Abstract
As private medical practitioners play a major role of in providing care to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, a survey was made of knowledge and practice in 2 cities in Pakistan. Only 1 of the 245 physicians was aware that cough > 3 weeks alone is the main symptom suggesting pulmonary TB. The majority diagnosed (80%) and treated (83%) cases themselves without referral. Less than 1% relied on sputum microscopy alone for diagnosis. None of the practitioners were following National TB Control guidelines for prescribing drugs and none ensured compliance with anti-TB treatment under supervision of a doctor/health worker. Only 3% kept records of pulmonary TB patients. None of the physicians assessed the effectiveness of treatment with sputum microscopy alone; the majority (76%) used only clinical assessment.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aftercare / standards
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Aged
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Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
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Attitude of Health Personnel
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Cough / microbiology
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Drug Prescriptions / standards
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Female
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Guideline Adherence / standards*
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Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
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Health Services Needs and Demand
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Health Services Research
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Physicians, Family* / education
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Physicians, Family* / psychology
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Physicians, Family* / standards
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Practice Guidelines as Topic / standards*
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Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards*
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Private Practice / standards*
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Referral and Consultation / standards
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Sputum / microbiology
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / complications
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / diagnosis
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* / drug therapy
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Urban Health Services / standards