A public health intervention package for increasing tuberculosis notifications from private practitioners in Bandung, Indonesia (INSTEP2): A cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol

Abstract

Background. A significant proportion of tuberculosis (TB) patients globally make their initial visit for medical care to either an informal provider or a private practitioner, and many are not formally notified. Involvement of private practitioners (PPs) in a public–private mix for TB (TB-PPM) provides an opportunity for improving TB control. However, context-specific interventions beyond public–private agreements and mandatory notification are needed. In this study we will evaluate whether a tailored intervention package can increase TB notifications from PPs in Indonesia. Methods. This is a cluster-randomized trial of a multi-component public health intervention. 36 community health centre (CHC) areas will be selected as study locations and randomly allocated to intervention and control arms (1:1). PPs in the intervention areas will be identified using a mapping exercise and recruited into the study if they are eligible and consent. They will receive a tailored intervention package including in-person education about TB management along with bimonthly electronic refreshers, context-specific selection of referral pathways, and access to a TB-reporting app developed in collaboration with the National TB programme. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention package will increase the TB notification rate. The primary outcome will be measured by collecting notification data from the CHCs in intervention and control arms at the end of a 1-year observation period and comparing with the 1-year pre-intervention. The primary analysis will be intention-to-treat at the cluster level, using a generalised mixed model with repeated measures of TB notifications for 1 year pre- and 1 year post-intervention. Discussion. The results from this study will provide evidence on whether a tailored intervention package is effective in increasing the number of TB notifications, and whether the PPs refer presumptive TB cases correctly. The study results will guide policy in the development of TB-PPM in Indonesia and similar settings.