SETTING: All 43 non-private hospitals in Malawi which in 1999 registered and treated patients with tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of TB patients who transferred from one reporting unit to another and their treatment outcome, and to compare outcome results between the main TB register and the transfer-in register. DESIGN: Retrospective data collection, using the main TB register and transfer-in register, on all patients registered in Malawi in 1999. RESULTS: There were 24,908 patients, of whom 3249 (13%) in total were transfers. Significantly more patients transferred from mission hospitals (23%) compared with central (8%) or district (5%) hospitals (P < 0.001). The date of transfer was recorded for 1406 patients, of whom 1170 (83%) transferred in the first 10 weeks. Respectively 45% and 58% of transfer patients had unknown outcomes in the main TB register and transfer-in register; these rates were significantly lower in smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. A total of 1357 patients were entered into transfer-in registers; 694 patients had matched names and/or registration numbers in both registers. Of the matched patients, 373 (54%) had similar treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: It is common for patients to transfer between treatment units, but the quality of the data for patients who transfer is poor, and needs to be improved.
SETTING: All 43 non-private hospitals in Malawi which in 1999 registered and treated patients with tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of TB patients who transferred from one reporting unit to another and their treatment outcome, and to compare outcome results between the main TB register and the transfer-in register. DESIGN: Retrospective data collection, using the main TB register and transfer-in register, on all patients registered in Malawi in 1999. RESULTS: There were 24,908 patients, of whom 3249 (13%) in total were transfers. Significantly more patients transferred from mission hospitals (23%) compared with central (8%) or district (5%) hospitals (P < 0.001). The date of transfer was recorded for 1406 patients, of whom 1170 (83%) transferred in the first 10 weeks. Respectively 45% and 58% of transfer patients had unknown outcomes in the main TB register and transfer-in register; these rates were significantly lower in smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) patients. A total of 1357 patients were entered into transfer-in registers; 694 patients had matched names and/or registration numbers in both registers. Of the matched patients, 373 (54%) had similar treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: It is common for patients to transfer between treatment units, but the quality of the data for patients who transfer is poor, and needs to be improved.
Authors: Anthony D Harries; Ajay M V Kumar; Srinath Satyanarayana; Pruthu Thekkur; Yan Lin; Riitta A Dlodlo; Rony Zachariah Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2019-03-15
Authors: Kudakwashe C Takarinda; Anthony D Harries; Tsitsi Mutasa-Apollo; Charles Sandy; Owen Mugurungi Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2012-11-15 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Joseph Kwong-Leung Yu; Teck-Siang Tok; Jih-Jin Tsai; Wu-Shou Chang; Rose K Dzimadzi; Ping-Hsiang Yen; Simon D Makombe; Amon Nkhata; Erik J Schouten; Kelita Kamoto; Anthony D Harries Journal: PLoS One Date: 2008-04-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Anthony D Harries; Yan Lin; Ajay M V Kumar; Srinath Satyanarayana; Kudakwashe C Takarinda; Riitta A Dlodlo; Rony Zachariah; Piero Olliaro Journal: F1000Res Date: 2018-07-05