Title
Electronic laboratory system reduces errors in National Tuberculosis Program: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Date Issued
01 January 2010
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
International Union against Tubercul. and Lung Dis.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the e-Chasqui laboratory information system in reducing reporting errors compared to the current paper system. DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial in 76 health centers (HCs) between 2004 and 2008. METHODS: Baseline data were collected every 4 months for 12 months. HCs were then randomly assigned to intervention (e-Chasqui) or control (paper). Further data were collected for the same months the following year. Comparisons were made between intervention and control HCs, and before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Intervention HCs had respectively 82% and 87% fewer errors in reporting results for drug susceptibility tests (2.1% vs. 11.9%, P < 0.001, OR 0.17, 95%CI 0.09-0.31) and cultures (2.0% vs. 15.1%, P < 0.001, OR 0.13, 95%CI 0.07-0.24), than control HCs. Preventing missing results through online viewing accounted for at least 72% of all errors. e-Chasqui users sent on average three electronic error reports per week to the laboratories. CONCLUSIONS: e-Chasqui reduced the number of missing laboratory results at point-of-care health centers. Clinical users confirmed viewing electronic results not available on paper. Reporting errors to the laboratory using e-Chasqui promoted continuous quality improvement. The e-Chasqui laboratory information system is an important part of laboratory infrastructure improvements to support multidrug-resistant tuberculosis care in Peru. © 2010 The Union.
Start page
1009
End page
1015
Volume
14
Issue
8
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Biotecnología relacionada con la salud Salud pública, Salud ambiental Enfermedades infecciosas Sistema respiratorio
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-77954731870
PubMed ID
Source
International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
ISSN of the container
10273719
Sponsor(s)
U.S. National Library of Medicine R01LM009520
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus