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. 2023 Sep;19(3):230092.
doi: 10.1183/20734735.0092-2023. Epub 2023 Sep 12.

Building bridges: multidisciplinary teams in tuberculosis prevention and care

João Pedro Ramos  1   2 , Mariana Vieira  2 , Cátia Pimentel  3 , Mariana Argel  4 , Pedro Barbosa  2 , Raquel Duarte  1   2   5   6
Affiliations

Building bridges: multidisciplinary teams in tuberculosis prevention and care

João Pedro Ramos et al. Breathe (Sheff). 2023 Sep.

Abstract

People with or affected by tuberculosis (TB) experience complex social and cultural constraints that may affect treatment outcomes by impeding access to proper care or by hindering treatment adherence. Low levels of health literacy which leads to inadequate disease information; stigma, discrimination and other forms of prejudice that may result in marginalisation and ostracisation; and socioeconomic vulnerabilities that hamper one's capacity to access essential goods or increase the risk of exposure to the disease are some of the barriers highlighted. These complex hurdles are also disproportionately felt by people with or affected by TB due to gender-related inequalities that need to be properly addressed. Additionally, TB prevention and care should encompass interventions aimed at improving and promoting mental health, given that mental unhealth may further thwart treatment adherence and success. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach to TB is required to answer these complex barriers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: J.P. Ramos reports grants or contracts from the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto, Camara Municipal do Porto, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, and Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto, outside the submitted work; and consulting fees from Núcleo de Investigação em Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho, outside the submitted work. M. Vieira ports grants or contracts from the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto, outside the submitted work; and consulting fees from Núcleo de Investigação em Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho, outside the submitted work. P. Barbosa reports grants or contracts from the Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto, outside the submitted work; and consulting fees from Núcleo de Investigação em Pneumologia, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova Gaia/Espinho, outside the submitted work. R. Duarte reports grants or contracts from H2020 - UNIT4TB – 101007873, and H2020 - EUSAT-RCS – 823890, outside the submitted work. The remaining authors have nothing to disclose.

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