From habits of attrition to modes of inclusion: enhancing the role of private practitioners in routine disease surveillance

Healthcare workers' acceptance of the integrated tuberculosis-COVID-19 screening in central Java Private Hospitals, Indonesia

Objective

COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB) cases, and TB-COVID-19 integrated screening was introduced as a strategy to overcome these problems. This study determined the acceptability of the TB-COVID-19 integrated screening by healthcare workers (HCWs) and its impact on achievement of the TB program.

Methods

This was a mixed-method study with an embedded design. Data on hospital TB program coverage from the national TB information system for all Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Hospitals (MAHs) in Central Java were compared before and after the implementation of TB-COVID-19 integrated screening. The informants consisted of HCWs from 21 MAHs in Central Java. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out with 7 hospital TB, 19 emergency room, 10 outpatient, 6 inpatient, and 4 managerial staff. In-depth interview (IDIs) were also performed with the Technical Officer TB Recovery Head of the Muhammadiyah Center. All IDIs and FGDs were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to thematic analysis guided by the theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA).

Result

Implementation of the TB-COVID-19 integrated screening program led to an increase in the number of new TB case diagnoses at the Central Java Hospitals. Moreover, the program was acceptable based on seven indicators from TFA. Despite the obstacles faced by HCWs during the implementation process, the program still managed to meet the standards.

Conclusion

Acceptance by HCWs is a critical factor in the successful implementation of programs, including the TB-COVID-19 integrated screening. Furthermore, a multifaceted and cross-sectoral approach is required to address the constraints associated with the process.

Comprehensive Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance in the Western Pacific Region: A Literature Review on Integration of Surveillance Functions, 2000-2021

INTRODUCTION

A strategic framework for 2021-2030 developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific emphasizes the need for high-quality and integrated vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) surveillance. We conducted a literature review to document the barriers, enabling factors, and innovations for integrating surveillance functions for VPDs and other communicable diseases in Western Pacific Region (WPR) countries.

METHODS

We searched published and gray literature on integrated VPD surveillance from 2000 to 2021. Articles in English, Spanish, or French were screened to identify those relating to VPD surveillance in a WPR country and not meeting defined exclusion criteria. We categorized articles using the 8 WHO surveillance support functions and abstracted data on the country; type of surveillance; and reported barriers, enabling factors, and best practices for integration.

RESULTS

Of the 3,137 references screened, 87 met the eligibility criteria. Of the 8 surveillance support functions, the proportion of references that reported integration related to the laboratory was 56%, followed by workforce capacity (54%), governance (51%), data management and use (47%), field logistics and communication (47%), coordination (15%), program management (13%), and supervision (9%). Several references noted fragmented systems and a lack of coordination between units as barriers to integration, highlighting the importance of engagement across public health units and between the public and private sectors. The literature also indicated a need for interoperable information systems and revealed the use of promising new technologies for data reporting and laboratory testing. In some WPR countries, workforce capacity was strengthened at all administrative levels by the implementation of integrated trainings on data monitoring and use and on laboratory techniques applicable to multiple VPDs.

CONCLUSION

This literature review supports integrating VPDs into broader communicable disease surveillance systems in WPR countries while ensuring that the minimal WHO-recommended standards for VPD surveillance are met.

Quantifying antibiotic use in typhoid fever in India: a cross-sectional analysis of private sector medical audit data, 2013-2015

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the antibiotic prescription rates for typhoid in India.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Private sector primary care clinicians in India.

PARTICIPANTS

The data came from prescriptions of a panel of 4600 private sector primary care clinicians selected through a multistage stratified random sampling accounting for the region, specialty type and patient turnover. The data had 671 million prescriptions for antibiotics extracted from the IQVIA database for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Mean annual antibiotic prescription rates; sex-specific and age-specific prescription rates; distribution of antibiotic class.

RESULTS

There were 8.98 million antibiotic prescriptions per year for typhoid, accounting for 714 prescriptions per 100 000 population. Children 10-19 years of age represented 18.6% of the total burden in the country in absolute numbers, 20-29 year age group had the highest age-specific rate, and males had a higher average rate (844/100 000) compared with females (627/100 000). Ten different antibiotics accounted for 72.4% of all prescriptions. Cefixime-ofloxacin combination was the preferred drug of choice for typhoid across all regions except the south. Combination antibiotics are the preferred choice of prescribers for adult patients, while cephalosporins are the preferred choice for children and young age. Quinolones were prescribed as monotherapy in 23.0% of cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Nationally representative private sector antibiotic prescription data during 2013-2015 indicate a higher disease burden of typhoid in India than previously estimated. The total prescription rate shows a declining trend. Young adult patients account for close to one-third of the cases and children less than 10 years account for more than a million cases annually.

Private Sector Engagement for Infectious Disease Surveillance in Mixed Health Systems: Lessons from a Model Dengue Reporting Network in India

Disease estimates from surveillance in mixed health systems is affected by lack of data from the private sector. We aimed to characterize private sector engagement and reporting to a disease surveillance network, and determine the implications on dengue case detection. We developed and set up a public–private network (CODREN—Community Disease Detection and Response Network) with recruitment of eligible health resources ( n = 462) in a municipal ward of Pune city, India (population 209,331). Dengue cases reported through CODREN were compared with reports of the local dengue surveillance (LDS) over 1 year. Private clinics constituted the majority of eligible providers (60%, 276). Retention of participants was 81.7% with 13.9% reporting dengue cases. Phone call was the preferred reporting method (85.5%, 564 reports). CODREN captured a higher number of cases than LDS (78.9%, 251 vs 50.6%, 161), increasing case detection by 18% due to increased private reporting points. A twofold lower number of cases was reported by LDS from shared reporting points with CODREN, due to discrepancies in case definitions and diagnostic test preferences among private providers. We conclude that private sector engagement can improve dengue case detection with the selective inclusion of providers, sustained contact, feedback and simple reporting methods. Testing guidelines and case definitions adopted by the LDS need to address heterogeneity of private practice in mixed health systems, in order to improve dengue estimates in India.

Suitability of Google Trends™ for Digital Surveillance During Ongoing COVID-19 Epidemic: A Case Study from India

OBJECTIVE

Digital surveillance has shown mixed results as a supplement to traditional surveillance. Google Trends™ (GT) (Google, Mountain View, CA, United States) has been used for digital surveillance of H1N1, Ebola and MERS. We used GT to correlate the information seeking on COVID-19 with number of tests and cases in India.

METHODS

Data was obtained on daily tests and cases from WHO, ECDC and covid19india.org. We used a comprehensive search strategy to retrieve GT data on COVID-19 related information-seeking behavior in India between January 1 and May 31, 2020 in the form of relative search volume (RSV). We also used time-lag correlation analysis to assess the temporal relationships between RSV and daily new COVID-19 cases and tests.

RESULTS

GT RSV showed high time-lag correlation with both daily reported tests and cases for the terms "COVID 19," "COVID," "social distancing," "soap," and "lockdown" at the national level. In 5 high-burden states, high correlation was observed for these 5 terms along with "Corona." Peaks in RSV, both at the national level and in high-burden states corresponded with media coverage or government declarations on the ongoing pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The correlation observed between GT data and COVID-19 tests/cases in India may be either due to media-coverage-induced curiosity, or health-seeking curiosity.

Compliance with disease surveillance and notification by private health providers in South-West Nigeria

Introduction

Private health facilities are important contributors to health service delivery across several low and middle income countries. In Nigeria, they make up 33% of the health facilities, account for more than 70% of healthcare spending and over 60% of healthcare contacts are estimated to take place within them However, their level of participation in the disease surveillance system has been questioned.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 507 private health facilities in South-West Nigeria to investigate the level of compliance with disease surveillance reporting and the factors that affect their participation.

