SETTING: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. OBJECTIVE: To describe pharmacists' attitudes towards referring TB suspects to the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) and to evaluate the feasibility of a new referral system. METHODS: 1) Questionnaire survey of 150 private pharmacies; 2) qualitative interviews with 16 pharmacists; 3) monitoring the use of new referral forms for 21 months. RESULTS: Use of a simple referral form was thought to be manageable by 72% of the pharmacists. Pharmacists identified a number of different types of risks associated with referral of TB suspects to the NTP; clients could turn to another pharmacy (61% of respondents); criticise the pharmacist if it appears that they do not have TB (42%); or remain untreated because they are not able to visit the NTP (41%). Fifty-eight (39%) of eligible pharmacies referred at least one client. At least 373 suspects were referred, 149 were tested and 10 had TB. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to let pharmacies refer TB suspects. For there to be a significant impact on case detection, it is important to acknowledge a number of concerns expressed by pharmacists and attempt to change both clients' and providers' expectations with regard to the pharmacists' role.
SETTING: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. OBJECTIVE: To describe pharmacists' attitudes towards referring TB suspects to the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) and to evaluate the feasibility of a new referral system. METHODS: 1) Questionnaire survey of 150 private pharmacies; 2) qualitative interviews with 16 pharmacists; 3) monitoring the use of new referral forms for 21 months. RESULTS: Use of a simple referral form was thought to be manageable by 72% of the pharmacists. Pharmacists identified a number of different types of risks associated with referral of TB suspects to the NTP; clients could turn to another pharmacy (61% of respondents); criticise the pharmacist if it appears that they do not have TB (42%); or remain untreated because they are not able to visit the NTP (41%). Fifty-eight (39%) of eligible pharmacies referred at least one client. At least 373 suspects were referred, 149 were tested and 10 had TB. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to let pharmacies refer TB suspects. For there to be a significant impact on case detection, it is important to acknowledge a number of concerns expressed by pharmacists and attempt to change both clients' and providers' expectations with regard to the pharmacists' role.
Authors: Nguyen T Huong; Marleen Vree; Bui D Duong; Vu T Khanh; Vu T Loan; Nguyen V Co; Martien W Borgdorff; Frank G Cobelens Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-06-13 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: I Wayan Gede Artawan Eka Putra; Ni Wayan Arya Utami; I Ketut Suarjana; I Made Kerta Duana; Cok Istri Darma Astiti; I W Putra; Ari Probandari; Edine W Tiemersma; Chatarina Umbul Wahyuni Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2013-10-28 Impact factor: 2.655