{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T18:05:24Z","timestamp":1779473124634,"version":"3.53.1"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779408000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosglobalpublichealth.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLOS Glob Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    India bears the world\u2019s largest tuberculosis (TB) burden, and under-reporting from private-sector providers continues to hinder elimination goals. In the Akot Tuberculosis Unit (TU) of Maharashtra, private notifications remained disproportionately low despite extensive private healthcare presence. This study implemented a structured quality-improvement (QI) model using Plan\u2013Do\u2013Study\u2013Act (PDSA) cycles to enhance TB case notifications from private providers.A mixed-method quality-improvement study was conducted from August to December 2023. Four iterative PDSA cycles were implemented targeting private practitioners, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians. Interventions included sensitization workshops, weekly WhatsApp-based digital outreach, and personalized follow-up visits by Public\u2013Private Mix (PPM) coordinators. Quantitative data were extracted from the\n                    <jats:italic>Ni-kshay<\/jats:italic>\n                    platform and validated through Tuberculosis Unit records. Private notification trends (2018\u20132024) were analysed using segmented regression to assess temporal trends, while qualitative insights from key informant interviews (n\u2009=\u20096) explored barriers and enablers influencing notification practices. A total of 90 stakeholders participated (45 practitioners, 30 pharmacists, and 15 laboratory technicians). Private TB notifications increased from\n                    <jats:bold>16 of 90 total cases (17.8%)<\/jats:bold>\n                    during January\u2013July 2023\u2013\n                    <jats:bold>63 of 121 cases (52.1%)<\/jats:bold>\n                    during November\u2013December 2023, reflecting increase during the post-intervention period. The interrupted time-series analysis demonstrated a positive post-intervention trend in private TB notifications (\u03b2\u2009=\u2009+50.5, p\u2009=\u20090.032). Qualitative findings revealed that personalized digital mentoring and hands-on technical support helped address barriers such as Ni-kshay login issues, misconceptions about notification responsibility, and perceived workload. The implementation of a structured PDSA-based quality-improvement approach was associated with improvements in private-sector TB notifications in a previously low-performing tuberculosis unit. The findings suggest that integrating digital engagement, capacity building, and supportive supervision within existing NTEP structures may strengthen TB surveillance and private-sector engagement. These insights may inform scalable strategies to improve TB notification systems in similar programmatic settings.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0006480","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]],"date-time":"2026-05-22T17:24:03Z","timestamp":1779470643000},"page":"e0006480","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgph.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Improving private tuberculosis patient notifications in Akot Tuberculosis Unit of Vidarbha region of India: A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) based approach for enhanced public health reporting"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8624-4131","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Umesh","family":"Kawalkar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-3425-3944","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Manish","family":"Sharma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4814-2695","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Abhay","family":"Gaidhane","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-4109-548X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Amar","family":"Mankar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2103-3015","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Snehal","family":"Chavhan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9389-8996","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Mahesh","family":"Puri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Priti","family":"Kogade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anshu","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zahiruddin Quazi","family":"Syed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"pgph.0006480.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100480","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jctube.2024.100480","article-title":"Tuberculosis in South Asia: A regional analysis of burden, progress, and future projections using the global burden of disease (1990\u20132021)","volume":"37","author":"V Kumar","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis"},{"key":"pgph.0006480.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2471\/B09195","volume-title":"Global report on infection prevention and control 2024","author":"World Health Organization WHO","year":"2024"},{"issue":"10","key":"pgph.0006480.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjgh-2021-006114","article-title":"Engaging with the private healthcare sector for the control of tuberculosis in India: cost and 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