title: A comparative assessment of KAP regarding tuberculosis and RNTCP among government and private practitioners in District Gwalior, India: an operational research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind. However, still practitioners are unaware of various facts associated with it.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices adopted by practitioners of both government and private sectors in diagnosis and management of TB patients. (2) To assess the views of practitioners in strengthening the RNTCP programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 allopathic practitioners from both government and private sectors providing their services in Gwalior District were interviewed using pre-designed pre-tested structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean score of knowledge related to tuberculosis and RNTCP was higher among government practitioners (9.8) compared to private practitioners (6.1). All practitioners were having positive attitude towards regular up gradation of knowledge while statistically significant differences were noted on issues related to management of TB patients as per RNTCP guidelines. X-ray was the most preferred modality for diagnosis and follow up among private practitioners compared to sputum examination among government practitioners. Referral of poor and serious patients was also very low among private practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study hereby concludes that there is a large gap in Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on TB and RNTCP among the practitioners of both the sectors. There is an urgent need for upgrading the knowledge on various issues and regular Continuing Medical Education (CME) involving various professional bodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Saifai, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. dhirajk78sri@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Dhiraj Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Subodh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Mahendra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chouksey
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gour
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bansal
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D019468:Disease Management; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D017149:Private Sector / Q000592:standards*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000592:standards*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy