TDF LIFT-TB Philippines Project gears for BPaL OR
implementation with needs assessment of OR sites
The LIFT-TB Philippines project that will provide access to the BPaL regimen in the country under operational research, in collaboration with the National TB Program (NTP), the research team and partners, recently concluded the conduct of the needs assessment (NA) for the twelve BPaL OR sites in ten regions nationwide as it paves the way for implementation in March 2021. The activity aimed to identify strengths and gaps in the OR sites and assess their readiness for the OR. Recommendations were provided for capacity strengthening and support for an efficient implementation. With guidance from the LIFT-TB Philippines Overall Consultant Dr. Mamel Quelapio, the research team ably facilitated each NA led by Dr Irene Flores (Principal Investigator, Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital) with support from the Research Specialist and M & E Specialist, Ms Jamie Cabasis and Ms Rhoda Cervas both from the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP). Providing technical and administrative support were BPaL focal points from the NTP (Dr Mary Rose Santiago and Ms Maricar Silva), National TB Reference Laboratory - NTRL (Mr Dodge Lim, Mr Earl Christian Mantes and Ms Allyson Tolentino), Philippine Business for Social Progress - PBSP (Mr Franco Dino Bonifacio, Ms Khrizza Marianne del Mundo and the respective team leaders and program officers for each facility). On behalf of the International Tuberculosis Research Center, Korea, the Tropical Disease Foundation (TDF) LIFT-TB Phl Coordinator, Ms Maricel Trono and Data Manager, Ms Evelyn Joson, provided administrative support.
Preparatory activities
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) developed the generic NA tool with inputs from the NTP, NTRL and the research team. The project facilitated the revisions on the paper-based tool that was pilot tested on December 22, 2020 in the TDF DR-TB Satellite Treatment Center (STC). Based on the feedback, an electronic version of the tool was developed by the TDF project team to facilitate ease and speed of use. The electronic tool was re-piloted in the TDF DR-TB STC on January 7, 2021 for further evaluation.
An accompanying SOP was developed by the LIFT-TB Phl team to guide the NA team members on the activity and use of the electronic tool. An orientation/training for the research team was then conducted for their familiarization with the tool.
Download Electronic Version Tool
Actual conduct
The methodologies used were interviews of the OR site physicians and PMDT nurses from each site, and review of relevant documents such as patient records and registers. The interview was facilitated by the principal investigator, with double data encoding to the electronic version by the research team and TDF staff. Each NA took 2.5-3 hours via zoom per site and was conducted according to a pre-arranged schedule as shown in the Table below. The three-part NA tool pertained to the a) health facility; b) patient care and monitoring; and c) recommendations. At the conclusion of each NA, a summary was provided by the research team to the site, and a group discussion on the findings and recommendations was held among the NA team members after the session where the NTP provided guidance on policy-related discussions, while partners from the NTRL and the PBSP, Principal Recipient of the Global Fund, ensured support in the gaps and challenges raised by the sites. The LIFT-TB consultant ensured alignment of discussions according to the BPaL OR protocol.
BPaL OR sites, focal points and NA schedule
|
No. |
OR site / facility name |
Date NA |
Focal points |
|
|
Physician |
Nurse |
|||
|
1 |
Lung Center of the Philippines PMDT TC (LCP) |
01/12/21 |
Jo-An S. Tuy, MD |
Ma. Jhoanna De Gracia, RN |
|
2 |
Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital PMDT TC (DJNMRH) |
01/12/21 |
Chiqui Villegas, MD |
Mark Jolex Repolles, RN |
|
3 |
Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital (JBLMRH) |
01/14/21 |
Sheryll Magayanes, MD |
Mary Joy Chavez, RN |
|
4 |
Eversley Child Sanitarium (ECS |
01/15/21 |
Alimar Nassaie, MD |
Leah Tago, RN |
|
5 |
Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) |
01/18/21 |
Leonnie Estoce, MD |
Elena Belicano, RN |
|
6 |
Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) |
01/20/21 |
Marcelino Medina, MD |
Shermain Labrador, RN |
|
7 |
Xavier University Community Health Care Center (XU-CHCC) |
01/21/21 |
Leslie Magsayo-Salon, MD |
Doris F. Apit, RN |
|
8 |
Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) |
01/22/21 |
Virgilio Dave Cania, MD |
David Glen Olimba, RN |
|
9 |
Batangas Medical Center (BatMC) |
01/22/21 |
Hanicarl Buhay, MD |
Roma Joy Torres, RN |
|
10 |
Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Services (SMMGHHSC) |
01/25/21 |
Nancy Rose F. Labarete, MD |
Carlo Ryan F. Estopase, RN |
|
11 |
Region I Medical Center (R1MC) |
01/27/21 |
Arthur M. Sy, MD |
Mary Magdalene P. Rufo, RN |
|
12 |
Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) |
01/27/21 |
Melissa Abado, MD |
Lovely L. Ducusin, RN |
Next steps
The research team is currently processing the NA results and following-up the actions taken by each site on the recommendations provided by the NA team. TDF developed an electronic database to serve as an easy reference for the research team consolidating the results. A dissemination meeting among the BPaL OR stakeholders, to be led by the research team, is planned for February 16, 2021, after which an Implementation Plan will be developed, based on the agreements and decisions arrived at in this meeting, to guide all stakeholders on the standard operating procedures of the project.
Needs assessment (NA) of Jose B. Lingad Regional Hospital (JBL) via Zoom with OR site staff and NA team members
The electronic NA tool for JBL