The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Apr 2019
Multicenter StudyProvider perspectives on liberty and harm in the treatment of persons with tuberculosis and mental illness.
OBJECTIVES To examine how frontline health care workers (HCWs) and decision-makers working in tuberculosis (TB) care and mental health care conceptualise liberty, harm and the harm principle-which are often invoked in health care legislation to justify liberty restrictions-in the treatment and care of persons with TB and severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI).DESIGN Qualitative study of 20 semi-structured interviews with HCWs and decision-makers working in public or mental health from three public health units and two psychiatric hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were evaluated using thematic analysis.RESULTS Three themes were identified: 1) the contextual nature of liberty restrictions; 2) the concept of liberty as a matter of degree; and 3) the challenges of balancing the treatment and care goals of TB and mental health for persons with both TB and SPMI.CONCLUSION Harm is understood by HCWs caring for persons with TB and/or SPMI in a context-dependent manner. ⋯ Liberty restrictions to advance public health goals entail reciprocal obligations from society, including social protections and additional resources, to ease the effects and range of liberty restrictions. Attention is required to ensure that treatment and care for SPMI does not impede that of TB and vice versa. -
Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Nov 2018
Meta AnalysisAlcohol consumption and risk of tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between alcohol consumption and risk of tuberculosis (TB). ⋯ Alcohol consumption is an important risk factor for the development of TB.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Nov 2018
Family health and conditional cash transfer in Brazil and its effect on tuberculosis mortality.
Social protection can reduce poverty and act on the determinants of tuberculosis (TB). ⋯ FHS and the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programme had a positive impact on the TB mortality rate in Brazil. Public policies should include economic support combined with health promotion.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Oct 2018
Prediction equations for spirometry in healthy children from Djibouti.
To determine normal spirometric values in Djiboutian children and to compare these data with values reported by African studies and by the 2012 Global Lung Function Initiative. ⋯ The results of the present study could help to improve the clinical diagnosis of respiratory diseases in Djiboutian children.
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Int. J. Tuberc. Lung Dis. · Jun 2018
Evidence-informed policy making at country level: lessons learned from the South African Tuberculosis Think Tank.
National Tuberculosis Programmes (NTPs) require specialist input to support the development of policy and practice informed by evidence, typically against tight deadlines. ⋯ With partners, the TB Think Tank achieved major successes in supporting evidence-informed decision making, and garnered increased funding for TB in South Africa. Identifying ways to increase the involvement of NTP staff and other experts, and keeping the scope of the Think Tank well defined, could facilitate greater impact. Think tank initiatives could be replicated in other settings to support evidence-informed policy making.