Knowledge and attitudes of the nursing students at Mosul university toward tuberculosis

Abstract EN

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the primary public health problems in developing countries.

Aim of study: The study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of nursing students at Mosul University toward tuberculosis.

Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study design.

A purposive sample of study consist of (120) nurses students fourth stage.

The study was set in the Nursing College/ University of Mosul.

Data were collected for the period (17th February 2018) to (25th April 2018).

Dependent on the interview technique by using a questionnaire, The questionnaire was designed to achieve the aims of the study, it consisted of three parts, the first content the demographic information, the second part include general knowledge of students about categories that infected with tuberculosis, signs of disease, methods of transmission of disease, and the third part include the student attitude of tuberculosis disease.

Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, which include percentages and proportions of variables, data was prepared, organized and entered into a computer file; Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS, Version 11) is used for data analysis.

Results: The results showed that (71.7%) female, male (28.3) was at age (22-23) year.

The study showed that there is a significant difference between students' knowledge and attitude with age, and the non-significant difference between students' knowledge and there some socio-cultural factors (marital status, sex).

Conclusion: The majority of the sample of females and were within the age group (22 – 23 years).

The study revealed that the student knowledge was acceptable for all variables of the general information of tuberculosis disease, also the student attitude about disease revealed good.

Recommendation: The study recommended the need to strengthen the knowledge and awareness of nurses and other professions working with tuberculosis patients through holding workshops and educational seminars during the study and after graduation on how to deal with the patient who is suffering from this disease or suspected of being infected.