title: Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment practices of private physicians in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: In a densely populated urban area of Karachi, Pakistan, a questionnaire survey was made of the knowledge and practices of 120 private general practitioners about the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB). The majority knew that cough, fever and weight loss were the main symptoms of TB, but less than half knew that blood in sputum, poor appetite and chest pain were associated with the disease. Only 58.3% of physicians used sputum microscopy for diagnosing TB and 35.0% used it as a follow-up test. Only 41.7% treated TB patients themselves, the remaining referring their patients to specialists. Around 73.3% of the doctors were aware of the 4 first-line anti-TB drugs. Efforts to improve the knowledge of private practitioners, and strategies to enhance public-private collaboration forTB control in urban areas are urgently required.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Section, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akbani
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Hussain
mesh_terms: D000855:Anorexia / Q000382:microbiology; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000382:microbiology; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003371:Cough / Q000382:microbiology; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010154:Pakistan; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents