title: Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians in Tomsk Oblast tuberculosis services regarding alcohol use among tuberculosis patients in Tomsk, Russia.
abstract: In recent years, the Russian Federation has seen a dramatic rise in morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis (TB), attributed in part to an increase in alcohol use disorders (AUDs), which are associated with worse TB treatment outcomes. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes and practices of physicians who treat TB patients in Tomsk, Russia. We conducted semistructured interviews with 16 TB physicians and 1 addiction specialist. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, translated and systematically analyzed. We identified four key domains: definitions of alcohol use and abuse and physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding these problems. Physicians described patients as largely precontemplative and reluctant to seek treatment. Physicians recognized their limited knowledge in diagnosing and treating AUDs but expressed interest in acquiring these skills. Few options are currently available for treatment of AUDs in TB patients in Tomsk. These findings suggest that Tomsk physicians are aware of the need to engage AUDs in TB patients but identify a knowledge gap that restricts their ability to do so. Training TB physicians to use simple screening instruments and deliver evidence-based alcohol interventions improves TB outcomes among patients with co-occurring AUDs.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. tmathew@medicine.umsmed.edu
authors.forename: Trini A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Aizhan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Imasheva
authors.forename: Sonya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sergey P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mishustin
authors.forename: Gennady G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Peremitin
authors.forename: Aivar K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Strelis
authors.forename: Galina V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Yanova
authors.forename: Shelly F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Greenfield
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Furin
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D012800:Siberia; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy