Chairs: Dr Olha Konstantynovska (Kharkiv, Ukraine), Dr Cristina Vilaplana Massaguer (Badalona (Barcelona), Spain)
Speaker: Dr Ana Aguiar (Porto, Portugal),

Discussants: Dr Juan Espinosa-Pereiro (Barcelona, Spain), Dr Jessica Potter (London, United Kingdom)

Fees: Free for ERS members / €10 for non-members
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Translation available

Participants in this webinar can benefit from translation during the live event. The translation function can be found underneath the live event's video player; up to 60 languages are available, with both subtitled and audio translation available. Please note that this is currently available for the live event only.

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Overview

With increasing migration flows to Europe, tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant health burden on migrants, highlighting the urgent need for effective screening programmes. Understanding the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of screening for both active TB and latent TB infection (LTBI) in this population is crucial.

This systematic review examines the available evidence across the WHO European region regarding the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of various TB screening approaches. Additionally, it explores the facilitators and challenges migrants encounter during screening programmes.

Article

European guidelines for the management of tuberculosis screening procedures in migrants: a systematic review. Pulmonology. Accepted for publication January 2025, in press

Topics:

1. TB and migration in the European context

• Rising migration flows and the disproportionate TB burden on migrants
• Variations in TB screening policies across WHO European countries
• The role of European public health agencies in TB prevention among migrant

2. Screening approaches for TB and LTBI in migrant populations

• Differences in pre-entry, at-entry, and post-entry screening strategies
• Active case finding vs. passive case finding within healthcare systems
• Effectiveness of screening programmes in detecting TB and LTBI
• Key performance indicators: coverage, uptake, completion rates, and cost-effectiveness

3. Barriers and Facilitators in TB Screening

• Structural and systemic challenges affecting screening participation
• Healthcare access, legal frameworks, and policy-related obstacles
• Factors influencing screening acceptability and adherence among migrants

4. Findings from the systematic review

• Analysis of 43 studies covering 8+ million migrants across 11 countries
• Evidence on screening effectiveness and economic viability
• Heterogeneity in screening protocols and the need for standardisation

5. Policy implications and future directions

• Importance of harmonising screening policies across the WHO European Region
• Recommendations for improving screening efficiency and reducing TB transmission
• The role of this systematic review in shaping international TB screening guidelines

Format

• One-hour webinar format: 45 minutes for presentations, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session.

Learning outcomes

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the impact of migration on TB epidemiology in Europe, recognising the disparities in TB burden and screening practices across different countries.
   
2. Describe and understand the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of various TB screening strategies, comparing pre-entry, at-entry, and post-entry approaches based on key performance indicators such as detection rates, uptake, and economic viability.
   
3. Critically assess the structural barriers and policy challenges affecting TB screening for migrants, reflecting on the need for standardised protocols and the tension between public health security and equitable healthcare provision.

CME credit

An application for accreditation of this webinar has been made to the European Board for Accreditation in Pneumology (EBAP) for 1 CME credit per 1-hour attendance. If accredited, the CME credit will be granted upon attendance of at least 60 minutes during the live webinar only.

What is a webinar?

A webinar closely simulates a lecture-based teaching experience. The speaker can interact with the audience, just as in a classroom setting. During the webinar, you will be asked to share your opinion on issues related to the topic using interactive polls.

All participants will be able to hear the lecturer and see the slides throughout the presentation. As a participant you will be able to pose questions or discuss ideas with the other participants via the text chat facility and the speaker will respond to the questions via the microphone.