HIV testing for key populations in Europe: A decade of technological innovation and patient empowerment complement the role of health care professionals.

OBJECTIVES: With persisting high numbers of new HIV diagnoses in Europe, HIV testing remains an important aspect of HIV prevention. The traditional centralized and medicalized HIV testing approach has been complemented with newly developed and evaluated non-traditional approaches. Two important factors guided this process: technological innovation and empowerment of the patient. METHODS: We present a matrix to develop an HIV testing approach, and elaborate on three commonly used ones: community based testing, self-testing, and self-sampling. Despite non-traditional HIV testing approaches, barriers for testing remain. A potential disadvantage for users is the risk for false-reactive test results. As users receive an orientation test result, a reactive result should be confirmed. Another issue is the window phase, which is longer for some orientation tests compared to a traditional, laboratory-based test. RESULTS: Future implementation of non-traditional HIV testing approaches will depend on legal frameworks throughout Europe. Community testing centers may additionally improve empowerment of key populations by expanding their portfolio to testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Community engagement and ownership may imply a shrinking role for health care providers, but they remain crucial actors for personalized information, counselling and referral to specialized HIV-care for many people. CONCLUSIONS: A highly effective HIV testing strategy to reduce undiagnosed people living with HIV in Europe is needed. Any approach, chosen according to the principles outlined in this paper, should reach the right people, diagnose them in the most accurate way, and optimize linkage to care.

An evaluation of primary care led dementia diagnostic services in Bristol.

BACKGROUND: Typically people who go to see their GP with a memory problem will be initially assessed and those patients who seem to be at risk will be referred onto a memory clinic. The demographic forces mean that memory services will need to expand to meet demand. An alternative may be to expand the role of primary care in dementia diagnosis and care. The aim of this study was to contrast patient, family member and professional experience of primary and secondary (usual) care led memory services. METHODS: A qualitative, participatory study. A topic guide was developed by the peer and professional panels. Data were collected through peer led interviews of people with dementia, their family members and health professionals. RESULTS: Eleven (21%) of the 53 GP practices in Bristol offered primary care led dementia services. Three professional panels were held and were attended by 9 professionals; nine carers but no patients were involved in the three peer panels. These panels identified four main themes: GPs rarely make independent dementia diagnosis; GPs and memory nurses work together; patients and carers generally experience a high quality diagnostic service; an absence of post diagnostic support. Evidence relating to these themes was collected through a total of 46 participants took part; 23 (50%) in primary care and 23 (50%) in the memory service. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and carers were generally satisfied with either primary or secondary care led approaches to dementia diagnosis. Their major concern, shared with many health care professionals, was a lack of post diagnostic support.

The addition of internists to a breast health program.

With the increases in complexity of care for breast health concerns, there is a growing need for efficient and effective clinical evaluation, especially for vulnerable populations at risk for poor outcomes. The Breast Health Center at Boston Medical Center is a multidisciplinary program, with internists providing care alongside breast surgeons, radiologists, and patient navigators. Using a triage system previously shown to have high provider and patient satisfaction, and the ability to provide timely care, patients are assigned to either a breast surgeon or internist. From 2007 to 2009, internists cared for 2,408 women, representing half of all referrals. Women served were diverse in terms of race (33% black, 30% Hispanic, 5% Asian), language (34% require language interpreter), and insurance status (51% had no insurance or public insurance). Most presented with an abnormal screen (breast examination 54% or imaging 4%) while the remainder were seen for symptoms such as pain (26%), non-bloody nipple discharge (4%), or risk assessment (7%). A majority of final diagnoses were made through clinical evaluation alone (n = 1,760, 73%), without the need for additional diagnostic imaging or tissue sampling; 9% (n = 214) received a benign diagnosis with the aid of breast imaging; 19% (n = 463) required tissue sampling. Only 4% went on to see a breast surgeon. Internists diagnosed 15 incident cancers with a median time to diagnosis of 19 days. Patient and provider satisfaction was high. These data suggest that a group of appropriately trained internists can provide quality breast care to a vulnerable population in a multidisciplinary setting. Replication of this model requires the availability of more clinical training programs for non-surgical providers.

[The reserves for development of counseling diagnostic care in public health system].

