Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, and Perceived Stigma regarding Tuberculosis among Healthcare Workers in Jordan (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Assessing healthcare workers’ (HCWs) TB- related knowledge, attitudes, and practices is essential for strengthening the TB prevention and control program. This study aimed to assess TB related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices regarding TB among HCWs delivering TB services in Jordan and assess their level of satisfaction. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess TB related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and practices regarding TB among HCWs delivering TB services in Jordan and assess their level of satisfaction. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 93 HCWs who provide healthcare services to TB patients in 9 TB centers in four governorates in Jordan during the period of June-November 2021. The study questionnaire included information on demographics, TB-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, perceived stigma, and job satisfaction. RESULTS Almost half (45.4%) of physicians, 74% of nurses, and 76.4% of other HCWs had low to moderate TB-related knowledge score. The majority of HCWs (100% of physicians, 92.6% of nurses, and 93.5% of other HCWs) had a positive attitude toward TB and TB patients. The HCWs’ TB-related self-reported practices were good, fair and poor in 38.7%, 29.0% and 32.3% of HCWs, respectively. Almost one fifth of HCWs reported that they have felt stigmatized because of their work around interacting with TB patients. The mean (SD) HCWs’ job satisfaction score on 100 scale was 21.6 (34.8) for physicians, 42.6 (37.2) for nurses, and 47.7 (38.4) for other HCWs. CONCLUSIONS This study identified important knowledge and practice gaps related to TB among HCWs. Based on those gaps, HCWs should receive high quality, tailored, and regular training. Proper training on the clinical guidelines and on the existing infection prevention and control guidelines is of a paramount importance. Follow up on-job supportive supervisory visits will help to ensure improvement of practices.