ArticlePLOS global public health2026
Acceptability of tongue swabs for tuberculosis screening in migrant settings in northern Italy: A qualitative study.
Article in PLOS global public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 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.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Tongue swab-based Targeted Universal Tuberculosis Testing in people living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026Article
- Preferences for tongue swab versus sputum collection for TB testing: a multi-country survey.The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Human migrations, driven by economic hardship, conflict, and climate change, complicate the global fight against tuberculosis (TB). New strategies are needed to improve the screening of migrants for active TB disease. Current sputum-based testing methods are logistically challenging in many settings. Alternative sampling with tongue swabs is designed to be easier than sputum collection and exhibits acceptable accuracy. This study characterized the acceptability of supervised self-swabbing (SSS) for TB screening in migrant settings in Northern Italy.Migrants arriving through the Central Mediterranean route to Italy were purposely sampled to participate in in-depth interviews (IDIs), which were conducted with the support of a cultural mediator. Data was analyzed using a rapid qualitative analysis approach. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behavior (COM-B) model guided the systematic assessment of potential barriers and facilitators to SSS. Between November 2023 and June 2024, we conducted 24 IDIs with migrant men and women. Most participants preferred SSS over sputum production and found it relatively easy. Reasons for preferring SSS included its simplicity, privacy, and aversion to sputum collection. Discomfort during swabbing was rare. However, a few participants preferred sputum collection and cited oral hygiene-related complications. Participants highlighted language barriers, trust deficits with the healthcare system, and limited health literacy on infectious diseases, including TB, as factors that could limit the uptake of SSS. Participants also reported that their willingness to participate in TB screening may be driven by a need to comply with immigration rules. SSS is a promising and acceptable method for collecting samples for TB screening. To strengthen TB mitigation strategies in this population, future efforts should focus on developing culturally and linguistically tailored educational materials that address the specific concerns and informational needs of migrants.
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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.