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Eboumbou Moukoko CE, Etang J, Kojom Foko LP, Tafock CD, Epee Eboumbou P, Essangui Same EG, Penda IC, Same Ekobo A. Rationalizing artemisinin-based combination therapies use for treatment of uncomplicated malaria: A situation analysis in health facilities and private pharmacies of Douala 5e-Cameroon. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299517. [PMID: 38713730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) represent one of the mainstays of malaria control. Despite evidence of the risk of ACTs resistant infections in resource-limited countries, studies on the rational use of ACTs to inform interventions and prevent their emergence and/or spread are limited. The aim of this study was designed to analyze practices toward ACTs use for treating the treatment of uncomplicated malaria (UM) in an urban community. Between November 2015 and April 2016, a cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted in the 6 health facilities and all pharmacies in the Douala 5e subdivision, Cameroon. Anonymous interviews including both open- and closed-ended questions were conducted with selected participants among drug prescribers, patients attending the health facilities, and customers visiting the pharmacies. Data analysis was performed using StataSE11 software (version 11 SE). A total of 41 prescribers were included in the study. All were aware of national treatment guidelines, but 37.7% reported not waiting for test results before prescribing an antimalarial drug, and the main reason being stock-outs at health facilities. Likewise, artemether+lumefantrine/AL (81%) and dihydroartemisinin+piperaquine (63.5%) were the most commonly used first- and second-line drugs respectively. Biological tests were requested in 99.2% (128/129) of patients in health facilities, 60.0% (74) were performed and 6.2% were rationally managed. Overall 266 (35%) of 760 customers purchased antimalarial drugs, of these, 261 (98.1%) agreed to participate and of these, 69.4% purchased antimalarial drugs without a prescription. ACTs accounted for 90.0% of antimalarials purchased from pharmacies, of which AL was the most commonly prescribed antimalarial drug (67.1%), and only 19.5% of patients were appropriately dispensed. The current data suggest a gap between the knowledge and practices of prescribers as well as patients and customers misconceptions regarding the use of ACTs in Douala 5e subdivision. Despite government efforts to increase public awareness regarding the use of ACTs as first-line treatment for UM, our findings point out a critical need for the development, implementation and scaling-up of control strategies and continuing health education for better use of ACTs (prescription and dispensing) in Cameroon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Else Eboumbou Moukoko
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Malaria Research Unit, Centre Pasteur Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Josiane Etang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Yaoundé Research Institut, Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Loick Pradel Kojom Foko
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Christian Donald Tafock
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Patricia Epee Eboumbou
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Pediatric wards, Bonassama Hospital, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Estelle Géraldine Essangui Same
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Mycology and Virology, Postgraduate Training Unit for Health Sciences, Postgraduate School for Pure and Applied Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Ida Calixte Penda
- Clinical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
| | - Albert Same Ekobo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
- National Roll Back Malaria Committee, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Osoro CB, Dellicour S, Ochodo E, Young T, Ter Kuile F, Gutman JR, Hill J. Healthcare provider and drug dispenser knowledge and adherence to guidelines for the case management of malaria in pregnancy in the context of multiple first-line artemisinin-based combination therapy in western Kenya. Malar J 2023; 22:262. [PMID: 37679753 PMCID: PMC10486056 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04692-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concerns about emerging resistance to artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in Africa prompted the pilot introduction of multiple first-line therapies (MFT) in Western Kenya, potentially exposing women-of-childbearing-age (WOCBA) to anti-malarials with unknown safety profiles in the first trimester. The study assessed healthcare provider knowledge and adherence to national guidelines for managing malaria in pregnancy in the context of the MFT pilot. METHODS From March to April 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 health facilities (HF) and 40 drug outlets (DO) using structured questionnaires to assess pregnancy detection, malaria diagnosis, and treatment choices by trimester. Differences between HF and DO providers and between MFT and non-MFT HFs were assessed using Chi-square tests. RESULTS Of 174 providers (77% HF, 23% DO), 56% were from MFT pilot facilities. Most providers had tertiary education; 5% HF and 20% DO had only primary or secondary education. More HF than DO providers had knowledge of malaria treatment guidelines (62% vs. 40%, p = 0.023), received training in malaria in pregnancy (49% vs. 20%, p = 0.002), and reported assessing for pregnancy in WOCBA (98% vs. 78%, p < 0.001). Most providers insisted on parasitological diagnosis, with 59% HF using microscopy and 85% DO using rapid diagnostic tests. More HF than DO providers could correctly name the drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester (oral quinine, or AL if quinine is unavailable) (90% vs. 58%, p < 0.001), second and third trimesters (artemisinin-based combination therapy) (84% vs. 70%, p = 0.07), and for severe malaria (parenteral artesunate/artemether) (94% vs. 60%, p < 0.001). Among HF providers, those in the MFT pilot had more knowledge of malaria treatment guidelines (67% vs. 49%, p = 0.08) and had received training on treatment of malaria in pregnancy (56% vs. 32%, p = 0.03). Few providers (10% HF and 12% DO) had adequate knowledge of malaria treatment in pregnancy, defined as the correct drug and dose for uncomplicated and severe malaria in all trimesters. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge of national malaria in pregnancy treatment guidelines among providers in Western Kenya is suboptimal. Robust training on appropriate anti-malarial and dosage is needed, particularly given the recent change in recommendation for artemether-lumefantrine use in the first trimester. Supervision of DO and HF practices is essential for correct treatment of malaria in pregnancy in the context of MFT programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline B Osoro
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu, 40100, Kenya.
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.
| | - Stephanie Dellicour
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Eleanor Ochodo
- Centre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu, 40100, Kenya
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
| | - Taryn Young
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
| | - Feiko Ter Kuile
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
| | - Julie R Gutman
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA
| | - Jenny Hill
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK
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A Comparative Study of Asymptomatic Malaria in a Forest Rural and Depleted Forest Urban Setting during a Low Malaria Transmission and COVID-19 Pandemic Period. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:2545830. [PMID: 36281461 PMCID: PMC9587908 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2545830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The global malaria morbidity and mortality witnessed an increase from 2019 to 2020 partly due to disruptions in control programs' activities imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, there is still a significant burden of malaria in Cameroon which needs attention from all fronts to attain elimination goals. It is normally expected that a typical forest ecology that has undergone urbanization and subjected to high rates of ecological instabilities should also have a shift from characteristic perennial malaria transmission and a shift in the type of malaria endemicity plaguing such distorted forest ecology. In this observational comparative study, we randomly enrolled participants from rural and urban settings of a forest zone during a low malaria transmission period, which coincided with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. An optimized structured questionnaire was employed, to collect socio-demographic data and associated risk factors. The CareStart™ Malaria HRP2 antigen test was performed on participants from both settings to determine the prevalence of community asymptomatic malaria. Of 307 participants, 188 (61.0%) were from the rural, while 119 (38.8%) from the urban community. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria (27.0%) detected Plasmodium falciparum antigen in 83 participants. The urban community's prevalence was 4.2% (5 positives) while the rural community's was 41.5% (78 positives). In simple logistic regression models, rural forest community and farm around the house were statistically significant predictors of testing positive (coefficient 2.8, 95% CI 1.8-3.7, p value<0.001) and (coefficient 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-5.1, p value =0.003), respectively. In the multivariate model, the strongest predictor of testing positive was living in a rural community, with p < 0.001 and odds ratio of 10.9 (95% CI, 3.8-31.8). These results indicate that during a low transmission period, the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria differs between depleted urban and rural forested settings, suggesting a need for strategic target intervention for the control of asymptomatic malaria.
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Sabin LL, Mesic A, Le BN, Halim N, Cao CTH, Bonawitz R, Nguyen HV, Larson A, Nguyen TTT, Le AN, Gill CJ. Costs and Cost-Effectiveness of mCME Version 2.0: An SMS-Based Continuing Medical Education Program for HIV Clinicians in Vietnam. GLOBAL HEALTH: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022; 10:GHSP-D-22-00008. [PMID: 36041848 PMCID: PMC9426988 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-22-00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This cost analysis found that a mobile phone-based continuing medical education (mCME) intervention, involving daily text messages with links to relevant materials, for HIV clinicians in northern Vietnam was relatively low-cost and cost-effective, particularly for future nationwide models. Such mobile approaches to CME are worthy of attention in resource-constrained settings. Background: The Mobile Continuing Medical Education (mCME) 2.0 project was a randomized controlled trial that found that a 6-month text message-based CME intervention improved both the use of online medical training resources and medical knowledge among a cadre of HIV clinicians in Vietnam. This companion study analyzed intervention costs and cost-effectiveness. Methods: We conducted (1) a financial analysis based on costs incurred during the trial’s planning and implementation; (2) an economic analysis to consider resource utilization; and (3) cost-effectiveness analyses to estimate cost inputs relative to impact: increase in self-study (measured by visits to online courses) and increase in knowledge (measured by exam score improvement) (in 2016 US$). Finally, we estimated the economic cost of a 9-month national program and a 10-year scaled-up model (in 2021 US$). Results: The total financial cost of the intervention was US$49,552; the main cost drivers were personnel time (71.4%) and technology inputs (14.9%). The total economic cost was estimated at US$92,212, with the same key cost inputs (representing 77.7% and 8.0%, respectively, of total costs). The financial cost per 10% increase in accessing online courses was US$923, while the cost of improving knowledge, measured by a 10% improvement in mean exam score across the study population, was US$32,057 (US$605 per intervention clinician). The comparable total economic cost of each improvement, respectively, was US$1,770 and US$61,452 (US$1,159 per intervention clinician). A future 9-month national program was estimated to cost US$37,403, while the full 10-year scaled-up program was estimated at US$196,446. Conclusions: This analysis indicates that leveraging mobile technology could be a feasible way to provide distance learning to health professions across Vietnam at a relatively low cost. Given the need for practical ways to expand CME in resource-constrained regions of the world, this approach warrants further study and possible adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora L Sabin
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Aldina Mesic
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bao Ngoc Le
- Consulting Research for Community Development, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nafisa Halim
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chi Thi Hue Cao
- Vietnam Administration for AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Rachael Bonawitz
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ha Viet Nguyen
- Center for Population Research Information and Databases, General Office for Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Anna Larson
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tam Thi Thanh Nguyen
- Center for Population Research Information and Databases, General Office for Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Christopher J Gill
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Amboko B, Stepniewska K, Malla L, Machini B, Bejon P, Snow RW, Zurovac D. Determinants of improvement trends in health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines at health facilities with available "test and treat" commodities in Kenya. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259020. [PMID: 34739519 PMCID: PMC8570506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health workers' compliance with outpatient malaria case-management guidelines has been improving in Africa. This study examined the factors associated with the improvements. METHODS Data from 11 national, cross-sectional health facility surveys undertaken from 2010-2016 were analysed. Association between 31 determinants and improvement trends in five outpatient compliance outcomes were examined using interactions between each determinant and time in multilevel logistic regression models and reported as an adjusted odds ratio of annual trends (T-aOR). RESULTS Among 9,173 febrile patients seen at 1,208 health facilities and by 1,538 health workers, a higher annual improvement trend in composite "test and treat" performance was associated with malaria endemicity-lake endemic (T-aOR = 1.67 annually; p<0.001) and highland epidemic (T-aOR = 1.35; p<0.001) zones compared to low-risk zone; with facilities stocking rapid diagnostic tests only (T-aOR = 1.49; p<0.001) compared to microscopy only services; with faith-based/non-governmental facilities compared to government-owned (T-aOR = 1.15; p = 0.036); with a daily caseload of >25 febrile patients (T-aOR = 1.46; p = 0.003); and with under-five children compared to older patients (T-aOR = 1.07; p = 0.013). Other factors associated with the improvement trends in the "test and treat" policy components and artemether-lumefantrine administration at the facility included the absence of previous RDT stock-outs, community health workers dispensing drugs, access to malaria case-management and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines, health workers' gender, correct health workers' knowledge about the targeted malaria treatment policy, and patients' main complaint of fever. The odds of compliance at the baseline were variable for some of the factors. CONCLUSIONS Targeting of low malaria risk areas, low caseload facilities, male and government health workers, continuous availability of RDTs, improving health workers' knowledge about the policy considering age and fever, and dissemination of guidelines might improve compliance with malaria guidelines. For prompt treatment and administration of the first artemether-lumefantrine dose at the facility, task-shifting duties to community health workers can be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kasia Stepniewska
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Lucas Malla
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Machini
- Division of National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert W. Snow
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dejan Zurovac
