Tool for Supervision of Screening for Tuberculosis Patients in District Hospitals.

ABSTRACT

Setting:  The tuberculosis control programme in Khon Kaen province, North East Thailand.Objective:  To develop a tool for supervisor to easily assess the quality of screening for tuberculosis suspects in peripheral health units.Methods:  Field exploration, tool development and field testing by researchers and health professionals.Results:  A tested supervisor tool measuring the proportion smear positive tuberculosis suspects and the proportions suspects with two and three smears examined, indicative for screening performance.  Defined acceptable levels of performance and remedial action to be taken.Conclusion:  The tool is simple to use by the supervisors, is acceptable to supervisees and stimulates to self assessment and improvement.Key words tuberculosis, tool, supervision, screening, district hospital