Do patients with tuberculosis referred from a tertiary care referral centre reach their peripheral health institution.
Loading...
Date
2013-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health
problem in India. The Revised National Tuberculosis Control
Programme (RNTCP), started in 1997, involved medical
colleges in the control of TB on a high priority. We assessed
whether patients with TB referred from a tertiary care hospital
in Delhi reached the desired peripheral health institution and
had their treatment initiated.
Methods. This descriptive, retrospective study was done
at a tertiary care hospital and included all patients with a
diagnosis of TB (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) who were
seen at the referral centre during the year 2011. Data were
collected from various records of the referral centre and
analysed for availability of feedback of the referred patients.
Information regarding their registration and initiation of
treatment was also collected. Postcards were used for the first
time to trace referrals in patients with TB.
Results. The majority (94%) of patients with TB seen in the
referral centre at a tertiary care facility were referred to a
peripheral health institution nearest to their place of residence.
Feedback on referral was received from these institutions for
79.4% of patients from the National Capital Region (NCR) of
Delhi and for 47.4% of patients from outside the NCR of Delhi.
Conclusion. We found that a majority of patients with TB
were referred and the registration and initiation of treatment
could be traced in >75% of patients.
Description
Keywords
Citation
KHANDEKAR JYOTI, ACHARYA ANITA SHANKAR, TILAK H R, SHARMA AMIT. Do patients with tuberculosis referred from a tertiary care referral centre reach their peripheral health institution. National Medical Journal of India. 2013 Nov-Dec ; 26 (6): 332-334.