Model development of pre-extensively drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis patient care in Health Region 10

Abstract

The study aimed at developing patient care model and the control of pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (Pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). The research was conducted in all five provinces under Health Region 10 and 16 hospitals where reported Pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB patients were purposively recruited. The participants consisted of doctors, nurses, public health officers, public health volunteers, patients and their relatives in the area. Research duration was from October 2019 to September 2022. The study methods were divided into 3 stages: 1) analyzing the problem; 2) designing activities and developing patient care model, then applying the developed model to the patients in the area; 3) evaluation. The results showed that no patient care management for Pre-XDR-TB/XDR-TB patients, no existing scheme for referral system, and lack of consultation system. In addition, Pre-XDR-TB/XDR-TB patients suffered from malnutrition and socioeconomic problems. The developed Pre-XDR-TB/XDR-TB patient care model composed of expertise committee establishment; team potential-enhancement; collaborative role assignment and guideline development; and knowledge sharing arrangement. During this project, there were 18 patients with Pre-XDR-TB or XDR-TB which were 13 treatment cured cases and 5 on-going treatment cases. Also, there was the existence of patient care specialist network, epidemiology and disease control investigation network, and Pre-XDR-TB/XDR-TB patient care model in hospitals or communities in Health Region 10.