2001 International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, San Francisco, CA. May 2001.

Colson P, Talavera J, Sanyal D, Torres M, Coley J, Gwynn RC, El-Sadr W. Knowledge And Attitudes Among Health Care Workers In A Treatment Program For Latent TB Infection.

Rationale: Treatment (tx) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a priority among health care workers (HCWs). However, little is known about factors associated with tx initiation and completion, such as knowledge and attitudes (K & A).

Methods: Participants (pts) were 217 HCWs at Harlem Hospital who were eligible for LTBI tx in the Hospital's Employee Fast Track (EFT) Program. A questionnaire on TB K & A was completed by 153 pts at baseline. The impact of K & A and demographic characteristics were examined in those initiating and completing tx.

Results: Pts were 61% male, 75% African-American, 6% Latino, and 12% Asian. Median age was 34, 72% were foreign-born, and 54% were recent TST converters. Many held misconceptions about TB, including transmission through shared dishes (39%) and from strangers rather than family members (22%). Approx. 15% did not know the length of LTBI tx or the increased risk faced by HIV+ people. Superior knowledge scores were found in MDs and RNs (p<.001), foreign-born pts (p=.017), recent converters (p=.034), and younger pts (p=.011). The majority held positive attitudes toward LTBI tx, including believing tx is important (80%) and being able to avoid TB disease (78%). Non-initiators were more likely to be nurses (p=.003) and to believe they were not infected (p=.007). While no factors predicted tx completion, non-completers were more likely to feel that taking medicines (p=.079) and keeping appointments (p=.054) were a problem.

Conclusions: This preliminary analysis is limited by the small proportions of non-initiators (14%) and non-completers (8%). While further analysis is needed, it suggests that certain beliefs may have an impact in supporting or discouraging tx.