Authors: Vyas R.M.¹; Small P.M.²; DeRiemer K.²

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 7, Number 6, June 2003 , pp. 543-549(7)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: IndiaÕs private health care sector manages half the nationÕs tuberculosis (TB) patients, accounting for an estimated sixth of global TB cases. While several studies have demonstrated private physiciansÕ dubious diagnosis and treatment styles and lack of cooperation with public physicians, very little is still known about the private sector.

OBJECTIVES: Using a detailed questionnaire to randomly survey private and public practitioners in Ahmedebad, Gujarat, India, we quantified perceptions held by each sector.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey of private and public physicians.

RESULTS: Significant conflicts in perception were found regarding interpretation of general facts, attitudes towards each sector, and effectiveness and social implications of DOTS. We also found that such differences in perception were likely to result in mistrust, differing views on reform propositions, conflicting mindsets about social agendas, and unwillingness to cooperate.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that reconciliation is attainable by obtaining and distributing unbiased, evidence-based information and exposing physicians to both private and public health care sectors in a professional setting.

Keywords: tuberculosis; DOTS; India; private physicians

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Departments of Biological Sciences, and Economics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA 2: Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California, USA

Publication date: 2003-06-01

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• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

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