Author/Authors :
Sohrabi, Somaye School of Management and Medical Education - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Soleiman Ekhtiari, Yalda Social Determinants of Health Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Shakerian, Sareh Departments of Community Based Education of Health Sciences - School of Management and Medical Education - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of mortality worldwide. It is
also the leading cause of death in HIV-positive patients. In this study, we aimed
to assess the educational needs of general practitioners regarding tuberculosis in
the North Health Center of Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This quantitative and qualitative study was conducted
in 2017. In the quantitative phase, 31 general practitioners from the North Health
Center of Tehran were included. The educational needs assessment was
performed using the knowledge assessment and self-assessment scales. Data
were entered in SPSS version 21 and analyzed using descriptive tests and
Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. In the qualitative phase, data were collected
by interviewing six managers of tuberculosis monitoring program and analyzed
using the content analysis method.
Results: The mean score of the knowledge assessment scale was 22.8±6.4. The
most and the least important educational needs were related to treatment and
general information about tuberculosis, respectively. Moreover, tuberculosis
treatment and general information about tuberculosis were the most and the
least important educational needs in the self-assessment scale, respectively.
There was a poor correlation between the mean scores of self-assessment scale
and knowledge assessment scale regarding tuberculosis prevention (P=0.01,
r=0.27). Also, a moderate correlation was found regarding tuberculosis screening
(P=0.001, r=0.56). However, no significant correlation was found in terms of
general information (P=0.31), diagnosis (P=0.43), and treatment (P=0.29) of
tuberculosis. Five major themes were extracted in the qualitative phase of the
study, including “training time”, “educational content”, “educational references”,
“teaching method”, and “organizational factors”.
Conclusion: An appropriate educational program should be developed for
general practitioners in form of continuing education and educational reform.