The article analyses the social aspects and reserves for development of counseling diagnostic care in public health system exemplified by the state Novosibirsk oblast clinical diagnostic center. The ultimate result of the ocganization of system of diagnostic centers is to establish conditions for early, including preclinical diagnostic of wide-spread social hazardous diseases, in particular those which result in early disability of population. Yet another result is an effective overcoming of deficiency of qualitative highly informative counseling diagnostic care on the level of national public health systemn. It is demonstrated that the modernization within the framework of profitable activities is one of the most significant organizational technological reserves to increase the accessibility, timeliness and effectiveness of counseling diagnostic care (exemplified by oncologic pathology) and to optimize functionimg of regional counseling diagnostic centers. The results of analysis of patients' sociologic survey objectively testify the positive dynamics in patients' satisfaction of medical care.

[The social hygienic significance of the consultative diagnostic care].

To determine the potential need in medical technologies based on Novosibirsk regional clinical diagnostic center data, the social hygienic evaluation of the population pathology detection during medical consulting care was organized. It is established that the detection of diseases of thyroid gland, bronchial asthma, hypertension, urolithiasis, duodenal ulcer chronic hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, and allergic rhinitis is the most important issue in the social hygienic evaluation of prevalence of pathologic affection.

WITHDRAWN: Home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing in developing countries.

BACKGROUND: The low uptake of HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), an effective HIV prevention intervention, has hindered global attempts to prevent new HIV infections, as well as limiting the scale-up of HIV care and treatment for the estimated 38 million infected persons. According to UNAIDS, only 10% of HIV-infected individuals worldwide are aware of their HIV status. At this point in the HIV epidemic, a renewed focus has shifted to prevention, and with it, a focus on methods to increase the uptake of HIV VCT. This review discusses home-based HIV VCT delivery models, which, given the low uptake of facility-based testing models, may be an effective avenue to get more patients on treatment and prevent new infections. OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify and critically appraise studies addressing the implementation of home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing in developing countries. (2) To determine whether home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing (HBVCT) is associated with improvement in HIV testing outcomes compared to facility-based models. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched online for published and unpublished studies in MEDLINE (February 2007), EMBASE (February 2007), CENTRAL (February 2007). We also searched databases listing conference proceedings and abstracts; AIDSearch (February 2007), The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2007), LILACS, CINAHL and Sociofile. We also contacted authors who have published on the subject of review. SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials (e.g., cohort, pre/post-intervention and other observational studies) comparing home-based HIV VCT against other testing models. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We independently selected studies, assessed study quality and extracted data. We expressed findings as odds ratios (OR), and relative Risk (RR) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS: We identified one cluster-randomized trial and one pre/post-intervention (cohort) study, which were included in the review. An additional two ongoing RCTs were identified. All identified studies were conducted in developing countries. The two included studies comprised one cluster-randomized trial conducted in an urban area in Lusaka, Zambia and one pre/post-intervention (cohort) study, part of a rural community cohort in Southwestern Uganda. The two studies, while differing in methodology, found very high acceptability and uptake of VCT when testing and or results were offered at home, compared to the standard (facility-based testing and results). In the cluster-randomized trial (n=849), subjects randomized to an optional testing location (including home-based testing) were 4.6 times more likely to accept VCT than those in the facility arm (RR 4.6, 95% CI 3.6-6.2). Similarly, in the pre/post study (n=1868) offering participants the option of home delivery of results increased VCT uptake. In the intervention year (home delivery) participants were 5.23 times more likely to receive their results than during the year when results were available only at the facility. (OR 5.23 95% CI 4.02-6.8). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Home-based testing and/or delivery of HIV test results at home, rather than in clinics, appears to lead to higher uptake in testing. However, given the limited extant literature and the limitations in the included existing studies, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend large-scale implementation of the home-based testing model.

[The issues of organization of consultative diagnostic care to population in the subject of the Russian Federation].

The article deals with the basic issues of state of regional health system. The issues of resource supply of diagnostic service in the regions and technical conditions of diagnostic technologies are discussed. The attention is focused on the need to develop the organization of diagnostic care to population. The essential approaches to its organization on the regional level are proposed.

[The provision of quality and security of medical care on the basis of standardization of medical nurse activities in counseling diagnostic center].

The enhancement of curative diagnostic process and the increase of its quality depend not only on the management, but on the reasonable implementation of high-tech new technologies. Nowadays, the evidence-based medical nursing practice represents an actively developing direction of medical nurse business. The State Novosibirsk oblast diagnostic center has developed the standards of nurse activities targeted to decrease the duplication in work, the provision of personnel and patient security. The audit of implementation of standards and the monitoring of nursing process permit to timely input the adjustments to the provision of quality of medical nurse care.

