GAPS IN THE DOCUMENTATIONOF HEPATITIS-C TESTS AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

OBJECTIVE: To assess the record documentation and gaps in the record keeping of data regarding hepatitis-C virus (HCV) infected patients in a teaching hospital of Khyber Pakhtunkwa Pakistan. METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted from January to February 2015, on secondary data obtained from the previous five years laboratory record of a purposively selected teaching hospital in the central districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Name of the hospital is kept confidential but research findings will be shared with the concerned medical superintendent. A pre designed check list was used to collect information from the available record. Descriptive statistics and figures were obtained using MS Excel 2007. RESULTS: Out of 120133 tests performed for HCV during those five years, 4019 (3.3%) were positive. Mean of all tests performed per month was 2002+1231.17 while mean of positive tests per month was 66.98+49.70. An overall upward trend was observed for HCV tests performed while positive tests showed fluctuation. However the record keeping of the data was poor and data recorded was deficient in terms of reproducibility. Data of three months in 2010 and 2 months in 2011 was missing. CONCLUSION: Information recorded about HCV suspects and confirmed cases are insufficient and needs improvement