Self-Perception of CNS Tuberculosis Prevention among Healthcare Workers in Malaysia

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system (CNS) which is mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis constitutes approximately 5–15% of the extra pulmonary tuberculosis cases. The study aimed to determine the association between self-sufficient perception with the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards CNS tuberculosis prevention among healthcare workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 healthcare workers (HCWs) who worked as healthcare workers at medical wards, neurology wards and forensic units at two tertiary hospitals: Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Hospital Kuala Lumpur. One hundred thirty-five healthcare workers were responded with the response rate 88.8%. A newly developed self-administered questionnaire with internal consistency of 0.879, 0.754 and 0.812 respectively was used to evaluate the self-sufficient perception of healthcare workers towards knowledge, attitude and practice of CNS tuberculosis. Results revealed that a total of 152 healthcare workers were studied. The mean age and SD was 30.6(12.86) years old, 95(70.4%) were female, 100(74.1%) have diploma and 89(65.9%) were in grade U29. Seventy-seven (57.0%) of them came from neurology wards and have worked at least 8.48(8.44) years in service. The study showed that 60.0%, 51.9% and 60.0% of healthcare workers had good knowledge, attitude and practice respectively towards CNS tuberculosis. There were significant association between self-sufficient perception and level of attitude and practice. Out of 81 of healthcare workers with good knowledge, 64(79.0%) perceived themselves as having insufficient level of knowledge while 49(70.0%) and 60(74.1%) of them with good attitude and practice respectively perceived themselves as having insufficient level of knowledge on CNS tuberculosis prevention. In conclusion, despite of having good knowledge, attitude and practice, the healthcare workers still perceive themselves as having insufficient level of knowledge in preventing from getting CNS tuberculosis.