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Education
Materials > The Tuberculosis Behavioral
and Social Science Research Forum Proceedings > Group Discussion
of Themes and Issues from Day One
The Tuberculosis Behavioral and Social Science Research Forum
Proceedings
Section II. Presentations and Panel Discussions
DAY ONE
Mark Nichter, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona
Day 1, Afternoon Session
Dr. Nichter led Forum participants in a group discussion of themes
that emerged during the first day of the Forum. The following is
a summary of the main themes and issues discussed.
Patients’ needs
The group recognized the importance both of addressing the needs
of TB patients, as well as overcoming the barriers to meeting those
needs. More research is needed to gather patients’ perspectives
on the following topics:
- The value patients place on their health;
- The continuum of patient needs, including social needs and
access to medications;
- Patients’ negative opinions about TB treatment;
- Patients’ mistrust of government agencies as a barrier
to TB treatment; and
- The tradeoff between long-term benefits of taking TB medications
and possible short-term drawbacks, such as unpleasant side effects.
Some underlying patient needs such as family support, housing,
and financial assistance are well documented, but policy makers
and funders must be convinced that addressing these needs may be
critical to patient adherence to TB regimens. Families of TB patients
can play either positive or negative roles in TB treatment. Supportive
families may be especially important for adolescents and some ethnic
groups.
Standardized and tailored approaches to working with TB patients
must be balanced. Adherence to standardized TB treatment protocols
is extremely important, but tailored interventions that meet patients’
individual needs may be required to facilitate such adherence.
Providers’ needs
More research should focus on identifying and understanding the
needs of TB providers in areas such as adherence to guidelines and
reimbursement for insured services. Providers also need more education
and training on dealing with patients’ emotional issues.
Patient-provider relationship
Building trust between patients and providers requires early and
ongoing attention. If treated with respect and sensitivity, clients
who may initially be considered challenging often develop good relationships
with clinicians. If a provider has undue suspicions of a patient
or has assumptions about patient non-adherence, these may present
additional barriers to working with TB patients.
Directly observed therapy programs
Participants discussed the strengths and limitations of DOT programs.
Suggestions for improving these models included the following:
- Comparison of home-based and clinic-based DOT models based
on patients’ needs;
- DOT programs designed to address issues of TB-related stigma
in work and home environments;
- Cost-effectiveness research comparing home- and clinic-based
DOT models;
- Research to identify the characteristics of subpopulations
and patients for whom DOT is particularly effective; and
- Research on the sustainability and educational and cultural
appropriateness of different DOT approaches with diverse populations.
Health care systems
Standard TB treatment protocols are needed in health care settings.
Additionally, TB control programs need capacity building to prepare
for new developments and trends, such as the increasing diversity
of populations affected by TB and the programs needed to reach varying
patient groups.
Additional challenges for health systems involve the image and reputation
of health departments and many patients’ mistrust of systems
and the medications they provide. In particular, there is a need
for better understanding of gender differences in seeking health
services. Other health care systems issues that were discussed include
the interactions between public health and private providers, and
also those between different health care programs and services,
e.g., the interaction between TB programs and HIV programs.
Policy makers
Policy makers have extremely important roles to play in the development
and support of TB programs. As they make decisions about programs,
policy makers should be encouraged to address the following issues:
- TB education needs among patients, providers, and communities
at large;
- Underlying socioeconomic and cultural factors contributing
to TB and influencing responses to TB programs;
- Health insurance needs and problems associated with various
insurance plans;
- Funding and other resources needed to support and sustain effective
TB programs; and
- Disparities in TB rates among different populations.
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