Resident doctors' attitudes toward tuberculosis patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Resident doctors' attitudes towards tuberculosis (TB) patients significantly influence patient care and treatment adherence.
• Societal stigma surrounding TB can be amplified by healthcare professionals' perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the attitudes of resident medical doctors concerning tuberculosis patients.
• To identify factors influencing resident doctors' compassion and avoidance behaviors towards TB patients.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed postgraduate resident doctors at B.J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune.
• Semi-structured questionnaires assessed attitudes and background characteristics.
• Data analysis included Chi-square/Fishers exact tests and odds ratio calculations.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (49%) of resident doctors reported compassion for TB patients; however, 51% expressed fear or avoidance.
• Attending TB training programs significantly increased compassion (OR=2.95).
• Knowing a colleague with TB was associated with increased fear and avoidance of managing TB patients (OR=2.82).

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of resident doctors exhibit fear and lack of compassion towards TB patients, contributing to stigma.
• Targeted training programs and improved working environments are crucial for fostering supportive attitudes.
• Enhancing resident doctors' compassion is vital for effective tuberculosis control efforts.