Preferences of healthcare workers using tongue swabs for tuberculosis diagnosis during Covid-19

Bibliographic Data

ID19593846
AuthorsRenée Codsi (University of Washington, corresponding author), Nicole A Errett (0000-0002-8247-8336, University of Washington, corresponding author), Angelique Kany Kany Luabeya (0000-0001-7379-2836, University of Cape Town, corresponding author), Angelique K Luabeya, Danelle Van As (University of Cape Town, corresponding author), Mark Hatherill (0000-0003-3491-1809, University of Cape Town, corresponding author), Adrienne E Shapiro (0000-0002-3106-1258, Infectious Disease Research Institute, corresponding author), Katherine A Lochner (0000-0003-4498-6433, University of Washington, corresponding author), Alexandria R Vingino (University of Washington, corresponding author), Marlana J Kohn, Marlana Kohn (0000-0002-0973-345X, University of Washington, corresponding author), Gerard A Cangelosi (0000-0003-0006-6520, University of Washington, corresponding author)
EditorsSiyan Yi (0000-0002-3045-5386)
Year2023
Volume3
Issue9
Pagese0001430
Publication date2023-09-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0001430
PMID37676852
OpenAlexW4386495659
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited27

Healthcare workers (HCWs) who come into contact with tuberculosis (TB) patients are at elevated risk of TB infection and disease. The collection and handling of sputum samples for TB diagnosis poses exposure risks to HCWs, particularly in settings where aerosol containment is limited. An alternative sample collection method, tongue swabbing, was designed to help mitigate this risk, and is under evaluation in multiple settings. This study assessed risk perceptions among South African HCWs who used tongue swabbing in TB diagnostic research during the COVID-19 pandemic. We characterized their context-specific preferences as well as the facilitators and barriers of tongue swab use in clinical and community settings. Participants (n = 18) were HCWs with experience using experimental tongue swabbing methods at the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (SATVI). We used key informant semi-structured interviews to assess attitudes toward two tongue swab strategies: Provider-collected swabbing (PS) and supervised self-swabbing (SSS). Responses from these interviews were analyzed by rapid qualitative analysis and thematic analysis methods. Facilitators included aversion to sputum (PS and SSS), perceived safety of the method (SSS), and educational resources to train patients (SSS). Barriers included cultural stigmas, as well as personal security and control of their work environment when collecting swabs in community settings. COVID-19 risk perception was a significant barrier to the PS method. Motivators for HCW use of tongue swabbing differed substantially by use case, and whether the HCW has the authority and agency to implement safety precautions in specific settings. These findings point to a need for contextually specific educational resources to enhance safety of and adherence to the SSS collection method

Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Infection control · Pandemic · Pathology · Perception · Qualitative research · Risk perception · Sputum · SSS · Thematic analysis · Tuberculosis · Medicine · Nursing · Pediatric health and respiratory diseases · Psychology · Respiratory viral infections research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Internal Medicine · Surgery

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