Tuberculosis, HIV, and viral hepatitis diagnostics in eastern Europe and central Asia: high time for integrated and people-centred services.

Globally, high rates (and in the WHO European region an increasing prevalence) of co-infection with tuberculosis and HIV and HIV and hepatitis C virus exist. In eastern European and central Asian countries, the tuberculosis, HIV, and viral hepatitis programmes, including diagnostic services, are separate vertical structures. In this Personal View, we consider underlying reasons for the poor integration for these diseases, particularly in the WHO European region, and how to address this with an initial focus on diagnostic services. In part, this low integration has reflected different diagnostic development histories, global funding sources, and sample types used for diagnosis (eg, typically sputum for tuberculosis and blood for HIV and hepatitis C). Cooperation between services improved as patients with tuberculosis needed routine testing for HIV and vice versa, but financial, infection control, and logistical barriers remain. Multidisease diagnostic platforms exist, but to be used optimally, appropriate staff training and sensible understanding of different laboratory and infection control risks needs rapid implementation. Technically these ideas are all feasible. Poor coordination between these vertical systems remains unhelpful. There is a need to increase political and operational integration of diagnostic and treatment services and bring them closer to patients.

What is needed now for successful scale-up of screening?

Effective screening for pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix is the only protective intervention that can be offered to women that have not had the opportunity to be vaccinated. Elimination goals are being developed so that by 2030, 70% of women aged 35-45 years should have been screened at least once in a lifetime and 90% of all detected lesions should have been treated. These goals focus on a substantial reduction of cervical cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Scaling-up screening in these settings may be substantially improved by using self-sampling (SS), human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and managing screened-positive women with accessible treatment. The implementation of these tools requires minimal health information data for traceability, provider training, community education, operational management and quality control. Cost-effective algorithms tailored to country needs can greatly impact the burden of disease in a limited number of years.

[The contribution of an asthma diagnostic consultation service in obtaining an accurate asthma diagnosis for primary care patients: results of a real-life study]. / De waarde van een astma-adviespolikliniek.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies showed that general practitioners (GPs) have problems in diagnosing asthma accurately, resulting in both under and overdiagnosis. To support GPs in their diagnostic process an asthma diagnostic consultation service (ADCS) was set up. DESIGN: We evaluated the performance of this ADCS by analysing the (dis)concordance between the GPs working hypotheses and the ADCS diagnoses and possible consequences this had on the patients' pharmacotherapy. METHOD: In total 659 patients were included in this study. At this service the patients' medical history was taken and a physical examination and a histamine challenge test were carried out. We compared the GPs working hypotheses with the ADCS diagnoses and the change in medication this incurred. RESULTS: In 52% (n = 340) an asthma diagnosis was excluded. The diagnosis was confirmed in 42% (n = 275). Furthermore, chronic rhinitis was diagnosed in 40% (n = 261) of the patients whereas this was noted in 25% (n = 163) by their GP. The adjusted diagnosis resulted in a change of medication for more than half of all patients. In 10% (n = 63) medication was started because of a new asthma diagnosis. The 'one-stop-shop' principle was met with 53% of patients and 91% (n = 599) were referred back to their GP, mostly within 6 months. Only 6% (n = 41) remained under control of the ADCS because of severe unstable asthma. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the ADCS helped GPs significantly in setting accurate diagnoses for their patients with an asthma hypothesis. This may contribute to diminish the problem of over and underdiagnosis and may result in more appropriate treatment regimens.

Home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing in developing countries.

