Notification of infectious diseases by the private sector: differences between big cities and small towns

INTRODUCTION:  Notification of communicable diseases is considered a professional medical duty. However, a small proportion of physicians adhere to notification regulations, particularly in private sector. This study, sought to determine determinants or predictors of notification in private sector, by emphasis given to whether they are different in big cities(BC) and small towns(ST). 

METHODS:  Using cross-sectional population-based design, four hundred seventy and 67 subjects in the private sector from two areas, a Big City and a Small Town, were chosen, respectively. A self-administered questionnaire, include knowledge, behavior, resource and demographic questions, was designed.

RESULTS:  Knowledge of notification was 50.96(SD:16.67) and 60.85(SD:14.68) in BC and ST respectively,(p=0.0001). The ratio that stated notifying at least once was 55.26 and 83.87 in BC and ST respectively,(p=0.002). There is a strong positive association between 'access to primary notification resources' variables with 'notification knowledge & activity' in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:  The notification status in small towns seems to be better than big cities in the private sector. These results can indicate capabilities of the public sector in promoting the status of notification in the private sector. Setting up a simple notification procedure with appropriate and timely feedback of necessary information can improve the status of notification in most of private physicians.