Survey of knowledge about tuberculosis amongst family physicians.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices pertaining to tuberculosis (TB) amongst family physicians.


METHODS
A questionnaire-based study in which 150 family physicians were interviewed.


RESULTS
Of the family physicians 21.3% considered that TB is not a serious problem; 29% did not advise BCG vaccination as they considered that BCG vaccination has adverse side effects and limited usefulness. Only 38% depended on sputum analysis for diagnosis and 39% were prescribing four drug regimen for newly diagnosed TB patients. Majority of family physicians were prescribing the drugs that are classified currently as non-recommendable. Only 7.3% were able to write down the correct contents and quantity of tablets of what they were prescribing.


CONCLUSIONS
There are many misunderstandings about the transmission of tuberculosis and BCG vaccinations. Method of diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of treatment by and large is not satisfactory.
Rizvi
N
N
Department of Chest Medicine, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and Liaquat National Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.
Hussain
M
M
D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000628:therapy
D001500:BCG Vaccine