Treatment of tuberculosis infection among immigrants in southern New Brunswick, Canada: A cross-sectional study

Background Treating individuals with tuberculosis (TB) infection (TBI) is an important aspect of the global strategy to eliminate TB as a public health problem, as it would help reduce the pool of individuals with TBI who are at risk of developing TB disease (TBD). Understanding factors that impact effective management of patients with TBI is helpful in informing policy. Objective To assess the proportion of immigrants with TBI accepting and completing TB preventive treatment (TPT), variables potentially related to accepting and completing TPT were examined and healthcare provider (HCP)-related factors that impact TBI management were identified. Methods Tuberculosis preventive treatment was offered to TBI-positive immigrants without a history or treatment of TBD from a pilot TBI screening study conducted in southern New Brunswick, Canada between November 2021 and November 2023. Tuberculosis preventive treatment acceptance and completion rates were calculated, and the HCP completed a questionnaire to identify factors that affected TBI management. Participant characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics, while Fisher's exact tests were conducted to test for independence between demographics and treatment acceptance and completion. The HCP questionnaire data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Of the 49 participants who screened positive for TBI, 11 (22.4%) were lost to follow-up prior to being assessed and offered TPT and 38 (77.6%) were offered TPT, of whom 3 (7.9%) declined, 35 (92.1%) accepted and initiated TPT, and 30 (85.7%) completed treatment. Treatment acceptance and completion were found to be independent from the participant demographics examined. Thematic analysis revealed five emerging themes regarding the management of TBI participants (i.e., supports, collaboration, communication, time, and satisfaction). Conclusion This study demonstrates the feasibility of treating TBI in immigrants and highlights HCP-related factors that impact the management of TBI among immigrants in southern New Brunswick. Our findings may assist programs aimed at improving TBI screening and treatment.