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An Operations Resarch Course using EpiData Software |
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Operations research in general and tuberculosis control specifically is a key activity to continuously improve and adapt program performance. In this four-part course you will systematically learn, based on a specific example using EpiData software: |
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Subject |
| A |
Efficient and quality-assured electronic capture of paper records, using as an example the Tuberculosis Microscopy Laboratory Register |
| B |
An introduction into analysis with examples on the most important commands to tabulate your data, appending multiple files with the same structure, and aggregating and saving your data in a new dataset |
| C |
Using the example from an operations research project with a dataset of 130,000 records you conduct analyses to answer specific operational research questions, such as the variability in serial sputum smear examinations, the incremental yield from serial smears, and the extent to which a positive smear result is confirmed by another examination |
| D |
More advanced techniques using EpiData software are taught, such as creating and analyzing a relational database, the principles of statistical process charts, the concept of survival analysis, and how to create an interactive report menu |
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| The exercises in this course are based on an operations research project conducted by The Union which has resulted in six peer-reviewed publications: |
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Mabaera B, Naranbat N, Dhliwayo P, Rieder H L. Efficiency of serial smear examinations in excluding sputum smear-positive tuberculosis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2006;10:1030-5. |
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Katamba A, Laticevschi D, Rieder H L. Efficiency of a third serial sputum smear examination in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Moldova and Uganda. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007;11:659-64. |
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Mabaera B, Lauritsen J M, Katamba A, Laticevschi D, Naranbat N, Rieder H L. Sputum smear-positive tuberculosis: empiric evidence challenges the need for confirmatory smears. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2007;11:959-64. |
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Mabaera B, Lauritsen J M, Katamba A, Laticevschi D, Naranbat N, Rieder H L. Making pragmatic sense of data in the tuberculosis laboratory register. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2008;12:294-300. |
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Mabaera B, Naranbat N, Katamba A, Laticevschi D, Lauritsen J M, Rieder H L. Seasonal variation among tuberculosis suspects in four countries. International Health 2009;1:53-60. |
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Rieder H L, Lauritsen J M, Naranbat N, Katamba A, Laticevschi D, Mabaera B. Quantitative differences in sputum smear microscopy results for acid-fast bacilli by age and sex in four countries. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2009;13:1393-8. |
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