Geographical targeting of active case finding for tuberculosis in Pakistan using hotspots identified by artificial intelligence software (SPOT-TB): study protocol for a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised control trial.

Journal: BMJ open respiratory research
PMID: 38991950

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pakistan has significantly strengthened its capacity for active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) that is being implemented at scale in the country. However, yields of ACF have been lower than expected, raising concerns on its effectiveness in the programmatic setting. Distribution of TB in communities is likely to be spatially heterogeneous and targeting of ACF in areas with higher TB prevalence may help improve yields. The primary aim of SPOT-TB is to investigate whether a policy change to use a geographically targeted approach towards ACF supported by an artificial intelligence (AI) software, MATCH-AI, can improve yields in Pakistan.

Authors

  • Syed Mohammad Asad Zaidi
    WHO Centre for Tuberculosis Research and Innovation, Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK syed.zaidi.22@ucl.ac.uk.
  • Amna Mahfooz
    Center for Global Public Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Abdullah Latif
    Mercy Corps, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Nainan Nawaz
    Mercy Corps, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Razia Fatima
    Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Fazal Ur Rehman
    Center for Global Public Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Tahira Ezra Reza
    Center for Global Public Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Faran Emmanuel
    Center for Global Public Health, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Keywords

External Resources

Popular Topics
Recent Journals