Effectiveness of NTEP training program in the improvement of knowledge of medical interns

Abstract

Compulsory Residential Medical Interns (CRMI) is being a part of health-care professionals they have a role and responsibilities for counseling the patients on tuberculosis (TB). The objective of the study is to assess the awareness about National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) among CRMI and determine the effectiveness of the training program in the improvement of knowledge of CRMI. It was a pre-test and post-test design conducted among CRMI posted in the Department of Community medicine, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 600 CRMIs from 2014 to 2022 were trained in batches. The training program was conducted as per NTEP guidelines released by Central TB division guidelines. At the end of the session, feedback was obtained. Pre- and post-test data were entered and analyzed in Epi_Info software. The paired test was used to test the statistical significance. It was found 57.8% improvement in the knowledge of the participants about TB after the training program. In the analysis of feedback, the consensus score for all the responses was above 83%. Manual content analysis of the open-ended feedback was done. Health education dissemination strategies (e.g. campaign to end TB) on TB needs to be continuously done at the community and health facility level by trained CRMI.