Using Patient Tracers to Reduce Loss to Follow-Up in HIV Treatment
Author Information
Author(s): Sydney Rosen, Ketlhapile Mpefe
Primary Institution: Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University
Hypothesis
Can a patient tracer intervention effectively reduce loss to follow-up among patients in an antiretroviral therapy program?
Conclusion
The patient tracer intervention was effective in determining the status of lost patients and returning some to care, but the cost per patient returned was high.
Supporting Evidence
- The tracer determined the final status of 260 out of 493 lost patients.
- 21% of traced patients had died, while another 30% reported transferring to different treatment sites.
- 20 patients returned to care at the original site due to the intervention.
Takeaway
A social worker helped find patients who stopped coming to their HIV treatment clinic, and some were able to return, but it cost a lot of money to help each person.
Methodology
A social worker contacted a random sample of patients who had missed appointments to determine their status and assist them in returning to care.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in self-reported patient status and the limited ability to contact all patients.
Limitations
The intervention's high cost per patient returned to care and reliance on self-reported data for patient status.
Participant Demographics
Adult patients who had initiated antiretroviral therapy at Themba Lethu Clinic.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website