[Where the tuberculosis patients are diagnosed and started to treatment?]

Tuberculosis dispensaries have played important roles in management of patients with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis patients diagnosed and treatments are started at dispensaries as well as other health care institutions. Other institutions must be aware of the mission of dispensaries especially at the treatment and follow-up of patients. We aimed to investigate in which health care institutions tuberculosis patients diagnosed and treatment started and whether the awareness about dispanseries is sufficient.

Records of tuberculosis patients in Elazıg dispansery examined retrospectively. The data obtained were analyzed by Microsoft Excel.

Records of 854 patients with tuberculosis has been reached those followed in Elazig dispensary between the years 2005-2011. Percentages of the patients diagnosed in university hospital, dispensary and state hospitals were 36.3%, 18.5% and 17.3%; respectively. Treatments of patients were started in dispensary (81.9%), university hospital (7.7%), and chest disease hospital (4.3%).

Treatment starting rate of dispensary was high because patients diagnosed by other health institutions directed to dispensary for taking the first drugs and beginning of the treatment. In tuberculosis control program; dispensaries carry out important operational functions in management of tuberculosis patients and other health institutions are aware of this situation.