Knowledge regarding management of tuberculosis among general practitioners in northern areas of Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the knowledge of General Practitioners (GPs)in NWFP and northern areas of Pakistan regarding diagnosis and management of tuberculosis.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners (GPs) from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and northern areas of Pakistan was done. The sampling strategy was convenience sampling. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire after taking verbal consent.


RESULTS
Out of 88 GPs 43% regarded sputum microscopy and 22% chest radiograph as confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. During follow up of pulmonary TB patients, 32% doctors considered chest radiograph as the best investigation while sputum microscopy was chosen by only 28%. Eighty seven percent of GPs correctly identified TB as a droplet infection but 6% considered sexual contact to be the main mode of spread of this disease. Two third of the prescriptions, written for a 60 kg man with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB, were not in line with national guidelines. Only 3% of the GPs knew all the five components of DOTS.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe deficiencies were seen in the management of TB by GPs of Northern areas of Pakistan. National TB control Program must take appropriate measures to educate and train the GPs in TB management. Without involving the GPs, TB control will remain a problem in Pakistan).
Shehzadi
Romana
R
Section of Pulmonary Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Irfan
Muhammad
M
Zohra
Tatheer
T
Khan
Javaid Ahmed
JA
Hussain
Syed Fayyaz
SF
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*