Research Article: From symptom onset to treatment initiation: protocol for a narrative study exploring the journey of older adults with tuberculosis in the English Midlands, UK
Abstract:
Introduction Time from symptom onset to treatment initiation in tuberculosis (TB) remains stubbornly prolonged despite reductions in disease incidence. Delays may contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, onward spread of disease and poor patient experiences. Most delays occur prior to hospital referral. The average primary care healthcare provider in England is unlikely to see TB on a regular basis. Little is known about primary care diagnostic and referral challenges. Adults aged 65 years or older are more likely to experience delays. However, little is known about their journey from symptom onset to treatment initiation. Methods and analysis We will carry out a narrative study including adults aged 65 years or older, living in the English Midlands and receiving treatment for active TB. Twelve English and 12 Urdu or Punjabi speakers will be recruited from TB clinics and interviewed. Their primary care records will be accessed, and the primary care story and secondary care letters will be extracted. Each of the data sources will be analysed using dialogical narrative analysis. Data will be triangulated within participants and across the data set. Ethics and dissemination This study received approval from the Health Research Authority and the Research Ethics Committee in April 2022. Risk management and equity considerations have been made a priority. Findings will be disseminated through publication in open access peer-reviewed journals, presentations to policy makers, primary healthcare and secondary healthcare professionals, and through public facing materials developed in conjunction with patients, members of the pubic, TB services and charities.
Introduction:
England is a low-incidence tuberculosis (TB) country with an incidence of 7.8 per 100?000 in 2021. 1 Despite decreases in the incidence of TB since 2011, time from symptom onset to treatment initiation (treatment delay) remains stubbornly prolonged. Neither the proportion of people waiting (31.6% waited for 4 months or longer in 2021) nor the median delay (79 days, IQR 40–153) has improved in the last 5?years. 1 The TB Action Plan for England sets out the priorities and actions for TB services, the UK Health…
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