Innovatively addressing the challenge of maintaining binocular microscopes under Tuberculosis Programme in India – Is this feasible?

Operational research within a Global Fund supported tuberculosis project in India: why, how and its contribution towards change in policy and practice

“…These studies were besides the studies undertaken in OR training courses and KAP surveys. They pertained to documenting the experiences of active/enhanced case finding in various settings of the country [19–22], describing the various problems identified while servicing the binocular microscopes used by the RNTCP [23], documenting the effects of sensitizing TB patients on their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the ‘patient charter’ [24], using open access technologies to collect data for OR studies using the project’s supervision and monitoring mechanisms [25] and assessing the status of TB control in Indian Prisons [26]. …”

“…These included: the status of screening household contacts of sputum smear positive pulmonary TB patients [48,49] and malnourished children attending nutritional rehabilitation centers [50], delays in the initiation of TB treatment after diagnosis [51], whether all TB patients diagnosed in the hospitals attached to medical college were being referred and initiated on treatment under RNTCP [52], reasons for poor uptake of HIV counselling and testing [53], status of notification of TB cases by private health care providers [54], TB treatment outcomes of MDR-TB patients [55], detection of TB cases by mobile medical units [56], innovatively addressing the challenges of routine servicing of binocular microscopes [23] and compliance to infection control practices at health facilities [57]. One study assessed innovative ways of improving programme processes such as use of photo-voice for enhancing patient adherence to therapy [58].…”