TB Europe Coalition, in partnership with TBPeopleUkraine, has launched a baseline assessment in Ukraine to evaluate the awareness of people currently undergoing short-course TB treatment. The assessment focuses on their knowledge and understanding of the medical aspects of their condition, available treatment approaches and support services, as well as the barriers healthcare and social workers face in prescribing and supporting short-course TB treatment.
The assessment is conducted as part of a mini-grant from the Treatment Action Group (TAG).
Objective of the study: To identify existing barriers faced by healthcare providers (phthisiatricians, primary care physicians) and social workers when prescribing and counseling people with TB — including those with drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB), and latent TB infection (LTBI) — regarding short-course treatment regimens. The study also aims to assess the level of awareness and health literacy among people with TB, in order to inform and improve future adherence support programs based on the findings.
The baseline assessment methodology is comprehensive and includes:
- Quantitative
research:
Conducting a baseline online survey among respondents receiving short-course treatment for DR-TB, DS-TB, or LTBI. - Qualitative research:
- Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with respondents with DR-TB, DS-TB, or LTBI;
- In-depth Interviews with healthcare providers (phthisiatricians and family doctors) and social workers.
Geographic coverage: The assessment will be conducted in the following regions of Ukraine: Volyn, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, and Odesa.
Data collection has been officially
launched. A total of
300 participants are expected to take part in the online baseline survey. In
addition, FGDs will be conducted with 45–50 respondents with LTBI, and 30
in-depth interviews will be carried out with healthcare and social workers.
