Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Drug-Induced Visual Impairment Due to Antitubercular Therapy Among Medical Officers of Primary Health Care Centers in Karnataka, South India

Purpose: Ethambutol, a key first-line drug used in fixed-dose combinations for tuberculosis (TB) treatment, is associated with a well-known adverse effect, optic neuropathy, that can result in irreversible vision loss. Despite this risk, in high-burden countries such as India, the primary emphasis remains on disease elimination, often leading healthcare professionals to overlook the potential for serious vision-related side effects of ethambutol. This study sought to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of medical officers at primary health centers (PHCs) in Karnataka regarding visual impairment caused by antitubercular therapy (ATT). Methods: A questionnaire-based, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were recruited via a convenience sampling approach from PHCs in Karnataka. The data were analysed via IBM SPSS version 27. Results: test), indicating better knowledge and practices among them. Conclusion: The medical officers of PHCs in Karnataka believe that grassroots-level training, increased awareness, mandatory visual screening of visual function by a physician or optometrist at every PHC, and prompt referrals to tertiary care centers can help address the challenges in identifying drug-induced visual impairment.