ETHICAL ISSUES ENCOUNTERD BY HEALTH WORKERS IN TREATING SPUTUM POSITIVE CASES OF TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain ethical issues coming across health workers in sputum positive cases of tuberculosis. Methods: Cross-Sectional study was conducted during July 2015 at Institute of Chest Diseases Kotri Jamshoro &Institute of Chest diseases Ojha Campus Karachi in the Sindh Province of Pakistan, and comprised of Health workers i.e Doctors, Nurses and Dispensars who were working in the tuberculosis treatment centres. Data was collected through structured questionnaire and was analyzed through SPSS version 16. Results: Participants expressed that they encountered ethical issues such as autonomy (Independence in decision), treating patients for prolonged period without willingness of the patients and workers reported that they had inadequate financial incentives at Tuberculosis hospitals. 59.1% amongst male disagreed that they didn’t get training, While 40.9% female disagreed that they had not got any training regarding tuberculosis.50% of nurses had no understanding about medical risks associated with tuberculosis. Amongst doctors 50% were agreed and 50% were not agreed regarding medical risks with tuberculosis..Conclusion: The study results showed that health workers are at increased risk of getting the disease and they were not satisfied with the measures taken to them in the tuberculosis hospitals. Moreover, they said that they encountered ethical issues in terms of autonomy of the patient by treating prolonged period without their willingness. Study results suggested that participants had little knowledge about ethics and have no concept regarding the ethical principles. Study revealed that all the participants’ nurses, doctors and dispensars were equally facing ethical dilemmas/issues. Qualification and Gender has no relationship in terms of encountering ethical issues. In exception to this the workers had not undergone for tuberculosis control programmes that also can be responsible for creating ethical dilemmas.