Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Tuberculosis is still an important public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, awareness and the most common misconceptions about tuberculosis among students at the Cukurova University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS).

Methods: The study included 843 students. Data were collected by preparing a questionnaire containing questions regarding routes of transmission, symptoms, prevention and detection of tuberculosis. The questionnaire also included questions about sociodemographic characteristics. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Mean age of 843 students included in study was 20.6±2.7 years. Six hundred and sixty (71.9%) of them were female and 237 (28.1%) were male. Four hundred and sixty one (54.7%) of the participants were attending first-grade, while 382 (45.3%) were attending second-grade. When compared to the students attending first-grade, the students attending second-grade had significantly more information about the route of transmission (90.1% vs. 70.9%, p<0.05), agent of tuberculosis (51.8% vs. 27.1%, p<0.05), symptoms (49.2% vs. 23.9%, p<0.05), diagnosis (38.5% vs.18.9%, p<0.05), and duration of tuberculosis treatment (53.9% vs. 18.9%, p<0.05).

Conclusion: TB knowledge among health services students is particularly important, because they may face significant exposure and consequently, have the highest risk of infection or disease. Education of target groups will lead to the formation of proper attitudes about tuberculosis.

Keywords: Awareness, Knowledge, Tuberculosis