The literature review produced for this thesis systematically analysed qualitative studies of cognitive therapy using a methodology checklist and a meta-synthesis technique. Ten papers which used qualitative analysis to look at clients’ experiences of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) met the selection criteria. Seven themes emerged. Three were linked to a therapeutic relationships theme; the trusted listener, power and authority and others like me. Four were linked to the impact of cognitive therapy theme; empowering information, analysing the problem, thinking differently and doing things differently. It was concluded that future research should focus on the components of cognitive therapy and that differences in technique between CBT and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) should be explored via a qualitative study of clients’ experiences of REBT. A qualitative approach was taken to look at clients’ experiences of REBT. Seven participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide and the resulting transcripts were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Three themes emerged: one which looked at what it was like to have mental health problems; a second, which looked at clients’ expectations and experiences of the more technical aspects of therapy, and a third which examined the therapeutic relationship. All of the participants appeared to value therapy. However, the extent to which they knew about and used the theory and philosophy of REBT varied greatly. These results suggest that further research needs to be carried out which looks at how people benefit from therapy as clients views may differ from those of therapists. A critical appraisal of the research process was written using the REBT model to reflect the experience of producing the thesis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently described as a chronic illness. It is also a life-threatening illness, although this is rarely discussed. When people with CKD face declining kidney function, they need technological assistance to extend life. Many people receiving treatment will also die within 5 years. The experience of living with CKD is often difficult to articulate, and little is known about the aspects of this illness that are often ineffable, difficult to discuss, or beyond words. The purpose of this dissertation is to present four papers in which I investigate the concept of the unsayable and illuminate how this concept may be helpful in exploring individuals’ stories of living with CKD. Located in social constructionism, this narrative research explores the unsayable aspects of experience for people living with CKD as portrayed through their stories and symbols. In the first paper, I present a concept analysis of the unsayable and I define the unsayable as that which is not expressed yet alluded to through language and may be conscious or unconscious. Although the unsayable is intertwined with language, it also transcends articulation. In the second paper, I offer a qualitative meta-synthesis and I show how people with kidney failure have experienced restricted freedom that brings about distant connection, dependent autonomy, abnormal normalcy, and uncertain hope. In the third paper, I present a narrative inquiry using secondary analysis of 46 interviews conducted over 3 years with 14 people living with CKD. Narrative expressions of the unsayable include the following: living with death, embodied experiences that were difficult to language, that which was unthinkable, unknowable mystery, and that which was untold / unheard. Lastly, I offer a narrative visual analysis of symbols that represent living with CKD for 13 participants. Descriptive themes of the symbols include hopes and inspirations, reflections on “who I am,” and confrontations of illness. Participants’ expressions through symbols are described through stories of memories, emotions, and poetic devices. Consideration of the unsayable may offer insights for nurses who work to support individuals and promote quality of life for those living with this chronic and life-threatening illness. / Graduate

Realizou-se estudo exploratório de revisão bibliográfica sistemática e metassíntese visando descrever e analisar aspectos das práticas educativas em saúde, voltados ao desenvolvimento de habilidades para a cessação do tabagismo, traduzidas na interpretação de autores de pesquisas qualitativas publicadas em periódicos entre 2000 e 2007. Concebeu-se a questão do tabagismo como um problema de enfrentamento complexo, que demanda intervenções em vários âmbitos. Destacou-se a educação em saúde, como campo estratégico e instrumental da promoção da saúde, que sob a perspectiva do \"empowerment\" e \"empowerment education\", é passível de atuação do profissional de saúde. Utilizando-se do instrumental metodológico da metassíntese qualitativa, descrito por Sandelowski e Barroso (2003), identificou-se a produção científica de pesquisas qualitativas originais sobre experiências relativas às práticas educativas na cessação do tabagismo, indexadas nas bases de dados eletrônicas MEDLINE, CINAHL e LILACS. Para tanto utilizou-se os descritores pesquisa qualitativa, educação em saúde e tabagismo, além de descritores de texto livre e palavras com truncamento, visando a identificação ampliada de artigos que pudessem ser relevantes. Mapeou-se os artigos selecionados para a amostra bibliográfica segundo suas características gerais, aplicando-se os critérios de qualidade, dados pelo instrumento \"Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, CASP\" (© Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, 2002). Os resultados desta produção foram integrados através da análise de conteúdo descrita por Minayo (2004), de modo a buscar temas relacionados à educação em saúde, aos quais foram combinados atributos (ou sub-temas). A busca bibliográfica resultou na identificação de 989 citações nessa temática, das quais 634 foram consideradas relevantes. Após seleção com base na leitura do título, a seguir dos abstracts (340) e por fim dos artigos na íntegra (88), foram classificadas 14 publicações como pertinentes para este estudo. Na metassíntese os aspectos recorrentes e as diferenças entre os artigos foram agrupados em duas modalidades temáticas: contexto dos sujeitos (descrevendo os fatores facilitadores e dificultadores do processo de cessação do tabagismo) e abordagem educativa (com processos facilitadores e dificultadores dos programas de cessação do tabagismo e da relação profissional-paciente apresentados em quadro temático, com comentários). As estratégias de abordagem do processo educativo foram classificadas com base nos elementos da promoção da saúde e nos modelos educacionais. Conclui-se que a metassíntese apresenta-se como metodologia relevante no âmbito da enfermagem (que tem vasta produção de pesquisa qualitativa), pois favorece análises e interpretações com potencial de proporcionar visibilidade e impacto no processo de cuidar e ser cuidado, fornecendo elementos para tomada de decisão. A compreensão sobre temas relacionados às abordagens educativas em saúde, nos processos de cessação do tabagismo, e o seu significado para os pacientes foi ampliada / An explorative systematic bibliographic review and meta-synthesis was realized looking to describe and analyze aspects of the educational practices in health, directed to the development of abilities for the smoking cessation, translated through the interpretation of the authors of the qualitative researches published in journals from 2000 to 2007. The smoking question was identified as a complex approach problem, which requires interventions from various aspects. Health education was emphasized, which under the perspective of the empowerment and empowerment education, is liable to the performance of the health professional. Using the qualitative meta-synthesis instrumental method described by Sandelowski and Barroso (2003), it was possible to identify a scientific production of primary qualitative researches about educational practices in the smoking cessation, indexed in MEDLINE, CINAHL and LILACS databasis. For this was used qualitative research controlled vocabulary, health education and smoking, besides the free texts and words with truncation, looking to increase the identification of the studies that may be relevant. The selected studies were identified according to its general characteristics, having been applied quality criterias supplied by the \"Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, CASP\" (© Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, 2002) instrument. The results of this production were integrated through the analysis of content described by Minayo (2004), in order to look for themes related to health education, of which had attributes (sub-themes) combined to them. The bibliographic research resulted in the identification of 989 citations about this theme, where 634 were considered relevant. After the selection based on the title of the studie, following the abstracts (340) and finally of the reading of 88 complete studies, 14 publications were classified as being pertinent to this study. In the meta-synthesis the reoccurring aspects and the differences between the studies were separated in two types of themes: context of the subjects (describing the facilitating and difficulting facts of the smoking cessation process) and education approach (with facilitating and difficulting processes of the smoking cessation programs and of the patient-professional relationship presented in a theme board, with comments). The strategies used in the educational processes were classified based on the elements of the health promotion and on educational models. We conclude that the meta-synthesis presents itself as a relevant methodology in nursing environment (which provides vast qualitative research productions), because it helps in analysis and interpretations with the potential of facilitating visibility and impact in the process of taking care and being taken care of, supplying elements for decision making. The comprehension about themes related to health educational approaches, in the smoking cessation processes, and its meaning to patients, has been increased

Realizou-se estudo exploratório de revisão bibliográfica sistemática e metassíntese visando descrever e analisar aspectos das práticas educativas em saúde, voltados ao desenvolvimento de habilidades para a cessação do tabagismo, traduzidas na interpretação de autores de pesquisas qualitativas publicadas em periódicos entre 2000 e 2007. Concebeu-se a questão do tabagismo como um problema de enfrentamento complexo, que demanda intervenções em vários âmbitos. Destacou-se a educação em saúde, como campo estratégico e instrumental da promoção da saúde, que sob a perspectiva do \"empowerment\" e \"empowerment education\", é passível de atuação do profissional de saúde. Utilizando-se do instrumental metodológico da metassíntese qualitativa, descrito por Sandelowski e Barroso (2003), identificou-se a produção científica de pesquisas qualitativas originais sobre experiências relativas às práticas educativas na cessação do tabagismo, indexadas nas bases de dados eletrônicas MEDLINE, CINAHL e LILACS. Para tanto utilizou-se os descritores pesquisa qualitativa, educação em saúde e tabagismo, além de descritores de texto livre e palavras com truncamento, visando a identificação ampliada de artigos que pudessem ser relevantes. Mapeou-se os artigos selecionados para a amostra bibliográfica segundo suas características gerais, aplicando-se os critérios de qualidade, dados pelo instrumento \"Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, CASP\" (© Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, 2002). Os resultados desta produção foram integrados através da análise de conteúdo descrita por Minayo (2004), de modo a buscar temas relacionados à educação em saúde, aos quais foram combinados atributos (ou sub-temas). A busca bibliográfica resultou na identificação de 989 citações nessa temática, das quais 634 foram consideradas relevantes. Após seleção com base na leitura do título, a seguir dos abstracts (340) e por fim dos artigos na íntegra (88), foram classificadas 14 publicações como pertinentes para este estudo. Na metassíntese os aspectos recorrentes e as diferenças entre os artigos foram agrupados em duas modalidades temáticas: contexto dos sujeitos (descrevendo os fatores facilitadores e dificultadores do processo de cessação do tabagismo) e abordagem educativa (com processos facilitadores e dificultadores dos programas de cessação do tabagismo e da relação profissional-paciente apresentados em quadro temático, com comentários). As estratégias de abordagem do