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