Health System Delay Research Articles

Facteurs De Retard Diagnostique De La Tuberculose Pulmonaire Vus À l’Unité De Soins, De Formation Et De Recherche De Pneumologie Befelatanana

Delay in diagnosis is significant to tuberculosis prognosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnosis delay of tuberculosis and to identify determinants of “patient delay”, “health system delay”, and “total delay” in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. It is a prospective study of the patients who were hospitalized at the Unité de Soins de Formation et de Recherche (USFR) of Pneumology in Befelatanana, Antananarivo Madagascar, during the period of 1 st October 2014 to 30 April 2015 (7 months). We included all patients with diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Sixty six patients were also included. The mean time of patient delay, health system delay, and total delay were 26,30± 36,87, 69,56±64, and 96,35±72,65 days respectively. The different variables that affected diagnosis delay were: tobacco smoke (OR : 3,6723), asthenia (OR : 5,4815), anorexia (OR : 2,9524), and hemoptysis (OR : 0,2406) for the total delay. Knowledge about tuberculosis signs (OR : 0,164) and transmissions (OR : 0,243) was for the patient delay. Hemoptysis (OR : 8,1250), asthenia (OR : 0,1081), breathlessness (OR : 0,3556), infiltrative syndrome (OR : 0,2500), and alveolar syndrome (OR : 0,0687) in chest Xray was for the health system delay. Having an understanding of these factors of tuberculosis diagnosis delay will result to a decrease in the diagnosis delay.

FACTORS RELATED TO KNOWLEDGE ON NEWBORN DANGER SIGNS AMONG THE RECENTLY DELIVERED WOMEN IN SUB-DISTRICT HOSPITALS OF BANGLADESH

Background: Bangladesh continues to be one of the top ten countries with the highest burden of neonatal mortality. While, most of the neonatal deaths are preventable; health system delays, delayed identification of newborn danger signs, late diagnosis and initiation of treatment are claimed to be the main challenges.Objective: 1) to determine the level of knowledge among the recently delivered women (RDW) about newborn danger signs and 2) to distinguish the factors associated with ability of identifying the danger signs.Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in three sub-district hospitals of Bangladesh among 135 RDW between 1 January 2015 and 30 April 2015. Seven key danger signs were identified, and responses were categorized accordingly. Bivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the likelihood of the association of factors with danger signs identification.Results: About 51% of RDW could identify one key danger sign. Knowledge on “fever’’ was the most commonly known danger sign (65%). Middle age (OR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.09 - 2.18), high education (OR 2.37, 95% CI: 1.46 - 2.77), increased parity (OR 1.91, 95% CI: 1.17 - 2.89), and previous hospital delivery (OR 1.79, 95% CI: 1.14 - 2.68) were found associated with the knowl­edge of the danger signs.Conclusion: The findings indicate the immediate need to enhance health education among the RDW about newborn danger signs before their hospital discharge. Community based health education programs can be a cost effective intervention to increase awareness and early recognition of neonatal danger signs.

Care seeking and treatment related delay among childhood tuberculosis patients in Delhi, India.

To examine delays in treatment initiation among child tuberculosis (TB) patients and to identify associated factors. A multistage cluster random sampling strategy was used to select 175 parents/care givers of childhood TB patients from eight district TB centres covered by the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Delhi for interview in a cross-sectional survey. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Median estimated patient and health system delay was respectively 3 (range 1-300) and 41 days (range 10-397). Median total delay was 52 days (range 12-553). Among cases with self-reported delay, 64% of care givers thought that the symptoms would subside without treatment. In pulmonary cases, patient's sex, age of the primary care giver, religion and community were associated with patient delay. The child's place of birth and household size were associated with delay among extra-pulmonary TB cases. Type of first provider and number of providers consulted were associated with health system delay. Those who lived at a greater distance from their first health facility (OR 2.2, 95%CI 1.18-4.07) were more likely to experience prolonged patient delay. As the considerable health system delays were related to the type and number of providers consulted, targeted strategies are required to bring the health system closer to these particularly vulnerable children and their care givers.

Patient and health system delays among tuberculosis patients attending DOTS centres of Kamrup (metro) district, Assam

Background: Among the North eastern states, Assam has the highest burden of tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is essential for effective control of tuberculosis.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among new smear positive tuberculosis cases above 15 years in Kamrup (Metrolpolitan) district of Assam from August 2015 to July 2016.Results: The mean patient delay was 34.2 days and the mean health system delay was 30.34 days. Female gender and patients who made first contact with non-formal health care providers were significantly associated with patient delay while illiteracy and age more than 35 years had significant association with health system delay.Conclusions: Median patient delay was found to be more than median health system delay. As patient delay was significantly associated with non-formal health care providers, the study proposes integration of non-formal health care providers with RNTCP which can reduce the patient delay.

Comparing tuberculosis management under public and private healthcare providers: Victoria, Australia, 2002\u20132015

BackgroundPrivate healthcare providers are important to tuberculosis (TB) management globally, although internationally there are reports of suboptimal management and disparities in treatment commencement in the private sector. We compared the management of TB patients receiving private versus public healthcare in Victoria, an industrialised setting with low tuberculosis (TB) incidence.MethodsRetrospective cohort study: 2002–2015. Private healthcare provision was included as an independent variable in several multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models that assessed a range of outcome variables, encompassing treatment commencement delays, management and treatment outcomes.ResultsOf 5106 patients, 275 (5.4%) exclusively saw private providers, and 4714 (92.32%) public. Private care was associated with a shorter delay to presentation (HR 1.36, p = 0.065, 95% CI 1.02–2.00). Private patients were less likely to have genotypic testing (OR 0.66, p = 0.009, 95% CI 0.48–0.90), those with pulmonary involvement were less likely to have a sputum smear (OR 0.52, p = 0.011, 95% CI 0.31–0.86) and provided samples were less likely to be positive (OR 0.54, p = 0.070, 95% CI 0.27–1.05). Private patients with extrapulmonary TB were less likely to have a smear sample (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.48–0.90, p = 0.009) and radiological abnormalities (OR 0.71, p = 0.070, 95% CI 0.27–1.05). Treatment commencement delays from presentation were comparable for cases with pulmonary involvement and extrapulmonary TB, although public extrapulmonary TB patients received radiological examinations slightly earlier than private patients (HR 0.79, p = 0.043, 95% CI 0.63–0.99) and public patients with pulmonary involvement from high burden settings commenced treatment following an abnormal CXR more promptly than their private counterparts (HR 0.41, p = 0.011, 95% CI 0.21–0.81). Private patients were more likely to receive <4 first-line medications (OR 2.17, p = 0.001, 95% CI 1.36–3.46), but treatment outcomes were comparable between sectors.ConclusionsThe differences we identified are likely to reflect differing case-mix as well as clinician practice. Sputum smear status was an important covariable in our analysis; with its addition we found no significant disparity in the health-system delay to treatment commencement between sectors. Our study highlights the importance of TB programs engaging with private providers, enabling comprehensive data collection that is necessary for thorough and true comparison of TB management and optimisation of care.

Lost in care pathway: a qualitative investigation on the health system delay of extra pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Bangladesh

BackgroundAlthough extra pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) has long been known as a major public health concern globally, the complex healthcare-seeking pathways of EPTB patients are not widely studied. This study aims to explore the pattern of healthcare-seeking pathways of rural and urban EPTB patients registered with the BRAC TB control programme. BRAC is a Bangladesh-based non-governmental organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through empowering the poor.MethodData were collected through 60 in-depth interviews with rural and urban EPTB patients in Bangladesh.ResultsThe findings reveal that the rural EPTB patients encountered a substantial diagnostic delay as compared to the urban patients. However, the difference between the average number of healthcare providers consulted by the rural verses the urban EPTB patients was not significant. This study also shows that the healthcare-seeking journey of rural and urban EPTB patients usually starts either at pharmacies or private facilities. Through exploring the detailed nature of the pathway, this study reveals the ways in which non-medical informants, mainly relatives and friends, can benefit patients.ConclusionsThe private and informal healthcare providers should receive appropriate training on the diagnosis of EPTB. Such training could effectively shorten the long and complex healthcare-seeking pathways of EPTB patients.

Factors associated with the length of delay with tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment among adult tuberculosis patients attending at public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest, Ethiopia

BackgroundEarly diagnosis and prompt treatment is essential for an effective tuberculosis (TB) control program. However, significant proportion of cases remains undiagnosed and untreated. Delay in diagnosis and treatment increases transmission. Hence, the study assessed the length of delay and associated factors with tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment among adults attending public health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.MethodAn institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2016. A total of 296 adults who came to health facilities for treatment for pulmonary TB from February to May, 2016, were included in the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through interviewing and record review, cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi-info version 3.5.3, and transferred into SPSS version 20.0 for further statistical analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 at multiple linear regression analysis was considered statistically significant.ResultThe mean duration of the total delay (in days) for tuberculosis diagnosis and initiation of treatment was 41.6 days (SD = 16.6). In this study, the mean duration of patient delay and the median health system delay were 33.9 days (SD = 14) and 5 days (IQR = 4–7), respectively. Total delay for TB diagnosis and treatment was shorter among HIV positive people (β:-12.62, 95% CI: −20.72,-4.53). Longer patient delay was noted among rural dwellers (β: 8.0, 95% CI: 5.26, 10.75); increased household income (β:-0.006, 95% CI: −0.008,-0.004) was associated with a shorter delay. Health system delay was positively associated with seeking care from more than one health care providers (β: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.34) and seeking initial care from primary level health care facilities (β: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.13).ConclusionIn this study, the majority of patients faced delayed in seeking health care and continued as sources of infection. Longer days of delay for TB diagnosis and treatment were noted among rural residents, who seek health care from informal care providers, and receive initial care from primary level health care facilities. In contrast, the length of delay for TB diagnosis and treatment was shorter among HIV positive people and individuals with increased household income. Therefore, public awareness on the symptoms of tuberculosis and seeking health care early is essential. Moreover, early diagnosis and treatment, especially among the rural dwellers and the poor should be focused.

"I Wasted 3 Years, Thinking It's Not a Problem": Patient and Health System Delays in Diagnosis of Leprosy in India: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BackgroundWorldwide, leprosy is one of the major causes of preventable disability. India contributes to 60% of global leprosy burden. With increasing numbers of leprosy with grade 2 disability (visible disability) at diagnosis, we aimed to determine risk factors associated with grade 2 disability among new cases and explore patients and providers’ perspectives into reasons for late presentation.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis was an explanatory mixed-methods study where the quantitative component, a matched case-control design, was followed by a qualitative component. A total of 70 cases (grade 2 disability) and 140 controls (grade 0) matched for age and sex were randomly sampled from new patients registered between January 2013-January 2015 in three districts of Maharashtra (Mumbai, Thane and Amaravati) and interviewed using a structured close ended questionnaire. Eight public health care providers involved in leprosy care and 7 leprosy patients were purposively selected (maximum variation sampling) and interviewed using a structured open-ended interview schedule. Among cases, overall median (IQR) diagnosis delay in months was 17.9(7–30); patient and health system delay was 7(4–16.5) and 5.5(0.9–12.5) respectively; this was significantly higher than the delay in controls. Reasons for delayed presentation identified by the quantitative and qualitative data were: poor awareness of leprosy symptoms, first health care provider visited being private practitioners who were not aware about provision of free leprosy treatment at public health care facilities, reduced engagement and capacity of the general health care system in leprosy control.ConclusionsRaising awareness in communities and health care providers regarding early leprosy symptoms, engagement of private health care provider in early leprosy diagnosis and increasing capacity of general health system staff, especially targeting high endemic areas that are hotspots for leprosy transmission may help in reducing diagnosis delays.

Diagnostic delay and associated factors among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Kerala.

Introduction:Delay in the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) can lead to an increased infectivity period, delayed treatment, and increased severity of the disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the diagnostic delay and factors associated with the delay in diagnosis among the newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB patients in Kerala, India.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among TB patients who were in the intensive phase of directly observed treatment short-course treatment in four randomly selected TB units in a district in Kerala during the years 2012–2013. Diagnostic delay was defined as the delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Data collection using a modified World Health Organization questionnaire was done by interviewing 302 participants.Results:Mean age of the participants was 48.6 ± 14.5 years. Males constituted 76.5% of the study population. The mean diagnostic delay was 43.5 ± 29.1 days (median: 37 days). The median patient and health system delays were 16 days and 15 days, respectively. Patient delay (55.6%) contributed more than health system delay (44.4%). Poor knowledge about TB, first consulting a private physician, and increased number of consultations were found to be significantly associated with diagnostic delay.Conclusion:The diagnostic delay in tuberculosis reported in this study was lower than other studies in India but it needs further reduction. Both patients and health providers play a role in a delay in diagnosis, and poor knowledge about the disease among the patients was one of the main risk factors. Interventions to improve knowledge and awareness of the disease and to increase the suspicion of chest symptomatic by health-care providers in the private sector are vital to reduce diagnostic delay.

Prevalence and determinants of delay in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

Background:Delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is a significant problem both in individual as well as community level. Different studies around globe revealed that these diagnostic delays are attributed to both patient delay and health system-related delay.Aims:This study aims to assess the magnitude of delay in diagnosis and the association with sociodemographic profile among new sputum-positive pulmonary TB patients in Darjeeling district.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 374 TB patients from October 2011 to March 2012 using a predesigned pretested schedule by face-to-face interview.Statistical Analysis:Logistic regression analysis, odds ratios (OR), adjusted ORs.Results:Patient delay, health system delay and total diagnostic delay were 27 days, 20.1 days, and 20.6 days; mean delays were 23.64, 5.71, and 29.46 days, and median delays were 25, 5, and 32 days, respectively. Risk factors associated with patient delay were female gender, rural residence, illiteracy, smoking, alcohol consumption, taking two, or more alternate treatments; for health system delay were female sex, rural residence, time to reach health facility, time spent per visit; and for total diagnostic delay were female sex, alcoholism, and seeking more than two alternate treatment.Conclusions:The risk factors for delay identified may be the subject of future interventions.

Patients' and health system's delays in the diagnosis and treatment of new pulmonary tuberculosis patients in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern in the developing world. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is essential for effective TB control. The aim of this study was to determine the length and analyze associated factors of patients’ and health system’s delays in the diagnosis and treatment of new pulmonary TB (PTB) patients.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 randomly selected public health facilities in West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Newly diagnosed PTB patients who were ≥15 years of age were consecutively enrolled in the study. Patients’ delay (the time period from onset of TB symptoms to first presentation to a formal health provider) and health system’s delay (the time period from first presentation to a formal health provider to first start of TB treatment) were measured. Median patients’ and health system’s delays were calculated. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to analyze predictors of patients’ and health system’s delays.ResultsSeven hundred six patients were enrolled in the study. The median patients’ delay was 18 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 8–34 days) and the median health system’s delay was 22 days (IQR: 4–88 days). Poor knowledge of TB (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.33; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.34–4.05), first visit to non-formal health provider (AOR, 47.56; 95 % CI, 26.31–85.99), self-treatment (AOR, 10.11; 95 % CI, 4.53–22.56) and patients’ age (≥45 years) (AOR, 2.99; 95 % CI, 1.14–7.81) were independent predictors of patients’ delay. Smear-negative TB (AOR, 1.88; 95 % CI, 1.32–2.68) and first visit to public health centers (AOR, 2.22; 95 % CI, 1.52–3.25) and health posts (AOR, 5.86; 95 % CI, 1.40–24.39) were found to be independent predictors of health system’s delay.ConclusionsThe health system’s delay in this study was long and contributed more than 50 % of the total delay. Better TB diagnostic tools to complement sputum smear microscopy are needed to early diagnose PTB cases at peripheral health facilities. In addition, due emphasis should be given to increase public awareness about symptoms and consequences of TB disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-016-1995-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Tackling Health System Delays for Cancer Patients in LMICs: An Innovative Multicomponent Programmatic Intervention in Botswana

Abstract 67 Background: Health system delays are a major contributor to poor outcomes among cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Botswana, while median time from cancer-related symptom onset to first presentation at local health facility is 29 days, median time to initiation of cancer treatment is 401 days. Challenges to timely diagnosis and care include clinicians' lack of knowledge, limited diagnostic capacity, poor coordination between facilities, and socioeconomic barriers of patients that impede follow-up. We sought to develop an intervention to improve access to prompt cancer care. Methods: Participating facilities are all public health facilities (21 health posts, 14 clinics, 2 hospitals) in Botswana's Kweneng-East district as well as the national referral hospital. The five components of intervention are a) training of clinicians at primary facilities on evaluation of patients with suspected cancer, b) implementation of a standardized referral algorithm for cancer suspects, c) introduction of care-coordinator role to support patient and clinician navigation of the health system, d) use of SMS-based platform to support follow-up, e) provision of transport support for vulnerable patients. The primary endpoints are stage at cancer diagnosis and time from initial presentation to initiation of cancer treatment. Evaluation of the intervention's impact will include comparing endpoints following intervention with those at baseline and those among patients residing outside the Kweneng-East district. Results: Implementation of the above multi-component intervention will be presented, including a standardized algorithm to guide the evaluation, triage and referral of patients, an intensive one-day didactic training program that adapts curricula employed in the region, and the impact of training on knowledge. Conclusion: In conducting this study, we hope to identify effective program-based measures to reduce delays and improve cancer outcomes in Botswana. These measures may be scaled to other districts, and may be applicable to similar settings in the region. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Neo M. Tapela No relationship to disclose Malebogo Pusoentsi No relationship to disclose Kerapetse Botebele No relationship to disclose Michael Peluso No relationship to disclose Isaac Nkele No relationship to disclose Jason Efstathiou Honoraria: Medivation/Astellas, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Consulting or Advisory Role: Medivation/Astellas, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Tomer Barak No relationship to disclose Scott Dryden-Peterson No relationship to disclose

Determinants of health system delay at public and private directly observed treatment, short course facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Objective/backgroundDespite several studies on health system delay (HSD) among tuberculosis (TB) patients in Nigeria, no study has compared HSD in private and public health facilities. This study assessed the determinants of HSD in public and private health facilities offering the directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS). MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 470 new smear-positive TB patients aged 14years and older were consecutively recruited between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012, from 34 (23 public and 11 private) DOTS facilities that offered treatment and microscopy services. Mann–Whitney U test and logistic regression were used to assess the determinants of HSD. ResultsThe median HSD was longer at public DOTS facilities (14days; interquartile range [IQR] 10–21days) than private DOTS facilities (12.5days; IQR 10.0–14.0days, p=.002). Age and human immunodeficiency virus status were determinants of HSD at the public DOTS facilities, whereas sex and income were determinants of HSD at the private DOTS facilities. TB patients who first visited a nonhospital facility were over four times more likely (odds ratio 4.12; 95% confidence interval 2.25–7.54) to have prolonged HSD than those who first visited the government hospital when they first developed the symptoms of TB after controlling for other factors in the model. ConclusionDeterminants of HSD at the public and private DOTS facilities vary. Strategies to reduce HSD at both public and private DOTS facilities in Lagos State, Nigeria, are urgently needed.

Predictors of Timely Access of Oncology Services and Advanced-Stage Cancer in an HIV-Endemic Setting.

Three-quarters of cancer deaths occur in resource-limited countries, and delayed presentation contributes to poor outcome. In Botswana, where more than half of cancers arise in HIV-infected individuals, we sought to explore predictors of timely oncology care and evaluate the hypothesis that engagement in longitudinal HIV care improves access. Consenting patients presenting for oncology care from October 2010 to September 2014 were interviewed and their records were reviewed. Cox and logistic models were used to examine the effect of HIV and other predictors on time to oncology care and presentation with advanced cancer (stage III or IV). Of the 1,146 patients analyzed, 584 (51%) had HIV and 615 (54%) had advanced cancer. The initial clinic visit occurred a mean of 144 days (median 29, interquartile range 0-185) after symptom onset, but subsequent mean time to oncology care was 406 days (median 160, interquartile range 59-653). HIV status was not significantly associated with time to oncology care (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-1.06). However, patients who reported using traditional medicine/healers engaged in oncology care significantly faster (aHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.40) and those with advanced cancer entered care earlier (aHR 1.48, 95% CI 1.30-1.70). Factors significantly associated with advanced cancer included income <$50 per month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.35, 95% CI 1.05-1.75), male sex (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.12-1.87), and pain as the presenting symptom (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03-1.88). Longitudinal HIV care did not reduce the substantial delay to cancer treatment. Research focused on reducing health system delay through coordination and navigation is needed. The majority (54%) of patients in this large cohort from Botswana presented with advanced-stage cancer despite universal access to free health care. Median time from first symptom to specialized oncology care was 13 months. For HIV-infected patients (51% of total), regular longitudinal contact with the health system, through quarterly doctor visits for HIV management, was not successful in providing faster linkages into oncology care. However, patients who used traditional medicine/healers engaged in cancer care faster, indicating potential for leveraging traditional healers as partners in early cancer detection. New strategies are urgently needed to facilitate diagnosis and timely treatment of cancer in low- and middle-income countries.

Xpert®MTB/RIF for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in a Remote Arctic Setting: Impact on Cost and Time to Treatment Initiation.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health problem in the Canadian Arctic. Substantial health system delays in TB diagnosis can occur, in part due to the lack of capacity for onsite microbiologic testing. A study recently evaluated the yield and impact of a rapid automated PCR test (Xpert®MTB/RIF) for the diagnosis of TB in Iqaluit (Nunavut). We conducted an economic analysis to evaluate the expected cost relative to the expected reduction in time to treatment initiation, with the addition of Xpert®MTB/RIF to the current diagnostic and treatment algorithms used in this setting.MethodsA decision analysis model compared current microbiologic testing to a scenario where Xpert®MTB/RIF was added to the current diagnostic algorithm for active TB, and incorporated costs and clinical endpoints from the Iqaluit study. Several sensitivity analyses that considered alternative use were also considered. We estimated days to TB diagnosis and treatment initiation, health system costs, and the incremental cost per treatment day gained for each individual evaluated for possible TB.ResultsWith the addition of Xpert®MTB/RIF, costs increased while days to TB treatment initiation were reduced. The incremental cost per treatment day gained (per individual investigated for TB) was $164 (95% uncertainty range $85, $452). In a sensitivity analysis that considered hospital discharge after a single negative Xpert®MTB/RIF, the Xpert®MTB/RIF scenario was cost saving.InterpretationAdding Xpert®MTB/RIF to the current diagnostic algorithm for TB in Nunavut appears to reduce time to diagnosis and treatment at reasonable cost. It may be especially well suited to overcome some of the other logistical barriers that are unique to this and other remote communities.

Patient and Healthcare System Delays in the Start of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Treatment Among Tribal Patients Registered Under DOTS, Odisha.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease which continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. This study puts an effort to determine patient and health system delay in diagnosis and treatment and association to specific types of delay among tribals in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. A total of 261 TB patients reporting to 4 TB Units of Mayurbhanj were interviewed using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Extra-pulmonary TB patients and death cases were excluded. Data entry and analysis was carried out in Epi-info 3.32 version. Chi-square test was used to test the association between dependant variable (patient and health system delays) with different independent variables (age, sex, reasons for delay etc.). Median patient, health system and total delay were 24, 3 and 24 days respectively. Risk factors that were significantly associated with patient delay were education (95% CI= 1.01-1.11, p=0.015), cost of treatment/transport (95% CI=0.87-1.01, p=0.020), distance (95% CI=1.00-1.29, p=0.002) and lack of awareness about TB (95% CI=1.01-1.34, p=0.001). Health system delay risk factors were distance (95% CI=0.32-0.96, p=0.043), delay due to administrative verification (95% CI=1.18-57.97, p= 0.005) and delay due to traditional healers/ private practitioners (95% CI=1.61-15.45, p=0.0008). This study revealed longer patient delay compared to health system delay. Therefore, public awareness in tribal dialect about chest symptoms and availability of free diagnostics services should be increased along with involvement of traditional healers.

Health System Delay among the Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients Presenting in the DOTS Centers of Nepal.

Health system delay is the time for complete diagnosis of the disease after patient approaches a health care provider. The study aims to identify the characteristics and the determinants of unacceptable health system delay (≥ 7 days delay from health system) in diagnosis of new pulmonary tuberculosis patients attending in Direct Observation Treatment Short course (DOTS) centers of Nepal. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted by administrating a structured questionnaire interview and reviewing the medical record of the new sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases during January-May 2015. The generalized linear model (GLM) was applied to control the clustering effects. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify the association between variables with ≥ 7 days of unacceptable health system delay. Of the 374 new sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases, the factors that were associated with unacceptable health system delay (time ≥ 7 days) were doing business (adj.OR= 1.61, 95% CI: 1.22-2.11; p-value <0.001) and unemployed (adj.OR= 3.04, 95% CI: 1.53-6.04; p-value <0.001) had chances of health system delay. However, getting support from parents (adj.OR= 0.55, 95% CI: 0.44-0.68; p-value <0.001), consultation with the private practitioners/ pharmacists (adj.OR= 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.81; p-value 0.021), visiting government health facilities (adj.OR= 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13-0.73; p-value 0.008), using X-ray (adj.OR= 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.97; p-value 0.032) and advance technologies for diagnosis of TB (adj.OR= 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.94; p-value 0.024) were found contributing to reduce health system delay while controlling socio-economic, knowledge, presence of symptoms and attitude factors. About a quarter of new TB patients faced health system delay problems. Socioeconomic factors, unemployment, influences the health system delay when controlled for other covariates.

Patient and health system delays in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients in an urban tuberculosis unit of south India

Background: Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is an essential component of revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme. Any type of delay (patient delay, health system delay) may worsen the disease, increase the risk of death and enhance disease transmission in the community. The study intended to know the extent of patient delay and health system delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients and to assess factors associated with patient and health system delay . Methods: A cross sectional study on 217 new smear positive tuberculosis patients aged above 15 years who were registered between Nov-2008 to Sept-2009 for DOTS under RNTCP in Mysore tuberculosis unit was included in the study. Interview was conducted using pre tested semi structured questionnaire within 2 months of diagnosis to minimize recall bias. Results: The median delay among 217 participants was 27 days due to patient delay, 17 days due to health system and 49 days in total delay respectively. The delay in seeking care was more than one month in 39% patients. In 44% of patients there was more than 15 days delay in the diagnosis by the health care providers. In 10% of patients treatment was not initiated within 7 days of diagnosis . Conclusions: More specific and effective health education to the general public on seeking of appropriate medial consultation through proper channel is likely to decrease patient delay. Continuing medical education for private practitioners is needed to encourage vigilance for TB and earlier use of diagnostic tests.

Patient and health system delays among adult smear-positive tuberculosis patients diagnosed at medical colleges of Puducherry in south India

Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment are essential for an effective tuberculosis (TB) control program. This study was done to assess the extent of various delays among TB patients diagnosed at medical colleges of Puducherry. A cross-sectional study involving retrospective medical record review and prospective patient interviews was conducted in and around the union territory of Puducherry during the period 2009-10. Various delays and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Level of significance was determined at 95% confidence interval (CI) (P value <0.05) and all tests were two-sided. Among 216 new sputum smear-positive TB patients, 11.1% and 10.6% were smokers and alcohol users, respectively. The median patient delay, health system delay, and total delay was 37 days, 28 days, and 65 days respectively. Being a resident of Puducherry (OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.87) and family size of ≤5 (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21-0.97) were found as the determinants of patient delays and total delays, respectively.

Patient and Health System Delays among New Sputum Positive Tuberculosis Patients in East Godavari District Andhra Pradesh

Patient and Health System Delays among New Sputum Positive Tuberculosis Patients in East Godavari District Andhra Pradesh