Tuberculosis case finding in a public healthcare setting in South Africa: using QI worksheets and a social network learning platform for rapid data-driven improvement (ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
Dublin Core
Title
Tuberculosis case finding in a public healthcare setting in South Africa: using QI worksheets and a social network learning platform for rapid data-driven improvement (ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
Subject
quality improvemement, TB case identification, data for improvement
Description
Background: The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic diverted attention and resources away from tuberculosis (TB) and other non-COVID
services and decreased clinic attendance.
Objective: The objective was to rapidly restore TB case finding to pre-pandemic levels using a data-driven, quality improvement (QI) approach,
adapted to constraints of the pandemic.
Method: A mixed-methods assessment of a QI intervention in 129 health facilities from five rural health districts in KwaZulu-Natal province was
performed. Eight worksheets guided clinical teams, using QI principles, to improve routine data quality and implement preselected change ideas
for TB case finding in Human Immunodefiency Virus-positive clinic subpopulations. Facility teams shared data and learnings and were coached
in person and via a social media platform and virtual encounters.
Results: We observed high rates of engagement by district TB managers and facility teams (94% of facilities posted worksheets on WhatsApp
each month). The number of worksheets posted, TB investigations undertaken, and TB cases confirmed increased rapidly over time. Facility data
quality improved significantly over time (median 40% errors at start vs 5% errors at end).
Conclusion: The Sprint initiative showed that a novel simplified QI intervention that integrated clinical protocols and data tracking was rapidly
adopted and improved TB case finding despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two key innovations—a simplified set of data-focused
QI worksheets and a social engagement and learning platform—were used to drive a focused QI effort. The approach should be considered for
improving gaps in focused health system priorities in low- and middle-income country settings beyond the pandemic
services and decreased clinic attendance.
Objective: The objective was to rapidly restore TB case finding to pre-pandemic levels using a data-driven, quality improvement (QI) approach,
adapted to constraints of the pandemic.
Method: A mixed-methods assessment of a QI intervention in 129 health facilities from five rural health districts in KwaZulu-Natal province was
performed. Eight worksheets guided clinical teams, using QI principles, to improve routine data quality and implement preselected change ideas
for TB case finding in Human Immunodefiency Virus-positive clinic subpopulations. Facility teams shared data and learnings and were coached
in person and via a social media platform and virtual encounters.
Results: We observed high rates of engagement by district TB managers and facility teams (94% of facilities posted worksheets on WhatsApp
each month). The number of worksheets posted, TB investigations undertaken, and TB cases confirmed increased rapidly over time. Facility data
quality improved significantly over time (median 40% errors at start vs 5% errors at end).
Conclusion: The Sprint initiative showed that a novel simplified QI intervention that integrated clinical protocols and data tracking was rapidly
adopted and improved TB case finding despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two key innovations—a simplified set of data-focused
QI worksheets and a social engagement and learning platform—were used to drive a focused QI effort. The approach should be considered for
improving gaps in focused health system priorities in low- and middle-income country settings beyond the pandemic
Creator
MicheleYoungleson, MaureenTshabalala, Jacqueline Ngozo, Nokuthula Zulu, Nelson Kamoga
, Zanele Linda, Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Pierre Barker
, Zanele Linda, Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Pierre Barker
Source
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1093/ijcoms/lyad011
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Date
31 July 2023
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Files
Collection
Citation
MicheleYoungleson, MaureenTshabalala, Jacqueline Ngozo, Nokuthula Zulu, Nelson Kamoga
, Zanele Linda, Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Pierre Barker, “Tuberculosis case finding in a public healthcare setting in South Africa: using QI worksheets and a social network learning platform for rapid data-driven improvement (ORIGINAL ARTICLE),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 21, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/11221.