TUBERCULOSIS MANAGEMENT

HOW WELL DO OUR MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS KNOW IN LAHORE HOSPITALS?

Abstract

Background: Medical practitioners are the main source of health care for
patients in Pakistan due to their availability at all times. Limited information is available related to
the management of Tuberculosis (TB) among the practitioners. Study Design: Cross sectional
study. Setting: Through stratified random sampling among the practitioners of Lahore, Punjab.
Period: May 2014 to August 2014. Methods: They were presented with a questionnaire and
their answers examined according to the international designed strategy for TB management.
Results: TB management has a positive relationship with experience, awareness, source of
awareness and continuing medical education and a negative relationship with qualification. 95
% of doctors agreed to go for further investigation but only 40% knew that 2 sputum samples
were required for proper diagnosis. Only 32% doctors knew TB resistant drugs were to be
given in drug resistant cases. Conclusion: Most doctors in Pakistan lack sufficient knowledge
regarding tuberculosis management and prompt measures shall be taken to improve it.