Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada
Introduction We aimed to explore patient and provider perspectives of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis healthcare access and service delivery.Methods We used interpretive description, a qualitative approach with the end-goal of informing decisions and actions in clinical practice....
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMJ Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e002498.full |
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| author | Michael K Stickland Paul E Ronksley Maxi Miciak Kadija Perreault Courtney Heffernan Douglas P Gross Grace Y Lam Jason Weatherald Giovanni Ferrara Katelyn Brehon Pam Hung Angela Lau Rachel Lim |
| author_facet | Michael K Stickland Paul E Ronksley Maxi Miciak Kadija Perreault Courtney Heffernan Douglas P Gross Grace Y Lam Jason Weatherald Giovanni Ferrara Katelyn Brehon Pam Hung Angela Lau Rachel Lim |
| author_sort | Michael K Stickland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction We aimed to explore patient and provider perspectives of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis healthcare access and service delivery.Methods We used interpretive description, a qualitative approach with the end-goal of informing decisions and actions in clinical practice. Levesque et al’s ‘Conceptual framework of access to health care’ informed the development of our interview guides. Interviews were conducted virtually and confidentially transcribed verbatim. Data generation and analysis occurred concurrently. Analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke’s six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Strategies to enhance rigour and trustworthiness of the findings were used.Results We completed 15 interviews: 6 with patients and 9 with providers. Three key themes were generated: (1) diagnostic hurdles created delay; (2) hybrid services promote health equity; and (3) navigating the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic. Diagnosing tuberculosis was challenging even prior to the pandemic since some providers lacked experience and familiarity with the condition. The diagnostic process was further complicated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, COVID-19 also introduced streamlined virtual care for patients which was convenient and improved access but was not viewed as being equivalent to in-person care. The intersection of the COVID-19 and tuberculosis pandemics created competition for limited resources while highlighting learnings that may positively impact future tuberculosis care.Conclusions Our findings can inform health system leadership about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted care of other public health threats like tuberculosis, helping to prepare more effectively and equitably for future challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ccdfbf0a987a4e99b59efe13bc9efe73 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2753-4294 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-ccdfbf0a987a4e99b59efe13bc9efe732025-08-20T02:32:22ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Public Health2753-42942025-05-013110.1136/bmjph-2024-002498Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, CanadaMichael K Stickland0Paul E Ronksley1Maxi Miciak2Kadija Perreault3Courtney Heffernan4Douglas P Gross5Grace Y Lam6Jason Weatherald7Giovanni Ferrara8Katelyn Brehon9Pam Hung10Angela Lau11Rachel Lim122 Department of Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada14 Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada6 Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, CanadaDepartment of Medicine; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada7 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada4 Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canadaassociate professor of pulmonary medicineDepartment of Medicine, Division of Respirology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada1 University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada1 University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada2 Department of Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada4 Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaIntroduction We aimed to explore patient and provider perspectives of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis healthcare access and service delivery.Methods We used interpretive description, a qualitative approach with the end-goal of informing decisions and actions in clinical practice. Levesque et al’s ‘Conceptual framework of access to health care’ informed the development of our interview guides. Interviews were conducted virtually and confidentially transcribed verbatim. Data generation and analysis occurred concurrently. Analysis was informed by Braun and Clarke’s six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. Strategies to enhance rigour and trustworthiness of the findings were used.Results We completed 15 interviews: 6 with patients and 9 with providers. Three key themes were generated: (1) diagnostic hurdles created delay; (2) hybrid services promote health equity; and (3) navigating the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic. Diagnosing tuberculosis was challenging even prior to the pandemic since some providers lacked experience and familiarity with the condition. The diagnostic process was further complicated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, COVID-19 also introduced streamlined virtual care for patients which was convenient and improved access but was not viewed as being equivalent to in-person care. The intersection of the COVID-19 and tuberculosis pandemics created competition for limited resources while highlighting learnings that may positively impact future tuberculosis care.Conclusions Our findings can inform health system leadership about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted care of other public health threats like tuberculosis, helping to prepare more effectively and equitably for future challenges.https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e002498.full |
| spellingShingle | Michael K Stickland Paul E Ronksley Maxi Miciak Kadija Perreault Courtney Heffernan Douglas P Gross Grace Y Lam Jason Weatherald Giovanni Ferrara Katelyn Brehon Pam Hung Angela Lau Rachel Lim Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada BMJ Public Health |
| title | Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada |
| title_full | Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada |
| title_fullStr | Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada |
| title_short | Patient and provider perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery: an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in Alberta, Canada |
| title_sort | patient and provider perceptions of the impact of covid 19 on tuberculosis healthcare access and delivery an interpretive description study of the complexities of a pandemic within a pandemic in alberta canada |
| url | https://bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/1/e002498.full |
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