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Forsetlund L, O'Brien MA, Forsén L, Reinar LM, Okwen MP, Horsley T, Rose CJ. Continuing education meetings and workshops: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 9:CD003030. [PMID: 34523128 PMCID: PMC8441047 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd003030.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Educational meetings are used widely by health personnel to provide continuing medical education and to promote implementation of innovations or translate new knowledge to change practice within healthcare systems. Previous reviews have concluded that educational meetings can result in small changes in behaviour, but that effects vary considerably. Investigations into which characteristics of educational meetings might lead to greater impact have yielded varying results, and factors that might explain heterogeneity in effects remain unclear. This is the second update of this Cochrane Review. OBJECTIVES • To assess the effects of educational meetings on professional practice and healthcare outcomes • To investigate factors that might explain the heterogeneity of these effects SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ERIC, Science Citation Index Expanded (ISI Web of Knowledge), and Social Sciences Citation Index (last search in November 2016). SELECTION CRITERIA We sought randomised trials examining the effects of educational meetings on professional practice and patient outcomes. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. One review author assessed the certainty of evidence (GRADE) and discussed with a second review author. We included studies in the primary analysis that reported baseline data and that we judged to be at low or unclear risk of bias. For each comparison of dichotomous outcomes, we measured treatment effect as risk difference adjusted for baseline compliance. We expressed adjusted risk difference values as percentages, and we noted that values greater than zero favour educational meetings. For continuous outcomes, we measured treatment effect as per cent change relative to the control group mean post test, adjusted for baseline performance; we expressed values as percentages and noted that values greater than zero favour educational meetings. We report means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and, when appropriate, medians and interquartile ranges to facilitate comparisons to previous versions of this review. We analysed professional and patient outcomes separately and analysed 22 variables that were hypothesised a priori to explain heterogeneity. We explored heterogeneity by using univariate meta-regression and by inspecting violin plots. MAIN RESULTS We included 215 studies involving more than 28,167 health professionals, including 142 new studies for this update. Educational meetings as the single intervention or the main component of a multi-faceted intervention compared with no intervention • Probably slightly improve compliance with desired practice when compared with no intervention (65 comparisons, 7868 health professionals for dichotomous outcomes (adjusted risk difference 6.79%, 95% CI 6.62% to 6.97%; median 4.00%; interquartile range 0.29% to 13.00%); 28 comparisons, 2577 health professionals for continuous outcomes (adjusted relative percentage change 44.36%, 95% CI 41.98% to 46.75%; median 20.00%; interquartile range 6.00% to 65.00%)) • Probably slightly improve patient outcomes compared with no intervention (15 comparisons, 2530 health professionals for dichotomous outcomes (adjusted risk difference 3.30%, 95% CI 3.10% to 3.51%; median 0.10%; interquartile range 0.00% to 4.00%); 28 comparisons, 2294 health professionals for continuous outcomes (adjusted relative percentage change 8.35%, 95% CI 7.46% to 9.24%; median 2.00%; interquartile range -1.00% to 21.00%)) The certainty of evidence for this comparison is moderate. Educational meetings alone compared with other interventions • May improve compliance with desired practice when compared with other interventions (6 studies, 1402 health professionals for dichotomous outcomes (adjusted risk difference 9.99%, 95% CI 9.47% to 10.52%; median 16.5%; interquartile range 0.80% to 16.50%); 2 studies, 72 health professionals for continuous outcomes (adjusted relative percentage change 12.00%, 95% CI 9.16% to 14.84%; median 12.00%; interquartile range 0.00% to 24.00%)) No studies met the inclusion criteria for patient outcome measurements. The certainty of evidence for this comparison is low. Interactive educational meetings compared with didactic (lecture-based) educational meetings • We are uncertain of effects on compliance with desired practice (3 studies, 370 health professionals for dichotomous outcomes; 1 study, 192 health professionals for continuous outcomes) or on patient outcomes (1 study, 54 health professionals for continuous outcomes), as the certainty of evidence is very low Any other comparison of different formats and durations of educational meetings • We are uncertain of effects on compliance with desired practice (1 study, 19 health professionals for dichotomous outcomes; 1 study, 20 health professionals for continuous outcomes) or on patient outcomes (1 study, 113 health professionals for continuous outcomes), as the certainty of evidence is very low. Factors that might explain heterogeneity of effects Meta-regression suggests that larger estimates of effect are associated with studies judged to be at high risk of bias, with studies that had unit of analysis errors, and with studies in which the unit of analysis was the provider rather than the patient. Improved compliance with desired practice may be associated with: shorter meetings; poor baseline compliance; better attendance; shorter follow-up; professionals provided with additional take-home material; explicit building of educational meetings on theory; targeting of low- versus high-complexity behaviours; targeting of outcomes with high versus low importance; goal of increasing rather than decreasing behaviour; teaching by opinion leaders; and use of didactic versus interactive teaching methods. Pre-specified exploratory analyses of behaviour change techniques suggest that improved compliance with desired practice may be associated with use of a greater number of behaviour change techniques; goal-setting; provision of feedback; provision for social comparison; and provision for social support. Compliance may be decreased by the use of follow-up prompts, skills training, and barrier identification techniques. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Compared with no intervention, educational meetings as the main component of an intervention probably slightly improve professional practice and, to a lesser extent, patient outcomes. Educational meetings may improve compliance with desired practice to a greater extent than other kinds of behaviour change interventions, such as text messages, fees, or office systems. Our findings suggest that multi-strategy approaches might positively influence the effects of educational meetings. Additional trials of educational meetings compared with no intervention are unlikely to change the review findings; therefore we will not further update this review comparison in the future. However, we note that randomised trials comparing different types of education are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mary Ann O'Brien
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lisa Forsén
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Mbah P Okwen
- Centre for the Development of Best Practices in Health (CDBPH), Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Tanya Horsley
- Research Unit, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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Social group and health-care provider interventions to increase the demand for malaria rapid diagnostic tests among community members in Ebonyi state, Nigeria: a cluster-randomised controlled trial. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2021; 9:e320-e330. [DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Cohen JL, Leslie HH, Saran I, Fink G. Quality of clinical management of children diagnosed with malaria: A cross-sectional assessment in 9 sub-Saharan African countries between 2007-2018. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003254. [PMID: 32925906 PMCID: PMC7489507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate clinical management of malaria in children is critical for preventing progression to severe disease and for reducing the continued high burden of malaria mortality. This study aimed to assess the quality of care provided to children under 5 diagnosed with malaria across 9 sub-Saharan African countries. METHODS AND FINDINGS We used data from the Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey. SPAs are nationally representative facility surveys capturing quality of sick-child care, facility readiness, and provider and patient characteristics. The data set contained 24,756 direct clinical observations of outpatient sick-child visits across 9 countries, including Uganda (2007), Rwanda (2007), Namibia (2009), Kenya (2010), Malawi (2013), Senegal (2013-2017), Ethiopia (2014), Tanzania (2015), and Democratic Republic of the Congo (2018). We assessed the proportion of children with a malaria diagnosis who received a blood test diagnosis and an appropriate antimalarial. We used multilevel logistic regression to assess facility and provider and patient characteristics associated with these outcomes. Subgroup analyses with the 2013-2018 country surveys only were conducted for all outcomes. Children observed were on average 20.5 months old and were most commonly diagnosed with respiratory infection (47.7%), malaria (29.7%), and/or gastrointestinal infection (19.7%). Among the 7,340 children with a malaria diagnosis, 32.5% (95% CI: 30.3%-34.7%) received both a blood-test-based diagnosis and an appropriate antimalarial. The proportion of children with a blood test diagnosis and an appropriate antimalarial ranged from 3.4% to 57.1% across countries. In the more recent surveys (2013-2018), 40.7% (95% CI: 37.7%-43.6%) of children with a malaria diagnosis received both a blood test diagnosis and appropriate antimalarial. Roughly 20% of children diagnosed with malaria received no antimalarial at all, and nearly 10% received oral artemisinin monotherapy, which is not recommended because of concerns regarding parasite resistance. Receipt of a blood test diagnosis and appropriate antimalarial was positively correlated with being seen at a facility with diagnostic equipment in stock (adjusted OR 3.67; 95% CI: 2.72-4.95) and, in the 2013-2018 subsample, with being seen at a facility with Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs) in stock (adjusted OR 1.60; 95% CI:1.04-2.46). However, even if all children diagnosed with malaria were seen by a trained provider at a facility with diagnostics and medicines in stock, only a predicted 37.2% (95% CI: 34.2%-40.1%) would have received a blood test and appropriate antimalarial (44.4% for the 2013-2018 subsample). Study limitations include the lack of confirmed malaria test results for most survey years, the inability to distinguish between a diagnosis of uncomplicated or severe malaria, the absence of other relevant indicators of quality of care including dosing and examinations, and that only 9 countries were studied. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found that a majority of children diagnosed with malaria across the 9 surveyed sub-Saharan African countries did not receive recommended care. Clinical management is positively correlated with the stocking of essential commodities and is somewhat improved in more recent years, but important quality gaps remain in the countries studied. Continued reductions in malaria mortality will require a bigger push toward quality improvements in clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L. Cohen
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Hannah H. Leslie
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Indrani Saran
- Boston College School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Günther Fink
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Jegede A, Willey B, Hamade P, Oshiname F, Chandramohan D, Ajayi I, Falade C, Baba E, Webster J. Evaluation of a capacity building intervention on malaria treatment for under-fives in rural health facilities in Niger State, Nigeria. Malar J 2020; 19:90. [PMID: 32093679 PMCID: PMC7041190 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03167-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the uptake of parasitological testing into policy and practice, appropriate prescription of anti-malarials and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in accordance with test results is variable. This study describes a National Malaria Control Programme-led capacity building intervention which was implemented in 10 States of Nigeria. Using the experience of Niger State, this study assessed the effect on malaria diagnosis and prescription practices among febrile under-fives in rural health facilities. Methods The multicomponent capacity building intervention consisted of revised case management manuals; cascade training from national to state level carried out at the local government area (LGA) level; and on the job capacity development through supportive supervision. The evaluation was conducted in 28, principally government-owned, health facilities in two rural LGAs of Niger State, one in which the intervention case management of malaria was implemented and the other acted as a comparison area with no implementation of the intervention. Three outcomes were considered in the context of rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for malaria which were: the prevalence of RDT testing in febrile children; appropriate treatment of RDT-positive children; and appropriate treatment of RDT-negative children. Outcomes were compared post-intervention between intervention and comparison areas using multivariate logistic regression. Results The intervention did not improve appropriate management of under-fives in intervention facilities above that seen for under-fives in comparison facilities. Appropriate treatment with artemisinin-based combinations of RDT-positive and RDT-negative under-fives was equally high in both areas. However, appropriate treatment of RDT-negative children, when defined as receipt of no ACT or any other anti-malarials, was better in comparison areas. In both areas, a small number of RDT-positives were not given ACT, but prescribed an alternative anti-malarial, including artesunate monotherapy. Among RDT-negatives, no under-fives were prescribed artesunate as monotherapy. Conclusion In a context of significant stock-outs of both ACT medicines and RDTs, under-fives were not more appropriately managed in intervention than comparison areas. The malaria case management intervention implemented through cascade training reached only approximately half of health workers managing febrile under-fives in this setting. Implementation studies on models of cascade training are needed to define what works in what context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodele Jegede
- Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Barbara Willey
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Prudence Hamade
- Malaria Consortium, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, EC24 4LT, UK
| | - Fredrick Oshiname
- Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Chandramohan
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - IkeOluwa Ajayi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Catherine Falade
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ebenezer Baba
- Malaria Consortium East and Southern Africa, Plot 2, Sturrock Road, P.O. Box 8045, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jayne Webster
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
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10
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O'Boyle S, Bruxvoort KJ, Ansah EK, Burchett HED, Chandler CIR, Clarke SE, Goodman C, Mbacham W, Mbonye AK, Onwujekwe OE, Staedke SG, Wiseman VL, Whitty CJM, Hopkins H. Patients with positive malaria tests not given artemisinin-based combination therapies: a research synthesis describing under-prescription of antimalarial medicines in Africa. BMC Med 2020; 18:17. [PMID: 31996199 PMCID: PMC6990477 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-019-1483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been a successful push towards parasitological diagnosis of malaria in Africa, mainly with rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs), which has reduced over-prescribing of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) to malaria test-negative patients. The effect on prescribing for test-positive patients has received much less attention. Malaria infection in endemic Africa is often most dangerous for young children and those in low-transmission settings. This study examined non-prescription of antimalarials for patients with malaria infection demonstrated by positive mRDT results, and in particular these groups who are most vulnerable to poor outcomes if antimalarials are not given. METHODS Analysis of data from 562,762 patients in 8 studies co-designed as part of the ACT Consortium, conducted 2007-2013 in children and adults, in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda, in a variety of public and private health care sector settings, and across a range of malaria endemic zones. RESULTS Of 106,039 patients with positive mRDT results (median age 6 years), 7426 (7.0%) were not prescribed an ACT antimalarial. The proportion of mRDT-positive patients not prescribed ACT ranged across sites from 1.3 to 37.1%. For patients under age 5 years, 3473/44,539 (7.8%) were not prescribed an ACT, compared with 3833/60,043 (6.4%) of those aged ≥ 5 years. The proportion of < 5-year-olds not prescribed ACT ranged up to 41.8% across sites. The odds of not being prescribed an ACT were 2-32 times higher for patients in settings with lower-transmission intensity (using test positivity as a proxy) compared to areas of higher transmission. mRDT-positive children in low-transmission settings were especially likely not to be prescribed ACT, with proportions untreated up to 70%. Of the 7426 mRDT-positive patients not prescribed an ACT, 4121 (55.5%) were prescribed other, non-recommended non-ACT antimalarial medications, and the remainder (44.5%) were prescribed no antimalarial. CONCLUSIONS In eight studies of mRDT implementation in five African countries, substantial proportions of patients testing mRDT-positive were not prescribed an ACT antimalarial, and many were not prescribed an antimalarial at all. Patients most vulnerable to serious outcomes, children < 5 years and those in low-transmission settings, were most likely to not be prescribed antimalarials, and young children in low-transmission settings were least likely to be treated for malaria. This major public health risk must be addressed in training and practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION Reported in individual primary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katia J Bruxvoort
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, USA
| | - Evelyn K Ansah
- Centre for Malaria Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Wilfred Mbacham
- Public Health Biotechnology, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Virginia L Wiseman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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11
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Ongolo-Zogo P, Lavis JN, Tomson G, Sewankambo NK. Assessing the influence of knowledge translation platforms on health system policy processes to achieve the health millennium development goals in Cameroon and Uganda: a comparative case study. Health Policy Plan 2018; 33:539-554. [PMID: 29506146 PMCID: PMC5894086 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czx194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a scarcity of empirical data on the influence of initiatives supporting evidence-informed health system policy-making (EIHSP), such as the knowledge translation platforms (KTPs) operating in Africa. To assess whether and how two KTPs housed in government-affiliated institutions in Cameroon and Uganda have influenced: (1) health system policy-making processes and decisions aiming at supporting achievement of the health millennium development goals (MDGs); and (2) the general climate for EIHSP. We conducted an embedded comparative case study of four policy processes in which Evidence Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Cameroon and Regional East African Community Health Policy Initiative (REACH-PI) Uganda were involved between 2009 and 2011. We combined a documentary review and semi structured interviews of 54 stakeholders. A framework-guided thematic analysis, inspired by scholarship in health policy analysis and knowledge utilization was used. EVIPNet Cameroon and REACH-PI Uganda have had direct influence on health system policy decisions. The coproduction of evidence briefs combined with tacit knowledge gathered during inclusive evidence-informed stakeholder dialogues helped to reframe health system problems, unveil sources of conflicts, open grounds for consensus and align viable and affordable options for achieving the health MDGs thus leading to decisions. New policy issue networks have emerged. The KTPs indirectly influenced health policy processes by changing how interests interact with one another and by introducing safe-harbour deliberations and intersected with contextual ideational factors by improving access to policy-relevant evidence. KTPs were perceived as change agents with positive impact on the understanding, acceptance and adoption of EIHSP because of their complementary work in relation to capacity building, rapid evidence syntheses and clearinghouse of policy-relevant evidence. This embedded case study illustrates how two KTPs influenced policy decisions through pathways involving policy issue networks, interest groups interaction and evidence-supported ideas and how they influenced the general climate for EIHSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ongolo-Zogo
- Centre for Development of Best Practices in Health, Central Hospital Yaoundé, University of Yaoundé 1, Avenue H Dunant, Messa, Cameroon.,Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John N Lavis
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster Health Forum, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L6, Canada.,Department of Political Science, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, MML-417, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L6, Canada and
| | - Goran Tomson
- Departments of Learning, Informatics, Management, Ethics and Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Stockholm SE 171 77, Sweden
| | - Nelson K Sewankambo
- Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
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12
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Rakotonandrasana DH, Tsukahara T, Yamamoto-Mitani N. Antimalarial drug prescribing by healthcare workers when malaria testing is negative: a qualitative study in Madagascar. Trop Med Health 2018; 46:13. [PMID: 29713235 PMCID: PMC5913795 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-018-0096-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the World Health Organization and the National Malaria Program of Madagascar recommending that antimalarial drugs only be prescribed for patients with positive results on malaria rapid diagnostic tests, healthcare workers continue to prescribe these drugs for cases with negative test results. We explored why and how primary healthcare workers in Madagascar continue to prescribe antimalarial drugs despite this guidance. Methods We purposively selected 14 medical doctors and 2 nurses from 11 primary health facilities (6 public, 5 private) in Toliara, Madagascar, and interviewed them regarding their antimalarial prescribing behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, focusing on why and how antimalarials were prescribed for clients with negative rapid diagnostic test results. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and the responses were manually coded until consistent themes emerged. Results The narrative of healthcare workers regarding their continued prescribing of antimalarials despite negative test results revealed the following: (1) they prescribe antimalarials without positive test results due to their faith to give top priority to clients including the ethical value of beneficence, hope to maintain clinician’s independence, and belief in drug effectiveness; (2) they use antimalarials despite negative test results due to the availability of alternative ways to procure antimalarials; and (3) they carefully select cases to prescribe and determine specific antimalarials despite negative test results by considering the client’s physical condition, preference, and economic status. Our results indicate that healthcare workers prioritized clinician autonomy to give the best care they believed for each client they received, which led to conflict with policy administrators that urged clinicians to follow the national policy and guidelines. Moreover, healthcare workers had access to multiple sources of antimalarial drugs, and there was a lack of consistency in the program provisions that allowed alternative routes for prescribing outside of official policy. Conclusions We have shown how a national malarial treatment policy was translated into practice in Madagascar and have highlighted the barriers that may prevent policy success. We must attend to each of these barriers if we are to promote optimal use of antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Harimbola Rakotonandrasana
- 1Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Antananarivo-Hôpital Mère-Enfant Ambohimiandra, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar.,2École Doctorale-Nutrition Environnement Santé, Université de Mahajanga, 401 Mahajanga, Madagascar
| | - Takahiro Tsukahara
- 3Department of International Affairs and Tropical Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8666 Japan.,4Graduate School of Economics, Hosei University, 2-15-2 Ichigaya Tamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0843 Japan
| | - Noriko Yamamoto-Mitani
- 5Department of Gerontological Home-Care and Long-Term Care Nursing, Graduate School of Health Sciences and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bukyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033 Japan
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13
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Poyer S, Musuva A, Njoki N, Okara R, Cutherell A, Sievers D, Lussiana C, Memusi D, Kiptui R, Ejersa W, Dolan S, Charman N. Fever case management at private health facilities and private pharmacies on the Kenyan coast: analysis of data from two rounds of client exit interviews and mystery client visits. Malar J 2018. [PMID: 29534750 PMCID: PMC5850910 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2267-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Private sector availability and use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) lags behind the public sector in Kenya. Increasing channels through which quality malaria diagnostic services are available can improve access to testing and help meet the target of universal diagnostic testing. Registered pharmacies are currently not permitted to perform blood tests, and evidence of whether malaria RDTs can be used by non-laboratory private providers in line with the national malaria control guidelines is required to inform ongoing policy discussions in Kenya. Methods Two rounds of descriptive cross-sectional exit interviews and mystery client surveys were conducted at private health facilities and registered pharmacies in 2014 and 2015, 6 and 18 months into a multi-country project to prime the private sector market for the introduction of RDTs. Data were collected on reported RDT use, medicines received and prescribed, and case management of malaria test-negative mystery clients. Analysis compared outcomes at facilities and pharmacies independently for the two survey rounds. Results Across two rounds, 534 and 633 clients (including patients) from 130 and 120 outlets were interviewed, and 214 and 250 mystery client visits were completed. Reported testing by any malaria diagnostic test was higher in private health facilities than registered pharmacies in both rounds (2014: 85.6% vs. 60.8%, p < 0.001; 2015: 85.3% vs. 56.3%, p < 0.001). In registered pharmacies, testing by RDT was 52.1% in 2014 and 56.3% in 2015. At least 75% of test-positive patients received artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in both rounds, with no significant difference between outlet types in either round. Provision of any anti-malarial for test-negative patients ranged from 0 to 13.9% across outlet types and rounds. In 2015, mystery clients received the correct (negative) diagnosis and did not receive an anti-malarial in 75.5% of visits to private health facilities and in 78.4% of visits to registered pharmacies. Conclusions Non-laboratory staff working in registered pharmacies in Kenya can follow national guidelines for diagnosis with RDTs when provided with the same level of training and supervision as private health facility staff. Performance and compliance to treatment recommendations are comparable to diagnostic testing outcomes recorded in private health facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robi Okara
- Population Services International, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Dana Sievers
- Population Services International, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Dorothy Memusi
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Rebecca Kiptui
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Waqo Ejersa
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
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14
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Singlovic J, Ajayi IO, Nsungwa-Sabiiti J, Siribié M, Sanou AK, Jegede AS, Falade CO, Sermé L, Gansane Z, Afonne C, Kabarungi V, Kyaligonza J, Castellani J, Petzold M, Gomes M. Compliance With Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Testing by Community Health Workers in 3 Malaria-Endemic Countries of Sub-Saharan Africa: An Observational Study. Clin Infect Dis 2018; 63:S276-S282. [PMID: 27941105 PMCID: PMC5146698 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. The World Health Organization recommends that all malaria management be based on parasitological identification. We monitored performance of trained community health workers (CHWs) in adhering to this recommendation to restrict artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) to positive rapid diagnostic test (RDT)–confirmed cases in children in 3 malaria-endemic sub-Saharan African countries. Methods. In 33 villages in Burkina Faso, 45 villages in Nigeria, and 84 villages in Uganda, 265 CHWs were trained over a minimum of 3 days to diagnose malaria using RDTs (prepare, read, record results, and inform the patient about results) and treat RDT-confirmed uncomplicated malaria cases with ACTs. In Nigeria, CHWs were also taught to obtain a thick blood smear. Spent RDT kits and prepared blood slides were collected and interpreted independently in Burkina Faso and Nigeria to confirm CHWs' diagnoses. Interviews were held with 12 of 17 CHWs who prescribed ACTs for patients with RDT-negative test results, and with 16 of 29 caregivers to determine factors related to noncompliance. Results. Of 12 656 patients treated with ACTs in the participating countries (5365 in Burkina Faso, 1648 in Nigeria, and 5643 in Uganda), 29 patients (8 from Burkina Faso, 17 from Nigeria, 4 from Uganda) were RDT negative. The small number of RDT-negative ACT-treated cases limits statistical analysis. Only a few CHWs were involved, and they were more likely to be traders rather than farmers (odds ratio [OR], 6.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09–18.07; P = .0004). RDT-negative children who were treated with ACTs had a significantly higher probability of residing in a village other than that of the CHW (OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.59–9.30; P = .0018). Parental pressure was identified in interviews with parents. Conclusions. Noncompliance with results of RDT tests is relatively rare when CHWs are trained and well supervised. Clinical Trials Registration. ISRCTN13858170.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Singlovic
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - IkeOluwapo O Ajayi
- Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Armande K Sanou
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | - Luc Sermé
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Zakaria Gansane
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Chinenye Afonne
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Unit, Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Joëlle Castellani
- Department of Health Services Research, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Max Petzold
- Centre for Applied Biostatistics, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Melba Gomes
- UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research & Training in Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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15
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Saran I, Maffioli EM, Menya D, O'Meara WP. Household beliefs about malaria testing and treatment in Western Kenya: the role of health worker adherence to malaria test results. Malar J 2017; 16:349. [PMID: 28830439 PMCID: PMC5568326 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1993-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although use of malaria diagnostic tests has increased in recent years, health workers often prescribe anti-malarial drugs to individuals who test negative for malaria. This study investigates how health worker adherence to malaria case management guidelines influences individuals’ beliefs about whether their illness was malaria, and their confidence in the effectiveness of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Methods A survey was conducted with 2065 households in Western Kenya about a household member’s treatment actions for a recent febrile illness. The survey also elicited the individual’s (or their caregiver’s) beliefs about the illness and about malaria testing and treatment. Logistic regressions were used to test the association between these beliefs and whether the health worker adhered to malaria testing and treatment guidelines. Results Of the 1070 individuals who visited a formal health facility during their illness, 82% were tested for malaria. ACT rates for malaria-positive and negative individuals were 89 and 49%, respectively. Overall, 65% of individuals/caregivers believed that the illness was “very likely” malaria. Individuals/caregivers had higher odds of saying that the illness was “very likely” malaria when the individual was treated with ACT, and this was the case both among individuals not tested for malaria [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.65 7.10], P = 0.001] and among individuals tested for malaria, regardless of their test result. In addition, 72% of ACT-takers said the drug was “very likely” effective in treating malaria. However, malaria-negative individuals who were treated with ACT had lower odds of saying that the drugs were “very likely” effective than ACT-takers who were not tested or who tested positive for malaria (AOR 0.29, 95% CI [0.13 0.63], P = 0.002). Conclusion Individuals/caregivers were more likely to believe that the illness was malaria when the patient was treated with ACT, regardless of their test result. Moreover, malaria-negative individuals treated with ACT had lower confidence in the drug than other individuals who took ACT. These results suggest that ensuring health worker adherence to malaria case management guidelines will not only improve ACT targeting, but may also increase patient/caregivers’ confidence in malaria testing and treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1993-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrani Saran
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
| | | | - Diana Menya
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Wendy Prudhomme O'Meara
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, 310 Trent Drive, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.,School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.,Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, USA
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16
