Drive-by Readings

A Creative Strategy for Tuberculosis Control Among Immigrants

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11030005
AutoresFrancesca Gany (0000-0003-0684-2367, Mitsubishi Corporation (United States)), Francesca M Gany (Francesca M. Gany, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, and Jyotsna Changrani are with the Center for Immigrant Health at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.), Chau Trinh-Shevrin (Francesca M. Gany, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, and Jyotsna Changrani are with the Center for Immigrant Health at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.), Chau Trinh‐Shevrin (0000-0001-9635-0512, Mitsubishi Corporation (United States)), Jyotsna Changrani (Francesca M. Gany, Chau Trinh-Shevrin, and Jyotsna Changrani are with the Center for Immigrant Health at the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.)
Año2005
Volumen95
Número1
Páginas117-119
Fecha de publicación2005-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
EditorialAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2003.019620
PMID15623870
PMCIDPMC1449862
OpenAlexW2100512778
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas10

Objectives. We explored an innovative strategy for targeted testing and disease management among immigrant communities at risk for tuberculosis. Methods. Taxi drivers were recruited at an airport holding lot to undergo tuberculin skin testing (Mantoux). After receiving their test results in a location convenient for them, drivers with positive results were referred for evaluation and treatment. We conducted baseline and follow-up assessments. Results. Of 123 drivers who participated, two thirds (82) were at high risk for tuberculosis. Seventy-eight (63%) of the 123 returned for test readings; 62% of these drivers had positive test results. All drivers with positive results received a complete physician evaluation, but 64% of those evaluated were not treated for latent TB infection. Of the untreated drivers, 37.5% were at high risk. Systemic and physician barriers (e.g., lack of knowledge, erroneous beliefs regarding vaccines) affected adherence to evaluation and treatment. Conclusions. Targeted testing and treatment are important to the control of tuberculosis. The results of this study highlight the need for an aggressive physician educational campaign to identify latent tuberculosis infection and to tailor service delivery to meet the unique needs of foreign-born communities

Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Immigration · Latent tuberculosis · Mycobacterium tuberculosis · Pathology · Service (business) · Service delivery framework · Skin test · Test (biology) · Tuberculin · Tuberculosis · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Internal Medicine · Marketing · Medicine · Travel-related health issues · Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology