Practice of cough etiquette and quality of life among MDR-TB patients at a tertiary care hospital

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease. When a patient with pulmonary TB coughs/sneezes without appropriate cough etiquette, it may spread to others. Also cough due to TB has significantly impaired quality of life of patient. To find the cough hygiene practices and assess quality of life among multi drug resistant tuberculosis patients. It was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted at DR-TB centre of Basaveshwara medical college and hospital over a period of six months. All the active MDR-TB cases either attending or admitted at the DR-TB centre were personally interviewed by giving preformed questionnaire to assess the knowledge and practice of respiratory hygiene and Leicester cough questionnaire and Cough specific quality of life questionnaire were given to assess the quality of life. Total of 50 patients were included in our study out of which 28 were males and 22 were females. Majority (64%) were unaware of mode of transmission of TB. 90% were unaware of hygienic sputum disposal. Knowledge and practice of cough etiquette was poor. Our study also showed that total LCQ scores were lower in females as compared to males (10.1±2.8 versus 12.3±2.2). Total CQLQ scores were higher in females as compared to males (78.3±10 versus 69.6±4.9). Both indicating worse QOL in female patients. Majority were unaware of proper knowledge and practice of cough hygiene. Most of the females reported worse QOL. There should be proper interaction between DOTS providers and patient’s, they should educate patients about cough etiquette and its importance. NTEP should also focus on improving QOL of patients.