Experiences of Patients with Tuberculosis Who Underwent Completed TB Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND: The scope of tuberculosis (TB) elimination programs, such as case detection, rapid diagnostics, and treatment success, has dramatically worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with TB who had completed their treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This qualitative study was performed using content analysis approach between May–July 2022. A total of 14 patients with TB who agreed to participate in this study were selected using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted using semi-structured interview guidelines, and the interviews ended after information saturation occurred. Data analysis was carried out concurrently to identify the main themes. The NVIVO software application version 12 was utilized to analyze the data. RESULTS: Several key themes emerged from the study, shedding light on various aspects of the experiences of TB patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. These themes encompass (1) Barriers to TB Diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic; (2) Challenges in TB Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic; and (3) Support Resources during TB Treatment in pandemic era. CONCLUSION: Patients have difficulty receiving healthcare because of changes in TB health services brought on by the pandemic. This research advances our knowledge of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with TB and lays the groundwork for improved patient support and interventions.