Journal Article Summary
The article investigates the challenges and opportunities faced by healthcare workers (HCWs) in implementing tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) for people living with HIV in the Philippines and Indonesia. This topic is crucial because tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health threat, particularly for individuals with HIV, and effective preventive strategies like TPT are essential to reduce the risk of co-infection and related mortality. Despite the availability of TPT, its uptake has been inadequate, highlighting the need to understand the perspectives of HCWs who play a vital role in delivering these services.
The study involved ten focus group discussions and four in-depth interviews with HCWs from various healthcare settings, conducted between June and December 2023. Participants shared their insights on barriers and facilitators to TPT implementation, revealing a complex landscape influenced by factors at the outer, inner, and individual levels. Key barriers included limited patient knowledge about TPT, drug shortages, and challenges in documentation and staff turnover, which affected patient trust. Conversely, supportive national policies, teamwork, and open communication were identified as facilitators that could enhance TPT delivery.
However, the study has limitations, including a small sample size of HCWs involved in prescribing TPT and a focus on urban healthcare settings, which may not fully represent rural challenges. Additionally, social desirability bias could have influenced responses, as many researchers were affiliated with the study sites. Readers are encouraged to discuss these findings with healthcare professionals, particularly regarding the importance of patient education, the need for improved documentation systems, and the potential impact of staff turnover on patient care and trust in TPT programs.
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Article Cited
- Reñosa Mark Donald C., Kulkarni Prashant, Steiner Laura, Lamigo Candice Eula, Sornillo Bianca Joyce, Hechanova-Cruz Ruth Anne, Dungca-Lorilla Anna Maureen, Hapsari Aljira Fitya, et al.. Between Process Gaps, Knowledge, and Patient Trust: Healthcare Workers’ Insights on Implementing Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy for People with HIV in the Philippines and Indonesia. Implementation Science Communications 2025. DOI: 10.1186/s43058-025-00776-z. PMID: 41029364. PMCID: PMC12487036.
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