Table 2 Physicians’ perceived obstacles to infectious disease reporting (N = 245)
Total | ≤10 years clinical experience(n = 145) | >10 years clinical experience(n = 100) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physicians reporting at least 1 obstacle | 227 (93%) | 138 (95%) | 89 (89%) | 0.07* |
Obstacles related to physician knowledge and attitudes | ||||
Physicians reporting at least 1 obstacle related to physician knowledge/attitudes | 140 (57%) | 85 (59%) | 55 (55%) | 0.57* |
Doctors do not know that they should report | 72 (29%) | 38 (26%) | 34 (34%) | 0.24* |
Doctors do not know how or to whom to report | 64 (26%) | 40 (28%) | 24 (24%) | 0.69* |
Doctors don’t know which diseases to report | 24 (10%) | 17 (12%) | 7 (7%) | 0.41* |
Doctors may not feel it is important | 23 (9%) | 16 (11%) | 7 (7%) | 0.48* |
Doctors do not believe it is their job to report | 9 (4%) | 5 (3%) | 4 (4%) | 0.78† |
Doctor may never have seen a disease he/she was required to report | 9 (4%) | 6 (4%) | 3 (3%) | 0.74† |
Doctors may want to protect patient confidentiality | 8 (3%) | 5 (3%) | 3 (3%) | 0.79† |
Other obstacles related to physician knowledge/attitudes (e.g., wrong diagnosis) | 10 (4%) | 6 (4%) | 4 (4%) | 0.96† |
Obstacles related to physician time and resources | ||||
Physicians reporting at least 1 obstacle related to physician time/resources | 139 (57%) | 91 (63%) | 48 (48%) | 0.02* |
Limited diagnostic or laboratory capacity | 54 (22%) | 37 (26%) | 17 (17%) | 0.26* |
Doctors are too busy to report | 51 (21%) | 33 (23%) | 18 (18%) | 0.57* |
Doctors feel the reporting process is too complicated or cumbersome | 47 (19%) | 30 (21%) | 17 (17%) | 0.65* |
Doctors may not have appropriate materials (forms, telephone, etc.) | 36 (15%) | 19 (13%) | 17 (17%) | 0.53* |
Other time/resources obstacles (e.g.,. lack of manpower, no special remuneration) | 8 (3%) | 4 (3%) | 4 (4%) | 0.72† |
Obstacles related to reporting system infrastructure | ||||
Physicians reporting at least 1 obstacle related to reporting system infrastructure | 119 (49%) | 72 (50%) | 47 (47%) | 0.68* |
Lack of infrastructure/logistics or reporting system | 76 (31%) | 44 (30%) | 32 (32%) | 0.75* |
Doctors do not believe reporting will not lead to any government response | 47 (19%) | 30 (21%) | 17 (17%) | 0.65* |
Doctors may believe hospital management will take no action | 16 (7%) | 11 (8%) | 5 (5%) | 0.60† |
Other infrastructure obstacles (e.g., lack of feedback) | 25 (10%) | 18 (12%) | 7 (7%) | 0.25* |
Physicians reporting other obstacles | 9 (4%) | 7 (5%) | 2 (2%) | 0.32† |
Physicians reporting no obstacles | 18 (7%) | 7 (5%) | 11 (11%) | 0.07* |