Chris Griffiths1, Pat Sturdy2, Penny Brewin3, Graham Bothamley4, Sandra Eldridge5, Adrian Martineau5, Meg MacDonald6, Jean Ramsay5, Suresh Tibrewal7, Sue Levi8, Ali Zumla9, Gene Feder2. 1. Centre for Health Sciences, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK; Lower Clapton Group Practice, Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, UK; MRC and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, King's College London School of Medicine, Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK. Electronic address: c.j.griffiths@qmul.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Health Sciences, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK; Lower Clapton Group Practice, Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, UK. 3. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London, UK; Lower Clapton Group Practice, Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, UK. 4. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London, UK. 5. Centre for Health Sciences, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. 6. Lower Clapton Group Practice, Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, UK. 7. Richmond Rd Medical Centre, Richmond Rd, London. 8. City & Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust, St. Leonard's Hospital, London. 9. Centre for Infectious Diseases & International Health, Windeyer Building, Cleveland Street, London.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is re-emerging as an important health problem in industrialised countries. Uncertainty surrounds the effect of public-health control options. We therefore aimed to assess a programme to promote screening for tuberculosis in a UK primary health care district. METHODS: In a cluster randomised controlled trial, we randomised 50 of 52 (96%) eligible general practices in Hackney, London, UK, to receive anoutreach programme that promoted screening for tuberculosis in people registering in primary care, or to continue with usual care. Screening was verbal, and proceeded to tuberculin skin testing, if appropriate. The primary outcome was the proportion of new cases of active tuberculosis identified in primary care. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00214708. FINDINGS: Between June 1, 2002, and Oct 1, 2004, 44,986 and 48,984 patients registered with intervention and control practices, respectively. In intervention practices 57% (13,478 of 23,573) of people attending a registration health check were screened for tuberculosis compared with 0.4% (84 of 23 051) in control practices. Intervention practices showed increases in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis cases in primary care compared with control practices (66/141 [47%] vs 54/157 [34%], odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% CI 1.05-2.68, p=0.03). Intervention practices also had increases in diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (11/59 [19%] vs 5/68 [9%], OR 3.00, 0.98-9.20, p=0.055) and BCG coverage (mean BCG rate 26.8/1000 vs 3.8/1000, intervention rate ratio 9.52, 4.0-22.7, p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Our educational intervention for promotion of screening for tuberculosis in primary care improved identification of active and latent tuberculosis, and increased BCG coverage. Yield from screening was low, but was augmented by improved case-finding. Screening programmes in primary care should be considered as part of tuberculosis control initiatives in industrialised countries.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Tuberculosis is re-emerging as an important health problem in industrialised countries. Uncertainty surrounds the effect of public-health control options. We therefore aimed to assess a programme to promote screening for tuberculosis in a UK primary health care district. METHODS: In a cluster randomised controlled trial, we randomised 50 of 52 (96%) eligible general practices in Hackney, London, UK, to receive an outreach programme that promoted screening for tuberculosis in people registering in primary care, or to continue with usual care. Screening was verbal, and proceeded to tuberculin skin testing, if appropriate. The primary outcome was the proportion of new cases of active tuberculosis identified in primary care. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00214708. FINDINGS: Between June 1, 2002, and Oct 1, 2004, 44,986 and 48,984 patients registered with intervention and control practices, respectively. In intervention practices 57% (13,478 of 23,573) of people attending a registration health check were screened for tuberculosis compared with 0.4% (84 of 23 051) in control practices. Intervention practices showed increases in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis cases in primary care compared with control practices (66/141 [47%] vs 54/157 [34%], odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% CI 1.05-2.68, p=0.03). Intervention practices also had increases in diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (11/59 [19%] vs 5/68 [9%], OR 3.00, 0.98-9.20, p=0.055) and BCG coverage (mean BCG rate 26.8/1000 vs 3.8/1000, intervention rate ratio 9.52, 4.0-22.7, p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Our educational intervention for promotion of screening for tuberculosis in primary care improved identification of active and latent tuberculosis, and increased BCG coverage. Yield from screening was low, but was augmented by improved case-finding. Screening programmes in primary care should be considered as part of tuberculosis control initiatives in industrialised countries.
Authors: J MacLellan; K Wallace; E Vacchelli; J Roe; R Davidson; I Abubakar; J Southern Journal: J Public Health (Oxf) Date: 2015-09-12 Impact factor: 2.341
Authors: M R O'Donnell; S Chamblee; C F von Reyn; B J Marsh; J D Moreland; M Narita; L S Johnson; C R Horsburgh Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2012-03-21