O-231 KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF PUBLIC SECTOR HEALTH PERSONNEL IN RABAT TOWARDS TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract Introduction The objective was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals in the public sector regarding tuberculosis and the application of the recommendations of the national tuberculosis control program. Methods and Results This cross-sectional study was carried out during the first half of 2023 among public sector doctors in the city of Rabat. It involved 165 practitioners (31% of general practitioners, 65.5% of specialists and 3.5% of dentists), excluding pulmonologists. The self-questionnaire included knowledge about pulmonary tuberculosis, the national tuberculosis control program, screening and diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. The female gender represented 64.8%. The National Tuberculosis Control Guide did not contribute to strengthening knowledge about tuberculosis for 7.8% of the sample. 20.6% of professionals declared that they were aware of the missions of the Center for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases and 35.2% were completely unaware. 26% of participants were completely unaware of the structures involved in the national tuberculosis control program. Almost all those interviewed considered that tuberculosis is a public health problem and affirmed that there is a national program to combat tuberculosis in Morocco. Almost all doctors (99% (n=164)) answered that Mycobacterium tuberculosis hominis (BK) is the causative agent of tuberculosis. The elements least cited by health professionals to confirm the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis are clinical symptoms (34%) and quantiferon (17.7%). Discussion and Conclusion To avoid negative attitudes, interventions are needed to ensure good knowledge of tuberculosis.