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Education
Materials > The Tuberculosis Behavioral
and Social Science Research Forum Proceedings > Executive
Summary
The Tuberculosis Behavioral and Social Science Research Forum
Proceedings
Executive Summary
In December 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), Division of Tuberculosis Elimination (DTBE) convened the
TB Behavioral and Social Science Research Forum: Planting the
Seeds for Future Research. The Forum’s overarching goal was
to identify and prioritize TB behavioral and social science research
needs, which will be used to develop a research agenda for TB prevention,
control, and treatment. These Forum Proceedings include summaries
of presentations and discussions, as well as a synthesis of research
needs and priorities identified by attendees.
Forum presentations addressed behavioral and social science research
in TB, including CDC’s current research activities in these disciplines.
Dr. Jessica Ogden and Dr. Masae Kawamura delivered keynote addresses
on the role of behavioral and social sciences in TB control, and
how research can improve TB treatment and control programs. Other
speakers presented specific research findings addressing cultural,
social, and environmental influences on TB education and patient
adherence to treatment. A panel of patients and providers described
their firsthand experiences with local TB programs. In addition,
a panel of scientists described strategies to disseminate and translate
research findings into practice.
The Forum included breakout sessions for participants to identify
needs and priorities for TB behavioral and social science research.
Section III of the Forum Proceedings is a compilation of the results
of the breakout sessions. The identified topics, subtopics, methodologies,
and research questions have been organized using five broad levels
of influence based on a socio-ecological framework. The five broad
levels, along with a few examples, are listed below:
- Intrapersonal: patients’ knowledge, attitudes,
and perceptions (KAP); health-seeking behaviors; acceptance of
and adherence to treatment; patient satisfaction; social stigma;
and providers’ KAP, training, and practices
- Interpersonal: communication between patients
and providers; family and peer influences
- Health systems and organizations: organizational
structure (including collaboration between provider communities
and systems; impact of sharing patient information); service delivery;
contact investigations; health communications; and special challenges
of high risk settings and populations
- Community: impact of TB services on communities
and patients
- Public policy: government commitment and funding;
health insurance and immigration policies
Forum participants’ presentations and discussions reaffirmed the
ongoing need for behavioral and social science research to improve
TB prevention and control. It is CDC’s hope that the Forum Proceedings
will be widely used to plan future behavioral and social science
research and programmatic activities to enhance TB prevention and
control.
The Forum Proceedings document is divided into four main sections:
Section I: Introduction and Background
- Introduction
- Background information on TB behavioral and social science
research
Section II: Presentations and Panel Discussions
- Summaries of Forum presentations and panel discussions
Section III: Results of Breakout Group Sessions
- Identification of TB behavioral and social science research
gaps and needs
- Outline and descriptions of major TB behavioral and social
science research topics and subtopics identified at the Forum
Section IV: Appendices
- Forum agenda
- Presentation slides
- List of major TB behavioral and social science research topics,
subtopics, and questions
- Participant list
- References
For more information about the CDC DTBE Forum,
join the TB Behavioral and Social Science listserv at
http://cdcnpin.org/scripts/tb_behavioral_science.asp
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