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Bruxvoort KJ, Leurent B, Chandler CIR, Ansah EK, Baiden F, Björkman A, Burchett HED, Clarke SE, Cundill B, DiLiberto DD, Elfving K, Goodman C, Hansen KS, Kachur SP, Lal S, Lalloo DG, Leslie T, Magnussen P, Mangham-Jefferies L, Mårtensson A, Mayan I, Mbonye AK, Msellem MI, Onwujekwe OE, Owusu-Agyei S, Rowland MW, Shakely D, Staedke SG, Vestergaard LS, Webster J, Whitty CJM, Wiseman VL, Yeung S, Schellenberg D, Hopkins H. The Impact of Introducing Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests on Fever Case Management: A Synthesis of Ten Studies from the ACT Consortium. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:1170-1179. [PMID: 28820705 PMCID: PMC5637593 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2010, the World Health Organization has been recommending that all suspected cases of malaria be confirmed with parasite-based diagnosis before treatment. These guidelines represent a paradigm shift away from presumptive antimalarial treatment of fever. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are central to implementing this policy, intended to target artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) to patients with confirmed malaria and to improve management of patients with nonmalarial fevers. The ACT Consortium conducted ten linked studies, eight in sub-Saharan Africa and two in Afghanistan, to evaluate the impact of mRDT introduction on case management across settings that vary in malaria endemicity and healthcare provider type. This synthesis includes 562,368 outpatient encounters (study size range 2,400-432,513). mRDTs were associated with significantly lower ACT prescription (range 8-69% versus 20-100%). Prescribing did not always adhere to malaria test results; in several settings, ACTs were prescribed to more than 30% of test-negative patients or to fewer than 80% of test-positive patients. Either an antimalarial or an antibiotic was prescribed for more than 75% of patients across most settings; lower antimalarial prescription for malaria test-negative patients was partly offset by higher antibiotic prescription. Symptomatic management with antipyretics alone was prescribed for fewer than 25% of patients across all scenarios. In community health worker and private retailer settings, mRDTs increased referral of patients to other providers. This synthesis provides an overview of shifts in case management that may be expected with mRDT introduction and highlights areas of focus to improve design and implementation of future case management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katia J Bruxvoort
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Baptiste Leurent
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bonnie Cundill
- Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Catherine Goodman
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristian S Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sham Lal
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David G Lalloo
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Toby Leslie
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Department for Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ismail Mayan
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Anthony K Mbonye
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.,Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | | | - Mark W Rowland
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Delér Shakely
- Centre for Malaria Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Health Metrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jayne Webster
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Virginia L Wiseman
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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17
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Wu S, Roychowdhury I, Khan M. Evaluations of training programs to improve human resource capacity for HIV, malaria, and TB control: a systematic scoping review of methods applied and outcomes assessed. Trop Med Health 2017; 45:16. [PMID: 28680324 PMCID: PMC5493875 DOI: 10.1186/s41182-017-0056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Owing to the global health workforce crisis, more funding has been invested in strengthening human resources for health, particularly for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria control; however, little is known about how these investments in training are evaluated. This paper examines how frequently HIV, malaria, and TB healthcare provider training programs have been scientifically evaluated, synthesizes information on the methods and outcome indicators used, and identifies evidence gaps for future evaluations to address. METHODS We conducted a systematic scoping review of publications evaluating postgraduate training programs, including in-service training programs, for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria healthcare providers between 2000 and 2016. Using broad inclusion criteria, we searched three electronic databases and additional gray literature sources. After independent screening by two authors, data about the year, location, methodology, and outcomes assessed was extracted from eligible training program evaluation studies. Training outcomes evaluated were categorized into four levels (reaction, learning, behavior, and results) based on the Kirkpatrick model. FINDINGS Of 1473 unique publications identified, 87 were eligible for inclusion in the analysis. The number of published articles increased after 2006, with most (n = 57, 66%) conducted in African countries. The majority of training evaluations (n = 44, 51%) were based on HIV with fewer studies focused on malaria (n = 28, 32%) and TB (n = 23, 26%) related training. We found that quantitative survey of trainees was the most commonly used evaluation method (n = 29, 33%) and the most commonly assessed outcomes were knowledge acquisition (learning) of trainees (n = 44, 51%) and organizational impacts of the training programs (38, 44%). Behavior change and trainees' reaction to the training were evaluated less frequently and using less robust methods; costs of training were also rarely assessed. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that a limited number of robust evaluations had been conducted since 2000, even though the number of training programs has increased over this period to address the human resource shortage for HIV, malaria, and TB control. Specifically, we identified a lack evaluation studies on TB- and malaria-related healthcare provider training and very few studies assessing behavior change of trainees or costs of training. Developing frameworks and standardized evaluation methods may facilitate strengthening of the evidence base to inform policies on and investments in training programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishi Wu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549 Singapore
| | - Imara Roychowdhury
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549 Singapore
| | - Mishal Khan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2 #10-01, Singapore, 117549 Singapore.,Communicable Diseases Policy Research Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT United Kingdom
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Bennett A, Avanceña ALV, Wegbreit J, Cotter C, Roberts K, Gosling R. Engaging the private sector in malaria surveillance: a review of strategies and recommendations for elimination settings. Malar J 2017; 16:252. [PMID: 28615026 PMCID: PMC5471855 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1901-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In malaria elimination settings, all malaria cases must be identified, documented and investigated. To facilitate complete and timely reporting of all malaria cases and effective case management and follow-up, engagement with private providers is essential, particularly in settings where the private sector is a major source of healthcare. However, research on the role and performance of the private sector in malaria diagnosis, case management and reporting in malaria elimination settings is limited. Moreover, the most effective strategies for private sector engagement in malaria elimination settings remain unclear. METHODS Twenty-five experts in malaria elimination, disease surveillance and private sector engagement were purposively sampled and interviewed. An extensive review of grey and peer-reviewed literature on private sector testing, treatment, and reporting for malaria was performed. Additional in-depth literature review was conducted for six case studies on eliminating and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa. RESULTS The private health sector can be categorized based on their commercial orientation or business model (for-profit versus nonprofit) and their regulation status within a country (formal vs informal). A number of potentially effective strategies exist for engaging the private sector. Conducting a baseline assessment of the private sector is critical to understanding its composition, size, geographical distribution and quality of services provided. Facilitating reporting, referral and training linkages between the public and private sectors and making malaria a notifiable disease are important strategies to improve private sector involvement in malaria surveillance. Financial incentives for uptake of rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy should be combined with training and community awareness campaigns for improving uptake. Private sector providers can also be organized and better engaged through social franchising, effective regulation, professional organizations and government outreach. CONCLUSION This review highlights the importance of engaging private sector stakeholders early and often in the development of malaria elimination strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Bennett
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Anton L. V. Avanceña
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Jennifer Wegbreit
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Chris Cotter
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Kathryn Roberts
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
| | - Roly Gosling
- Malaria Elimination Initiative, UCSF Global Health Group, 550 16th Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
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Boyce MR, O'Meara WP. Use of malaria RDTs in various health contexts across sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2017; 17:470. [PMID: 28521798 PMCID: PMC5437623 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4398-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization recommends parasitological confirmation of malaria prior to treatment. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) represent one diagnostic method that is used in a variety of contexts to overcome limitations of other diagnostic techniques. Malaria RDTs increase the availability and feasibility of accurate diagnosis and may result in improved quality of care. Though RDTs are used in a variety of contexts, no studies have compared how well or effectively RDTs are used across these contexts. This review assesses the diagnostic use of RDTs in four different contexts: health facilities, the community, drug shops and schools. METHODS A comprehensive search of the Pubmed database was conducted to evaluate RDT execution, test accuracy, or adherence to test results in sub-Saharan Africa. Original RDT and Plasmodium falciparum focused studies conducted in formal health care facilities, drug shops, schools, or by CHWs between the year 2000 and December 2016 were included. Studies were excluded if they were conducted exclusively in a research laboratory setting, where staff from the study team conducted RDTs, or in settings outside of sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS The literature search identified 757 reports. A total of 52 studies were included in the analysis. Overall, RDTs were performed safely and effectively by community health workers provided they receive proper training. Analogous information was largely absent for formal health care workers. Tests were generally accurate across contexts, except for in drug shops where lower specificities were observed. Adherence to RDT results was higher among drug shop vendors and community health workers, while adherence was more variable among formal health care workers, most notably with negative test results. CONCLUSIONS Malaria RDTs are generally used well, though compliance with test results is variable - especially in the formal health care sector. If low adherence rates are extrapolated, thousands of patients may be incorrectly diagnosed and receive inappropriate treatment resulting in a low quality of care and unnecessary drug use. Multidisciplinary research should continue to explore determinants of good RDT use, and seek to better understand how to support and sustain the correct use of this diagnostic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wendy P O'Meara
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA.,School of Public Health, Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya
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Hopkins H, Bruxvoort KJ, Cairns ME, Chandler CIR, Leurent B, Ansah EK, Baiden F, Baltzell KA, Björkman A, Burchett HED, Clarke SE, DiLiberto DD, Elfving K, Goodman C, Hansen KS, Kachur SP, Lal S, Lalloo DG, Leslie T, Magnussen P, Jefferies LM, Mårtensson A, Mayan I, Mbonye AK, Msellem MI, Onwujekwe OE, Owusu-Agyei S, Reyburn H, Rowland MW, Shakely D, Vestergaard LS, Webster J, Wiseman VL, Yeung S, Schellenberg D, Staedke SG, Whitty CJM. Impact of introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on antibiotic prescribing: analysis of observational and randomised studies in public and private healthcare settings. BMJ 2017; 356:j1054. [PMID: 28356302 PMCID: PMC5370398 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.j1054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To examine the impact of use of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria on prescribing of antimicrobials, specifically antibiotics, for acute febrile illness in Africa and Asia.Design Analysisof nine preselected linked and codesigned observational and randomised studies (eight cluster or individually randomised trials and one observational study).Setting Public and private healthcare settings, 2007-13, in Afghanistan, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda.Participants 522 480 children and adults with acute febrile illness.Interventions Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria.Main outcome measures Proportions of patients for whom an antibiotic was prescribed in trial groups who had undergone rapid diagnostic testing compared with controls and in patients with negative test results compared with patients with positive results. A secondary aim compared classes of antibiotics prescribed in different settings.Results Antibiotics were prescribed to 127 052/238 797 (53%) patients in control groups and 167 714/283 683 (59%) patients in intervention groups. Antibiotics were prescribed to 40% (35 505/89 719) of patients with a positive test result for malaria and to 69% (39 400/57 080) of those with a negative result. All but one study showed a trend toward more antibiotic prescribing in groups who underwent rapid diagnostic tests. Random effects meta-analysis of the trials showed that the overall risk of antibiotic prescription was 21% higher (95% confidence interval 7% to 36%) in intervention settings. In most intervention settings, patients with negative test results received more antibiotic prescriptions than patients with positive results for all the most commonly used classes: penicillins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (one exception), tetracyclines, and metronidazole.Conclusions Introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to reduce unnecessary use of antimalarials-a beneficial public health outcome-could drive up untargeted use of antibiotics. That 69% of patients were prescribed antibiotics when test results were negative probably represents overprescription.This included antibiotics from several classes, including those like metronidazole that are seldom appropriate for febrile illness, across varied clinical, health system, and epidemiological settings. It is often assumed that better disease specific diagnostics will reduce antimicrobial overuse, but they might simply shift it from one antimicrobial class to another. Current global implementation of malaria testing might increase untargeted antibiotic use and must be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Hopkins
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Matthew E Cairns
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Baptiste Leurent
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Siân E Clarke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | | | | | - Kristian S Hansen
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK1014, Denmark
| | | | - Sham Lal
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Toby Leslie
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital, and Department for Veterinary Disease Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Ismail Mayan
- Health Protection Research Organisation, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Anthony K Mbonye
- Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Obinna E Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Seth Owusu-Agyei
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Hugh Reyburn
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Mark W Rowland
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Delér Shakely
- Centre for Malaria Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and Health Metrics at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jayne Webster
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Virginia L Wiseman
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | | | - Sarah G Staedke
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
