Investigation of Contacts for Latent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection: Application Software Development

• Published in: The open nursing journal Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 380 - 387
• Main Authors: Duarte, Jyselda de Jesus Lemos, de Carvalho, Herica Emilia Félix, Campelo, Viriato, Feitosa, Lucíola Galvão Gondim Corrêa, Moura, Luana Kelle Batista, Hartz, Zulmira, Ribeiro, Ivonizete Pires
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15-12-2021
• ISSN: 1874-4346; 1874-4346
• DOI: 10.2174/1874434602115010380

Introduction:
Tuberculosis is a pathology that continues to be worthy of special attention from health professionals and society due to its high prevalence, proving to be a crucial public health problem.
Objectives:
To describe the development of an application for family health strategy professionals’ investigation of tuberculosis contacts for Latent
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Infection.
Methods:
This study is applied research on an application software developed according to three of the five phases described by Falkembach for developing digital educational materials, which include analysis and planning, modeling, and implementation.
Results:
The application is dynamic; that is, it guides health professionals through sequenced screens according to professionals’ self-informed answers. This functionality helps them deciding whether to proceed to the treatment of the patient with Latent
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Infection or returning to the initial stage of a tuberculosis contact.
The screens of the application follow the flowchart presented in the Ministry of Health’s Manual of recommendations for tuberculosis control in Brazil of 2018.
Conclusion:
The application developed to guide Family Health Strategy professionals regarding
Latent Infection by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
can prevent human errors and increase the care quality when assessing tuberculosis contacts.