30 Adherence of the private.pmd

1Division of Communicable Disease, Center for Disease Management, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. 2Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research; 3Department of Research Affairs, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. ABSRACT We determined the knowledge and practice of private sector physicians in three cites regarding management of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and their determinants. A random sample questionnaire survey was conducted of 732 private physicians. Stratified analysis and logistic regression were used to identify the adjusted determinants of the two outcomes. A high proportion of the doctors had correct knowledge about the major diagnostic criteria but there was a low level of knowledge and practice of TB management. Significant risk factors for poor knowledge were age ≥ 36 years, being a GP rather than a specialist and no attendance in TB training courses or attendance in courses held by institutions other than the public health system. Age ≥ 36 years was the only significant risk factor for poor practice.