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Chandler CIR, Webb EL, Maiteki-Sebuguzi C, Nayiga S, Nabirye C, DiLiberto DD, Ssemmondo E, Dorsey G, Kamya MR, Staedke SG. The impact of an intervention to introduce malaria rapid diagnostic tests on fever case management in a high transmission setting in Uganda: A mixed-methods cluster-randomized trial (PRIME). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170998. [PMID: 28288172 PMCID: PMC5347994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (mRDTs) have been scaled-up widely across Africa. The PRIME study evaluated an intervention aiming to improve fever case management using mRDTs at public health centers in Uganda. METHODS A cluster-randomized trial was conducted from 2010-13 in Tororo, a high malaria transmission setting. Twenty public health centers were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control. The intervention included training in health center management, fever case management with mRDTs, and patient-centered services; plus provision of mRDTs and artemether-lumefantrine (AL) when stocks ran low. Three rounds of Interviews were conducted with caregivers of children under five years of age as they exited health centers (N = 1400); reference mRDTs were done in children with fever (N = 1336). Health worker perspectives on mRDTs were elicited through semi-structured questionnaires (N = 49) and in-depth interviews (N = 10). The primary outcome was inappropriate treatment of malaria, defined as the proportion of febrile children who were not treated according to guidelines based on the reference mRDT. FINDINGS There was no difference in inappropriate treatment of malaria between the intervention and control arms (24.0% versus 29.7%, adjusted risk ratio 0.81 [95% CI: 0.56, 1.17] p = 0.24). Most children (76.0%) tested positive by reference mRDT, but many were not prescribed AL (22.5% intervention versus 25.9% control, p = 0.53). Inappropriate treatment of children testing negative by reference mRDT with AL was also common (31.3% invention vs 42.4% control, p = 0.29). Health workers appreciated mRDTs but felt that integrating testing into practice was challenging given constraints on time and infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS The PRIME intervention did not have the desired impact on inappropriate treatment of malaria for children under five. In this high transmission setting, use of mRDTs did not lead to the reductions in antimalarial prescribing seen elsewhere. Broader investment in health systems, including infrastructure and staffing, will be required to improve fever case management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily L. Webb
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Susan Nayiga
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, United States of America
| | - Moses R. Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sarah G. Staedke
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- * E-mail:
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22
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Burchett HED, Leurent B, Baiden F, Baltzell K, Björkman A, Bruxvoort K, Clarke S, DiLiberto D, Elfving K, Goodman C, Hopkins H, Lal S, Liverani M, Magnussen P, Mårtensson A, Mbacham W, Mbonye A, Onwujekwe O, Roth Allen D, Shakely D, Staedke S, Vestergaard LS, Whitty CJM, Wiseman V, Chandler CIR. Improving prescribing practices with rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs): synthesis of 10 studies to explore reasons for variation in malaria RDT uptake and adherence. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e012973. [PMID: 28274962 PMCID: PMC5353269 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The overuse of antimalarial drugs is widespread. Effective methods to improve prescribing practice remain unclear. We evaluated the impact of 10 interventions that introduced rapid diagnostic tests for malaria (mRDTs) on the use of tests and adherence to results in different contexts. DESIGN A comparative case study approach, analysing variation in outcomes across different settings. SETTING Studies from the ACT Consortium evaluating mRDTs with a range of supporting interventions in 6 malaria endemic countries. Providers were governmental or non-governmental healthcare workers, private retail sector workers or community volunteers. Each study arm in a distinct setting was considered a case. PARTICIPANTS 28 cases from 10 studies were included, representing 148 461 patients seeking care for suspected malaria. INTERVENTIONS The interventions included different mRDT training packages, supervision, supplies and community sensitisation. OUTCOME MEASURES Analysis explored variation in: (1) uptake of mRDTs (% febrile patients tested); (2) provider adherence to positive mRDTs (% Plasmodium falciparum positive prescribed/given Artemisinin Combination Treatment); (3) provider adherence to negative mRDTs (% P. falciparum negative not prescribed/given antimalarial). RESULTS Outcomes varied widely across cases: 12-100% mRDT uptake; 44-98% adherence to positive mRDTs; 27-100% adherence to negative mRDTs. Providers appeared more motivated to perform well when mRDTs and intervention characteristics fitted with their own priorities. Goodness of fit of mRDTs with existing consultation and diagnostic practices appeared crucial to maximising the impact of mRDTs on care, as did prior familiarity with malaria testing; adequate human resources and supplies; possible alternative treatments for mRDT-negative patients; a more directive intervention approach and local preferences for ACTs. CONCLUSIONS Basic training and resources are essential but insufficient to maximise the potential of mRDTs in many contexts. Programme design should respond to assessments of provider priorities, expectations and capacities. As mRDTs become established, the intensity of supporting interventions required seems likely to reduce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen E D Burchett
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Baptiste Leurent
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Frank Baiden
- Epidemiology Unit, Ensign College of Public Health, Kpong, Ghana
| | - Kimberly Baltzell
- Department of Family Health Care Nursing, and Global Health Science, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Anders Björkman
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katia Bruxvoort
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Siân Clarke
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Deborah DiLiberto
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kristina Elfving
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Catherine Goodman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Heidi Hopkins
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sham Lal
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Marco Liverani
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Andreas Mårtensson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wilfred Mbacham
- Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Anthony Mbonye
- School of Public Health- Makerere University and Commissioner Health Services, Ministry of Health, Uganda
| | - Obinna Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Nigeria Enugu-Campus, Nigeria
| | | | - Delér Shakely
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Kungälv Hospital, Sweden
| | - Sarah Staedke
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Statens Serum Institut, Denmark
| | - Christopher J M Whitty
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Australia
| | - Clare I R Chandler
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Li Q, Ni W, Deng Z, Liu M, She L, Xie Q. Targeting nasopharyngeal carcinoma by artesunate through inhibiting Akt/mTOR and inducing oxidative stress. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2017; 31:301-310. [PMID: 28078787 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Drug repurposing has become an alternative therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment given the known pharmacokinetics and toxicity. The inhibitory effects of artesunate have been reported in various cancers. In this work, we investigated the effects of artesunate in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We demonstrate that artesunate significantly inhibits proliferation via arresting NPC cells at G2/M phase. It also induces apoptosis through caspase-dependent and mitochondria-independent pathways in multiple NPC cell lines. The combination of artesunate and cisplatin is synergistic in targeting NPC cells in in vitro cellular culture system and in vivo xenograft tumor models. Artesunate inhibits phosphorylation of essential molecules involved in Akt/mTOR pathway in NPC cells, such as Akt, mTOR, and 4EBP1, and its inhibitory effects are partially abolished by overexpression of constitutively active Akt. In addition, artesunate also induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress via inhibiting mitochondrial respiration, increasing levels of mitochondrial superoxide and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to decreased ATP levels. Two ROS scavengers partially abolish the inhibitory effects of artesunate in NPC cells. These data suggest that both inhibition of Akt/mTOR pathway and induction of ROS are required for the action of artesunate in NPC cells. Our work demonstrates that artesunate is a potential candidate for NPC treatment. Our work also highlights the critical roles of Akt/mTOR pathway and mitochondrial function in NPC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Li
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
| | - Wei Ni
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
| | - Zhifeng Deng
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
| | - Minghe Liu
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
| | - Lazhi She
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
| | - Qiong Xie
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, Renmin Road 1, Jing Zhou, 434020, China
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Ndounga Diakou LA, Ntoumi F, Ravaud P, Boutron I. Published randomized trials performed in Sub-Saharan Africa focus on high-burden diseases but are frequently funded and led by high-income countries. J Clin Epidemiol 2017; 82:29-36.e6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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25
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Lai S, Wardrop NA, Huang Z, Bosco C, Sun J, Bird T, Wesolowski A, Zhou S, Zhang Q, Zheng C, Li Z, Tatem AJ, Yu H. Plasmodium falciparum malaria importation from Africa to China and its mortality: an analysis of driving factors. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39524. [PMID: 28000753 PMCID: PMC5175130 DOI: 10.1038/srep39524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum malaria importation from Africa to China is rising with increasing Chinese overseas investment and international travel. Identifying networks and drivers of this phenomenon as well as the contributors to high case-fatality rate is a growing public health concern to enable efficient response. From 2011-2015, 8653 P. falciparum cases leading to 98 deaths (11.3 per 1000 cases) were imported from 41 sub-Saharan countries into China, with most cases (91.3%) occurring in labour-related Chinese travellers. Four strongly connected groupings of origin African countries with destination Chinese provinces were identified, and the number of imported cases was significantly associated with the volume of air passengers to China (P = 0.006), parasite prevalence in Africa (P < 0.001), and the amount of official development assistance from China (P < 0.001) with investment in resource extraction having the strongest relationship with parasite importation. Risk factors for deaths from imported cases were related to the capacity of malaria diagnosis and diverse socioeconomic factors. The spatial heterogeneity uncovered, principal drivers explored, and risk factors for mortality found in the rising rates of P. falciparum malaria importation to China can serve to refine malaria elimination strategies and the management of cases, and high risk groups and regions should be targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengjie Lai
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicola A Wardrop
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zhuojie Huang
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Claudio Bosco
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Junling Sun
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Tomas Bird
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA.,Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Sheng Zhou
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Canjun Zheng
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Zhongjie Li
- Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Andrew J Tatem
- WorldPop, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.,Flowminder Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hongjie Yu
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
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26
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Johansson EW. Beyond 'test and treat' - malaria diagnosis for improved pediatric fever management in sub-Saharan Africa. Glob Health Action 2016; 9:31744. [PMID: 27989273 PMCID: PMC5165056 DOI: 10.3402/gha.v9.31744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have great potential to improve quality care and rational drug use in malaria-endemic settings although studies have shown common RDT non-compliance. Yet, evidence has largely been derived from limited hospital settings in few countries. This article reviews a PhD thesis that analyzed national surveys from multiple sub-Saharan African countries to generate large-scale evidence of malaria diagnosis practices and its determinants across different contexts. DESIGN A mixed-methods approach was used across four studies that included quantitative analysis of national household and facility surveys conducted in multiple sub-Saharan African countries at the outset of new guidelines (Demographic and Health Surveys and Service Provision Assessments). Qualitative methods were used to explore reasons for quantitative findings in select settings. RESULTS There was low (17%) and inequitable test uptake across 13 countries in 2009-2011/12, with greater testing at hospitals than at peripheral clinics (odds ratio [OR]: 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.69) or community health workers (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.23-0.43) (Study I). Significant variation was found in the effect of diagnosis on antimalarial use at the population level across countries (Uganda OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.66-1.06; Mozambique OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 2.33-5.39) (Study II). A Malawi national facility census indicated common compliance to malaria treatment guidelines (85% clients with RDT-confirmed malaria prescribed first-line treatment), although other fever assessments were not often conducted and there was poor antibiotic targeting (59% clients inappropriately prescribed antibiotics). RDT-negative patients had 16.8 (95% CI: 8.6-32.7) times higher odds of antibiotic overtreatment than RDT-positive patients conditioned by cough or difficult breathing complaints (Study III). In Mbarara (Uganda), health workers reportedly prescribed antimalarials to RDT-negative patients if no other fever cause was identified and non-compliance seemed further driven by RDT perceptions, system constraints, and client interactions (Study IV). CONCLUSIONS A shift from malaria-focused test and treat strategies toward IMCI with testing is needed to improve quality care and rational use of both antimalarial and antibiotic medicines. Strengthened health systems are also needed to support quality clinical care, including adherence to malaria test results, and RDT deployment should be viewed as a unique opportunity to contribute to these important efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily White Johansson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden;
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27
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Almond D, Madanitsa M, Mwapasa V, Kalilani-Phiri L, Webster J, Ter Kuile F, Paintain L. Provider and user acceptability of intermittent screening and treatment for the control of malaria in pregnancy in Malawi. Malar J 2016; 15:574. [PMID: 27894353 PMCID: PMC5126811 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria in pregnancy is a major cause of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is one of the control strategies promoted by WHO. In response to mounting resistance to SP, intermittent screening and treatment (ISTp) has been proposed as an alternative. The objective of this study was to explore the acceptability of ISTp for health workers and pregnant women. Methods Semi-structured interviews of ten health workers and five focus group discussions of 38 women enrolled in an ongoing trial comparing IPTp-SP and ISTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DP) were conducted at two antenatal clinics in rural Malawi. All transcripts were coded and themes were identified using a content analysis approach. Results Amongst health workers, there were contrasting opinions on the preference of blood sampling methods, and the influence of method on reliability of diagnosis. The perceived greater effectiveness of DP compared to SP was appreciated, however concerns of user compliance with the full dose of DP in non-trial settings were raised. Despite the discomfort of repeated finger pricks, pregnant women were generally accepting of ISTp, particularly the chance for regular blood tests to check for infections and the perceived greater effectiveness with fewer side effects of DP compared to SP. Conclusion In the trial context, pregnant women tended to prefer ISTp-DP over IPTp-SP. Health workers were also accepting of ISTp-DP as an alternative to IPTp-SP in light of increasing SP resistance. However, reliability of stock, adherence to malaria test results and user adherence to the full course of DP may present barriers to successful routine implementation. Effective communication with health workers and between health workers, pregnant women and their communities will be essential for the acceptability of focused antenatal care, including the best malaria control measures available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Almond
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mwayi Madanitsa