BACKGROUND: The low uptake of HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), an effective HIV prevention intervention, has hindered global attempts to prevent new HIV infections, as well as limiting the scale-up of HIV care and treatment for the estimated 38 million infected persons. According to UNAIDS, only 10% of HIV-infected individuals worldwide are aware of their HIV status. At this point in the HIV epidemic, a renewed focus has shifted to prevention, and with it, a focus on methods to increase the uptake of HIV VCT. This review discusses home-based HIV VCT delivery models, which, given the low uptake of facility-based testing models, may be an effective avenue to get more patients on treatment and prevent new infections. OBJECTIVES: (1) To identify and critically appraise studies addressing the implementation of home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing in developing countries.(2) To determine whether home-based HIV voluntary counseling and testing (HBVCT) is associated with improvement in HIV testing outcomes compared to facility-based models. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched online for published and unpublished studies in MEDLINE (February 2007), EMBASE (February 2007), CENTRAL (February 2007). We also searched databases listing conference proceedings and abstracts; AIDSearch (February 2007), The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2007), LILACS, CINAHL and Sociofile. We also contacted authors who have published on the subject of review. SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized trials (e.g., cohort, pre/post-intervention and other observational studies) comparing home-based HIV VCT against other testing models. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We independently selected studies, assessed study quality and extracted data. We expressed findings as odds ratios (OR), and relative Risk (RR) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS: We identified one cluster-randomized trial and one pre/post-intervention (cohort) study, which were included in the review. An additional two ongoing RCTs were identified. All identified studies were conducted in developing countries. The two included studies comprised one cluster-randomized trial conducted in an urban area in Lusaka, Zambia and one pre/post-intervention (cohort) study, part of a rural community cohort in Southwestern Uganda. The two studies, while differing in methodology, found very high acceptability and uptake of VCT when testing and or results were offered at home, compared to the standard (facility-based testing and results). In the cluster-randomized trial (n=849), subjects randomized to an optional testing location (including home-based testing) were 4.6 times more likely to accept VCT than those in the facility arm (RR 4.6, 95% CI 3.6-6.2). Similarly, in the pre/post study (n=1868) offering participants the option of home delivery of results increased VCT uptake. In the intervention year (home delivery) participants were 5.23 times more likely to receive their results than during the year when results were available only at the facility. (OR 5.23 95% CI 4.02-6.8). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Home-based testing and/or delivery of HIV test results at home, rather than in clinics, appears to lead to higher uptake in testing. However, given the limited extant literature and the limitations in the included existing studies, there is not sufficient evidence to recommend large-scale implementation of the home-based testing model.

Clinical management. Getting up to scratch.

Allergic disease accounts for 6 per cent of GP consultations and 0.6 per cent of hospital admissions. A highly critical report by the Commons health select committee called for the development of a national allergy service, but the government has failed to act. Primary care trusts can help to improve local allergy services by commissioning practice-based allergy clinics or integrated allergy/asthma services.

Networking pathology services: adjusting to managed care.

Health care reform is creating the need for pathologists to find new approaches to providing traditional pathology services in an increasingly competitive environment. This article reviews changes impacting pathology practices and describes a "messenger network" model as a solution for pathology practices desiring to retain and increase market share.

A haematuria diagnostic service in a district general hospital.

Four years experience of a haematuria diagnostic service in a District General Hospital, comprising 215 patients, has identified 42 new cases of bladder cancer, 5 of renal cell cancer and 3 of renal pelvis cancer. Urine and blood tests were non-contributory in their diagnosis but intravenous urography was diagnostic in the majority. The period of time between presentation to the general practitioner and treatment of the cancer has been reduced to less than the time normally spent on the Out-Patient waiting list.

[Symptomatic case findings of pulmonary tuberculosis].

One of the major way to find pulmonary tuberculosis cases, especially cases with positive sputum, is "by symptoms". This clinic, together with the medical staffs at various health institutions, took five years to set up a tbc finding network in this city. The definite range of duties and a series of grading and examining criteria were put out. This efficient network shortened the average time that patients were transferred from general hospitals to antituberculosis clinic from 34.6 days in 1983 to 19.4 days in 1987. Consequently, the rate of medical delay decreased also, from 40.5% to 33.0%. Although the prevalence rate of tbc. cases reduced yearly in this city, the case finding rate of patients with positive sputum increased, from 1.5/10,000 to 2.0/10,000. It is confirmed by 5 years' practice that this network could raise the efficacy of case finding.

[A study on the organization and management of pulmonary tuberculosis case-finding at district general hospitals].

As the prevalence of tuberculosis has been improved after the implementation of tuberculosis control programme especially chemotherapy for a certain period of time, a study of promotion of case-finding activities in general hospitals of the district level was carried out in 1986-1988 in an urban district of Beijing. After special training and motivation to the physicians and health workers involved, their basic knowledge and new concepts of tuberculosis control were promoted. There were seven targets for both quantity and quality control and evaluation of case-findings. After implementation of plan about 75% of active pulmonary tuberculosis and all sputum smear positive cases were detected among suspects with respiratory symptoms. Doctor's delay were much improved from 54.7% in 1986 to only 5.9% in 1988.