KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE OF TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS TOWARDS COVID-19.

World health organization has declared covid-19 as pandemic. Worldwide efforts are being made to increase the awareness about covid-19 in general public and as well as in patients through various health education programs. The study included 500 patients of Tuberculosis both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary who has been started on anti-tubercular treatment, or who came for follow up in Department of Pulmonary medicine, Chest and T.B hospital Patiala during the 6 month period from January 2021 to June 2021. All walk in patients above 15yr of age were included. To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the participants, 26 questions (including 14 for knowledge, 5 for attitude, 07 for practice) were included. The questions were directly asked from patients in there vernacular language along with demographic details and response noted. The results of this study will reveal research gaps to guide health experts in decision-making, as well as develop policies and interventions tailored towards bridging the gap and to use that knowledge in decreasing the spread of covid-19 in tuberculosis patients as they are more vulnerable for COVID-19 infection due to decrease in immunity and also to inform future prospects focusing on societal readiness to comply with pandemic control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]