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Victor Mwapasa
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Jayne Webster
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Feiko Ter Kuile
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lucy Paintain
- Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
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28
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Chandler CIR, Burchett H, Boyle L, Achonduh O, Mbonye A, DiLiberto D, Reyburn H, Onwujekwe O, Haaland A, Roca-Feltrer A, Baiden F, Mbacham WF, Ndyomugyenyi R, Nankya F, Mangham-Jefferies L, Clarke S, Mbakilwa H, Reynolds J, Lal S, Leslie T, Maiteki-Sebuguzi C, Webster J, Magnussen P, Ansah E, Hansen KS, Hutchinson E, Cundill B, Yeung S, Schellenberg D, Staedke SG, Wiseman V, Lalloo DG, Whitty CJM. Examining Intervention Design: Lessons from the Development of Eight Related Malaria Health Care Intervention Studies. Health Syst Reform 2016; 2:373-388. [PMID: 31514719 PMCID: PMC6176770 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2016.1179086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract—Rigorous evidence of “what works” to improve health care is in demand, but methods for the development of interventions have not been scrutinized in the same ways as methods for evaluation. This article presents and examines intervention development processes of eight malaria health care interventions in East and West Africa. A case study approach was used to draw out experiences and insights from multidisciplinary teams who undertook to design and evaluate these studies. Four steps appeared necessary for intervention design: (1) definition of scope, with reference to evaluation possibilities; (2) research to inform design, including evidence and theory reviews and empirical formative research; (3) intervention design, including consideration and selection of approaches and development of activities and materials; and (4) refining and finalizing the intervention, incorporating piloting and pretesting. Alongside these steps, projects produced theories, explicitly or implicitly, about (1) intended pathways of change and (2) how their intervention would be implemented.The work required to design interventions that meet and contribute to current standards of evidence should not be underestimated. Furthermore, the process should be recognized not only as technical but as the result of micro and macro social, political, and economic contexts, which should be acknowledged and documented in order to infer generalizability. Reporting of interventions should go beyond descriptions of final intervention components or techniques to encompass the development process. The role that evaluation possibilities play in intervention design should be brought to the fore in debates over health care improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare I R Chandler
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Helen Burchett
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Louise Boyle
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Olivia Achonduh
- Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I , Yaoundé , Cameroon
| | - Anthony Mbonye
- School of Public Health-Makerere University & Commissioner Health Services, Ministry of Health , Kampala , Uganda
| | - Deborah DiLiberto
- Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Hugh Reyburn
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Obinna Onwujekwe
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics , University of Nigeria Enugu-Campus , Enugu , Nigeria
| | - Ane Haaland
- Institute of Health and Society , Department of Community Medicine , Blindern , Oslo , Norway
| | | | - Frank Baiden
- Malaria Group, Kintampo Health Research Centre , Kintampo , Ghana
| | - Wilfred F Mbacham
- Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, The Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I , Yaoundé , Cameroon
| | | | - Florence Nankya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration , Kampala , Uganda
| | - Lindsay Mangham-Jefferies
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Sian Clarke
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Hilda Mbakilwa
- Joint Malaria Programme, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre , Moshi , Tanzania
| | - Joanna Reynolds
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Sham Lal
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Toby Leslie
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | | | - Jayne Webster
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Pascal Magnussen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Evelyn Ansah
- Dangme West District Health Directorate, Ghana Health Service , Dodowa , Ghana
| | - Kristian S Hansen
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Eleanor Hutchinson
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Bonnie Cundill
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - David Schellenberg
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- Disease Control Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.,School of Public Health and Community Medicine , Kensington , New South Wales , Australia
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Pulford J, Smith I, Mueller I, Siba PM, Hetzel MW. Health Worker Compliance with a 'Test And Treat' Malaria Case Management Protocol in Papua New Guinea. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158780. [PMID: 27391594 PMCID: PMC4938505 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of Health introduced a ‘test and treat’ malaria case management protocol in 2011. This study assesses health worker compliance with the test and treat protocol on a wide range of measures, examines self-reported barriers to health worker compliance as well as health worker attitudes towards the test and treat protocol. Data were collected by cross-sectional survey conducted in randomly selected primary health care facilities in 2012 and repeated in 2014. The combined survey data included passive observation of current or recently febrile patients (N = 771) and interviewer administered questionnaires completed with health workers (N = 265). Across the two surveys, 77.6% of patients were tested for malaria infection by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or microscopy, 65.6% of confirmed malaria cases were prescribed the correct antimalarials and 15.3% of febrile patients who tested negative for malaria infection were incorrectly prescribed an antimalarial. Overall compliance with a strictly defined test and treat protocol was 62.8%. A reluctance to test current/recently febrile patients for malaria infection by RDT or microscopy in the absence of acute malaria symptoms, reserving recommended antimalarials for confirmed malaria cases only and choosing to clinically diagnose a malaria infection, despite a negative RDT result were the most frequently reported barriers to protocol compliance. Attitudinal support for the test and treat protocol, as assessed by a nine-item measure, improved across time. In conclusion, health worker compliance with the full test and treat malaria protocol requires improvement in PNG and additional health worker support will likely be required to achieve this. The broader evidence base would suggest any such support should be delivered over a longer period of time, be multi-dimensional and multi-modal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Pulford
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Iso Smith
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter M. Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Manuel W. Hetzel
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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30
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Staedke SG, Maiteki-Sebuguzi C, DiLiberto DD, Webb EL, Mugenyi L, Mbabazi E, Gonahasa S, Kigozi SP, Willey BA, Dorsey G, Kamya MR, Chandler CIR. The Impact of an Intervention to Improve Malaria Care in Public Health Centers on Health Indicators of Children in Tororo, Uganda (PRIME): A Cluster-Randomized Trial. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:358-367. [PMID: 27273646 PMCID: PMC4973182 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimizing quality of care for malaria and other febrile illnesses is a complex challenge of major public health importance. To evaluate the impact of an intervention aiming to improve malaria case management on the health of community children, a cluster-randomized trial was conducted from 2010–2013 in Tororo, Uganda, where malaria transmission is high. Twenty public health centers were included; 10 were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control. Households within 2 km of health centers provided the sampling frame for the evaluation. The PRIME intervention included training in fever case management using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs), patient-centered services, and health center management; plus provision of mRDTs and artemether–lumefantrine. Cross-sectional community surveys were conducted at baseline and endline (N = 8,766), and a cohort of children was followed for approximately 18 months (N = 992). The primary outcome was prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL) in children under 5 years of age in the final community survey. The intervention was delivered successfully; however, no differences in prevalence of anemia or parasitemia were observed between the study arms in the final community survey or the cohort. In the final survey, prevalence of anemia in children under 5 years of age was 62.5% in the intervention versus 63.1% in control (adjusted risk ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval = 0.91–1.13; P = 0.82). The PRIME intervention, focusing on training and commodities, did not produce the expected health benefits in community children in Tororo. This challenges common assumptions that improving quality of care and access to malaria diagnostics will yield health gains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah G Staedke
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Statistics, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Deborah D DiLiberto
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Statistics, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily L Webb
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Statistics, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Levi Mugenyi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,I-Biostat, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Edith Mbabazi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Simon P Kigozi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Barbara A Willey
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Statistics, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Moses R Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Clare I R Chandler
- Department of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Statistics, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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31
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Johansson EW, Kitutu FE, Mayora C, Awor P, Peterson SS, Wamani H, Hildenwall H. It could be viral but you don't know, you have not diagnosed it: health worker challenges in managing non-malaria paediatric fevers in the low transmission area of Mbarara District, Uganda. Malar J 2016; 15:197. [PMID: 27066829 PMCID: PMC4827217 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1257-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2012, Uganda initiated nationwide deployment of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) as recommended by national guidelines. Yet growing concerns about RDT non-compliance in various settings have spurred calls to deploy RDT as part of enhanced support packages. An understanding of how health workers currently manage non-malaria fevers, particularly for children, and challenges faced in this work should also inform efforts. Methods A qualitative study was conducted in the low transmission area of Mbarara District (Uganda). In-depth interviews with 20 health workers at lower level clinics focused on RDT perceptions, strategies to differentiate non-malaria paediatric fevers, influences on clinical decisions, desires for additional diagnostics, and any challenges in this work. Seven focus group discussions were conducted with caregivers of children under 5 years of age in facility catchment areas to elucidate their RDT perceptions, understandings of non-malaria paediatric fevers and treatment preferences. Data were extracted into meaning units to inform codes and themes in order to describe response patterns using a latent content analysis approach. Results Differential diagnosis strategies included studying fever patterns, taking histories, assessing symptoms, and analysing other factors such as a child’s age or home environment. If no alternative cause was found, malaria treatment was reportedly often prescribed despite a negative result. Other reasons for malaria over-treatment stemmed from RDT perceptions, system constraints and provider-client interactions. RDT perceptions included mistrust driven largely by expectations of false negative results due to low parasite/antigen loads, previous anti-malarial treatment or test detection of only one species. System constraints included poor referral systems, working alone without opportunity to confer on difficult cases, and lacking skills and/or tools for differential diagnosis. Provider-client interactions included reported caregiver RDT mistrust, demand for certain drugs and desire to know the ‘exact’ disease cause if not malaria. Many health workers expressed uncertainty about how to manage non-malaria paediatric fevers, feared doing wrong and patient death, worried caregivers would lose trust, or felt unsatisfied without a clear diagnosis. Conclusions Enhanced support is needed to improve RDT adoption at lower level clinics that focuses on empowering providers to successfully manage non-severe, non-malaria paediatric fevers without referral. This includes building trust in negative results, reinforcing integrated care initiatives (e.g., integrated management of childhood illness) and fostering communities of practice according to the diffusion of innovations theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Freddy Eric Kitutu
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Chrispus Mayora
- Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.,School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Phyllis Awor
- Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.,Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stefan Swartling Peterson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.,Karolinska Institute, Global Health-Health Systems and Policy Research Group, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Henry Wamani
- Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Helena Hildenwall
- Karolinska Institute, Global Health-Health Systems and Policy Research Group, Stockholm, Sweden
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32
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Kabaghe AN, Visser BJ, Spijker R, Phiri KS, Grobusch MP, van Vugt M. Health workers' compliance to rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) to guide malaria treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Malar J 2016; 15:163. [PMID: 26979286 PMCID: PMC4791859 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1218-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization recommends malaria to be confirmed by either microscopy or a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) before treatment. The correct use of RDTs in resource-limited settings facilitates basing treatment onto a confirmed diagnosis; contributes to speeding up considering a correct alternative diagnosis, and prevents overprescription of anti-malarial drugs, reduces costs and avoids unnecessary exposure to adverse drug effects. This review aims to evaluate health workers’ compliance to RDT results and factors contributing to compliance. Methods A PROSPERO-registered systematic review was conducted to evaluate health workers’ compliance to RDTs in sub-Saharan Africa, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published up to November 2015 were searched without language restrictions in Medline/Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, LILACS, Biosis Previews and the African Index Medicus. The primary outcome was health workers treating patients according to the RDT results obtained. Results The literature search identified 474 reports; 14 studies were eligible and included in the quantitative analysis. From the meta-analysis, health workers’ overall compliance in terms of initiating treatment or not in accordance with the respective RDT results was 83 % (95 % CI 80–86 %). Compliance to positive and negative results was 97 % (95 % CI 94–99 %) and 78 % (95 % CI 66–89 %), respectively. Community health workers had higher compliance rates to negative test results than clinicians. Patient expectations, work experience, scepticism of results, health workers’ cadres and perceived effectiveness of the test, influenced compliance. Conclusions With regard to published data, compliance to RDT appears to be generally fair in sub-Saharan Africa; compliance to negative results will need to improve to prevent mismanagement of patients and overprescribing of anti-malarial drugs. Improving diagnostic capacity for other febrile illnesses and developing local evidence-based guidelines may help improve compliance and management of negative RDT results. Trial registration: CRD42015016151 (PROSPERO) Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1218-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alinune N Kabaghe
- Public Health Department, College of Medicine, Private Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi.,Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin J Visser
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Centre de Recherches de Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon.
