Evaluation of the approaches and knowledge level of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease research assistants and specialist physicians

This study aims to evaluate approaches and knowledge level for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment among infectious diseases and clinical microbiology research assistants and specialist physicians. This was a descriptive study on the research assistants and specialist physicians. A questionnaire consisting of 24 questions prepared by the researchers was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 22.0. In this study, 116 physicians participated. The average age of participants was 41.07 ± 8.65 years, and 64.7% were female. The proportion of physicians with no pulmonary and non-pulmonary TB experience was calculated as 6.9% and 3.4%, respectively. Acid-fast-bacilli (AFB) tests were most frequently used in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. On the other hand, the tuberculin skin test (TST) + chest radiography (CR) was most frequently used for latent TB in immunosuppressed subjects (91.4% and 69%, respectively). The most common non-pulmonary TB clinic form encountered was lymphadenitis (88.8%); the most common treatment problem was drug side effects (75%); and the most common drug resistance was to isoniazid (25.9%). It was determined that physicians encountered HIV and TB coinfection in 62.9% of patients, and standard TB treatment was applied for most patients (48.3%). The most frequent yearly TST + CR + AFB trials (69%) were performed in the screenings of health workers who were in contact with TB patients. It was observed that 44% of physicians used a negative pressurized chamber and/or isolation chamber in the institution, and 72.4% used a N95/FFP3 mask during examination. It was determined that the participants were mostly correct about TB. Infectious diseases and clinical microbiology physicians continue to encounter TB patients. This group of physicians often has a good level of knowledge and experience with TB, although special training for this disease is low.