TB Notes Newsletter
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No. 3, 2009
DTBE’s Comprehensive and Innovative Training Program on the Revised RVCT
Background
The Report of Verified Case of Tuberculosis(RVCT) is the standardized data collection form of the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System (NTSS). DTBE determined that the RVCT needed to be modified to identify priority issues in TB control and to accommodate the changing epidemiology of TB in terms of risk factors, new drug treatments, and enhanced laboratory capacity for diagnostic tests. The revised RVCT, implemented in January 2009, includes 11 new variables and 25 revised items. The revision is the culmination of years of work by the DTBE-sponsored RVCT Work Group, which included nearly 30 persons from DTBE, the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association, and state and local TB programs.
RVCT Training Course
An interdisciplinary training team at DTBE (see photo) was assembled to develop training materials on the use of the RVCT that would ensure the quality and completeness of the data being recorded on the form. This team created a comprehensive and innovative training program that has been used to teach almost 300 TB health care providers from over 85% of the 60 NTSS reporting areas. To allow training to occur in multiple settings, the RVCT training materials include a set of modules that can be used in either a facilitated training course or as self-study. The modules provide instructions for completing each item on the RVCT form, case studies to enable participants to practice applying the instructions to life-like situations, and a post-test to determine participants’ increase in knowledge of the course content. The modules include a facilitator guide for trainers who will teach staff how to accurately complete the RVCT. In addition, a separate training-of-trainers course was developed to build the training capacity at the state and local levels. Over 80 persons have been trained to facilitate the RVCT training course.
Before full implementation, the RVCT training program was extensively field tested and reviewed. In course evaluations, participants indicated that
- The facilitator-led training course was effective
- They were confident that they could accurately complete the new TB surveillance form after having attended the course.
Health care staff have been very enthusiastic about the training program. Following are selected comments from the RVCT training course participants:
“After the RVCT training, I realized there were some items that I thought I was filling in correctly, but now I know that I need to change some things.”
“The exercises were comprehensive and detailed, and the case studies were good for testing knowledge.”
“Excellent and useful scenarios. I will be able to use these materials at home.”
Awards
The RVCT training team has received the following awards for developing the RVCT Training Program:
- 2009 CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention Honor Award - Customer Service Award
- CDC/DTBE Director’s Recognition Award, 1st Quarter (January-March) 2009
Partners
Development of the RVCT training program has been a truly collaborative effort that included many stakeholders from the United States and its jurisdictions. The RVCT training team would like to acknowledge and thank our many partners who provided input and insights into the RVCT training materials.
How to Obtain the RVCT Training Materials
For more information on the RVCT and the training materials, visit www.cdc.gov/tb or ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Software/TIMS/2009 RVCT Documentation/RVCT Training Materials/
Continuing education units are available free of charge for the RVCT Self-Study Modules.
—Reported by DTBE’s RVCT Training Team:
Elvin Magee, Cheryl Tryon, Lilia Manangan, Al Forbes, and Bruce Heath
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE)
1600 Clifton Rd., NE
MS E10
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
