Development of a Model for Searching and Registering New Tuberculosis Patients in Ratchaburi Provincial Hospitals

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The registration of new tuberculosis patients is crucial for controlling and preventing the spread of the disease. This research aimed to study the situation of finding and registering new tuberculosis patients and to develop guidelines for accessing treatment in public hospitals in Ratchaburi Province.

Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods research approach. The quantitative sample consisted of 368 service users and 85 healthcare personnels. Data was collected using questionnaires assessing knowledge and needs and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was collected from 8 tuberculosis experts through in-depth interviews and analyzed using content analysis.

Results: The study found that over the past three years, Ratchaburi Province has not been able to achieve the target of registering new tuberculosis patients at a rate of over 90%, particularly in smaller hospitals. The public's knowledge level regarding tuberculosis detection and diagnosis was moderate, while healthcare personnel had higher knowledge of diagnosis than of screening and the use of tools to identify high-risk patients. The results proposed guidelines for developing a model for finding and registering new tuberculosis patients that is consistent with the context of the healthcare system in Ratchaburi Province.

Conclusion: Guidelines for developing a model for finding and registering new tuberculosis patients in hospitals in Ratchaburi Province are presented. These are crucial for controlling and preventing the spread of disease and comprise four aspects: 1) detection, 2) use of screening and confirmatory tools, 3) development of screening systems, and 4) diagnosis leading to treatment.