title: The tuberculosis program of Catalonia's Central Health Region (1986-1993).
abstract: METHODS
  Catalonia's Central Health Region antituberculosis program, which began in 1985.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cooperation of health staff and the program's effectiveness after 8 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following data from the nominal notifications and the expanded case reports were processed: epidemiological, clinical and treatment data, each patient's end results and the outcome of the contact investigation. The implementation of the program was evaluated by means of the number of notifications and contact investigations received, and its effectiveness was assessed by the percentage of sputum smear positive cases having completed treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an increase in the number of patients with an expanded case report (from 74% to 100%), with a final notification (from 61% to 99%) and with contact investigation (from 29% to 79%). The sputum smear positive cases who completed the treatment after 1990 exceeded 85%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of the program in the Region's health system is good and is improving in parallel with the control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Programa de la tuberculosi de la Regió Sanitària Centre de Catalunya, Hospital de Malaities del Tòrax de Terrassa, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miret-Cuadras
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Fernandez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lopez-Sanmartin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin-Ramos
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pina Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011786:Quality Control; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents