Evaluation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Surveillance System, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis is an important disease under surveillance of Surin province. The reporting of pulmonary tuberculosis surveillance data in the National Tuberculosis Information Program (NTIP online) shows that the number of pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in the program is different from the number of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the medical records during the same period.
Objective: To study the process, problems, and obstacles of reporting the pulmonary tuberculosis surveillance system at Kapchoeng Hospital in the National Tuberculosis Information Program (NTIP online). To study the quantitative characteristics and to study the qualitative characteristics.
Method: This study was the descriptive study of the process, problems, and obstacles of screening and reporting the pulmonary tuberculosis surveillance system at Kapchoeng Hospital. And study the quantitative characteristics of the surveillance system by reviewing the medical records of patients who meet the definition of pulmonary tuberculosis during October 1^st, 2020-September 30^th, 2023, compared with the patient data reported in the NTIP system. To study the qualitative characteristics by using in-depth interviews with individuals involved in the disease surveillance system.
Results: Surveillance and tracking of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients from the screening form/suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients without infection detected has no effective tracking system. The sensitivity of the NTIP surveillance system was 86.3 percent and the positive predictive value was 100 percent. The timeliness of reporting was 94.5 percent and it could represent pulmonary tuberculosis patients who received treatment at the hospital. The quality of the data showed that the important variables were 100 percent accurate and 100 percent complete. The qualitative study results found that the system was complex but still highly flexible, acceptable, and could be used at all levels.
Conclusion: The pulmonary tuberculosis surveillance system of Kapchoeng Hospital, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province is an epidemiological surveillance system with high sensitivity and positive predictive value, timeliness, and can represent TB patients in the hospital. However, the system is still complex and the hospital tracking system is ineffective. The tracking system for patients at risk or patients under surveillance should be developed, and there should be continuous training for relevant persons, including the development of a data connection system with the hospital to reduce the complexity of reporting.