Can physicians treat tuberculosis?
Report on a national survey of physician practices. E M Sumartojo, L J Geiter, B Miller and B E Hale Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. 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 Thoracic Society. METHODS: A national survey sampled 1772 physicians. Analyses tested correlates of recommended treatment regimens. RESULTS: Among respondents, 59.4% described a recommended regimen. Specialists; physicians aware of professional publications, treatment recommendations, and reporting requirements; and those having more than 50% of patients in nursing homes were more likely to describe recommended regimens. Physicians who had been in practice longer, relied on personal experience, or had more than 50% of patients receiving Medicaid were less likely to describe recomme
