Disease reporting among Georgia physicians and laboratories

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy

Background:

• Disease reporting is crucial for public health surveillance.
• Understanding reporting practices among physicians and laboratories is essential for identifying gaps.
• Previous studies have not fully explored the factors influencing reporting knowledge and practices in Georgia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess physicians' and clinical laboratories' knowledge and practices regarding disease reporting in Georgia.
• To identify factors associated with improved reporting knowledge among physicians.
• To understand specimen referral patterns among clinical laboratories.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted in 2005 with a sample of 177 physicians and 139 clinical laboratories in Georgia.
• Data collected included reporting knowledge, practices, training, and specimen referral patterns.
• Statistical analysis was used to identify associations between physician characteristics and reporting knowledge.

Main Results:

• Physicians who graduated before 1980, used email, accessed public health information online, and reported frequently showed greater knowledge.
• Physician reporting knowledge was not significantly associated with specific reporting training.
• A significant number of physicians (52%) did not report diseases, believing others would.
• Laboratory representatives received more reporting training (56%) than physicians (32%).
• 35% of laboratories referred specimens outside of Georgia for testing.

Conclusions:

• Physician characteristics, independent of formal training, influence disease reporting knowledge and practices.
• Addressing physician perceptions that others will report is critical.
• Clear delineation of reporting responsibilities among all stakeholders is needed.
• Extensive specimen referral highlights the need for coordinated reporting regulations beyond local boundaries.