| | - Rene Spijker
- Medical Library, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cochrane Netherlands, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kamija S Phiri
- Public Health Department, College of Medicine, Private Bag 360, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Martin P Grobusch
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Centre de Recherches de Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Michèle van Vugt
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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33
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Abstract
Rapid diagnostic tests have the potential to reduce the overtreatment of malaria by 95%, but time and extensive logistical, behavioural, and technical interventions may be required to achieve this, argue Eleanor Ochodo and colleagues
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Ochodo
- Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - Paul Garner
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Sinclair
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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34
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Leurent B, Reyburn H, Muro F, Mbakilwa H, Schellenberg D. Monitoring patient care through health facility exit interviews: an assessment of the Hawthorne effect in a trial of adherence to malaria treatment guidelines in Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis 2016; 16:59. [PMID: 26842751 PMCID: PMC4739341 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-1362-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survey of patients exiting health facilities is a common way to assess consultation practices. It is, however, unclear to what extent health professionals may change their practices when they are aware of such interviews taking place, possibly paying more attention to following recommended practices. This so-called Hawthorne effect could have important consequences for interpreting research and programme monitoring, but has rarely been assessed. METHODS A three-arm cluster-randomised trial of interventions to improve adherence to guidelines for the use of anti-malarial drugs was conducted in Tanzania. Patient interviews were conducted outside health facilities on two randomly-selected days per week. Health workers also routinely documented consultations in their ledgers. The Hawthorne effect was investigated by comparing routine data according to whether exit interviews had been conducted on three key indicators of malaria care. Adjusted logistic mixed-effects models were used, taking into account the dependencies within health facilities and calendar days. RESULTS Routine data were collected on 19,579 consultations in 18 facilities. The odds of having a malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) result reported were 11 % higher on days when exit surveys were conducted (adjusted odds ratio 95 % CI: 0.98-1.26, p = 0.097), 17 % lower for prescribing an anti-malarial drug to patients with a negative RDT result (0.56-1.23, p = 0.343), and 27 % lower for prescribing an anti-malarial when no RDT result was reported (0.53-1.00, p = 0.052). The effect varied with time, with a U-shaped association over the study period (p < 0.001). We also observed a higher number of consultations recorded on days when exit-interviews were conducted (adjusted mean difference = 2.03, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Although modest, there was some suggestion of better practice by health professionals on days when exit interviews were conducted. Researchers should be aware of the potential Hawthorne effect, and take into account assessment methods when generalising findings to the 'real word' setting. This effect is, however, likely to be context dependent, and further controlled evaluation across different settings should be conducted. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01292707 . Registered on 29th January 2011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Leurent
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Hugh Reyburn
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Florida Muro
- Joint Malaria Programme, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Hilda Mbakilwa
- Joint Malaria Programme, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - David Schellenberg
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Vassall A, Mangham‐Jefferies L, Gomez GB, Pitt C, Foster N. Incorporating Demand and Supply Constraints into Economic Evaluations in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2016; 25 Suppl 1:95-115. [PMID: 26786617 PMCID: PMC5042074 DOI: 10.1002/hec.3306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Global guidelines for new technologies are based on cost and efficacy data from a limited number of trial locations. Country-level decision makers need to consider whether cost-effectiveness analysis used to inform global guidelines are sufficient for their situation or whether to use models that adjust cost-effectiveness results taking into account setting-specific epidemiological and cost heterogeneity. However, demand and supply constraints will also impact cost-effectiveness by influencing the standard of care and the use and implementation of any new technology. These constraints may also vary substantially by setting. We present two case studies of economic evaluations of the introduction of new diagnostics for malaria and tuberculosis control. These case studies are used to analyse how the scope of economic evaluations of each technology expanded to account for and then address demand and supply constraints over time. We use these case studies to inform a conceptual framework that can be used to explore the characteristics of intervention complexity and the influence of demand and supply constraints. Finally, we describe a number of feasible steps that researchers who wish to apply our framework in cost-effectiveness analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vassall
- Department of Global Health and DevelopmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | | | - Gabriela B. Gomez
- Department of Global Health and DevelopmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Department of Global Health, Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and DevelopmentAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Catherine Pitt
- Department of Global Health and DevelopmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
| | - Nicola Foster
- Health Economics Unit, School of Public Health and Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownSouth Africa
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Blacklock C, Gonçalves Bradley DC, Mickan S, Willcox M, Roberts N, Bergström A, Mant D. Impact of Contextual Factors on the Effect of Interventions to Improve Health Worker Performance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Randomised Clinical Trials. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0145206. [PMID: 26731097 PMCID: PMC4701409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Africa bears 24% of the global burden of disease but has only 3% of the world's health workers. Substantial variation in health worker performance adds to the negative impact of this significant shortfall. We therefore sought to identify interventions implemented in sub-Saharan African aiming to improve health worker performance and the contextual factors likely to influence local effectiveness. METHODS AND FINDINGS A systematic search for randomised controlled trials of interventions to improve health worker performance undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa identified 41 eligible trials. Data were extracted to define the interventions' components, calculate the absolute improvement in performance achieved, and document the likelihood of bias. Within-study variability in effect was extracted where reported. Statements about contextual factors likely to have modified effect were subjected to thematic analysis. Interventions to improve health worker performance can be very effective. Two of the three trials assessing mortality impact showed significant reductions in death rates (age<5 case fatality 5% versus 10%, p<0.01; maternal in-hospital mortality 6.8/1000 versus 10.3/1000; p<0.05). Eight of twelve trials focusing on prescribing had a statistically significant positive effect, achieving an absolute improvement varying from 9% to 48%. However, reported range of improvement between centres within trials varied substantially, in many cases exceeding the mean effect. Nine contextual themes were identified as modifiers of intervention effect across studies; most frequently cited were supply-line failures, inadequate supervision or management, and failure to follow-up training interventions with ongoing support, in addition to staff turnover. CONCLUSIONS Interventions to improve performance of existing staff and service quality have the potential to improve patient care in underserved settings. But in order to implement interventions effectively, policy makers need to understand and address the contextual factors which can contribute to differences in local effect. Researchers therefore must recognise the importance of reporting how context may modify effect size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Blacklock
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sharon Mickan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Gold Coast Health and Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
| | - Merlin Willcox
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nia Roberts
- Nuffield Department of Population Health and Bodleian Healthcare Library, Knowledge Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Bergström
- International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Centre for International Health and Development, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Mant
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Using pay for performance incentives (P4P) to improve management of suspected malaria fevers in rural Kenya: a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Med 2015; 13:268. [PMID: 26472130 PMCID: PMC4608124 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-015-0497-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inappropriate treatment of non-malaria fevers with artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) is a growing concern, particularly in light of emerging artemisinin resistance, but it is a behavior that has proven difficult to change. Pay for performance (P4P) programs have generated interest as a mechanism to improve health service delivery and accountability in resource-constrained health systems. However, there has been little experimental evidence to establish the effectiveness of P4P in developing countries. We tested a P4P strategy that emphasized parasitological diagnosis and appropriate treatment of suspected malaria, in particular reduction of unnecessary consumption of ACTs. METHODS A random sample of 18 health centers was selected and received a refresher workshop on malaria case management. Pre-intervention baseline data was collected from August to September 2012. Facilities were subsequently randomized to either the comparison (n = 9) or intervention arm (n = 9). Between October 2012 and November 2013, facilities in the intervention arm received quarterly incentive payments based on seven performance indicators. Incentives were for use by facilities rather than as payments to individual providers. All non-pregnant patients older than 1 year of age who presented to a participating facility and received either a malaria test or artemether-lumefantrine (AL) were eligible to be included in the analysis. Our primary outcome was prescription of AL to patients with a negative malaria diagnostic test (n = 11,953). Our secondary outcomes were prescription of AL to patients with laboratory-confirmed malaria (n = 2,993) and prescription of AL to patients without a malaria diagnostic test (analyzed at the cluster level, n = 178 facility-months). RESULTS In the final quarter of the intervention period, the proportion of malaria-negative patients in the intervention arm who received AL was lower than in the comparison arm (7.3% versus 10.9%). The improvement from baseline to quarter 4 in the intervention arm was nearly three times that of the comparison arm (ratio of adjusted odds ratios for baseline to quarter 4 = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.24-0.57). The rate of prescription of AL to patients without a test was five times lower in the intervention arm (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07-0.48). Prescription of AL to patients with confirmed infection was not significantly different between the groups over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Facility-based incentives coupled with training may be more effective than training alone and could complement other quality improvement approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01809873) on 11 March 2013.
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Hutchinson E, Reyburn H, Hamlyn E, Long K, Meta J, Mbakilwa H, Chandler C. Bringing the state into the clinic? Incorporating the rapid diagnostic test for malaria into routine practice in Tanzanian primary healthcare facilities. Glob Public Health 2015; 12:1077-1091. [PMID: 26457440 PMCID: PMC5526135 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2015.1091025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The roles that rapid, point-of-care tests will play in healthcare in low-income settings are likely to expand over the coming years. Yet, very little is known about how they are incorporated into practice, and what it means to use and rely upon them. This paper focuses on the rapid diagnostic test for malaria (mRDT), examining its introduction into low-level public health facilities in Tanzania within an intervention to improve the targeting of costly malaria medication. We interviewed 26 health workers to explore how a participatory training programme, mobile phone messages, posters and leaflets shaped the use and interpretation of the test. Drawing on notions of biopolitics, this paper examines how technologies of the self and mechanisms of surveillance bolstered the role mRDT in clinical decision-making. It shows how the significance of the test interacted with local knowledge, the availability of other medication, and local understandings of good clinical practice. Our findings suggest that in a context in which care is reduced to the provision of medicines, strict adherence to mRDT results may be underpinned by increasing the use of other pharmaceuticals or may leave health workers with patients for whom they are unable to provide care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Hutchinson
- a Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Hugh Reyburn
- b Department of Disease Control and Vector Biology , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Eleanor Hamlyn
- a Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Katie Long
- a Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Judith Meta
- c Joint Malaria Programme , Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre , Moshi , Tanzania
| | - Hilda Mbakilwa
- c Joint Malaria Programme , Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre , Moshi , Tanzania
| | - Clare Chandler
- a Department of Global Health and Development , London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine , London , UK
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Ndong IC, Reenen MV, Boakye DA, Mbacham WF, Grobler AF. Trends in malaria case management following changes in the treatment policy to artemisinin combination therapy at the Mbakong Health Centre, Cameroon 2006-2012: a retrospective study. Acta Trop 2015; 150:100-6. [PMID: 26095044 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
National malaria treatment policies are devised to guide health professionals and to facilitate diagnosis and case management. Following the recommendations of the WHO, Cameroon changed its malaria treatment policy from monotherapy to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. We report an investigation into trends of case management following this change in policy. Data was collected retrospectively, through consultation and perusal of laboratory and prescription registers of the Mbakong Health Centre. Analysis of data was done using SPSS and SAS Statistics. Data presented herein demonstrate that from 2006 to 2012, a total of 2484 (58.7%) of the total prescriptions included an anti-malarial, 1989 (47.0%) included an antibiotic and 1935(45.7%) included an antipyretic. The anti-malarials prescribed were Anti-malaria combination therapy (ACT) - 1216 (47.6%), quinine 1044 (40.8%) or SP 296 (11.6%). Of the 1216 patients prescribed an ACT, 441(36.3%) had a positive malaria parasite confirmation, 746 (61.3%) were negative for plasmodium. Overall, 29 patients (2.4%) were treated either with an ACT without any test performed. Quinine intake was recorded in 566 (54.2%) patients positive for plasmodium. ACT prescription increased from 23% in 2007 to between 44 and 45% in 2008-2009. During this period there was a corresponding drop in the prescription of quinine from 38% in 2007 to 13% in 2009 (r=-0.43, p>0.05). Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) was restrictively prescribed to women of childbearing age (97.0%) after 2008. Antibiotics prescription dropped from 53.7% to 39.3% from 2010 to 2012. The odds of being prescribed an antibiotic was significantly higher in patients with a malaria negative result compared to malaria positive patients (OR=6.12, CI 4.74-7.91, p<0.00001). Overall, there is an over treatment of malaria, thus departing from the WHO guidelines of appropriate treatment. Although there is an overall increase in the prescription of ACT, less prescription of quinine and a noticeable restrain from prescription of SP to febrile cases, the old practice was still rampant. There is need for healthcare workers to adhere to guidelines in order to enhance the rational use of drugs to achieve appropriate treatment of uncomplicated malaria according to WHO guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignatius C Ndong
- DST/NWU, Preclinical Drug Development Platform, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa; Department of Biochemistry, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon; Laboratory of Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
| | - Mari van Reenen
- Statistical Consultation Services, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
| | - Daniel A Boakye
- Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, University of Ghana Legon, Ghana.
| | - Wilfred F Mbacham
- Department of Biochemistry, Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda, Cameroon; Laboratory of Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
| | - Anne F Grobler
- DST/NWU, Preclinical Drug Development Platform, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa.
