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A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES REGARDING NUTRITION DURING CARE OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS AMONG NURSING STAFF OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Nutrients boost the host’s immune responses against various pathogens including mycobacterium tuberculosis. People with latent tuberculosis do not exhibit any clinical signs or symptoms of illness because the infection is contained by their immune system. The direct evidence of effect of nutrition on tuberculosis is difficult but the weight of evidence still favors the view that malnutrition may be an important factor in the high susceptibility and morbidity from tuberculosis. 
Aim and objectives: To find out the knowledge regarding nutrition, attitude towards it and practices of nutrition among nursing staff involved in the management of tuberculosis patients. 
Material and methods: This study was carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total seventy nursing staff, involved in care of tuberculosis patients either in tuberculosis wards and OPDs, participated in the study. Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding nutrition was done with pretested and structured questionnaire. 
Statistical analysis: Percentages, Means, Chi-square test and ANOVA using the SPSS 17.0 Software. 
Results: GNM trained participants with work experience of more than 3 years were much better than B.Sc. nursing students regarding their knowledge about daily caloric requirements, dietary recommendations for tuberculosis patients and influence of dietary habits on tuberculosis outcome (p < 0.05) but there was no statistically significant difference in the mean score of their knowledge about food nutrients. Both the groups showed positive attitude towards morning breakfast and having 3 meals and snacks in a day. Skipping of breakfast was more common among the GNM staff as compared with B.Sc. nursing students (P < 0.05). 
Conclusions: Results from the study indicated KA scores higher than P scores. The effect of nutritional supplementation on tuberculosis prevention and health outcomes among health care workers had not previously been systematically reviewed. This study will provide guidance on recommendations for nutritional care among health care workers who are directly involved in care of patients with tuberculosis. 
Keywords: Nutrition, Tuberculosis, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices, Nursing staff.