Stigma, depression, quality of life, and the need for psychosocial support among people with tuberculosis in Indonesia: A multi-site cross-sectional study.

Stigma towards people with tuberculosis (TB-Stigma) is associated with other psychosocial consequences of TB including mental illness and reduced quality of life (QoL). We evaluated TB-Stigma, depression, QoL, and the need for psychosocial support among adults with TB in Indonesia, a high TB burden country. In this primary health facility-based survey in seven provinces of Indonesia, from February to November 2022, we interviewed adults receiving (a) intensive phase treatment for drug-susceptible (DS) TB at public facilities, (b) treatment at private facilities, (c) those lost to follow up (LTFU) to treatment, and (d) those receiving TB retreatment. We used our previously validated Indonesian TB-Stigma Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and EQ-5D-5L to measure TB-Stigma, depression, and QoL. Additional questions assessed what psychosocial support was received or needed by participants. We recruited and interviewed 612 people, of whom 60.6% (96%CI 59.6-64.5%) experienced moderate TB-Stigma. The average TB-Stigma scores were 19.0 (SD 6.9; min-max 0-50; Form A-Patient Perspective) and 23.4 (SD 8.4, min-max 0-50; Form B-Community Perspective). The scores were higher among people receiving treatment at private facilities (adjusted B [aB] 2.48; 0.94-4.03), those LTFU (aB 2.86; 0.85-4.87), males (aB 1.73; 0.59-2.87), those losing or changing job due to TB (aB 2.09; 0.31-3.88) and those living in a rural area (aB 1.41; 0.19-2.63). Depression was identified in 41.5% (95% CI 37.7-45.3%) of participants. Experiencing TB-Stigma was associated with moderately severe to severe depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.23; 1.15-1.32) and both stigma and depression were associated with lower QoL (aB -0.013; [-0.016]-[-0.010]). Informational (20.8%), emotional (25.9%) and instrumental (10.6%) support received from peers or peer-groups was limited, and unmet need for such support was high. There is a sizeable and intersecting burden of TB-Stigma and depression among adults with TB in Indonesia, which is associated with lower QoL. Participants reported a substantial unmet need for psychosocial support including peer-led mutual support groups. A community-based peer-led psychosocial support intervention is critical to defray the psychosocial impact of TB in Indonesia.

The development of the national tuberculosis research priority in Indonesia: A comprehensive mixed-method approach.

Ranked second in global tuberculosis (TB) incidence, Indonesia has developed a National Strategy for TB Prevention and Control 2020-2024 to accelerate the TB elimination program. Research and innovation are key pillars to support the program and need to be prioritised. This study aimed to develop updated national TB research priorities in Indonesia. This study was a mixed-methods study consisting of an open survey, a published literature survey, and Delphi survey. The open survey invited all related TB stakeholders to answer (a) the main barriers of the TB program and (b) the need for studies to support TB elimination. The published literature survey retrieved scientific articles published in national and international journals between 2015 and 2020 to identify gaps between published research and the current national strategy for TB control. The online survey and literature survey informed a panel of TB experts in a two-phase Delphi Survey to select the top 10 priority research topics. We identified 322 articles and analysed 1143 open survey responses. Through two-phases Delphi surveys, top ten research categories were listed: early TB detection; diagnosis and treatment of DR-TB; contact investigation; case detection and treatment of child TB; TB preventive therapy; government policy; laboratory for drug-sensitive- and drug-resistant-TB diagnosis; treatment adherence; diagnostic tool development; and community empowerment. This study also found the gap between stakeholders' interests and the importance of translating research into policy and practice. TB research priorities have been identified through the involvement of various stakeholders. The combination of an online survey, a published literature survey, and a Delphi survey was a rigorous methodology and was fit to build a systematic consensus about the priority of TB research.

The implementation of smoke-free workplace policy and the determinants affecting indoor smoking in Indonesia.

A smoke-free workplace is important to reduce secondhand smoke exposure, raise awareness, encourage smoking cessation, and increase productivity. This study aimed to assess indoor smoking in the workplace as part of a smoke-free policy implementation and the factors associated. This was a cross-sectional study at workplaces in Indonesia from October 2019 to January 2020. The workplaces were divided into private workplaces owned by a company for business and government workplaces that run for public services. Samples were selected using stratified random sampling. Data collection follows time and area observation guidelines, starting in the indoor area and then outdoor. The observation was conducted for at least 20 min for each workplace in 41 districts/cities. Of the 2900 observed workplaces, 1097 (37.8%) were private and 1803 (62.92%) were government workplaces. The proportion of indoor smoking at government workplaces was 34.7%, higher compared to private (14.4%). The results were consistent for each indicator such as people smoking (14.7% vs. 4.5%), electronic cigarette use (0.7% vs. 0.4%), cigarette butts presence (25.8% vs. 9.5%), and smell of cigarette smoke (23.0% vs. 8.6%). The factors associated with indoor smoking were indoor ashtray availability (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =13.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.6-17.5), indoor designated smoking area (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4-4.0), presence of indoor tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorships (AOR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3-8.89), whereas the presence of no smoking sign was a preventive factor (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8). Indoor smoking remains high, particularly in government workplaces in Indonesia.

Characterising and Addressing the Psychosocial Impact of Tuberculosis in Indonesia (CAPITA): A study protocol.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-related stigma remains a key barrier for people with TB to access and engage with TB services and can contribute to the development of mental illnesses. This study aims to characterise stigmatisation towards people with TB and its psychosocial impact in Indonesia. Methods: This study will apply a sequential mixed method in two main settings: TB services-based population (setting 1) and workplace-based population (setting 2). In setting 1, we will interview 770 adults with TB who undergo sensitive-drug TB treatment in seven provinces of Indonesia. The interview will use the validated TB Stigma Scale questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and EQ-5D-5L to assess stigma, mental illness, and quality of life. In Setting 2, we will deploy an online questionnaire to 640 adult employees in 12 public and private companies. The quantitative data will be followed by in-depth interview to TB-related stakeholders. Results: CAPITA will not only characterise the enacted stigma which are directly experienced by people with TB, but also self-stigma felt by people with TB, secondary stigma faced by their family members, and structural stigma related to the law and policy. The qualitative analyses will strengthen the quantitative findings to formulate the potential policy direction for zero TB stigma in health service facilities and workplaces. Involving all stakeholders, i.e., people with TB, healthcare workers, National Tuberculosis Program officers, The Ministry of Health Workforce, company managers, and employees, will enhance the policy formulation. The validated tool to measure TB-related stigma will also be promoted for scaling up to be implemented at the national level. Conclusions: To improve patient-centered TB control strategy policy, it is essential to characterise and address TB-related stigma and mental illness and explore the needs for psychosocial support for an effective intervention to mitigate the psychosocial impact of TB.

The Implementation of Early Detection in Tuberculosis Contact Investigation to Improve Case Finding.

The early detection of Tuberculosis (TB) among TB contacts is a strategy to find TB cases in earlier stage and to stop the transmission. This study aimed to assess the implementation of early detection in TB contact investigation to improve TB case finding. This was an operational research study conducted in Badung District, Bali, Indonesia. The samples were TB contacts, identified in the period July through September (third quarter) 2017. Contacts were household members who were living and sharing a room at least for 3 months with infectious TB patients and were not previously diagnosed with TB. Data were collected through face-to-face interview using structured questionnaires and registration reviews using a checklist. We visited 124 TB patients and successfully identified 498 contacts, thus the ratio of contacts to cases is 4:1. All TB contacts were invited to participate in TB screening and evaluation program. A total of 100 (20.1%) contacts have attended at least one examination session and 41 contacts have completed all sessions. Ten TB cases were found among the contacts, of which four of them were adults (three bacteriologically confirmed and one clinically confirmed) and six were children (aged under 15 years). The positivity rate among children was higher (46.2%) compared with adults (14.3%). The positivity rate of confirmed TB among contacts with any TB symptoms was 43.8% and that without symptoms was 12.0%. The contribution of early detection in TB contact investigation to improve TB case finding was 8.1% through all TB patients. The early detection in TB contact investigation yielded additional notified cases, especially among children. A comprehensive education, covering cognitive and psychological aspect, is needed to encourage TB contacts to completely participate in early detection program until their diagnosis is confirmed.

Factors Associated with Participation in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Screening Using Chest X-Ray among Diabetes Mellitus Type II Patients in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of developing pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease. Therefore, pulmonary TB screening among DM patients is essential. This study aimed to identify factors associated with participation of DM type II patients in pulmonary TB screening using chest X-ray. This was a cross-sectional analytic study and was part of TB-DM screening study in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. The sample consisted of 365 DM type II patients selected by quota sampling among DM type II patients joining the screening program from January until March 2016 in 11 public health centres in Denpasar. Data were collected via structured interviews. The contributing factors were determined by modified Poisson regression test for cross-sectional data. From the findings, less than half (45.48%) of DM type II patients participated in chest X-ray examination for TB. Factors associated with participation in pulmonary TB screening were having a higher educational level [APR = 1.34, 95% CI (1.07-1.67)], having family member who developed pulmonary TB disease [APR = 1.47, 95% CI (1.12-1.93)], the travel time to referral hospital for screening being ≤ 15 minutes [APR = 1.6, 95% CI (1.26-2.03)], having health insurance [APR = 2.69, 95% CI (1.10-6.56)], and receiving good support from health provider [APR = 1.35, 95% CI (1.06-1.70)]. Therefore, training for health provider on providing counselling, involvement of family members in screening process, and improving the health insurance coverage and referral system are worth considering.