Table 1.
Responses to the survey questions in the three groups
| Question | Answer | Ophthalmology N (%) | Pulmonology N (%) | Rheumatology N (%) | Total N (%) | Pearson chi-square test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Do you see active TB routinely in your practice |
Frequently |
5 (26.3) |
9 (100) |
1 (11.1) |
15 (40.5) |
0.001 |
| Rarely |
14 (73.7) |
0 |
8 (88.9) |
22 (59.5) |
|||
| 2 |
Do you see latent TB routinely in your practice |
Frequently |
18 (94.7) |
5 (55.6) |
7 (77.8) |
30 (81.1) |
|
| Rarely |
1 (5.3) |
4 (44.4) |
2 (22.2) |
7 (18.9) |
|||
| 3 |
Does your center do the Quantiferon TB Gold test in your own laboratory |
No |
14 (73.7) |
9 (100) |
7 (77.8) |
30 (81.1) |
|
| Yes |
5 (26.3) |
0 (0) |
2 (22.2) |
7 (18.9) |
|||
| 4 |
If your center does not do this test, is the test readily accessible to you |
No |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2 (22.2) |
2 (5.4) |
|
| Yes |
19 (100) |
9 (100) |
7 (77.8) |
35 (94.6) |
|||
| 5 |
Do you send the blood sample for this test to a laboratory outside your city |
No |
13 (68.4) |
7 (77.8) |
6 (66.7) |
26 (70.3) |
|
| Not sure |
1 (5.3) |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
2 (5.4) |
|||
| Yes |
5 (26.3) |
2 (22.2) |
2 (22.2) |
9 (24.3) |
|||
| 6 |
What is the approximate cost of the test to your patient |
Above Rs. 2,000/− |
12 (63.2) |
6 (66.7) |
6 (66.7) |
24 (64.9) |
|
| Below Rs. 1,000/− |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
0 (0) |
1 (2.7) |
|||
| Between Rs. 1,000/− and Rs. 2,000/− |
7 (36.8) |
2 (22.2) |
3 (33.3) |
12 (32.4) |
|||
| 7 |
Do you do a Mantoux test routinely on all patients with suspected TB |
Always |
19 (100) |
1 (11.1) |
3 (33.3) |
23 (62.2) |
0.001 |
| Sometimes |
0 (0) |
8 (88.9) |
6 (66.7) |
14 (37.8) |
|||
| Never |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
|||
| 8 |
Do you consider Mantoux test a criterion for starting a patient on ATT in suspected TB |
Always |
7 (36.8) |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
8 (21.6) |
|
| Never |
2 (10.5) |
2 (22.2) |
3 (33.3) |
7 (18.9) |
|||
| Sometimes |
10 (52.6) |
7 (77.8) |
5 (55.6) |
22 (59.5) |
|||
| 9 |
Do you use Quantiferon TB Gold test in your practice |
Never |
1 (5.3) |
2 (22.2) |
0 (0) |
3 (8.1) |
|
| Routinely |
8 (42.1) |
0 (0) |
4 (44.4) |
12 (32.4) |
|||
| Sometimes |
10 (52.6) |
7 (77.8) |
5 (55.6) |
22 (59.5) |
|||
| 10 |
How often do you get indeterminate as a result in the Quantiferon TB Gold test |
Always |
1 (5.3) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (2.7) |
|
| Never |
5 (26.3) |
3 (33.3) |
0 (0) |
8 (21.6) |
|||
| Sometimes |
13 (68.4) |
6 (66.7) |
9 (100) |
28 (75.7) |
|||
| 11 |
In what categories do you see indeterminate result in the Quantiferon TB Gold test (can tick >1 option) |
Age < 18 years |
1 (5.3) |
1 (11.1) |
0 (0) |
2 (5.4) |
|
| Age > 60 years |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
1 (2.7) |
|||
| Between ages 18 to 60 years |
3 (15.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3 (8.1) |
|||
| Not sure |
15 (78.9) |
8 (88.9) |
8 (88.9) |
31 (83.8) |
|||
| 11 |
Do you perform Mantoux test routinely in all patients prior to starting immunosuppressants (not biologics) |
Always |
17 (89.5) |
2 (22.2) |
0 (0) |
19 (51.4) |
|
| Never |
2 (10.5) |
3 (33.3) |
5 (55.6) |
10 (27) |
|||
| Sometimes |
0 (0) |
4 (44.4) |
4 (44.4) |
8 (21.6) |
|||
| 12 |
Do you perform Quantiferon TB Gold test routinely in all patients prior to starting immunosuppressants (not biologics) |
Always |
3 (15.8) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
3 (8.1) |
|
| Never |
6 (31.6) |
6 (66.7) |
5 (55.6) |
17 (45.9) |
|||
| Sometimes |
10 (52.6) |
3 (33.3) |
4 (44.4) |
17 (45.9) |
|||
| 13 |
Your preferred investigation in suspected TB in your subset of patients |
Both |
15 (78.9) |
2 (22.2) |
2 (22.2) |
19 (51.4) |
|
| Mantoux test |
3 (15.8) |
3 (33.3) |
3 (33.3) |
9 (24.3) |
|||
| None |
1 (5.3) |
3 (33.3) |
2 (22.2) |
6 (16.2) |
|||
| Quantiferon TB Gold test |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
2 (22.2) |
3 (8.1) |
|||
| 14 |
Do you treat a patient with suspected TB on the basis of a positive Quantiferon TB Gold test alone |
Frequently |
3 (15.8) |
1 (11.1) |
2 (22.2) |
6 (16.2) |
|
| Rarely |
7 (36.8) |
7 (77.8) |
2 (22.2) |
16 (43.2) |
|||
| Sometimes |
9 (47.4) |
1 (11.1) |
5 (55.6) |
15 (40.5) |
|||
| 15 |
Do you treat a patient with suspected TB on the basis of a positive Mantoux test alone |
Frequently |
7 (36.8) |
0 (0) |
1 (11.1) |
8 (21.6) |
|
| Rarely |
5 (26.3) |
8 (88.9) |
4 (44.4) |
17 (45.9) |
|||
| Sometimes |
7 (36.8) |
1 (11.1) |
4 (44.4) |
12 (32.4) |
|||
| 16 |
In your experience, how do you rate the results of Quantiferon TB Gold test for suspected TB in India with the results projected by the developed world |
Comparable |
10 (52.6) |
2 (22.2) |
2 (22.2) |
14 (37.8) |
0.163 |
| Non-comparable |
9 (47.4) |
7 (77.8) |
7 (77.8) |
23 (62.2) |
|||
| 17 | In your opinion, the limitation with Quantiferon TB Gold test is | ||||||