Systematic screening for tuberculosis disease

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Overview: This e-learning course was developed by WHO. It is a self-paced online course that follows the content of the WHO operational handbook on tuberculosis. Module 2: Systematic screening for tuberculosis disease (2021).

Course duration: About 2.5 hours

Certificate: Participants with an 80% score or more on the final assessment can download a Certificate of Achievement. Participants who receive a Certificate of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this e-course. Click here to learn how.

Course Version: This is “Version 1.0” of this online course. At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to share your feedback in a course evaluation survey. Please take the time to share your experience and opinions. Your feedback will be used to refine and update the course to produce a “Version 2.0”.

© World Health Organization 2023. All rights reserved. This e-learning course was developed by the World Health Organization. It is intended to be used as a self-learning course on Systematic screening for tuberculosis disease. All reasonable precautions have been taken by WHO to verify the information contained in this e-learning training. However, the e-learning course is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the e-learning course lies with the reader. In no event shall WHO be liable for damages arising from its use. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WHO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted and dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.

What you’ll learn

After completing this e-learning course, you will:

• explain the rationale for systematic screening and describe the key principles of TB screening.
• list the populations in which TB screening is recommended in all settings; and the populations in which TB screening is conditionally recommended depending on the context.
• describe the available screening tools, for whom they are recommended, and implementation considerations.
• describe the basic features of and consider relevant factors when choosing a screening or diagnostic algorithm.
• describe different models of service delivery.
• name the main performance indicators and how to interpret them to achieve their purpose in programme monitoring.

Who is this course for

This e-learning course was developed for persons that provide guidance to countries on the uptake of WHO guidelines, like National Programme managers and Ministries of Health technical staff, WHO staff, staff of technical agencies, consultants, and anyone else supporting countries and major subnational units in development and implementation of policies and guidelines on screening for tuberculosis disease.  It is assumed that you have experience working in TB and are familiar with WHO TB guidelines.