CAN PHYSICIANS TREAT TUBERCULOSIS - REPORT ON A NATIONAL SURVEY OF PHYSICIAN PRACTICES

Objectives. Researchers examined physicians' treatment strategies for tuberculosis to determine whether they would follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Thora cic Society. Methods. A national survey sampled 1772 physicians. Analy ses tested correlates of recommended treatment regimens. Results. Amon g respondents, 59.4% described a recommended regimen. Specialists; phy sicians aware of professional publications, treatment recommendations, and reporting requirements; and those having more than 50% of patient s in nursing homes were more likely to describe recommended regimens, Physicians who had been in practice longer, relied on personal experie nce, or had more than 50% of patients receiving Medicaid were less lik ely to describe recommended regimens. Conclusions. Physicians who trea t tuberculosis require training and support. Policymakers should consi der who should treat tuberculosis and how recommended practice should be ensured.