Alia Liaqat, Muhammad Awais Iqbal, Muhammad Abdur Rehman Khadam.
Tuberculosis; Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Towards Tuberculosis Treatment: Dots (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) By Medical Officers.
Professional Med J Jan ;24(7):1044-8.

Background: TB is highly prevalent in Pakistan. The Pakistan government has, therefore, given high priority to Tuberculosis control. It has declared TB to be considered as National Emergency in 2001, and has extended the WHO suggested TB control strategy (or DOTS) throughout the all health services of the Health Ministry by May of 20051 .Therefore it is very essential to assess the knowledge about TB and its implementation in tertiary hospitals which are the main source of providing treatment. Objectives: To assess the knowledge of medical offices about the diagnosis of tuberculosis case, treatment of tuberculosis cases and the practice of TB DOTS by the MOs in teaching hospitals of Faisalabad City. Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out in teaching hospitals. “Allied Hospital and district head quarter hospital” in Faisalabad City, in one month from 10 June 2014 to July 10 2014, Fifty MOs were assessed by the questionnaires methodology. Study Design: The study design was cross sectional study. Sample Technique: Simple non-random sampling. Materials & Methods: The MOs were given the questionnaires and before filling it, they were also provided with consent form, to get their consent in written. The sample of consent form and questionnaires are given at end. MOs are assessed randomly. Results: In this study, the response obtained in questionnaires were analyzed individually. When we calculate the percentage of doctors have knowledge about DOTS in Faisalabad. We get following results: 77.5% of MOS in teaching hospital of Faisalabad have knowledge about DOTS in Faisalabad. When we calculate the percentage of doctors practicing DOTS in Faisalabad. We get following results so 18.64% of MOs practice DOTS. Conclusion: It was concluded from this study that though majority of MOs have the knowledge but they are not practicing it. So there is a need of strict enforcement to implement this program effectively to achieve a better control of TB under guidelines of WHO.

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