Knowledge and Attitudes toward Tuberculosis among High School Students in Busan.

Cheong, Chin Ock; Kim, Sung Soo; Kang, Mi Kyung; Cho, Eun Hee; Lee, Eun Yup; Chang, Chulhun L

doi:2008.65.5.369

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 65(5); 2008 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2008;65(5):369-378.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.65.5.369 Published online November 1, 2008.

Knowledge and Attitudes toward Tuberculosis among High School Students in Busan.

Chin Ock Cheong, Sung Soo Kim, Mi Kyung Kang, Eun Hee Cho, Eun Yup Lee, Chulhun L Chang

¹Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
²Department of Social Studies of Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
³Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. cchl@pusan.ac.kr
⁴International Tuberculosis Research Center, Masan, Korea.
⁵Division of HIV & TB Control, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The mortality rate from tuberculosis in Korea is the highest among OECD countries. However, general public's knowledge of tuberculosis is limited. Currently, exposure to tuberculosis in high school students is a big problem. METHODS: A written questionnaire was distributed to 78 high school students in Busan. RESULTS: Almost all the students had heard of tuberculosis (95%). However, their knowledge of tuberculosis was very superficial and limited. The attitude about tuberculosis was 'nothing to worry about' and there was no systemic education in the school or home. CONCLUSION: Although tuberculosis is quite serious in Korea, most people know little about it and have the wrong attitude. In particular, high school students are easily exposed to tuberculosis because they spend most of their time as a group. Therefore, education of high school students on tuberculosis is strongly recommended in schools and the home. In addition, medical practitioners should play a role in education and prevention programs.

Key Words: High school student, Tuberculosis, Survey, Knowledge & attitude