Project TRUST v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tackling the Repercussions of UK-based Stigma towards Tuberculosis (TRUST)
IRAS ID
331611
Contact name
Sally Hayward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City St George's, University of London - St George's School of Health and Medical Sciences
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Aim of the research:
We will work in partnership with people with tuberculosis (TB), their friends and family, and healthcare workers to design a new intervention to reduce TB stigma.Background to the research:
TB is a potentially deadly infectious disease. The number of people in the UK with TB is rising despite efforts to reduce it.Many people experience feelings of stigma or shame associated with having TB, which has a negative impact on them and their families. People with TB may delay accessing healthcare and avoid taking their medication because of fear or experiences of stigma. This means that TB is more likely to spread within communities, and people with TB are more likely to get severely unwell. The stigma that people with TB feel can also increase their risk of depression and anxiety, isolate them from friends and family, and affect their ability to work.
Research from the UK and elsewhere has shown the need for new ways to reduce the stigma associated with having TB and support people with TB to access healthcare. This could include counselling, peer support groups, education about TB, and health worker training. Similar interventions in countries with high levels of TB, such as South Africa, have been effective in reducing the stigma that people with TB feel.
Design and methods used:
We will first interview TB patients, their friends and family, and healthcare workers at St George’s Hospital in south London to understand their experiences of stigma. Next, we will set up workshops with these groups to develop an intervention to reduce TB stigma. By working collaboratively with those affected by TB stigma, we will design a new intervention that directly addresses the problems they identify.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0087
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion