ArticlePloS one2023
Feasibility, enablers and challenges of using timeliness metrics for household contact tracing and TB preventive therapy in Pakistan.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Screening and tuberculosis preventive treatment among household contacts of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients: a scoping review.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Tuberculosis preventive therapy in Sierra Leone: early implementation gaps and lessons learned.Public health action · 2026Article
- Article
- Integrating chest radiography-based TB screening and preventive treatment for household contacts in Pakistan: a pilot study.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Article
- TB preventive therapy: uptake and time to initiation during implementation of '7-1-7'.IJTLD open · 2024Article
- Applying 'timeliness' to the screening and prevention of TB in household contacts of pulmonary TB patients.IJTLD open · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 7 institutions in 6 countries.
Funding
Abstract
introductionScreening household contacts of TB patients and providing TB preventive therapy (TPT) is a key intervention to end the TB epidemic. Global and timely implementation of TPT in household contacts, however, is dismal. We adapted the 7-1-7 timeliness metric designed to evaluate and respond to infectious disease outbreaks or pandemics, and assessed the feasibility, enablers and challenges of implementing this metric for screening and management of household contacts of index patients with bacteriologically-confirmed pulmonary TB in Karachi city, Pakistan.
methodsWe conducted an explanatory mixed methods study with a quantitative component (cohort design) followed by a qualitative component (descriptive design with focus group discussions).
resultsFrom January-June 2023, 92% of 450 index patients had their household contacts line-listed within seven days of initiating anti-TB treatment ("first 7"). In 84% of 1342 household contacts, screening outcomes were ascertained within one day of line-listing ("next 1"). In 35% of 256 household contacts eligible for further evaluation by a medical officer (aged ≤5 years or with chest symptoms), anti-tuberculosis treatment, TPT or a decision for no drugs was made within seven days of symptom screening ("second 7"). The principal reason for not starting anti-tuberculosis treatment or TPT was failure to consult a medical officer: only 129(50%) of 256 contacts consulted a medical officer. Reasons for poor performance in the "second 7" component included travel costs to see a medical officer, loss of daily earnings and fear of a TB diagnosis. Field staff reported that timeliness metrics motivated them to take prompt action in household contact screening and TPT provision and they suggested these be included in national guidelines.
conclusionsField staff found "7-1-7" timeliness metrics to be feasible and useful. Integration of these metrics into national guidelines could improve timeliness of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of TB within households of index patients.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.