Healthcare workers attitudes toward long-acting injectable tuberculosis preventive treatment Restricted; Files & ToC

Abstract

Background: Insufficient uptake of and adherence to tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) among tuberculosis (TB) contacts poses a challenge to effective TB infection management. Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations of TPT are being developed with a goal of overcoming adherence limitations of oral TPT regimens. In anticipation of LAI becoming a viable option for TB prevention, the primary objective of this study was to assess health care workers’ acceptability of LAI TPT compared to oral therapy.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of healthcare workers at TB clinics in the country of Georgia from June to July 2024.

Results: Among the 127 healthcare workers who completed the survey, the median age was 57 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 47–63), the median years in the TB field was 27 (IQR 19–35), 86% were female, 59% were doctors and 41% were nurses, and half had experience prescribing or observing therapy for TPT regimens. We found that 52% were in favor of using LAI TPT, 36% remained unsure, and 12% would not favor LAI over oral TPT. Approximately two-thirds were in favor of LAI regimen with one to three total injections instead of oral therapy. Healthcare workers’ primary concerns regarding LAI were the potential for long-lasting and unexpected side effects, the need for multiple injections, and lower efficacy.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest there exists high acceptability for LAI TPT among health care workers. There may be potential to increase acceptability of LAI if they are similarly efficacious, safe, and cost-effective as oral TPT regimens. 

Table of Contents

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About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Subfield / Discipline	Global Epidemiology - MPH & MSPH
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Parola chiave	LTBI prevention acceptability tuberculosis long-acting injectable healthcare workers
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Matthew Magee, Emory University
Committee Members	Russell Kempker, Emory University

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