Measuring instrument: knowledge, attitudes and practices of people with pulmonary tuberculosis.

It was tested only in Bogotá, Colombia, among adults newly admitted to a tuberculosis program, so it may not fit other cities, countries or patient groups. People with cognitive disabilities and patients readmitted after abandonment or relapse were excluded, so the findings do not apply to those groups. The study did not test whether using the questionnaire improves adherence, reduces transmission or changes any patient outcome. The attitudes dimension had weak internal consistency (0.32), and items 14, 19, 31 and 37 did not fit the expected dimensions, so subscores may be unreliable. The sensitivity test used only 30 patients and 30 waiting-room controls, and expert judgment used only three judges, so these steps were small.

Do not read this as proof that educational interventions for pulmonary tuberculosis patients work. The study built and tested a measurement questionnaire; it did not deliver an education programme or measure adherence, transmission or other patient outcomes.