Perceived Barriers among Primary Physicians in Tuberculosis Notification: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Suryanti, Idris Adewale Ahmed, Hamzah

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, where accurate reporting is crucial for effective control and prevention. However, under-reporting, particularly by primary physicians, poses a challenge to these efforts, contributing to inaccuracies in disease burden estimates and delays in treatment.


Objectives: This study aims to identify and analyze the factors contributing to the under-reporting of tuberculosis (TB) cases among primary physicians in Semarang City, Indonesia. Specifically, the study will investigate the relationships between physicians' knowledge, commitment, the presence of designated staff for notification, incentives for reporting, and the notification format, to determine how these factors influence TB case reporting.


Methods: This cross-sectional study investigates the factors influencing under-reporting of TB cases among primary physicians in Semarang City, Indonesia. The analysis examines factors such as physicians' knowledge, commitment, the presence of designated staff for notification, incentives for reporting, and the format of TB notifications. Spearman's correlation test was used to assess the relationships between these factors and under-reporting.


Results: The study reveals significant correlations between under-reporting and the factors examined. Knowledge, commitment, designated staff, and incentives all showed significant p-values (sig<0.05). Spearman’s correlation coefficients ranged from 0.245 to 0.750, indicating varying degrees of association with under-reporting.


Conclusions: Addressing under-reporting is essential for improving TB control. Enhancing physician awareness, optimizing reporting systems, and providing incentives for accurate notification are crucial steps. These targeted strategies will improve disease surveillance, enable timely interventions, and help prevent TB transmission and drug resistance, thereby improving public health outcomes.

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