Results

We found only 40% of the private health facilities to be complying with routine disease surveillance reporting which ranged from 17% to 60% across the six states in the region. Thirty-four percent of the private health facilities had the requisite data collection tools, 49% had designated professionals assigned to health records management and only 7% of the clinicians could properly identify the three data collection tools for disease surveillance. Some important factors such as awareness of a law on disease surveillance (OR=1.55 95% CI=1.08-2.24), availability of reporting tools (OR=13.69, 95% CI=8.85-21.62), availability of a designated health records officer (OR=3.9, 95% CI=2.68-5.73), and health records officers (OR=10.51, 95%CI=2.86-67.70) and clinicians (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.22-5.25) with knowledge of disease surveillance system were important predictive factors to compliance with disease surveillance participation.

Conclusion

Private health facilities are poorly compliant with disease surveillance in Nigeria resulting in missed opportunities for prompt identification and response to threats of infectious disease outbreaks.

Acceptability of mandatory tuberculosis notification among private practitioners in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Objective

Indonesia ranks second globally in the number of cases not reported to the National Tuberculosis Control Program, accounting for 11% of the total cases lost worldwide. In 2016, the Ministry of Health has issued Regulation Number 67 on tuberculosis control, which requires mandatory tuberculosis notification. We aimed to assess the prospective acceptability of mandatory tuberculosis notification among solo private practitioners and private primary care clinics in Yogyakarta.

Results

Our study highlighted critical issues which need to be addressed in ensuring acceptability of mandatory tuberculosis case notification. We found that that private practitioners do not notify tuberculosis cases due to a lack of policy knowledge. Mandatory tuberculosis notification and its potential penalties were also felt as burdensome by private practitioners. There were ethical concerns among the private practitioners in our study about patient’s privacy and patients potentially lost to other healthcare facility. Private practitioners emphasized the need for intervention coherence and cooperation. We also observed pattern variations of these constructs across characteristics of private practitioners.

FPwatch: Facility-based Survey Data for Family Planning Market Analysis in Five FP2020-focus Countries

This article describes datasets for the FPwatch Project, a comprehensive facility‐based family planning survey conducted by Population Services International in five countries in Africa and Asia from 2015 to 2017. Contents cover research design and background, methodology, sample selection, data collection, an overview of FPwatch indicators, and quality assurance measures taken. These datasets from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, and Nigeria complement other facility‐based family planning surveys and are unique in their large‐scale, standardized methodology, and comprehensive sampling approach. In addition, all datasets but Myanmar (private only) include both private and public facilities, a feature that gives a more complete picture of the family planning supply environment. Because of these factors, the data is well suited to inform global family planning efforts.

An appraisal: how notifiable infectious diseases are reported by Hungarian family physicians

BACKGROUND

Within the frame of National Epidemiological Surveillance System, family physicians have an obligation to report infections and suspicions cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, daily practice and the reporting activities of Hungarian family physicians regarding to infectious diseases.

METHODS

A self-administered survey was developed, validated and used. The survey was completed by family physicians who had taken part in continuous medical educational programmes of all Hungarian medical faculties. The questionnaire, consisting demographic questions and 10 statements about their reporting habits were completed by 347 doctors, 8% of the total number of family physicians. The data were processed in a cross-sectional design with general linear model.

RESULTS

According to the majority of responders, the current reporting system works efficiently. Rural physicians were mainly agreed, that reporting is not a simply obligation, it is a professional task as well. They were less hindered in daily work by reporting activities, waited less for laboratory confirmation before reporting, reported suspicious cases more frequently. Practitioner's based in urban settlements preferred to await laboratory tests before reporting and were hindered less by failures of the electronic reporting system. Older physicians trusted more in the recent system and they wished to increase the number of reports. Female physicians have higher consciousness in epidemiology. They were mostly in agreement that even severe infectious diseases can be diagnosed at primary care level and their daily practices were less burdened by reporting duties.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the epidemiological knowledge of general practitioners' and the electronic surveillance systems should be improved. There is a need to develope the electronic infrastructure of primary care. More and regular control is also expected by the health care authorities, beside the synthesis of professional and governmental expectations and regulations.