Attitudes toward tuberculosis of final year medical students from Canada, India, and Uganda.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis, although both preventable and treatable, continues to be the world's leading cause of death from an infectious agent.


OBJECTIVE
To extend the results of our previous study of knowledge and practices of final year medical students regarding tuberculosis at three medical schools from endemic and nonendemic areas and to describe their attitudes.


METHODS
Eight statements assessing attitudes, as part of a larger survey, were administered to final year medical students at McMaster University in Canada, Christian Medical College in India, and Makerere University in Uganda.


RESULTS
One hundred sixty surveys were returned with 155 completed attitude responses. The response rate was 68.4% (65 of 95) for McMaster University, 39.7% (23 of 58) for the Christian Medical College, and 78.3% (72 of 92) for Makerere University. Analysis showed that six of eight attitude items were slightly statistically different among the schools with minimal effect of curriculum time and patient exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite quite varied exposure to tuberculosis, students from endemic and nonendemic areas responded similarly on statements addressing attitudes toward tuberculosis.
Undergraduate Medical Programme, 2000 McMaster University, Health Sciences Centre, 2C10B Area, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada. emilij@mcmaster.ca
Julie
J
Emili
F
F
Scott
R E G
RE
Upshur
M L
ML
Schmuck
K R
KR
John
D001364:Awareness; D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014454:Uganda