Medical interns knowledge of TB in Pakistan
Document Type
Article
Department
Pulmonary and Critical Care
Abstract
Of 460 interns from five Pakistani teaching hospitals surveyed, only 22% correctly identified the estimated number of new TB cases in Pakistan. The majority (96%) knew that droplet infection was the usual mode of transmission. Only 38% considered sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli as the best test for diagnosis of pulmonary TB and 43.5% for follow-up during TB treatment. The recommended four-drug anti-TB regimen was prescribed by 56.5% in the initiation phase and the recommended two-drug combination in the continuation phase by 52%. Most interns (82%) were unable to identify a single component of directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) strategy. Our study reflects poor awareness of and low compliance to the World Health Organization/National Tuberculosis Programme guidelines among interns. For effective control of TB, immediate action to improve undergraduate and continuing medical education is essential, with special emphasis on national guidelines.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Tropical Doctor
Recommended Citation
Khan, J. A.,
Zahid, S.,
Khan, R.,
Hussain, S. F.,
Rizvi, N.,
Rab, A.,
Javed, A.,
Ahmad, A.,
Ait-Khaled, N.,
Enarson, D. A.
(2005). Medical interns knowledge of TB in Pakistan. Tropical Doctor, 35(3), 144-147.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_pulm_critcare/134