The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69521

Donna L. Richter, EdD, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Health Sciences Building, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-7096, drichter@sc.edu and Donna R. Rhoades, PhD, Brighten Your Future, P.O. Box 3841, Columbia, SC 29230.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination is investigating ways of increasing private health care providers’ use of targeted testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in their patients. The goal of the To the Point! Academic Detailing in Action project is to provide state and local tuberculosis (TB) control program personnel with the tools to develop, implement, and evaluate academic detailing strategies targeting private health care providers.

Modeled on the visits of pharmaceutical representatives to physicians’ offices, academic detailing has been demonstrated to be effective in conveying concise, practical health information. In 15 minutes, a detailer conveys no more than three points, while giving the health care provider an opportunity to ask questions. Formative research was conducted with providers and patients to test the content of provider and patient educational materials on LTBI. These materials are part of a step-by-step guide to TB academic detailing.

This project has trained 10 TB nurses and district coordinators in academic detailing methods during a 6-hour training held on August 23, 2002 in Decatur, GA. Over the past 4 months, these trained Academic Detailers have contacted physicians and other health care providers throughout Georgia and taught them to assess risk and to test patients for latent TB infection. Evaluation data regarding all aspects of this pilot program will be shared in this presentation.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this presentation, the learner will be able to:
• Define academic detailing as it is used in the "To the Point" project and
• Assess its usefulness as a tool for physician education regarding the importance of testing for latent TB infection.

Keywords: TB, Physicians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.