title: Determinants for the retreatment groups of pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated in a DOTS programme in Sikkim, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge, attitude and different health-seeking behaviours among 250 cured and 250 category-II tuberculosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in different health settings in Sikkim, a part of the Indian continent. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed significant differences in overcrowding, smoking and alcohol intake. There was a general unawareness with the disease and its treatment between the two groups. 45% of the respondents reported that tuberculosis is caused by germs. 81.4% stated that tuberculosis presents only as cough. 94.8% of the case group and 90.8% of the control group stated that it is a transmissible disease. Sharing food with tuberculosis patients (64% of case group, 55% of the control group; p < 0.05), inadequate diet (16.4% of case group, 9.6% of the control group; p < 0.03) were mentioned as modes of transmission. Sixty six per cent of the case group and 56.8% of the control group mentioned the use of DOTS for prevention and control (p < 0.05). Sixty three per cent of the control group regarded tuberculosis as a life threatening condition (p < 0.00) [(adjusted OR = 2.04, (95% CI: 1.43, 2.93)]. Tuberculosis was considered as a completely curable disease by 96.4% of the case group (p < 0.05). 40.6% of the respondents agreed to be in contact with a tuberculosis infected person. 64% of the retreatment group discontinued their treatment due to frequent travelling for work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed lack of knowledge, positive attitude and inappropriate health seeking behaviours among of the tuberculosis patients, irrespective of their categorization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences (SMIMS) and Central Referral Hospital (CRH), 5th Mile Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim -737 102. gyur_skyscraper@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Karma G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Dolma
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mohapatra
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahanta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D018579:Patient Selection; D019233:Retreatment / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012819:Sikkim / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents