Diagnostic Pathways and Delays in Initiation of Treatment among Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients in Ballabgarh, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 1321-1325
Author(s):  
Ankit Chandra ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Shashi Kant ◽  
Anand Krishnan

ABSTRACTA delay in diagnosis and initiation of treatment in patients with tuberculosis (TB) can affect the period of communicability and cost of treatment. We aimed to describe the diagnostic pathways and delays in initiation of treatment among drug-sensitive newly diagnosed TB patients in Ballabgarh, India. In May 2019, we interviewed 110 TB patients who were put on treatment in the past 2 months. It was a cross-sectional study where data collection was conducted by a physician. We used a structured questionnaire to collect the information on care-seeking practices, delays, and patient’s cost. Descriptive analysis was carried out for the pathways, delays, and patient cost. The mean number of health facility contacted before the diagnosis of TB was 2.8 (SD: 1.3); 76% of patients first sought care at a private health facility. The median total delay was 34.5 (IQR: 21–60) days; median patient delay seven (IQR: 2–21) days, median health system delay 16 (IQR: 8–45) days, median diagnostic delay 32.5 (IQR: 18–57) days, and median treatment delay two (IQR: 1–3) days. Health system delay was 2.2 times longer than patient delay; the health system delay was primarily due to delay in diagnosis. Patients contacting private health facility first had 1.7 times total delay, 2.4 times longer health system delay, and 3.4 times of direct cost compared with patients contacting a public health facility first. Accelerated efforts are needed to achieve India’s target to eliminate TB by 2025.

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (27) ◽  
pp. 413
Author(s):  
Ravahatra Kiady ◽  
Michel Tiaray Harison ◽  
Rakotondrabe Iantsotiana Davidson ◽  
Rasoafaranirina Marie Odette ◽  
Nandimbiniaina Anjara ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1-s) ◽  
pp. 214-228
Author(s):  
Gedeyon Getahun ◽  
Tilahun Beyene ◽  
Lakew Abebe

Background: Delay in TB treatment is significant to both disease prognoses at the individual level and within the community. Even though studies conducted in TB treatment delay there is result inconsistencies due to differences in culture, environment and infrastructure. Objective: the aim of the study is to assess the tuberculosis treatment Delay and associated factor among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Method: Facility based cross sectional study triangulated by Qualitative study was employed on 340 PTB patients in Hadiya zone public health facilities. Three woredas and health facilities were selected by Simple random sampling method. DOTS user at the beginning of data collection was consecutively recruited in to the study until the intended sample size was fulfilled. Multivariable binary Logistic regression was used. A P-value < 0.05 at 95 % CI was considered statistical significance between dependent and predictors variables. Result: Among 340 PTB patients enrolled in the study, of which 49.1% experienced patient delay, 30% health system delay and 49.8% total delay. Unable to read and write, Poor knowledge of TB (AOR 3.96, 95% CI (2.28   6.86), self-treatment (AOR: 2, 95% CI (1.14, 3.93), financial constraint (AOR: 2.092, 95% CI (1.11, 3.945) , Visiting two or more health care providers (AOR: 3.40, 95% CI (1.910 – 6.07), prolonged referral (AOR: 3.004, 95% CI (1.59, 5.67) were independent predictors of delay. Conclusion: Nearly half of the total delay was contributed by patient delay. Unable to read and write, Poor knowledge of TB, self-treatment, financial constraints, prolonged referral, several visit of health care provider of two or more and ever used other drugs rather than Anti-TB drugs were found to have association with patient delay and health system delay. Keywords: Tuberculosis treatment delay, PTB, patient delay and health system delay, Hadiya zone, Ethiopia.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenaw Tegegne ◽  
Fasil Wagnew ◽  
Yihalem Abebe Belay ◽  
Dawit Eyayu ◽  
Daniel Bekele

Abstract Background: Delay in diagnosis and initiation of effective treatment associated with increase in morbidity, mortality and on-going person-to-person transmission in the community at large. In Ethiopia, several studies have been conducted regarding health system delay among tuberculosis patients. However, studies assessing the health system delay in treatment of tuberculosis patients in Ethiopia had inconsistent and inconclusive findings. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled median time of the health system delay in the treatment of tuberculosis and its determinants in Ethiopia. Methods: We systematically searched from different databases: Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Springer link databases for studies published from June 6, 1997 up to December 20, 2020. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale adapted for observational studies. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I squared statistic. We conducted a meta-analysis for the pooled median time of health system delay and its determinants using random-effects model in R version 4.0.3 software(for median estimation) and Stata version 14 (for metan). The pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were presented using forest plots. Results: A total of 14 studies which comprising 6161 patients satisfying a priori set criteria were included. Our meta-analysis showed that, the estimated pooled median time of the health system delay was 15.29(95%CI: 9.94–20.64) days. In the subgroup analysis, studies conducted from 1997 to 2015 the pooled median health system delay was 21.63(95% CI: 14.38-28.88) days, whereas studies conducted after 2015 the pooled median time of 9.33(95% CI: 3.95-14.70) days. Living in rural area (pooled OR: 2.42, 95%CI: 1.16-5.02) was significantly associated with health system delay. Conclusions: In Ethiopia, patients are delayed more-than two weeks in the treatment of tuberculosis. Being from rural residence was more likely to lead prolonged health system delay. Implementing efforts by targeting rural residence may help to shorten the health system delay and important implications for the success of tuberculosis control.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhui Xiao ◽  
Bin Chen ◽  
Dajiang Huang ◽  
Olivia Chan ◽  
Xiaolin Wei ◽  
...  

Introduction: China continues to rank among one of the countries with the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases globally. Migrants are a particularly at-risk subgroup for TB and pose a challenge for case management in contemporary China. The early diagnosis and treatment of patients with TB are pivotal for effective TB control. This study investigates the delay in the TB diagnosis of migrants as compared with residents, to provide an evidence base for improved case detection and the better management of migrant patients with TB.Materials and Methods: The data was collected from the Tuberculosis Information Management System (TBIMS) (2015–2019) in an eastern county of China. The total diagnostic delay, consisting of patient delay and health system delay, is defined as the interval between the onset of TB symptoms and the confirmation of TB diagnosis in the designated TB hospital. The comparison of the delay in the TB diagnosis between migrants and residents was conducted using a Mann-Whitney U-test and chi-square test. The difference in the delay curves between these two groups was examined using a log-rank test.Results: Of 2,487 patients with TB, 539 (22%) were migrants. The migrants tended to be younger, presented with less severe conditions, received an initial diagnosis at prefectural and above-level hospitals. Compared with the local patients with TB, the migrant patients with TB had a longer median total diagnostic delay (30 vs. 9, P = 0.000) and a higher proportion of patients with this delay &gt;28 days (52 vs. 13%, P = 0.000). Similarly, the migrant patients with TB also had a longer median patient delay (13 vs. 9, P = 0.000) and a higher proportion of patients with this delay &gt;14 days (47 vs. 30%, P = 0.000), longer median health system delay (9 vs. 0, P = 0.000), and a higher proportion of patients with this delay &gt;14 days (42 vs. 0.5%, P = 0.000) than the local patients with TB. The survival curves of delay showed that the longer the time interval was, the more likely the migrant patients with TB were to be diagnosed (P &lt; 0.05).Conclusions: Diagnosis is significantly delayed among migrant patients with TB. Our study highlights the importance of early screening and diagnosis for TB especially among migrants, to improve access and ensure better management for all patients with TB.


Author(s):  
Abhishek Gope ◽  
Kanika K. Baruah ◽  
Jutika Ojah ◽  
Rupali Baruah

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. 


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Díez ◽  
M.J. Bleda ◽  
J. Alcaide ◽  
C. Castells ◽  
J.I. Cardenal ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17529-e17529
Author(s):  
Vahit Ozmen ◽  
Sukru Boylu ◽  
Engin Ok ◽  
Zafer Canturk ◽  
Varol Celik ◽  
...  

e17529 Background: One of the most important reasons of BC mortality is delay in treatment. Due to lack of BC awareness and organized screening programs, total delay time (from first symptoms of BC to initiation of treatment; TDT) is longer in low-middle income countries. The primary goal of this survey was to identify factors affecting TDT in patients with BC. Methods: As a part of previously presented multinational survey, a total of 1.031 BC patients from 12 cities of 5 districts in Turkey were surveyed using a uniform questionnaire. TDT was determined using 8 individual scales, including one pertaining to patient delay and 7 related to subsequent steps in a typical diagnostic process. Regression models were constructed using 17 variables concerning diverse contextual and personal patient characteristics. Time between first symptom and first medical visit (Patient Delay Time; PDT) and time between first medical visit and start of therapy (System Delay Time; SDT) were modeled separately with multilevel regression. Results: Mean PDT, SDT and TDT were 4.8, 10.5 and 13.8 weeks respectively, with 42% of the patients with a delay of >12 weeks. Multilevel regression equation indicated that disregard of discovered symptoms (p<0.001) and having at least secondary level of education (p=0.021) were significantly correlated with longer PDT. Patients with stronger self-examination habits (p=0.009), reporting more support from friends and family (p<0.001) and living in metropolitan areas (>500k) (p=0.006) had shorter PDT. Predictors of longer SDT included disregard (p<0.001) and having a PDT>4 weeks (p<0.001). Shorter SDT was correlated to being older than 60 years of age (p=0.027). Results revealed that diagnosis during periodic check-up or opportunistic mammography vs. symptomatic BC (p<0.001) and having first medical examination by a surgeon resulted in shorter SDT. Conclusions: TDT in Turkey is unacceptably long and system delay accounted for a substantial part of the total delay experienced by breast cancer patients. This points to a need for shortening clinical pathways if possible. A long patient delay calls for research into patient awareness of BC.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261688
Author(s):  
Rafaela M. Ribeiro ◽  
Philip J. Havik ◽  
Isabel Craveiro

Background Understanding health delivery service from a patient´s perspective, including factors influencing healthcare seeking behaviour, is crucial when treating diseases, particularly infectious ones, like tuberculosis. This study aims to trace and contextualise the trajectories patients pursued towards diagnosis and treatment, while discussing key factors associated with treatment delays. Tuberculosis patients’ pathways may serve as indicator of the difficulties the more vulnerable sections of society experience in obtaining adequate care. Methods We conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with tuberculosis patients attending a treatment centre in a suburban area of Lisbon. We invited nationals and migrant patients in active treatment to participate by sharing their illness experiences since the onset of symptoms until the present. The Health Belief Model was used as a reference framework to consolidate the qualitative findings. Results By inductive analysis of all interviews, we categorised participants’ healthcare seeking behaviour into 4 main types, related to the time participants took to actively search for healthcare (patient delay) and time the health system spent to diagnose and initiate treatment (health system delay). Each type of healthcare seeking behaviour identified (inhibited, timely, prolonged, and absent) expressed a mindset influencing the way participants sought healthcare. The emergency room was the main entry point where diagnostic care cascade was initiated. Primary Health Care was underused by participants. Conclusions The findings support that healthcare seeking behaviour is not homogeneous and influences diagnostic delays. If diagnostic delays are to be reduced, the identification of behavioural patterns should be considered when designing measures to improve health services’ delivery. Healthcare professionals should be sensitised and perform continuous capacity development training to deal with patients´ needs. Inhibited and prolonged healthcare seeking behaviour contributes significantly to diagnostic delays. These behaviours should be detected and reverted. Timely responses, from patients and the healthcare system, should be promoted.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248493
Author(s):  
Courtney Heffernan ◽  
Catherine Paulsen ◽  
Leyla Asadi ◽  
Mary-Lou Egedahl ◽  
Brian H. Rowe ◽  
...  

Objectives To determine: i) the emergency department (ED) utilization history of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients, and ii) the potential individual and public health consequences of a missed diagnosis of PTB in this setting. Design Retrospective observational cohort study. Participants Patients with PTB aged >16 years diagnosed between April 1, 2010 and December 31, 2016 in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Methods We identified valid new cases of PTB from a provincial registry and linked them to ED attendees in administrative databases. Visits are considered ‘PTB’, pulmonary ‘other’, and non-pulmonary based on the most responsible discharge diagnosis. Individual consequences of a missed diagnosis included health system delay and PTB-related death; public health consequences included nosocomial ED exposure time and secondary cases. Results Of 711 PTB patients, 378 (53%) made 845 ED visits in the six months immediately preceding the date of diagnosis. The most responsible ED discharge diagnosis was PTB in 92 (10.9%), pulmonary ‘other’ in 273 (32%) and non-pulmonary in 480 (56.8%). ED attendees had a median (IQR) health system delay of 27 (7,180) days and, compared to non-ED attendees were more likely to die a TB-related death 5.9% vs 1.2%, p = 0.001. Emergency attendees generated 3812 hours of ED nosocomial exposure time, and 31 secondary cases (60.8% of all secondary cases reported). Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from ED-attendees were more likely than non-attendees to be clustered–i.e., have an identical DNA fingerprint with another isolate (27% vs. 21%, p = 0.037). Conclusions ED utilization by PTB patients, and related consequences, are substantial. EDs are a potential resource for earlier PTB diagnosis.


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