The World Health Organization (WHO) made an interim conditional recommendation relating to the general use of integrated treatment decision algorithms (TDAs) for tuberculosis (TB) treatment decision-making in children in the 2022 WHO consolidated guidelines on the management of TB in children and adolescents. Treatment decision algorithms are designed to help clinicians make a decision to start TB treatment in a child, based on microbiological, clinical and radiological evidence. Two evidence-based TDAs are included in the accompanying operational handbook on the management of TB in children and adolescents, aiming at improving case detection.
TDR (the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases) in close collaboration with the Global TB programme at WHO and technical partners have developped TDA4Child (TB treatment Decision Algorithms for Children), an operational research package to evaluate the performance, feasibility, acceptability and impact of TDAs for pulmonary TB in children under 10 years old.
The TDA4Child tools aim to facilitate the conduct of operational research, and to generate data that are harmonized across different implementation settings using a standardized methodology.
TDA4Child research package includes a master protocol, paper data collection tools and key study procedures that investigators can use and adapt to their context.
Evidence from this research can play a key role in informing programmatic implementation at the country level, and also provide important data to the global TB community to strengthen the evidence base and inform guidance on the management of TB in children and adolescents.
TDR support to country study teams
The implementation team at TDR, and technical partners are available to provide in-country and remote support to study investigators during the adaptation of the protocol and implementation of the study. Additional generic tools for planning, implementing and monitoring are available in English and French upon request.
For any query, investigators can email: merlec@who.int
Paper data collection tools
English
French
1 : Formulaire de sélection pour l’étude
2b : Formulaire BAAR microscopie
2h : Autre formulaire de test diagnostic tuberculose
2j : Calcul du score de l'algorithme de décision thérapeutique (ADT)
3 : Formulaire de suivi à deux mois
4 : Définition consensus et formulaire revue du critère de jugement principal
5 : Formulaire du site d'étude
6 : Formulaire de notifications mensuelles
Related news
GTB guidelines and handbook
The TDA4Child research package is aligned with:
Operational handbook on the management of TB in children and adolescents