Tuberculosis Infections and Infestations Tuberculosis
Conditions
Interventions
Patients in the intervention arm were referred to a designated room at the TB centre where they received guidance from a female health worker who was trained by the researcher and a senior TB control
Sponsors
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: New male and female tuberculosis (TB) suspects, who were referred by TB centre physicians for initial diagnostic sputum testing, were eligible to participate in the trial. According to the National Tuberculosis Control programme guidelines, the criteria for enrolment were: 1. History of a cough for >3 weeks and/or fever for 1 month 2. Blood in sputum 3. Night sweats 4. Weight loss 5. Loss of appetite
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Age over 75 or below 14 years 2. History of TB diagnosis or treatment 3. Intake of oral steroids in the 3 months leading up to presentation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary outcome measure was specimen smear-positivity. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The secondary outcome, specimen quality, was determined by visual assessment of specimens and microscopic assessment of Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained smears, using a modification of the rating system of Bartlett. Specimens with a purulent/mucoid/blood-stained visual appearance and/or containing polymorphoneutrophils (PMNs) on microscopic inspection were designated ?sputum?. Specimens with a clear/watery appearance containing squamous epithelial cells, but no PMNs were designated ?saliva?. | — |
Countries
Pakistan
Outcome results
None listed