ReviewGlobal health action2023
Factors contributing to pre-treatment loss to follow-up in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis: a qualitative evidence synthesis of patient and healthcare worker perspectives.
Review in Global health action, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Multilevel Determinants of Tuberculosis Treatment Interruption in Rural South Africa: Insights from Primary Healthcare Nurses.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Barriers to treatment completion among drug-sensitive tuberculosis patients: evidence from Indonesia's tuberculosis surveillance system.Osong public health and research perspectives · 2026Article
- Pre-treatment loss to follow-up and associated factors among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients diagnosed in Wakiso district, central Uganda.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Factors Associated With Low Tuberculosis Case Detection and Investigation in Public Health Facilities (PHFs) in Bududa District, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2025Article
- Building community networks and engagement for effective TB case management.Frontiers in public health · 2025Review
- Facilitators and barriers for completion of the diagnostic process among people with presumed tuberculosis in Central Uganda.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Pre-diagnosis and pre-treatment loss to follow-up and associated factors among patients with presumed tuberculosis and those diagnosed in Uganda.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Lived experiences of persons on tuberculosis treatment in Nairobi County, Kenya: a mixed methods study.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Community tuberculosis screening, testing and care, Uganda.Bulletin of the World Health Organization · 2024Article
- Interventions and implementation considerations for reducing pre-treatment loss to follow-up in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis: A scoping review.F1000Research · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSince 2018, over 14 million people have been treated for tuberculosis (TB) globally. However, pre-treatment loss to follow-up (PTLFU) has been shown to contribute substantially to patient losses in the TB care cascade with subsequent high community transmission and mortality rates.
objectiveTo identify, appraise, and synthesise evidence on the perspectives of patients and healthcare workers on factors contributing to PTLFU in adults with pulmonary TB.
methodsWe registered the title with PROSPERO (CRD42021253212). We searched nine relevant databases up to 24 May 2021 for qualitative studies. Two review authors independently reviewed records for eligibility and extracted data. We assessed methodological quality with the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information Centre tool and synthesised data using the Supporting the Use of Research Evidence framework. We assessed confidence in our findings using Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual).
resultsWe reviewed a total of 1239 records and included five studies, all from low- and middle-income countries. Key themes reported by patients and healthcare workers were communication challenges among healthcare workers and between healthcare workers and patients; knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours about TB and its management; accessibility and availability of facilities for TB care; and human resource and financial constraints, weakness in management and leadership in TB programmes. Patients' change of residence, long waiting times, and poor referral systems were additional factors that contributed to patients disengaging from care. We had moderate confidence in most of our findings.
conclusionFindings from our qualitative evidence synthesis highlight multiple factors that contribute to PTLFU. Central to addressing these factors will be the need to strengthen health systems and offer people-centred care.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.