Responding to World Health Organization’s End TB strategy
25th August 2018
Tuberculosis illness is associated with uncertain outcomes among people living with HIV. The World Health Organization’s new End TB strategy specifies that person-centred symptom management and psycho social support should be offered alongside treatment within its pillars and components.
Researchers at the Cicely Saunders Institute conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV patients in Kenya. TB treatment status was associated with lower (worse) score for APOS total score (P = 0.046) and factor 3 (existential and spiritual wellbeing: p = 0.023). This highlights an urgent need for holistic symptom assessment, and person-centred care, in order to respond positively to the WHO’s End TB strategy.
Nkhoma K, Ahmed A, Ali Z, Gikaara N, Sherr L, Harding R. Does being on TB treatment predict a higher burden of problems and concerns among HIV outpatients in Kenya? a cross-sectional self-report study. AIDS care 2018; 10.1080/09540121.2018.1469726: 1-5.