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2003
Anti-Tuberculosis Network in North-West Russia
Project description
Purpose: Contribute towards improved communication, diagnostics and distance learning in connection with introduction of the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended tuberculosis (TB) control strategy in Arkhangelsk Oblast (county).
Objective: Establish a network for collaboration, second opinion and distance learning.
Target group: Indirectly the target group is patients with TB in Arkhangelsk Oblast. Work goes through health care personnel who are involved in anti-TB treatment.
Background
In 1993, World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Programme declared tuberculosis a global emergency and began promoting the strategy known as DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course). The strategy was further extended (DOTS Plus) because of drug-resistance TB and combinations with other diseases.
The anti-TB network in Arkhangelsk County, Russia, support the WHO model by overcoming distance and improve coordination between healthcare workers introduced to DOTS Plus. The pilot project has been running since early 2001. Today 13 districts hospitals and a prison hospital are connected with theArkhangelsk Regional Tuberculosis Centre (ARTC).
So far the results indicate that the network is used for statistics, distance learning, administration and second opinion by transferring the patient's statistical forms, digitized radiology images and other information. Errors occuring during filling in the statistical forms have been discovered earlier than without the network. The network was particularly useful for follow-up of patients when transferred to and from the ARTC and the districts. In addition, the anti-tuberculosis network has been utilized for contact between ARTC towards authorities in Moscow, other WHO anti-tuberculosis treatment implementations in Russia and experts on tuberculosis in Norway.
How can a network support anti-tuberculosis treatment?
- Improved coordination and administration between collaborating institutions.
- Facilitate distance learning (training)
- Facilitate second opinion for severe cases
- Collecting patient statistics (for surveillance and for accurate pharmaceutical delivery)
- Access to updated information on anti-TB treatment
- Peer-to-peer councelling, exchange of experience and coordination with other anti-TB programmes
The anti-TB network does not replace other means of surveillance, but enhance faster and quality ensured improvements and coordination. It provides basic communication infrastructure and e-mail.
Basic equipment
- PC with software for distance teaching (for example Microsoft Powerpoint) and second opinion.
- E-mail programme.
- Connection to an electronic health network or equivalent secure communication network.
- Telephone with a loudspeakers.
- World Wide Web (www) access.
All parties must have equipment and software compatible with each other. Adequate information security must be implemented if patient recognizable information will be transferred.
A still image camera and a tripod are helpful in producing cases for distance teaching and second opinion.
Funding
The Barents Secretariat and the Norwegian Ministry of Health funded the project.
Project partners
The Arkhangelsk regional Tuberculosis Centre (ARTC), the Northern State Medical University Arkhangelsk and the Norwegian Heart and Lung Association (LHL).
Contact
More information about the project
 Infosheet Tubercolosis WHO TuberculosisStop TBLHL |
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