Minimising human error in malaria rapid diagnosis: clarity of written instructions and health worker performance.

The usefulness of rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) in malaria case management depends on the accuracy of the diagnoses they provide. Despite their apparent simplicity, previous studies indicate that RDT accuracy is highly user-dependent. As malaria RDTs will frequently be used in remote areas with little supervision or support, minimising mistakes is crucial. This paper describes the development of new instructions (job aids) to improve health worker performance, based on observations of common errors made by remote health workers and villagers in preparing and interpreting RDTs, in the Philippines and Laos. Initial preparation using the instructions provided by the manufacturer was poor, but improved significantly with the job aids (e.g. correct use both of the dipstick and cassette increased in the Philippines by 17%). However, mistakes in preparation remained commonplace, especially for dipstick RDTs, as did mistakes in interpretation of results. A short orientation on correct use and interpretation further improved accuracy, from 70% to 80%. The results indicate that apparently simple diagnostic tests can be poorly performed and interpreted, but provision of clear, simple instructions can reduce these errors. Preparation of appropriate instructions and training as well as monitoring of user behaviour are an essential part of rapid test implementation.

Therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine plus sulphadoxine/ pyrimethamine compared with monotherapy with either chloroquine or sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Laos.

In a southern border province of Lao PDR, we compared the efficacy of antimalarial drug combinations in patients aged >or=1 year with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: monotherapy with either mefloquine (MQ), chloroquine (CQ), or sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) vs. the combination of both CQ and SP. Follow-up time was 14 days. Of 265 P. falciparum positive patients, 119 were enrolled in the drug trial. Significantly more patients treated with CQ than with SP developed early or late treatment failure [44.8%vs. 17.9%, relative risk (RR) = 2.51, 95% CI 1.03-6.12]. In the SP group, 82.1% were sensitive and 17.9% were treatment failures. The combination treatment CQ plus SP resulted in 83.3% sensitivity and 16.7% treatment failures. Combination treatment has no advantage over monotherapy with SP (RR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.8-1.3). All patients who received MQ for treatment (total dose 25 mg/kg) were cured within the 14 days of follow-up. The findings of this study suggest that use of CQ as first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria in the Lao PDR has to be reconsidered. The combination of both CQ and SP has been discussed as a cost-effective alternative treatment, but in our patient population achieved no better results than single therapy with SP.