Knowledge, Health Beliefs and Use of Personal Protective Equipment against Tuberculosis among Gambian Student Nurses

• Main Authors: Haddy Tunkara-Bah, HaddyTunkara-Bah海蒂
• Other Authors: Chi-Ho, Hsu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/5969ec

碩士 === 國立台北護理學院 === 護理研究所 === 97 === ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate knowledge, health beliefs on tuberculosis (TB) and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) against TB among nursing students in the Gambia. A power analysis based on WHO formula (1991) for sample size determination was used and 140 randomly selected participants were recruited from two different nursing schools in the Gambia. There were 133 returned with a response rate of 95%. A correlational study design was used, and survey responses were self-reported using the revised version of the health belief measurement scales by Champion (1995), Self-reported use of personal protective indicators by Bova (2004) and TB knowledge measurement questionnaire from National Tuberculosis Curriculum Consortium (2005). The findings of this study indicated that use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was generally low among the participants. They reported using PPE occasionally and health beliefs accounted for 56% of the variance in wearing PPE. Demographic variables specifically level of general knowledge on TB and gender accounted for 41% of the variance. The results showed a moderate level of general knowledge on TB, misunderstanding regarding the mode of TB transmission, and low perceptions regarding susceptibility and seriousness of TB among the participants from both schools. Nursing schools must address the subject of TB in-depth and design gender and age-specific curricula that incorporate multifaceted strategies for different students and dispel misconceptions and improve awareness of the increased risk for TB among nursing students. Additionally, health educators and hospital administrations should collaborate to ensure continuous training and close supervision on the use of PPE by nursing students to build in them the attitude of self protection and disease control.