E-DRUG: Effect of Delay in Tuberculosis Diagnosis on Pre-Diagnosis Cost in Yemen
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Dear E-Druggers,
I am sharing an article published in Journal of Pharmacy Practice and
Community Medicine 'Effect of Delay in Tuberculosis Diagnosis on
Pre-Diagnosis Cost'
<http://www.jppcm.org/article/59>”
Abstract:
Background: Delay in TB diagnosis can increase the financial
burden of patients, especially those who are suffering from poverty. The
cost of Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, either pre- or postdiagnosis, is an
important concern in TB control programs worldwide.
The new TB patients that are diagnosed at Tuberculosis referral centre, Sana'a, Yemen
were the subjects of this study.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the pre-diagnosis costs for delayed TB patients (prior to the actual TB diagnosis) in a tuberculosis referral center in Sana'a, Yemen.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on newly diagnosed TB patients was
performed by the National Tuberculosis Control Program in a tuberculosis
center in Sana'a, Yemen. A total of 505 new TB patients were interviewed
using a questionnaire. The study period was from 2008 to 2010. Information
on the pre-diagnosis costs (direct medical and non-medical costs) for the
newly diagnosed TB patients was collected. *
Results: Differences in the pre-diagnosis costs between delayed (%) and non-delayed patients (%) were obtained. The medical (medication, laboratory investigation, and chest X-ray test) and non-medical (food, transportation, and accommodation) costs
incurred by the TB patients were statistically different between the
delayed and non-delayed TB groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The delayed group incurred extra costs prior to the actual TB diagnosis compared with the non-delayed group. Promoting information and awareness on TB and health care systems in both public and private sectors should be done for both
groups to detect TB at an earlier stage and to reduce extra costs incurred
during the pre-diagnosis period.
Link: http://www.jppcm.org/latest_issue
Aldhubhani AHN, Ibrahim MIM, Ibrahim P, Anaam MS, Alshka M. Effect of Delay
in Tuberculosis Diagnosis on Pre-Diagnosis Cost. J Pharm Pract Community
Med. 2017;3(1):22-26.
Best regards,
Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine
Dr. Akram Ahmad,
Department of Clinical Pharmacy,
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
UCSI University, Malaysia
Akram Ahmad <akrampharma67@gmail.com>