PROJECT

Unmet needs and coping strategies of family caregivers of persons with TB– an exploratory mixed method study – an exploratory mixed method study.

July 2024 - October 2025

Objectives:

1) To understand the experiences, psycho-social challenges, and barriers faced by family caregivers in fulfilling their caregiving responsibilities for persons with TB (DR & DS TB).
2) To identify the coping mechanisms, strategies, and support systems that family caregivers employ to navigate their caregiving roles for persons with TB.
3) To measure and value the level of family care provided by the caregivers on a day-to-day basis.

Study Overview:

Family caregivers are often the primary providers of care for persons with TB, and their involvement can have a significant impact on the person’s treatment outcomes. Family carers are a part of the healthcare system, while the healthcare system plays an important role in providing treatment for the persons with TB, family members play an even more important role in caring for a person with TB. Therefore the assistance they give improves the quality of life for those receiving care while saving cost to the healthcare system. Despite the fact that giving care might be pleasant, it can have significant detrimental impacts on the caregiver’s health and general well-being.

Study Approach:

This study employed a mixed methods research design, allowing for an in-depth exploration of the subjective experiences and perspectives of family caregivers and quantitative assessment for measuring, valuing of care. A primary care giver of TB patient who have initiated on treatment (both DS-TB and DR-TB) registered for care under the NTEP facilities will be part of the study.

Expected Public Health Impact:

The study will generate evidence on the psychosocial and caregiving challenges experienced by family caregivers of persons with tuberculosis. By quantifying the time, effort and range of caregiving activities undertaken by family members, the study will help establish the often-unrecognized burden of TB caregiving. The findings will inform the development of a caregiver-centred intervention manual to address caregivers’ needs and strengthen their capacity to support TB patients. The evidence generated may also be relevant for adapting and implementing caregiver-centred approaches in other low- and middle-income countries.