ABSTRACT
Introduction: In spite of the various advances in the Tuberculosis (TB) management system in our country, we are still struggling to achieve the End TB strategy. Addressing the health provider difficulties in TB care will definitely be potential tool to control TB. Objective: To assess the competency, challenges and solutions of Indian medical graduates to provide effective Tuberculosis care. Method: It is a mixed methodological study conducted among the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduates practising in various parts of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The competency of the Indian medical graduates in delivering TB care was assessed using a content validated e-survey questionnaire disseminated through social media affinity groups and free listing;pile sorting and in-depth interview was done in the qualitative part. Results:The proportion of participants having good, fair and poor competency in providing effective TB care was 35%,19% and 46%, respectively. Various challenges in attaining good competency were enlisted by the participants through free listing, a smaller number of TB patients in private medical college has attained the highest Smith S value followed by other eleven challenges. Based on the pile sorting and in- depth interview various solutions have been suggested, with most of them emphasizing on compulsory TB chest clinic posting followed by others measures. Conclusion: The major reason identified in difficulties in delivering TB care was inadequate exposure in managing TB patients, incomplete knowledge on notification,referral and followup system. These lacunae can be overturned by compulsory posting in TB clinics during internship period, provision of required personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and patients in TB wards and outpatient department, mandatory teaching on updates of TB management
ABSTRACT
Introduction: A good understanding of biostatistics can improve clinical thinking, decision-making, evaluations, and medical research. Undoubtedly, medical professionals are becoming aware of the importance of learning and applying biostatistical methods in their research. This study was done to assess the knowledge and attitude among medical graduates regarding the role and application of biostatistics in medical science. Method: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital among 120 medical students pursuing MBBS third and final year. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. A pretested validated semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Majority of the study participants, strongly agree that the subject helps in interpretation (75.8%), and is important in medical practice (61.7%). However, 85% of the study participants feel that software is difficult to use. 90% of the study participants find the subject hard to understand. The mean score of subject content, understanding, the current impact was significantly higher among the fourth-year students than the third-year students. There was no significant difference between the genders. Conclusion: Introduction of data collection sessions and appraisal of excerpts in published articles can provide practical knowledge and accentuate the role of bio statistics in health care.