Table 1 Interview guide.

1. Do you usually deal with diagnosed TB patients at your workplace?

2. What protective device are in place and used on the wards:

   • Surgical masks

   • N95-respirators

   • Gloves

   • Curtains around beds

   • Isolation of patients

3. If a patient with TB is admitted - what action is taken and when?

4. Is action different when there is only suspicion of a TB?

5. If the patient is transferred - are there any protective measures for suspected or confirmed cases?

If yes, what are they? If no, why not?

6. Which of these tasks in TB management do you find difficult to do?

• education on TB for patients and family- If yes, why?

• psycho-social counselling - If yes, why?

• training of family members - If yes, why?

• DOTS treatment - If yes, why?

• managing TB and co-infections - If yes, why?

• Caring for TB-patients in hospital - If yes, why?

• Supervision of health workers - If yes, why?

• TB-risk prone procedures - If yes, why?

• Other tasks not mentioned - Which? Why?

7. Are you afraid of acquiring TB at work? - If yes, why, if no, why?

8. Do you have concerns treating or working with TB patients? If yes, why?

9. Do you have concerns treating or working with TB patients with AIDS? If yes, why?

10. How do you feel when these patients are on treatment for more than a week? Explain.

11. Could you imagine referring a patient to a traditional healer for TB treatment, if requested by the patient? Explain.

12. Could you imagine referring a patient to a traditional healer as a therapist for DOTS, if requested by the patient? Explain.

13. Are there local beliefs that may influence TB-patients not to come to the hospital?

If yes: what are they?

14. Are there local beliefs that may influence TB-patients not to take TB-medication regularly?

If yes: what are they?

15. Did you participate in any TB-training or -workshop in the past two years? If yes, what?

16. Do you have sufficient access to information about TB-care, protective measures and other TB-related subjects to confidently manage patients? If yes, from whom, how?

17. Do you know the national TB-guidelines for health workers? Explain.

18. Do you know the policy for dealing with TB patients in your hospital? Explain.

19. Do you feel positive about the CPD-system (continuous professional development) that is already in place for doctors being applied for nursing staff as well in future? Why?