Implementation of revised national tuberculosis control program guidelines: Practitioner's perspective and awareness-a questionnaire based study.

Background: Strengthening public health services, setting up directly observed therapy short course Centres, introduction of Revised National tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) are aimed to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025. The aim of this study was to assess physician's awareness, and perspectives about the recent RNTCP guidelines.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, opinion deriving, study through a tested, validated, standardized questionnaire that covered the role of physician in the diagnosis or treatment of tuberculosis, and tested their awareness about various aspects of RNTCP guidelines. Descriptive statistics was used.

Results: Of the 96 participants, 61.5% were involved in diagnosis and management, 15.6% in diagnosis only, three in treatment aspect of tuberculosis, 19 (19.8%) were not involved in any activity. Awareness regarding RNTCP guidelines was high (90.6%). Forty-five (46.9%) opined that revised Indian program was different from the World Health Organization End Tuberculosis Strategy. Understanding the definitions of diagnosis (DoD) (92.7%), guideline (92.7%), implementation of revised DoD (89.6%), guidelines ((82.3%) was considered simple. Awareness regarding the implementation of revised DoD (86.5%) and guidelines (78.1%) was below expectation. PARTICIPANTS WERE: less aware (80.2%) of reporting adverse drug reactions to the deputy drug controller; 41.7% each responded that the treating physician or any of the listed persons can report. Reporting ADR to the supervising committee was not clear as >50% did not answer. Awareness about Nikshay (86.5%), procedure for procuring Nikshay ID (46.9%), Institute's Nikshay ID (53.1%) was less.

Conclusions: Knowledge about RNTCP guidelines is satisfactory among participants. Extensive training, continued medical education programs are required to increase awareness.