Diagnostic testing practices according to practitioner specialty type among private practitioners in Chennai, India (n = 228).

<p>Diagnostic testing practices according to practitioner specialty type among private practitioners in Chennai, India (n = 228).</p

Distribution of challenges in performing point-of-care tests in-house according to practitioners’ level of training (n = 228).

<p>Practitioner-reported reasons for not performing rapid point-of-care tests in their health facility among 228 randomly selected private practitioners in Chennai. Practitioners gave multiple responses; thus, response categories are not mutually exclusive. Figures show the distribution of PP-reported challenges in performing POC tests in-house by practitioners’ specialty and level of training. Statistically significant differences across practitioners’ level of training included: time constraints (listed by 69% of chest physicians versus 40% of non-chest specialists, P<0.001), use of nearby private lab services (21% versus 56%, p<0.001), lack of interest in POC tests (10% versus 3%, P = 0.03), and lack of an attached lab (8% versus 24%, p = 0.03). Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals for each estimate. *Indicates statistically significant differences across level of training comparing chest physicians versus non-chest specialists.</p

Study population characteristics among private practitioners comparing point-of-care (POC) testing practices in Chennai, India (n = 228).

<p>Study population characteristics among private practitioners comparing point-of-care (POC) testing practices in Chennai, India (n = 228).</p

Top three characteristics ranked as priorities by private practitioners for a new point-of-care test for TB in Chennai, India.

<p>Private practitioners were asked to rank their top three priorities for a hypothetical new rapid TB diagnostic test under development that could be used to replace the current TB tests and that could potentially be done rapidly in their clinic, like a pregnancy test or blood glucose test. Dark gray bars represent the characteristic ranked as the most important priority by practitioners, light gray presents the second most important characteristic, and medium gray the third most important characteristic. There were 24 practitioners that were not interested in performing POC testing who did not answer this question.</p

Socio-demographic profile and management practices for all forms of TB among private practitioners in Chennai, India (n = 228).

<p>Socio-demographic profile and management practices for all forms of TB among private practitioners in Chennai, India (n = 228).</p

Evaluation of private practitioners' practices and concordance with the International Standards for TB Care, Chennai, India.

<p>Evaluation of private practitioners' practices and concordance with the International Standards for TB Care, Chennai, India.</p

Distribution of aggregate practitioner-reported adherence scores to ten of the International Standards for TB Care by practitioner training in the private sector in Chennai.

<p>Practitioner-reported practices were evaluated against 10 of the International Standards for TB Care (ISTC) for which comparative data were collected, and an ISTC score was calculated by summing the total number of standards for which reported practices agreed with ISTC recommendations. For example, a score of seven means the corresponding practitioner reported practices in accordance with seven of the 10 standards that we evaluated. Of 10 standards evaluated, the overall median ISTC adherence score was 4.0 (IQR 3.0–6.0). Chest physicians reported greater adherence than other MD/MS practitioners with higher levels of training (median 7.0 vs. 4.0, P<0.001), or MBBS practitioners (7.0 vs. 4.0, P<0.001). Box plots depict the median (central line), interquartile range (box), and range (whiskers).</p

Point-of-care testing practices and preferences among private practitioners currently using any POC tests by patient volume in Chennai.

<p>Point-of-care testing practices and preferences among private practitioners currently using any POC tests by patient volume in Chennai.</p

Prevalence and factors associated with interest in performing point-of-care testing for TB in-house among private practitioners in Chennai.

<p>Prevalence and factors associated with interest in performing point-of-care testing for TB in-house among private practitioners in Chennai.</p

Comparison of Demographic and Clinical characteristics and the treatment outcomes among older TB patients registered under RNTCP in 12 districts of Tamilnadu, South India, April to June 2011.

<p>All percentages rounded off.</p><p>TB – Tuberculosis.</p><p>RNTCP- Revised National TB Control Program.</p>a<p>HIV status unknown not included.</p>b<p>Treatment outcome missing excluded.</p