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. 2024 Apr 27:36:100446.
doi: 10.1016/j.jctube.2024.100446. eCollection 2024 Aug.

Patient navigator's role in latent tuberculosis infection at a New York City Health Department Chest Clinic

E Barroso  1   2 , T Mark  1 , R Acevedo  1 , S Rao  1 , H T Jordan  1 , J Burzynski  1 , W Remegio  2 , E Ea  3 , L Compas  2
Affiliations

Patient navigator's role in latent tuberculosis infection at a New York City Health Department Chest Clinic

E Barroso et al. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Philippines is one of the top ten countries of birth among individuals with tuberculosis in New York City (NYC). The NYC Health Department (HD) screened Filipino-born New Yorkers for latent TB infection (LTBI), but few of those tested positive completed evaluation and treatment.

Objective: To increase the proportion of Filipinos with a positive QuantiFeron-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) complete LTBI evaluation and treatment.

Methods: Nine community-based LTBI screening events were conducted during September-December 2021. Patients with positive QFT-Plus results were offered no-cost LTBI evaluation and treatment at HD Chest Clinic. The HD engaged culturally- and linguistically-competent Filipino patient navigators (PN) to facilitate LTBI evaluation and treatment.

Results: Of 77 Filipinos screened, 17 (22%) tested positive. Fourteen (82%) were evaluated for LTBI; eight of the 14 (57%) completed LTBI treatment.

Conclusions: Pairing patients with culturally- and linguistically- competent Filipino PNs contributed to an increase in the proportion of Filipinos with a positive QFT-Plus who completed LTBI evaluation and treatment. TB prevention programs may wish to consider PNs in LTBI patient care.

Keywords: Latent Tuberculosis Infection; Patient Navigator; Treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

References

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