An important aspect of the prevention and possible elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in Canada relates to the screening practices of primary care physicians. There is good evidence that screening for TB is under-utilized by physicians in Canada and other industrialized countries. This thesis was conducted to determine: (1) family physicians' knowledge and beliefs about the prevention of tuberculosis, (2) their awareness and use of TB screening guidelines circulated by the Ottawa-Carleton Health Department, (3) the perceived barriers to screening and, (4) to identify factors associated with primary care physicians knowledge and beliefs about the prevention of tuberculosis. Predictor variables included gender, year of graduation, certification, practice setting, whether a physician lived in a developing country, whether a physician practiced medicine in a developing country and the percentage of persons from developing countries in physicians' practices. Family physicians had a moderate level of knowledge about the prevention of tuberculosis which varied according to the specific components of screening. Younger physicians and practitioners with a higher proportion of clients from developing countries were more knowledgeable about screening for tuberculosis. Only 13% of the total variability in physicians' knowledge however, was explained by the regression model containing these two explanatory variables. Physicians' self-efficacy beliefs also varied according to specific aspects of screening. Self-confidence about prescribing INH and managing INH therapy was low. Only 48% of the sample believed that patient compliance with INH therapy was good. With respect to barriers to screening, 60% of physicians felt that reimbursement for TB screening was inadequate, 30% cited language/cultural problems with clients, 90% felt that more continuing medical education (CME) programs were needed and 65% were in favor of a central TB screening clinic. Awareness of tuberculosis prevention and treatment guidelines circulated by the Ottawa-Carleton Health Department was low. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/10388 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Carew, Maureen T. |
| Contributors | Stewart, P., |
| Publisher | University of Ottawa (Canada) |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 124 p. |
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