Q Sun1, Q Meng, W Yip, X Yin, H Li. 1. Center for Health Management and Policy, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China. qiangs@sdu.edu.cn
Abstract
SETTING: Four counties at varying levels of economic development in Shandong Province were sampled. All offered tuberculosis (TB) directly observed treatment (DOT) treatment at the County TB Dispensary (CTBD). OBJECTIVE: To empirically document how DOT and home visits were implemented in rural China and to shed light on whether DOT is one of the key elements through which China achieves its high cure rates for TB. DESIGN: A total of 404 rural smear-positive TB patients registered in the CTBDs were interviewed face-to-face with structured questionnaires. Village doctors and key informants from the CTBDs were also interviewed. RESULTS: The majority of TB patients in rural areas do not receive DOT from village doctors and rarely get support, such as visits as required, from the CTBDs or township health providers in Shandong, China. CONCLUSION: The lack of DOT in Shandong does not have a negative effect on TB treatment outcomes. Given that the DOTS strategy is still the core measure of TB control in China, implementation of other programme elements apart from DOT is necessary to ensure a successful TB treatment programme.
SETTING: Four counties at varying levels of economic development in Shandong Province were sampled. All offered tuberculosis (TB) directly observed treatment (DOT) treatment at the County TB Dispensary (CTBD). OBJECTIVE: To empirically document how DOT and home visits were implemented in rural China and to shed light on whether DOT is one of the key elements through which China achieves its high cure rates for TB. DESIGN: A total of 404 rural smear-positive TB patients registered in the CTBDs were interviewed face-to-face with structured questionnaires. Village doctors and key informants from the CTBDs were also interviewed. RESULTS: The majority of TB patients in rural areas do not receive DOT from village doctors and rarely get support, such as visits as required, from the CTBDs or township health providers in Shandong, China. CONCLUSION: The lack of DOT in Shandong does not have a negative effect on TB treatment outcomes. Given that the DOTS strategy is still the core measure of TB control in China, implementation of other programme elements apart from DOT is necessary to ensure a successful TB treatment programme.
Authors: Song Yao; Wen-Hui Huang; Susan van den Hof; Shu-Min Yang; Xiao-Lin Wang; Wei Chen; Xue-Hui Fang; Hai-Feng Pan Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2011-12-16 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Hua Jianzhao; Susan van den Hof; Xu Lin; Qiu Yubang; Hou Jinglong; Marieke J van der Werf Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2011-05-11 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Guang Xue He; Hai Ying Wang; Martien W Borgdorff; Dick van Soolingen; Marieke J van der Werf; Zhi Min Liu; Xue Zheng Li; Hui Guo; Yan Lin Zhao; Jay K Varma; Christopher P Tostado; Susan van den Hof Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2011-10 Impact factor: 6.883