Influence of physiciansʹ attitudes on under-notifying infectious diseases: a longitudinal study

Objectives. To identify practitionersʹ demographic and professional characteristics associated with reporting of mandatory-reporting diseases (MRDs), and to identify attitudes associated with MRD reporting. . Longitudinal study. g. Regional Health Service of Galicia (North-western Spain). ts. Random sample of 600 physicians. utcome measures. A postal questionnaire was used to measure the physiciansʹ beliefs, knowledge and attitudes regarding MRDs. Associations between the independent variables and outcomes (notification or non-notification of MRDs every week during 1998) were modelled using the Andersen-Gill proportional hazards model. s. The response rate was 60.1%. The following beliefs, knowledge and attitudes were statistically associated with a smaller probability of reporting any given MRD: (1) I would only notify an MRD after confirming diagnosis; (2) the MRD reporting system interferes with my daily clinical practice; (3) besides the legal requirements, I would have to report MRDs as a medical professional; and (4) only the reporting of relevant or severe MRDs is necessary. Under-reporting was not associated with specialization (general or paediatric) or the type of contract (fixed or temporary), but was associated with gender. sions. Some physiciansʹ beliefs, knowledge and attitudes regarding MRDs are associated with under-reporting. This suggests that modification of certain attitudes and knowledge in physicians could greatly reduce the under-reporting of MRDs.