RoGer-TB

Short Description

In order to achieve the World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy goals, in addition to scientific innovations, there is a need for countries and organisations to work together at national and international level. With an increasingly mobile world population, improved tuberculosis care and prevention among migrants needs to be a key element in all regions with high and low TB incidence. People born in Romania currently constitute the second-largest group among European Union citizens living in Germany, and Romania is also one of the most frequently reported countries of birth for tuberculosis (TB) patients registered in Germany. Many lead a mobile life, with regular trips between Germany and Romania. This results in many patients interrupting their treatment, which is a known risk factor for continued disease transmission and the development of antibiotic resistance. In addition, the treatment of tuberculosis is lengthy, has many side effects, and is often complicated by stigmatisation, social problems, and comorbidities. These different aspects are addressed by the independent sub-projects of the three German institutions leading the overall RoGer-TB project.

RKI – „Cross-border“ TB Coordination

Together with the project partners in Romania, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) will assume a coordination function at the national level in Germany in order to facilitate the exchange of information between Germany and Romania for TB patients. The RKI will systematically support the patients’ transfer process and support the district health authorities in Germany responsible for their care during the transfer process, as well as monitor the final treatment results.

FZB – TB Documentary and TB Symposium

The Research Centre Borstel, Leibniz Lung Centre (FZB) will work with a professional team of journalists and filmmakers to document the life of a migrant from Romania who was diagnosed with TB in Germany. In addition, the FZB will hold a three-day international TB symposium in Bucharest, which will facilitate exchange between tuberculosis experts from Romania and Germany from various fields.

DZK and FZB – TBCompanion

The German Central Committee against Tuberculosis (DZK) and FZB will adopt a recently developed application to support TB patients in the Romanian healthcare system and integrate specific issues related to cross-border TB control. A multilingual smartphone-based interactive system for the education and motivation of TB patients during treatment will be tested and its applicability as a digital “TB companion” will be assessed.

Objectives

The RoGer-TB project will provide TB patients with continuity of care and ongoing support for treatment compliance, as well as conduct measures to build capacity and raise awareness regarding TB control and prevention efforts for Romanian TB patients.

Specific Goals:

• Improve coordination and support for cross-border TB patient information transfer between Germany and Romania
• Check the feasibility of establishing cross-border TB partnerships between Germany and other countries with a high TB incidence
• Development of an educational film documentary to reduce the stigmatisation of migrants with TB from Romania in Germany
• Identification of problems in the management of TB in connection with cross-border migration between Romania and Germany
• Proof of feasibility for the use of the interactive smartphone application TBCompanion as therapy companion in cross-border TB management
• Strengthening adherence to therapy through a better understanding among TB patients of the disease and its treatment and control so as to maintain interest and motivation

Last update: July 2021