Loglinear and Classification Tree Models of the Decision Paradigm of the Tuberculosis Diagnostic Committee

Year: 2010       Vol.: 59       No.: 1      

Authors: Caryl Rose E. Alfonte

Abstract:

The TB Diagnostic Committees (TBDC) evaluate cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) symptomatics who are smear-negative, but whose chest x-rays show lesions suggestive of tuberculosis that may warrant anti-TB treatment. In a review of the 600 TBDC referral forms of new patients who consulted at Manila district health centers from 2006 to 2008, the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with a positive chest x-ray and eventually leading to a diagnosis of new active PTB are identified using loglinear models and classification trees.

Keywords: Classification tree, Loglinear model, Positive chest x-ray, Pulmonary tuberculosis, Sputum smear-negative, TB Diagnostic Committee

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