Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy among general practitioners at Hyderabad.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the level of knowledge, social attitude towards patients, and diagnostic and management capabilities of general practitioners (KAP) regarding leprosy, practicing at Hyderabad, Pakistan.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, during October to December 2007.

METHODOLOGY

A pre-tested and well-structured questionnaire consisting of 54 questions was administered to general practitioners working at various areas in Hyderabad. The questions were grouped under different headings and covered clinical features, common and uncommon presentations, complications, referral practices and stigma. The sum of correct answers marked by doctors was taken to classify the respondents. The doctors who responded correctly for upto 10 questions were assigned level 1 (poor), from 11 to 25: level 2 (average), from 26 to 40: level 3 (good), while those who marked correct answers for more than 40 questions were assigned level 4 (excellent). Chi-square test was used to determine significance at p<0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 200 doctors were surveyed. Fourteen doctors (7%) had poor knowledge of disease (number of correct answers less than 10), 32 (16%) had average (number of correct answers between 11 and 25), 140 (70%) doctors good (number of correct answers between 26 and 40) while 14 (7%) had excellent (number of correct answers more than 40) knowledge of the disease.

CONCLUSION

There is inconsistency and deficiencies in the knowledge, referral pattern and treatment of leprosy among general practitioners, which needs to be improved by conducting awareness activities.