Measles surveillance in Qatar, 2008: physicians' knowledge and practices and support received

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Qatar is in the measles elimination phase, necessitating immediate notification and investigation of all suspected cases.
• Effective measles surveillance is crucial for maintaining elimination status and preventing resurgence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess physicians' self-reported knowledge and practices regarding measles surveillance in Qatar.
• To evaluate the level of support physicians receive for measles surveillance activities.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 290 physicians in Qatar.
• Data collected included self-reported knowledge of measles case definitions, reporting procedures, diagnostic testing, and received training and supervision.

Main Results:

• Only 22.4% of physicians met the criteria for best practice in measles surveillance.
• A significant proportion (85.9%) did not receive adequate training or feedback on surveillance.
• Physicians under supervision demonstrated significantly better surveillance practices compared to those not supervised.

Conclusions:

• Physician performance in measles surveillance requires improvement, with a notable gap in knowledge and practice adherence.
• Supervision appears to be a key factor in enhancing surveillance practices, more so than training and feedback alone.
• Recommendations include implementing targeted training programs and establishing robust feedback mechanisms for healthcare workers involved in measles control.