DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.012

Pages: 2000-2002

The basic aim of this study was to assess the existing basic knowledge of medical doctors of various levels of training about the definitions of the resistance patterns in tuberculosis. Two hundred medical doctors were included in this survey from Mahatma Gandhi Medical College &Research Institute, Puducherry. A simple questionnaire was designed and presented to the medical doctors to respond by spontaneous answers to the questions in the questionnaire. The participants were asked to define Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) . The participants were required to respond spontaneously by completing the questionnaire on presentation without waiting time, delayed participation or peer discussion. Two hundred participants were included in this study. One hundred and forty (70%) participants completed the questionnaire while remaining sixty (30%) participants did not answer the questions completely. Out of 140 responders fifty (35.7%) responders possessed a post graduate degree while remaining ninety (64.3%) responders were post graduate trainees and general medical officers. Out of total 140 responders sixty (42.8%) could define MDR TB correctly, while eighty (57.2%) could not define MDR TB correctly. Out of the total 140 responders, Thirty six (25.7%) responders could define XDR TB correctly while one hundred and four (74.3%) responses were incorrect. The study suggests that there are major gaps in the knowledge of doctors involved in patient care about resistance and its patterns of tuberculosis to available anti tuberculous drugs.