Assessment of knowledge level of family physicians and intern physicians working in Van related to tuberculosis disease and BCG vaccine application

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge level of family and intern physicians about tuberculosis disease and BCG vaccine application and the effectiveness of training on these subjects. Material and Method: Our research is a cross-sectional, face-to-face survey study. The research was conducted between September and December 2024 at Van Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine and health institutions providing primary health care services throughout Van province. A total of 224 people who agreed to participate in the study and met other appropriate criteria were included in our study. A total of 37 questions were prepared in the light of current information by researching literature, reference books, and consulting experts in the field. The 24 questions were about tuberculosis disease and BCG vaccination. 13 questions were prepared to learn sociodemographic information. The survey form consisting of 37 questions was applied to the participants in a face-to-face interview. Findings: A total of 224 people, 146 (65.2%) male and 78 (34.8%) female were included in the study. Of the physicians participating in the study, 43.8% were general practitioner family physicians, 29.5% were intern physicians, 15.2% were contracted family medicine specialist assistants, 6.7% were family medicine specialists, and 4.9% were family medicine assistant physicians. The number of patients receiving tuberculosis treatment in the unit where the physicians work was determined to be 1.08±1.50 per year. While 55.4% of physicians found the tuberculosis-related education they received during their medical school education to be sufficient, 44.6% stated that the education they received about tuberculosis was insufficient. The rate of physicians who stated that they received training related to tuberculosis after graduating from medical school was 9.8%, while the rate of physicians who stated that they did not receive training was 90.2%. A statistically significant difference was found between the knowledge test applied to the physicians and the patient status of the physicians diagnosed with tuberculosis in their professional lives (p=0.033). The knowledge test average of the physicians who diagnosed tuberculosis in their professional life (15.1±2.1) was found to be relatively lower than the knowledge test average of the physicians who did not diagnose tuberculosis (16.1±1.9). A statistically significant difference was found between the knowledge test applied to the physicians and the place where the physicians work. (p=0.030). Conclusion: The knowledge levels of family physicians working in primary health care institutions about tuberculosis and BCG vaccination were found to be lower than those of physicians working in medical faculty hospitals. The knowledge test of physicians who diagnosed tuberculosis in their professional lives was found to be relatively lower than the knowledge test of physicians who did not diagnose tuberculosis. Based on the data, more effective and intensive course materials about tuberculosis can be added to the medical school curriculum and physicians' knowledge about tuberculosis can be kept alive and their awareness can be increased with regular seminars and training programs to be organized in the post-graduation period.