Healthcare professionals perspectives on tuberculosis barriers in Portuguese prisons—a qualitative study.

This article examines medical doctors' perspectives on the implementation of the 2014 tuberculosis (TB) protocol in Portuguese prisons, focusing on coordination between prison establishments and TB outpatient centers in Porto and Lisbon. The protocol, designed to standardize TB detection, treatment, and follow-up procedures for incarcerated individuals, was perceived by some doctors as improving inter-institutional communication and collaboration, though a significant portion of specialists were unaware of its existence. Challenges identified include sustaining treatment adherence after symptom improvement, delays in diagnostic processes, limited contact tracing, and low TB health literacy among people deprived of liberty. The study underscores the need for enhanced protocol dissemination, improved communication channels, nurse-led patient education, and resource allocation to strengthen TB control efforts within prison settings.