OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with under-reporting of tuberculosis (TB) in the private sector in Korea. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 37,820 cases in whom treatment was initiated between January and December 2008 using data from the Nationwide Medical Records Survey of Patients with TB. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for under-reporting with respect to socio-demographic and clinical factors were estimated. RESULTS: Among the 37,820 identified cases, 21,611 (57.1%) were reported to the Korean TB Surveillance System. Factors associated with under-reporting on univariate analysis included young children, foreign-born persons, non-multidrug-resistant TB, persons prescribed fewer than four anti-tuberculosis drugs, non-performance of or negative result on sputum smear and extra-pulmonary TB (particularly abdominal or genitourinary TB). For pulmonary TB, cases with no sputum smear results vs. smear-positive patients (aOR 2.23, P < 0.001) and those prescribed <4 drugs vs. those who were prescribed ≥4 drugs (aOR 1.60, P < 0.001) were strongly related to under-reporting on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The extent of under-reporting was greater among young children, persons who had not received sputum smear testing and those who had been prescribed fewer than four drugs. Furthermore, TB diagnostic investigations were often inadequate. Education on reporting requirements, including the importance of following guidelines on TB management, and a stricter enforcement of the existing TB Prevention Law, are needed.
OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with under-reporting of tuberculosis (TB) in the private sector in Korea. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 37,820 cases in whom treatment was initiated between January and December 2008 using data from the Nationwide Medical Records Survey of Patients with TB. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for under-reporting with respect to socio-demographic and clinical factors were estimated. RESULTS: Among the 37,820 identified cases, 21,611 (57.1%) were reported to the Korean TB Surveillance System. Factors associated with under-reporting on univariate analysis included young children, foreign-born persons, non-multidrug-resistant TB, persons prescribed fewer than four anti-tuberculosis drugs, non-performance of or negative result on sputum smear and extra-pulmonary TB (particularly abdominal or genitourinary TB). For pulmonary TB, cases with no sputum smear results vs. smear-positive patients (aOR 2.23, P < 0.001) and those prescribed <4 drugs vs. those who were prescribed ≥4 drugs (aOR 1.60, P < 0.001) were strongly related to under-reporting on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The extent of under-reporting was greater among young children, persons who had not received sputum smear testing and those who had been prescribed fewer than four drugs. Furthermore, TB diagnostic investigations were often inadequate. Education on reporting requirements, including the importance of following guidelines on TB management, and a stricter enforcement of the existing TB Prevention Law, are needed.
Authors: Tao Li; Lijia Yang; Sarah E Smith-Jeffcoat; Alice Wang; Hui Guo; Wei Chen; Xin Du; Hui Zhang Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-25 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: M Gidado; E M H Mitchell; A O Adejumo; J Levy; O Emperor; A Lawson; N Chukwueme; H Abdur-Razak; A Idris; A Adebowale Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2022-09-21
Authors: In Kyung Yoo; Rok Seon Choung; Jong Jin Hyun; Seung Young Kim; Sung Woo Jung; Ja Seol Koo; Sang Woo Lee; Jai Hyun Choi; Ho Kim; Hong Sik Lee; Bora Keum; Eun Sun Kim; Yoon Tae Jeen Journal: Yonsei Med J Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 2.759