AsianScientist (Oct. 25, 2017) – Scientists in China and the US highlight that many healthcare providers in China—especially those at village clinics and township health centers—fail to correctly manage tuberculosis (TB) cases. They published their findings in the journal PLOS Medicine.
TB is an infectious disease caused by a type of microbe known as Mycobacterium. Despite recent reductions in prevalence, China still faces a significant TB burden, especially in poor rural areas of the country.
In this study, a team of researchers led by Dr. Zhou Chengchao of Shandong University, China, sent unannounced standardized patients (SPs) presenting with classic pulmonary TB symptoms to providers in 46 village clinics, 207 township health centers and 21 county hospitals. In all, 247 interactions with providers were assessed against international and national standards of TB care.
Overall, 41 percent of SPs were correctly managed, with a referral, chest X-ray or sputum test ordered based on the symptoms. Antibiotics unrelated to the treatment of TB were prescribed in 168 interactions, suggesting that antibiotic resistance may be worsened by such incorrect practices.
The proportions of correct management of TB were higher at county hospitals compared to township health centers and village clinics. The researchers also observed that while many physicians were aware of the correct methods to manage TB, they may not actually carry out these correct practices in their clinics.
“Given the significant deficits in quality of care, reforms encouraging first contact with village providers in rural areas would undermine further progress against TB in China. Substantial efforts are also needed to improve the management of patients with suspected TB in village clinics and township health centers,” said the authors.
The article can be found at: Sylvia et al. (2017) Tuberculosis Detection and the Challenges of Integrated Care in Rural China: A Cross-sectional Standardized Patient Study.
———
Source: PLOS; Photo: Shutterstock.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
