[The opinions of Turkish physicians about the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensary].

Abstract

Department of tuberculosis control is the main tuberculosis branch of Minister of Health, with coordinators in cities as intermediate departments and Tuberculosis Central Dispensaries (TCD) as peripheral branches. This study was performed through January-May 2007 in seven different geographical regions to figure out opinions of physicians on tuberculosis dispensaries. A specific questionnaire was distributed to doctors in two cities in each geographical region. A number of 1250 doctor participated in the study as at least fifty doctors in each city. Mean age of the subjects was 32.58 +/- 6.63 (22-65), 52.1% (651) of whom had diagnosed tuberculosis before. It was found in the study that two important functions of tuberculosis central dispensaries for the doctors were the treatment of patients regularly and freely, and scanning the persons who have very close contact with active tuberculosis patient. A number of 157 doctors accepted all seven functions of dispensary as important. Female doctors, pediatricians and chest physicians had better knowledge on the tasks of tuberculosis central dispensaries (p< 0.005). This study showed that Turkish physicians did not have enough knowledge about tuberculosis and its tasks. We believe that practical training procedures for the physicians on the goals and functions of TCD will help to treat tuberculosis.