Knowledge and attitudes towards tuberculosis in non medical students University of Belgrade.
BACKGROUND
Population's knowledge on tuberculosis (TB) is crucial in early seeking of medical care. Delay in diagnosis for any reason contributes to advanced forms and TB transmission in the community. Knowledge about TB in general population of Serbia is poor, including vulnerable groups.


OBJECTIVE
to assess knowledge about TB in a group of non medical students in University of Belgrade, their attitudes towards TB patients, sources of medical information they use or desire.


METHODS
Observational, questionnaire based study. University students of the Faculty of Organizational Science and Faculty of Geography completed the 27-item questionnaires voluntarily and anonymously. The questions related to TB etiology, way of transmission, risk factors and the source of health information students preffer. Statistical analysis was performed.


RESULTS
All the participants (69 students aged 20 +/- 0.777 years, 69.7% male, 30.3% female) previously heard about TB, mostly describing it as pulmonary disease. Only 22 (31.88%) selected bacillus as the only cause of TB, and 20% selected answer "I do not know". TB is curable (95%). One third does not know about TB symptoms and 45/69 (65%) think that TB is an infectious disease. Majority (78.3%) would pay visit to TB patient, 1/2 with fear of infection that is in positive correlation with knowledge on infectiousness (p=0.041). Television is the most common used source of health information. Students have the greatest confidence in doctors' information.


CONCLUSIONS
Students' knowledge on TB is inadequate, especially on its cause and way of transmission. More effort is needed in university students' health education.
School of Medicine University of Belgrade, Internal Medicine Department, Belgrade, Serbia.
Milos
M
Smolovic
Dragica
D
Pesut
Milica
M
Bulajic
Marija
M
Simic
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult