Dataset Information

Healthcare facility-based strategies to improve tuberculosis testing and linkage to care in non-U.S.-born population in the United States: A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Context

An estimated 21% of non-U.S.-born persons in the United States have a reactive tuberculin skin test (TST) and are at risk of progressing to TB disease. The effectiveness of strategies by healthcare facilities to improve targeted TB infection testing and linkage to care among this population is unclear.

Evidence acquisition

Following Cochrane guidelines, we searched several sources to identify studies that assessed strategies directed at healthcare providers and/or non-U.S.-born patients in U.S. healthcare facilities.

Evidence synthesis

Seven studies were eligible. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), patients with reactive TST who received reminders for follow-up appointments were more likely to attend appointments (risk ratio, RR = 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.10), but rates of return in a quasi-RCT study using patient reminders did not significantly differ between study arms (P = 0.520). Patient-provider language concordance in a retrospective cohort study did not increase provider referrals for testing (P = 0.121) or patient testing uptake (P = 0.159). Of three studies evaluating pre and post multifaceted interventions, two increased TB infection testing (from 0% to 77%, p < .001 and RR 2.28, 1.08-4.80) and one increased provider referrals for TST (RR 24.6, 3.5-174). In another pre-post study, electronic reminders to providers increased reading of TSTs (RR 2.84, 1.53-5.25), but only to 25%. All seven studies were at high risk of bias.

Conclusions

Multifaceted strategies targeting providers may improve targeted TB infection testing in non-U.S.-born populations visiting U.S. healthcare facilities; uncertainties exist due to low-quality evidence. Additional high-quality studies on this topic are needed.

SUBMITTER: Miller AP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6768470 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Healthcare facility-based strategies to improve tuberculosis testing and linkage to care in non-U.S.-born population in the United States: A systematic review.

Miller Amanda P AP Malekinejad Mohsen M Horváth Hacsi H Blodgett Janet C JC Kahn James G JG Marks Suzanne M SM

PloS one 20190930 9

<h4>Context</h4>An estimated 21% of non-U.S.-born persons in the United States have a reactive tuberculin skin test (TST) and are at risk of progressing to TB disease. The effectiveness of strategies by healthcare facilities to improve targeted TB infection testing and linkage to care among this population is unclear.<h4>Evidence acquisition</h4>Following Cochrane guidelines, we searched several sources to identify studies that assessed strategies directed at healthcare providers and/or non-U.S. ...[more]

PMID: 31568507

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Dataset Information

Healthcare facility-based strategies to improve tuberculosis testing and linkage to care in non-U.S.-born population in the United States: A systematic review.

Context

Evidence acquisition

Evidence synthesis

Conclusions

Publications

Healthcare facility-based strategies to improve tuberculosis testing and linkage to care in non-U.S.-born population in the United States: A systematic review.

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