Perspectives in Medical Research

Volume: 13 Issue: 2

  • Open Access
  • Original Article

Assessing Knowledge Gains Following a Short Educational Intervention in Adult TB Suspects and Their Relatives: A Prospective Pre-Test/Post-Test Study

Jyoti Sunil Kumar Bhagat1, Sae Satish Pol2, Pooja Gautam Shah3, Rajesh Prabhakar Karyakarte4*,Preeti Namdeo Pawar5, Anna Anisha Tete5, Gilbert Raja Chamy5, D V Viswanathan5, Kalyani Bansilal Jagarwal5, Vasundhara Singh5

1Postgraduate resident (3rd year), Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune, 411001,
Maharashtra, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune, 411001, Maharashtra, India
3Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune, 411001, Maharashtra, India
4Professor and head, Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune, 411001, Maharashtra, India
5Postgraduate resident, Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune, 411001, Maharashtra, India


*Corresponding Author:
Rajesh Prabhakar Karyakarte, Professor and head, Department of Microbiology, BJ GMC Pune, MUHS Nashik, Pune,
411001, Maharashtra, India
E-MAIL: [email protected]

Year: 2025, Page: 118-122, Doi: https://doi.org/10.47799/pimr.1302.25.25

Received: May 6, 2025 Accepted: June 23, 2025 Published: July 8, 2025

Abstract

Background. Tuberculosis remains a major global health problem. In 2023, WHO estimated 10.8 million new cases and 1.25 million deaths worldwide. India contributes about 26 % of these cases. Objective. To measure immediate changes in TB-related knowledge among adult clinically suspected TB patients and their accompanying relatives following a structured educational session in a TB outpatient department. Methods. In this prospective pre-test/post-test study, 500 adults (58 suspected patients, 442 relatives) aged ≥ 18 years completed a 15-item questionnaire covering disease/symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, transmission and treatment/prevention. Immediately after the pre-test, participants attended an interactive session in groups of ≤ 25, using visual aids, video and printed leaflets. The identical questionnaire was re-administered post-session. Composite scores (0–15) were compared by paired t-test and the proportion with “adequate knowledge” (≥ 75 % correct) in each domain was compared by McNemar test. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. Mean age was 42.7 ± 14.8 years; 51 % were male. Pre-test composite score averaged 8.12 ± 3.18 and rose to 12.45 ± 2.05 post-test (mean change 4.33; 95 % CI 4.12–4.54; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d 1.48). Adequate knowledge increased from 28.8 % to 92.4 % for disease/symptoms, 50.4 % to 85.6 % for diagnosis, 48.2 % to 80.8 % for transmission and 62.8 % to 82.2 % for treatment/prevention (all p < 0.001). Conclusion. A brief, well-structured teaching session led to substantial immediate improvements in TB knowledge across all domains. Integrating such sessions into routine NTEP clinics is feasible and may reduce diagnostic delays and improve treatment adherence. 

Keywords: Pre-assessment, Post-assessment, Questionnaire, Tuberculosis

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Cite this article

Bhagat JSK, Pol SS, Shah PG, Karyakarte RP, Pawar PN, Tete AA, Chamy GR,Viswanathan DV, Jagarwal KB, Singh V. Assessing Knowledge Gains Following a Short Educational Intervention in Adult TB Suspects and Their Relatives: A Prospective Pre-
Test/Post-Test Study. Perspectives in Medical Research.2025;13(2):118-122DOI: 10.47799/pimr.1302.25.25

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