title: Knowledge and acceptability of patient-specific infection control measures for pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective infection control measures are essential to reduce tuberculosis (TB) transmission in domestic, workplace, and health care settings. Acceptability of infection control measures is key to patient adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a prospective questionnaire study to determine knowledge and acceptability of potential patient-specific TB infection control measures in a rural South African community. Fifty adult TB suspects were interviewed at investigation, and 50 newly diagnosed TB patients were interviewed at the start and at the end of TB treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TB patients and TB suspects had similar knowledge of infection control measures at baseline. Fifty-seven percent of all participants reported knowing the cause of TB, but only 25% correctly identified microbial etiology. Basic cough hygiene was accepted by 98% of participants. Most participants (89%) accepted wearing of face masks in health facilities, but only 42% of TB suspects and 66% of TB patients (P = .016) would accept wearing face masks at home. Only 68% of participants accepted separate cohorting in health facilities and avoidance of co-sleeping with uninfected household members. At the end of treatment, TB patients demonstrated increased knowledge of TB and increased acceptability of certain household infection control measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acceptability of patient-specific infection control measures within households increases with acquired knowledge of TB. National control programs should maximize early TB education to improve adherence to infection control measures.
authors: South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: Yulieth
authors: Y
authors: Gonzalez-Angulo
authors: Hennie
authors: H
authors: Geldenhuys
authors: Danelle
authors: D
authors: Van As
authors: Norma
authors: N
authors: Buckerfield
authors: Jawaya
authors: J
authors: Shea
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Mahomed
authors: Willem
authors: W
authors: Hanekom
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Hatherill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Community; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Transmission