Standardizing contact investigation protocols.
METHODS
The State of Alabama Department of Public Health Division of Tuberculosis Control.


OBJECTIVE
To standardize contact investigation protocols and implement an intervention to increase TB field worker adherence to the protocols with the goal of promoting efficiency and effectiveness in contact investigations.


METHODS
A process evaluation of existing data collection and management systems and protocols was performed. Standardized protocols and an intervention to increase TB field worker adherence to the protocols were created and pilot tested. These were then implemented and formative evaluation data were collected.


RESULTS
The process evaluation revealed considerable variance among field workers with regard to protocols and definitions of variables related to contact investigations. Protocols were standardized and an intervention targeted at TB field workers was developed. The intervention consisted of a training workshop and the development of a computer-based contact investigation module. This was successfully implemented throughout the state.


CONCLUSIONS
To perform effective contact investigations and conduct studies to improve the effectiveness of these investigations, TB control programs must pay careful attention to precisely defining variables and concepts related to the contact investigation. Furthermore, protocols must be standardized and resources devoted to training of TB field workers to ensure adherence to protocols.
Gerald
L B
LB
Lung Health Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham 35233-7337, USA. geraldl@uab.edu
Bruce
F
F
Brooks
C M
CM
Brook
N
N
Kimerling
M E
ME
Windsor
R A
RA
Bailey
W C
WC
D000407:Alabama; D016358:Contact Tracing; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012015:Reference Standards; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*