Marme Gigil, Kuzma Jerzy, Zimmerman Peta-Anne, Rutherford Shannon, Harris Neil
Divine Word University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, P O Box 483, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea.
Griffith University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, G16 2.43, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia.
Aust J Prim Health. 2025 May;31. doi: 10.1071/PY24051.
Background Tuberculosis (TB) infection prevention and control (TB-IPC) is recommended as an essential public health intervention to control TB transmission worldwide. Nonetheless, merely applying evidence-based prevention and control measures is often inadequate for effective TB prevention and treatment goals. This study examined healthcare workers' (HCWs') perceptions of strategies important for TB-IPC in primary healthcare (PHC) settings in Papua New Guinea. Methods Using a nominal group technique, this study sought the views of a diverse range of HCWs (ranging from clinical, IPC personnel to policymakers) from national and subnational levels, and various provinces to prioritise TB-IPC guidelines implementation needs in practice. Group discussions were conducted with 51 HCWs, and encompassed quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Nine key strategies drawn from a preceding study and literature review were presented to participating HCWs, and from these, three significant strategies related to TB-IPC policy were identified as key priorities. Results The participants recommended HCWs' capacity building on TB-IPC policy and strategy, improving PHC infrastructure, and increasing community awareness of TB as the most important strategies to improve TB-IPC practices. Conclusions This study investigated the perceptions of diverse key HCWs of the implementation of TB-IPC guidelines in PHC settings in rural Papua New Guinea. The HCWs identified key strategies needed for effective TB-IPC practice in PHC to prevent TB transmission. This study supports previous recommendations that call for adopting multi-pronged strategies to improve the high TB burden. Key stakeholders' insights have been shared to inform public health policy and program implementation both locally and as part of the global goals of the TB eradication program.
背景 结核病（TB）感染预防与控制（TB-IPC）被推荐作为一项重要的公共卫生干预措施，以控制全球范围内的结核病传播。尽管如此，仅仅应用基于证据的预防与控制措施往往不足以实现有效的结核病预防和治疗目标。本研究调查了巴布亚新几内亚基层医疗（PHC）机构中医护人员（HCWs）对TB-IPC重要策略的看法。方法 本研究采用名义小组技术，征求了国家和次国家层面以及不同省份的各类医护人员（从临床、IPC人员到政策制定者）的意见，以确定在实际中实施TB-IPC指南的优先需求。与51名医护人员进行了小组讨论，采用了定量和定性数据收集技术。向参与的医护人员介绍了先前一项研究和文献综述中得出的九条关键策略，并从中确定了与TB-IPC政策相关的三条重要策略为关键优先事项。结果 参与者推荐医护人员在TB-IPC政策和策略方面的能力建设、改善基层医疗基础设施以及提高社区对结核病的认识，作为改善TB-IPC实践的最重要策略。结论 本研究调查了巴布亚新几内亚农村基层医疗机构中不同关键医护人员对实施TB-IPC指南的看法。医护人员确定了基层医疗中有效实施TB-IPC以预防结核病传播所需的关键策略。本研究支持先前的建议，即呼吁采取多管齐下的策略来改善高结核病负担。关键利益相关者的见解已被分享，以指导当地的公共卫生政策和项目实施，并作为结核病消除计划全球目标的一部分。
