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Tuberculosis screening in private physicians' offices, Pennsylvania, 1996
J M Schulte1, M Moore, V Kistler
1Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
|April 13, 1999
Summary
Most physicians do not follow tuberculosis (TB) skin testing guidelines, even after a community-wide screening event. Further research is needed to understand how private practice physicians adopt recommended TB testing standards.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- A community-wide screening for tuberculosis (TB) involved 1400 children exposed to an infected pediatrician.
- Physician adherence to established TB skin testing protocols is crucial for accurate diagnosis and disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the adherence of physicians to tuberculin skin testing guidelines following a significant community TB exposure event.
- To identify potential gaps in the implementation of recommended TB screening practices among healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from pediatricians and family practitioners.
- The study assessed the percentage of physicians following guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for TB skin tests.
Main Results:
- Out of 80 physicians surveyed, 60 (75%) responded, with 59 routinely performing TB skin tests on over 900 children monthly.
- Only 14% of these physicians adhered to the published guidelines for the placement and reading of tuberculin tests.
- These compliant physicians screened only 17% of pediatric patients undergoing TB testing in a typical month.
Conclusions:
- The majority of private practice physicians in the studied community do not follow standard TB skin testing guidelines, despite a publicized TB case and mass screening.
- Understanding the learning and decision-making processes of private practice physicians regarding recommended TB testing standards is essential for improving TB diagnosis and management.