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Wiysonge CS, Wiysonge CS, Zani B, Mbacham W, Hodel EM, Terlouw DJ. Cochrane Column. Int J Epidemiol 2015; 44:1502-5. [PMID: 26320106 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Wiysonge
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa and Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail:
| | - Charles S Wiysonge
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa and Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. E-mail:
| | | | | | - Eva Maria Hodel
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa and
| | - Dianne J Terlouw
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK and Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
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Sserwanga A, Sears D, Kapella BK, Kigozi R, Rubahika D, Staedke SG, Kamya M, Yoon SS, Chang MA, Dorsey G, Mpimbaza A. Anti-malarial prescription practices among children admitted to six public hospitals in Uganda from 2011 to 2013. Malar J 2015; 14:331. [PMID: 26306395 PMCID: PMC4549911 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0851-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2011, Uganda’s Ministry of Health switched policy from presumptive treatment of malaria to recommending parasitological diagnosis prior to treatment, resulting in an expansion of diagnostic services at all levels of public health facilities including hospitals. Despite this change, anti-malarial drugs are often prescribed even when test results are negative. Presented is data on anti-malarial prescription practices among hospitalized children who underwent diagnostic testing after adoption of new treatment guidelines. Methods Anti-malarial prescription practices were collected as part of an inpatient malaria surveillance program generating high quality data among children admitted for any reason at government hospitals in six districts. A standardized medical record form was used to collect detailed patient information including presenting symptoms and signs, laboratory test results, admission and final diagnoses, treatments administered, and final outcome upon discharge. Results Between July 2011 and December 2013, 58,095 children were admitted to the six hospitals (hospital range 3294–20,426).A total of 56,282 (96.9 %) patients were tested for malaria, of which 26,072 (46.3 %) tested positive (hospital range 5.9–57.3 %). Among those testing positive, only 84 (0.3 %) were first tested after admission and 295 of 30,389 (1.0 %) patients who tested negative at admission later tested positive. Of 30,210 children with only negative test results, 11,977 (39.6 %) were prescribed an anti-malarial (hospital range 14.5–53.6 %). The proportion of children with a negative test result who were prescribed an anti-malarial fluctuated over time and did not show a significant trend at any site with the exception of one hospital where a steady decline was observed. Among those with only negative test results, children 6–12 months of age (aOR 3.78; p < 0.001) and those greater than 12 months of age (aOR 4.89; p < 0.001) were more likely to be prescribed an anti-malarial compared to children less than 6 months of age. Children with findings suggestive of severe malaria were also more likely to be prescribed an anti-malarial after a negative test result (aOR 1.98; p < 0.001). Conclusions Despite high testing rates for malaria at all sites, prescription of anti-malarials to patients with negative test results remained high, with the exception of one site where a steady decline occurred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asadu Sserwanga
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - David Sears
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Bryan K Kapella
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Ruth Kigozi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Denis Rubahika
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health Uganda, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Sarah G Staedke
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda. .,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Moses Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda. .,Child Health and Development Centre, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Steven S Yoon
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Michelle A Chang
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
| | - Arthur Mpimbaza
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda. .,Child Health and Development Centre, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
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Johansson EW, Gething PW, Hildenwall H, Mappin B, Petzold M, Peterson SS, Selling KE. Effect of diagnostic testing on medicines used by febrile children less than five years in 12 malaria-endemic African countries: a mixed-methods study. Malar J 2015; 14:194. [PMID: 25957881 PMCID: PMC4432948 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0709-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2010, WHO revised guidelines to recommend testing all suspected malaria cases prior to treatment. Yet, evidence to assess programmes is largely derived from limited facility settings in a limited number of countries. National surveys from 12 sub-Saharan African countries were used to examine the effect of diagnostic testing on medicines used by febrile children under five years at the population level, including stratification by malaria risk, transmission season, source of care, symptoms, and age. METHODS Data were compiled from 12 Demographic and Health Surveys in 2010-2012 that reported fever prevalence, diagnostic test and medicine use, and socio-economic covariates (n=16,323 febrile under-fives taken to care). Mixed-effects logistic regression models quantified the influence of diagnostic testing on three outcomes (artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), any anti-malarial or any antibiotic use) after adjusting for data clustering and confounding covariates. For each outcome, interactions between diagnostic testing and the following covariates were separately tested: malaria risk, season, source of care, symptoms, and age. A multiple case study design was used to understand varying results across selected countries and sub-national groups, which drew on programme documents, published research and expert consultations. A descriptive typology of plausible explanations for quantitative results was derived from a cross-case synthesis. RESULTS Significant variability was found in the effect of diagnostic testing on ACT use across countries (e.g., Uganda OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.66-1.06; Mozambique OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 2.33-5.39). Four main themes emerged to explain results: available diagnostics and medicines; quality of care; care-seeking behaviour; and, malaria epidemiology. CONCLUSIONS Significant country variation was found in the effect of diagnostic testing on paediatric fever treatment at the population level, and qualitative results suggest the impact of diagnostic scale-up on treatment practices may not be straightforward in routine conditions given contextual factors (e.g., access to care, treatment-seeking behaviour or supply stock-outs). Despite limitations, quantitative results could help identify countries (e.g., Mozambique) or issues (e.g., malaria risk) where facility-based research or programme attention may be warranted. The mixed-methods approach triangulates different evidence to potentially provide a standard framework to assess routine programmes across countries or over time to fill critical evidence gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily White Johansson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Peter W Gething
- Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, Oxford, UK.
| | - Helena Hildenwall
- Global Health - Health Systems and Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Bonnie Mappin
- Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3PS, Oxford, UK.
| | - Max Petzold
- University of Gothenburg, The Sahlgrenska Academy, Health Metrics, Box 414, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - Stefan Swartling Peterson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Global Health - Health Systems and Policy, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Makerere University School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Katarina Ekholm Selling
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Mannan AA, Elmardi KA, Idris YA, Spector JM, Ali NA, Malik EM. Do frontline health care providers know enough about artemisinin-based combination therapy to rationally treat malaria? A cross-sectional survey in Gezira State, Sudan. Malar J 2015; 14:131. [PMID: 25889428 PMCID: PMC4377190 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0652-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In 2004, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) was introduced in Sudan for the treatment of malaria. The role of health care providers working in first-level health care facilities is central for the effective implementation of this revised malaria treatment policy. However, information about their level of ACT knowledge is inadequate. This study sought to describe frontline health care providers’ knowledge about the formulations and dose regimens of nationally recommended ACT in Sudan. Methods This cross-sectional study took place in Gezira State, Sudan. Data were gathered from five localities comprising forty primary health care facilities. A total of 119 health care providers participated in the study (72 prescribers and 47 dispensers). The primary outcome was the proportion of health care providers who were ACT knowledgeable, a composite indicator of health care providers’ ability to (1) define what combination therapy is; (2) identify the recommended first- and second-line treatments; and (3) correctly state the dose regimens for each. Results All prescribers and 95.7% (46/47) of dispensers were aware of the new national malaria treatment policy. However, 93.1% (67/72) of prescribers compared to 87.2% (41/47) of dispensers recognized artesunate-sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine as the recommended first-line treatment in Sudan. Only a small number of prescribers and dispensers (9.4% and 13.6%, respectively) were able to correctly define the meaning of a combination therapy. Overall, only 22% (26/119, 95% CI 14.6-29.4) of health care providers were found to be ACT knowledgeable with no statistically significant difference between prescribers and dispensers. Conclusion Overall, ACT knowledge among frontline health care providers is very poor. This finding suggests that efforts are needed to improve knowledge of prescribers and dispensers working in first-level health care facilities, perhaps through implementing focused, provider-oriented training programmes. Additionally, a system for regularly monitoring and evaluating the quality of in-service training may be beneficial to ensure its responsiveness to the needs of the target health care providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer A Mannan
- Al Neelain University, Steen Street, P.O. Box 7294, Code: 11123, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | | | | | - Jonathan M Spector
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Nahid A Ali
- Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
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Poyer S, Shewchuk T, Tougher S, Ye Y, Mann AG, Willey BA, Thomson R, Amuasi JH, Ren R, Wamukoya M, Taylor M, Nguah SB, Mberu B, Kalolella A, Juma E, Festo C, Johanes B, Diap G, Bruxvoort K, Ansong D, Hanson K, Arnold F, Goodman C. Availability and price of malaria rapid diagnostic tests in the public and private health sectors in 2011: results from 10 nationally representative cross-sectional retail surveys. Trop Med Int Health 2015; 20:744-56. [DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Poyer
- Malaria & Child Survival Department; Population Services International; Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Sarah Tougher
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
| | | | - Andrea G. Mann
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
| | | | - Rebecca Thomson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
- Ifakara Health Institute; Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - John H. Amuasi
- University of Minnesota School of Public Health; Minneapolis MN USA
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine; Kumasi Ghana
| | | | | | - Mark Taylor
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
- Department of Public Health; Trnava University; Trnava Slovakia
| | - Samuel Blay Nguah
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine; Kumasi Ghana
| | - Blessing Mberu
- African Population and Health Research Center; Nairobi Kenya
| | | | - Elizabeth Juma
- Kenya Medical Research Institute; Centre for Global Health Research; Kisumu Kenya
| | | | | | - Graciela Diap
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Katia Bruxvoort
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
- Ifakara Health Institute; Dar es Salaam Tanzania
| | - Daniel Ansong
- African Population and Health Research Center; Nairobi Kenya
- Department of Child Health; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology; Kumasi Ghana
| | - Kara Hanson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; London UK
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Cairns ME, Leurent B, Milligan PJ. Composite endpoints for malaria case-management: not simplifying the picture? Malar J 2014; 13:494. [PMID: 25496292 PMCID: PMC4300677 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for infection with Plasmodium spp. offer two main potential advantages related to malaria treatment: 1) ensuring that individuals with malaria are promptly treated with an effective artemisinin-based combination therapy, and 2) ensuring that individuals without malaria do not receive an anti-malarial they do not need (and instead receive a more appropriate treatment). Some studies of the impact of RDTs on malaria case management have combined these two different successes into a binary outcome describing ‘correct management’. However combining correct management of positives and negatives into a single summary measure can be misleading. The problems, which are analogous to those encountered in the evaluation of diagnostic tests, can largely be avoided if data for patients with and without malaria are presented and analysed separately. Where a combined metric is necessary, then one of the established approaches to summarise the performance of diagnostic tests could be considered, although these are not without their limitations. Two graphical approaches to help understand case management performance are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Cairns
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
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Mangham-Jefferies L, Wiseman V, Achonduh OA, Drake TL, Cundill B, Onwujekwe O, Mbacham W. Economic evaluation of a cluster randomized trial of interventions to improve health workers' practice in diagnosing and treating uncomplicated malaria in Cameroon. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2014; 17:783-791. [PMID: 25498773 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are a valid alternative to malaria testing with microscopy and are recommended for the testing of febrile patients before prescribing an antimalarial. There is a need for interventions to support the uptake of RDTs by health workers. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of introducing RDTs with basic or enhanced training in health facilities in which microscopy was available, compared with current practice. METHODS A three-arm cluster randomized trial was conducted in 46 facilities in central and northwest Cameroon. Basic training had a practical session on RDTs and lectures on malaria treatment guidelines. Enhanced training included small-group activities designed to change health workers' practice and reduce the consumption of antimalarials among test-negative patients. The primary outcome was the proportion of febrile patients correctly treated: febrile patients should be tested for malaria, artemisinin combination therapy should be prescribed for confirmed cases, and no antimalarial should be prescribed for patients who are test-negative. Individual patient data were obtained from facility records and an exit survey. Costs were estimated from a societal perspective using project reports and patient exit data. The analysis used bivariate multilevel modeling and adjusted for imbalance in baseline covariates. RESULTS Incremental cost per febrile patient correctly treated was $8.40 for the basic arm and $3.71 for the enhanced arm. On scale-up, it was estimated that RDTs with enhanced training would save $0.75 per additional febrile patient correctly treated. CONCLUSIONS Introducing RDTs with enhanced training was more cost-effective than RDTs with basic training when each was compared with current practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Mangham-Jefferies
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Virginia Wiseman
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Olivia A Achonduh
- Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé I, The Biotechnology Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Thomas L Drake
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK; Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Rajwithi Road, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bonnie Cundill
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Obinna Onwujekwe
- Department of Health Administration and Management, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus), Enugu, Nigeria
| | - Wilfred Mbacham
- Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, University of Yaoundé I, The Biotechnology Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Singh N, Sharma RK. Improving diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated malaria. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2014; 2:e304-5. [PMID: 25103288 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(14)70222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neeru Singh
- Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals (Indian Council of Medical Research), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh 482003, India.
| | - Ravendra K Sharma
- Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals (Indian Council of Medical Research), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh 482003, India
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Wiysonge CS, Sinclair D, Namboze J, Chandler CIR, Whitty CJM. Cochrane column. Int J Epidemiol 2014; 43:1389-92. [PMID: 25006220 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyu143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles S Wiysonge
- Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, & Division of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. E-mail: . Website: www.sun.ac.za/cebhc
| | - David Sinclair
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Josephine Namboze
- WHO Inter-Country Support Team, 82-86 Enterprise Road , Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe.
| | - Clare I R Chandler
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK. , and Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J M Whitty
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK. , and Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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