Healthcare workers’ acceptance of and adherence to latent tuberculosis treatment

Abstract

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) have a high risk of active tuberculosis and need systematic LTBI screening and treatment. However, acceptance and adherence rates of LTBI treatment are low. Aims To examine the specific reasons for the loss at each LTBI treatment-cascade stage: acceptance, continuation and completion of LTBI treatment in HCWs. Methods This retrospective descriptive study was conducted among 61 HCWs with an interferon-gamma release assay-confirmed LTBI diagnosis who were prescribed LTBI treatment at a tertiary hospital in the Republic of Korea. Data were analysed using Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact, independent t-test and Mann–Whitney U-test. A word cloud analysis was used to describe the perceived meaning of LTBI in HCWs. Results HCWs who refused or discontinued LTBI treatment perceived LTBI as ‘not a big deal’, whereas HCWs who completed LTBI treatment had a high-risk perception of the LTBI prognosis, such as ‘frightened about adverse prognosis’. Determinants of non-adherence to the recommended LTBI treatment included a busy work schedule, side effects of anti-tuberculosis agents and the inconvenience of regularly taking anti-tuberculosis agents. Conclusions To ensure LTBI treatment adherence in HCWs, effective interventions that are customized to each stage of the LTBI treatment should be developed, with due consideration of the stage-specific perceived facilitators and barriers in the LTBI treatment cascade.