title: An improved record system for tracing outcome of "transferred-out" DOTS patients.
abstract: This study in Pakistan aimed to develop an improved record-keeping mechanism for the DOTS programme to establish the final treatment status of patients recorded as "transferred-out". In an intervention study in 40 DOTS diagnostics centres in Punjab province, a modification was made to the existing TB03 register. DOTS facilitators were trained to keep proper records of patients who transferred-out and transferred-in. Among 4442 registered cases, 104 patients (2.3%) transferred out of reporting centres. Correct matching of "-out and -in" patients was achieved for 74 (71.2%) patients; the remaining 30 (28.8%) were untraced. By tracing transferred-out cases, the adjusted outcome success rate increased in the intervention period from 89.6% to 90.9%.
authors: TB Research Centre, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. shabbiriffat@yahoo.com
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Shabbir
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Iqbal
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Anwar
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Qadeer
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D010154:Pakistan; D010360:Patient Transfer; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*