Awareness and acceptance of latent tuberculosis infection screening and preventive treatment among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China.

OBJECTIVE

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), yet screening and tuberculosis prevention treatment (TPT) rates remain low. This study aims to assess acceptance of LTBI screening and TPT among HCWs and identify factors influencing their willingness.

METHODS

A stratified random sampling was conducted across 31 districts, involving 46 tuberculosis (TB) designated institutions in Chongqing. HCWs were surveyed using a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance regarding LTBI screening and TPT.

RESULTS

Among 1,022 HCWs, 39.7% reported limited LTBI knowledge, and 67.4% had never undergone LTBI screening. Willingness rates for screening and TPT were 78.7 and 93.3%, respectively. Among those unwilling to undergo screening, 87.6% cited reasons such as perceiving it as unnecessary or lacking time, while 57.8% expressed concerns about the inspection process and associated cost. Additionally, 79.4% of those unwilling to accept TPT cited fear of adverse drug reactions. Department was significantly associated with willingness to undergo screening (p = 0.003), while profession (p = 0.001) and work experience (p = 0.016) were significantly associated with willingness to receive TPT. Multivariable analysis revealed that prior LTBI screening history (OR = 5.145), history of treating TB patients (OR = 1.518), and support for TPT (OR = 1.497) were independent predictors of screening acceptance, while support for TPT was the sole independent predictor of TPT acceptance (OR = 7.110).

CONCLUSION

Strengthening health education, providing policy and financial support, and targeting high-risk departments for screening and TPT may improve compliance among HCWs. Additionally, fostering positive attitudes toward TPT and ensuring positive initial screening experiences are critical to enhancing acceptance.