Piloting "From the Inside Out" - a toolkit addressing tuberculosis-related self-stigma

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Global Health

Background:

• Self-stigma in tuberculosis (TB) patients leads to poor treatment adherence and social withdrawal.
• Existing interventions for TB self-stigma are limited.
• Self-stigma impacts not only patients but also their families and healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a psychosocial intervention toolkit to address self-stigma in people with TB.
• To evaluate the feasibility and initial impact of a training-of-trainers approach for delivering the toolkit.
• To adapt the toolkit for cultural and linguistic appropriateness in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Main Methods:

• A training-of-trainers workshop was conducted with NGO staff in Jakarta.
• Trained staff delivered a psychosocial toolkit via a 4-day participatory workshop to 22 TB patients/survivors.
• Intervention effectiveness was assessed through self-reported changes in knowledge, efficacy, self-compassion, and psychological well-being.

Main Results:

• Participants reported significant increases in knowledge and efficacy regarding TB self-stigma immediately post-intervention.
• Self-compassion and positive relationships with others showed significant increases post-workshop but were not sustained at 3 months.
• The training-of-trainers model facilitated local adaptation and delivery of the intervention.

Conclusions:

• The piloted toolkit shows potential for improving TB patients' knowledge, efficacy, and psychological well-being.
• Further investigation is required to determine optimal delivery methods (frequency, dose, duration) for sustained benefits.
• Sustained support is crucial for individuals throughout their TB treatment journey.