Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24073277›Full record

ArticlePloS one2013

Tuberculosis case finding: evaluation of a paper slip method to trace contacts.

Judith Mwansa-Kambafwile, Kerrigan McCarthy, Varanna Gharbaharan, Francois W D Venter, Boitumelo Maitshotlo, Andrew Black

Open access · goldAbstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 37% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Contact tracing for tuberculosis, Thailand.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2020
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Judith Mwansa-KambafwileTB/HIV Unit, Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa ; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa.
Kerrigan McCarthy
Varanna Gharbaharan
Francois W D Venter
Boitumelo Maitshotlo
Andrew Black
Perinatal HIV Research Unit · ZAAurum Institute · ZAUniversity of the Witwatersrand · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

settingSouth Africa has the third highest tuberculosis (TB) burden in the world. Intensified case finding, recommended by WHO, is one way to control TB.

objectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a paper slip method for TB contact tracing.

methodTB patients were offered paper slips to give to their contacts, inviting them for TB screening. The number of contacts screened and the proportion diagnosed with TB was calculated. Contacts that returned to the clinic after receiving the slips were interviewed. A focus group discussion (FGD) with TB patients was held to determine their acceptability.

resultsFrom 718 paper slips issued, a 26% TB contact tracing rate was found, with a 12% case detection rate. The majority (68%) of contacts were screened within 2 weeks of receiving the slip. Age and gender were not significantly associated with time to screening. 16% of the contacts screened did not reside with the TB patients. 98% of the contacts said the method was acceptable. FGD findings show that this method is acceptable and may prevent stigma associated with TB/HIV.

conclusionThis simple, inexpensive method yields high contact tracing and case detection rates and potentially would yield additional benefits outside households.

Indexed as

Mass ScreeningPaperContact TracingHumansMycobacterium tuberculosisSouth AfricaTuberculosis

Identifiers

PMID24073277
PMCPMC3779255
OpenAlexW2164216355

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.