New concepts in nursing management of the TB patient: a community training program

This article describes the development and implementation of interventions aimed at improving return rates for reading of Mantoux tuberculosis (TB) injections and subsequent referrals. The TB screening program, sponsored by a midwestern Native-American primary health care service, was initiated in response to an identified Native-American TB case. The return rate of 61% was considered unsatisfactory, and a program training 20 community health care, alcohol and substance, and social-service workers to read TB tests after screening by a community health nurse was implemented. Implementation of an interagency agreement developed to improve referral completion rates is described.