Feasibility of an emergency department-based XXXX counseling and screening program.

@entity1 @entity378 @entity2613 @entity645
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of an @entity2613 -based @entity378 ( @entity378 ) screening program. METHODS: A @entity378 screening program of adult @entity2613 @entity1 was conducted at a university hospital @entity2613 with 46,000 annual visits that serves a poor urban community. @entity1 were screened on weekdays during business hours. @entity2613 @entity1 were counseled about the disease and the screening procedure and, after consent, purified protein derivative (PPD) tests were placed. @entity1 returned in 48-72 hours for reaction reading and post-test counseling. PPD-positive @entity1 received a physical examination, chest x-ray, and @entity645 testing and were referred to a city @entity378 clinic for possible treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 873 @entity1 were counseled, 630 were eligible for screening, and 374 (59.4%) consented to PPD testing. Of the 203 (54.1%) who returned, 32 (15.8%) were PPD-positive. No active case was detected, but 26 @entity1 were referred to the health department. Eighteen kept their appointments and all 13 who were started on therapy completed treatment. Targeted screening of groups aged 55 years or more, nonwhite groups, and those with other high-risk factors would detect 84% of PPD-positive cases while testing only 48% of eligible @entity1 . CONCLUSION: An @entity2613 -based @entity378 screening program is feasible and can identify many @entity1 requiring treatment. Targeted screening of high-risk groups could reduce the program cost, but would miss some cases.
