 80% of rural patients having lower KAP levels compared to urban residents. The study found no significant relationship between age and medication adherence, but education and location did play a role, with higher education and urban residency linked to better adherence. Conclusion: Study revealed that pressing need for increased education and awareness about tuberculosis. The disparity in knowledge, particularly about drug-resistant TB, presents a major obstacle to effective management of the disease. The study found that socio-demographic factors, such as education and location, play a crucial role in treatment adherence, with higher levels of knowledge positively impacting adherence. Addressing disparities in these areas is crucial to reducing the spread of TB and improving health outcomes.