Management of pulmonary tuberculosis in private health sector: is it according to revised national tuberculosis control programme guidelines?

Abstract

Background: As private sector is dominant tuberculosis (TB) care provider in India, to realize the vision of TB free India, it is crucial that public and private sector follow uniform standard of TB care. This can be achieved when private health sector adopts TB management methodology of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of India. The present study was conducted to estimate whether or not TB management practices of allopathic private practitioners (PPs) conform to RNTCP guidelines by assessment of their knowledge and practice about new pulmonary TB (PTB).Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire among PPs practicing in urban areas of five of the six districts of Kumaon Division of Uttarakhand State of India between October 2013 to November 2014.Results: Of 71 PPs included in the study, almost 66% did not suspect pulmonary TB unless cough was associated with other symptoms. For diagnosis and follow up, sputum AFB microscopy alone was used by only 10% and 8.4% PPs respectively. Of the 71 PPs, 67 PPs who prescribed treatment for new PTB, used 20 diverse anti-TB regimens, and 10.5% of them included levofloxacin in the regimen.Conclusions: Majority PPs didn’t follow the RNTCP’s TB management guidelines for new PTB.