At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island
Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes long-standing public health concerns. Echocardiography is a reliable diagnostic and screening technique for many cardiovascular conditions, including RHD. It is commonly used in tertiary care facilities...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241233178 |
| _version_ | 1797289827957211136 |
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| author | Sam Froze Jiee Lim Kai Joo Pee Nai Eng Aini Simon Sumeh Anisah Jantim Selvanaayagam Shanmuganathan Siva Rao Muniandy |
| author_facet | Sam Froze Jiee Lim Kai Joo Pee Nai Eng Aini Simon Sumeh Anisah Jantim Selvanaayagam Shanmuganathan Siva Rao Muniandy |
| author_sort | Sam Froze Jiee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes long-standing public health concerns. Echocardiography is a reliable diagnostic and screening technique for many cardiovascular conditions, including RHD. It is commonly used in tertiary care facilities worldwide but less so in the community setting. The primary aim of this study was to introduce and elaborate on the echocardiographic screening for RHD that was implemented by a Malaysian primary care clinic in Penampang district, Sabah. We also set out to present the uptake of the service in its initial years of establishment, as well as the challenges faced. Methods: In the first part of this study, document reviews were conducted to compile relevant information about the conceptualization and implementation of this service. Following that, we also obtained secondary data on the echocardiographic screening service from its first implementation in April 2020 until May 2021 to examine the uptake and the patient profile. Results: From April 2020 to May 2021, a total of 189 echocardiographic screening was conducted by primary care doctors using handheld ultrasound. Of the 189 children screened, 19 (10.1%) were found to have cardiac anomalies and were referred for a formal echocardiogram. Upon follow-up, 8 were detected with mild mitral regurgitation and referred to the nearest tertiary hospital for further management. Conclusion: Based on our review, the echocardiographic screening for RHD among children conducted by the Penampang Health Clinic was deemed successful. Echocardiogram service provided by primary care centers located in suburban and rural areas is highly beneficial for patients with poor access to specialized health care services because they stay far away from tertiary care facilities. Tapping into family medicine physicians located closer to communities to conduct echocardiographic screening and review the results can improve the detection of cardiac anomalies requiring further investigation. With the success of this project, echocardiographic services in the primary healthcare setting can be expanded by garnering the necessary collaborative efforts and consistent support from various stakeholders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:11:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4fb590aff4045259df021c51637700c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-1327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:11:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4fb590aff4045259df021c51637700c2024-03-01T03:04:25ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Primary Care & Community Health2150-13272024-02-011510.1177/21501319241233178At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo IslandSam Froze Jiee0Lim Kai Joo1Pee Nai Eng2Aini Simon Sumeh3Anisah Jantim4Selvanaayagam Shanmuganathan5Siva Rao Muniandy6Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, MalaysiaPenampang District Health Office, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, MalaysiaPenampang District Health Office, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, MalaysiaPenampang District Health Office, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, MalaysiaPenampang District Health Office, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, MalaysiaThe University of Sydney, AustraliaQueen Elizabeth Hospital II, Sabah State Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia, MalaysiaBackground: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes long-standing public health concerns. Echocardiography is a reliable diagnostic and screening technique for many cardiovascular conditions, including RHD. It is commonly used in tertiary care facilities worldwide but less so in the community setting. The primary aim of this study was to introduce and elaborate on the echocardiographic screening for RHD that was implemented by a Malaysian primary care clinic in Penampang district, Sabah. We also set out to present the uptake of the service in its initial years of establishment, as well as the challenges faced. Methods: In the first part of this study, document reviews were conducted to compile relevant information about the conceptualization and implementation of this service. Following that, we also obtained secondary data on the echocardiographic screening service from its first implementation in April 2020 until May 2021 to examine the uptake and the patient profile. Results: From April 2020 to May 2021, a total of 189 echocardiographic screening was conducted by primary care doctors using handheld ultrasound. Of the 189 children screened, 19 (10.1%) were found to have cardiac anomalies and were referred for a formal echocardiogram. Upon follow-up, 8 were detected with mild mitral regurgitation and referred to the nearest tertiary hospital for further management. Conclusion: Based on our review, the echocardiographic screening for RHD among children conducted by the Penampang Health Clinic was deemed successful. Echocardiogram service provided by primary care centers located in suburban and rural areas is highly beneficial for patients with poor access to specialized health care services because they stay far away from tertiary care facilities. Tapping into family medicine physicians located closer to communities to conduct echocardiographic screening and review the results can improve the detection of cardiac anomalies requiring further investigation. With the success of this project, echocardiographic services in the primary healthcare setting can be expanded by garnering the necessary collaborative efforts and consistent support from various stakeholders.https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241233178 |
| spellingShingle | Sam Froze Jiee Lim Kai Joo Pee Nai Eng Aini Simon Sumeh Anisah Jantim Selvanaayagam Shanmuganathan Siva Rao Muniandy At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island Journal of Primary Care & Community Health |
| title | At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island |
| title_full | At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island |
| title_fullStr | At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island |
| title_full_unstemmed | At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island |
| title_short | At the Heart of the Community: Implementation of Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Primary Care Facilities of Northern Borneo Island |
| title_sort | at the heart of the community implementation of echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease in primary care facilities of northern borneo island |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241233178 |
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