Professional paper
Differences in the knowledge about tuberculosis among general urban population and student population in Zagreb
Sanja Popović Grle
; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Clinical Department for Lung Diseases Jordanovac, Zagreb
Davor Plavec
; Children’s Hospital Srebrnjak, Zagreb
Nikolina Brčina
; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb
Tina Borčić
; 4University Hospital Merkur, Zagreb
Abstract
Aim of study: The aim of this study is to find out the population knowledge, the most common misconceptions about tuberculosis (TB) and target groups for educational programs. Methods: Through a questionnaire (13 questions about the extent of the disease, symptoms, modes of transmission, risk factors and the curability of tuberculosis) respondents were pre-tested in the Croatian capital city Zagreb. Respondents (N = 328) were divided into groups ranked by two city locations: the Student Centre location, with the expected predominance of the younger student population (N = 157) and the main square area, with the expected predominance of people of different ages and professions (general urban population) (N = 171). Results: The general urban population group showed better knowledge in questions considering droplet transmission, smoking and excessive alcohol use as a risk factor for TB and description of TB as a primary infectious disease and curable disease. Many of the respondents (almost 20%) did not know the symptoms of manifest TB. Some respondents had misconceptions and perhaps the most important is that TB happens to someone else. Conclusion: Misconceptions about TB need to be eliminated through focused health education. Improvement in knowledge about TB can be achieved especially among student (young) population.
Keywords
Croatia; knowledge; tuberculosis
Hrčak ID:
118567
URI
Publication date:
3.3.2014.
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