processo educativo foram classificadas com base nos elementos da promoção da saúde e nos modelos educacionais. Conclui-se que a metassíntese apresenta-se como metodologia relevante no âmbito da enfermagem (que tem vasta produção de pesquisa qualitativa), pois favorece análises e interpretações com potencial de proporcionar visibilidade e impacto no processo de cuidar e ser cuidado, fornecendo elementos para tomada de decisão. A compreensão sobre temas relacionados às abordagens educativas em saúde, nos processos de cessação do tabagismo, e o seu significado para os pacientes foi ampliada / An explorative systematic bibliographic review and meta-synthesis was realized looking to describe and analyze aspects of the educational practices in health, directed to the development of abilities for the smoking cessation, translated through the interpretation of the authors of the qualitative researches published in journals from 2000 to 2007. The smoking question was identified as a complex approach problem, which requires interventions from various aspects. Health education was emphasized, which under the perspective of the empowerment and empowerment education, is liable to the performance of the health professional. Using the qualitative meta-synthesis instrumental method described by Sandelowski and Barroso (2003), it was possible to identify a scientific production of primary qualitative researches about educational practices in the smoking cessation, indexed in MEDLINE, CINAHL and LILACS databasis. For this was used qualitative research controlled vocabulary, health education and smoking, besides the free texts and words with truncation, looking to increase the identification of the studies that may be relevant. The selected studies were identified according to its general characteristics, having been applied quality criterias supplied by the \"Critical Appraisal Skills Programme, CASP\" (© Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust, 2002) instrument. The results of this production were integrated through the analysis of content described by Minayo (2004), in order to look for themes related to health education, of which had attributes (sub-themes) combined to them. The bibliographic research resulted in the identification of 989 citations about this theme, where 634 were considered relevant. After the selection based on the title of the studie, following the abstracts (340) and finally of the reading of 88 complete studies, 14 publications were classified as being pertinent to this study. In the meta-synthesis the reoccurring aspects and the differences between the studies were separated in two types of themes: context of the subjects (describing the facilitating and difficulting facts of the smoking cessation process) and education approach (with facilitating and difficulting processes of the smoking cessation programs and of the patient-professional relationship presented in a theme board, with comments). The strategies used in the educational processes were classified based on the elements of the health promotion and on educational models. We conclude that the meta-synthesis presents itself as a relevant methodology in nursing environment (which provides vast qualitative research productions), because it helps in analysis and interpretations with the potential of facilitating visibility and impact in the process of taking care and being taken care of, supplying elements for decision making. The comprehension about themes related to health educational approaches, in the smoking cessation processes, and its meaning to patients, has been increased

Bakgrund: Polycystisk ovarialsyndrom (PCOS) är den vanligaste hormonella rubbningen hos fertila kvinnor, ändå är den okänd för många. Det finns ett flertal symtom där dessa varierar från kvinna till kvinna. Okunskap kring PCOSförekommer både i vården liksom i samhället och diagnosen kan därför vara svåratt upptäcka. Att leva med symtomen från PCOS kan påverka negativt både kroppsligt och psykiskt. Hur kvinnor med diagnosen upplever PCOS behöverlyftas fram och förståelsen för dem behöver ökas både inom vården liksom förkvinnorna med PCOS. Med ökad förståelse kan ett bättre bemötande och vård ges.Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva kvinnors upplevelser av att leva med Polycystiskovarialsyndrom. Metod: Kvalitativ metasyntes med metaetnografisk analysmetod.16 kvalitativa artiklar är inkluderade i resultatet och samtliga artiklar hargenomgått en kvalitetsgranskning. Tre databaser användes vid insamling av data; Cinahl, Medline och PubMed. Resultat: Resultatet lyfter fram att flertalet kvinnorfick diagnos efter en lång tid och där kvinnorna ibland behövde vara påstridiga,medan i andra fall diagnosticerades PCOS som bifynd. Vissa kvinnor kände inte till att deras symtom kunde vara något avvikande och sökte sig därför inte till vården. Information om PCOS från vården mötte inte alltid patienternas behov.Fertilitetsaspekten ansågs vara det som fokuserades mest på från vårdens sida ochatt de psykologiska aspekterna glömdes bort. Symtom som övervikt och hirsutism påverkade det sociala livet negativt och psykisk ohälsa är vanligt förekommande.Slutsats: PCOS behöver uppmärksammas mer och normaliseras. En mer holistiskvård där fokus inte enbart ligger på det medicinska aspekterna, utan även ser till individens behov av stöd och information hade gynnat bemötandet och vårdandet till kvinnor med PCOS. / Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal condition amongst fertile women, yet it is still unknown for many. There are several symptoms that may vary from woman to woman. Ignorance of polycystic ovary syndrome occurs in healthcare and in society and can be difficult to detect.Living with the symptoms of PCOS can have a negative effect both physically andmentally. How women with the diagnosis experience PCOS needs to be highlighted and the understanding of them needs to be increased, both inhealthcare and for the women with PCOS. With increased understanding, bettertreatment and care can be provided. Aim: The purpose was to describe women’sexperiences of living with Polycystic ovary syndrome. Method: Qualitative meta synthesis with meta ethnographic analysis method. A total of 16 articles wereincluded and all passed through a quality critique checklist. The articles werecollected from three databases: Cinahl, Medline and PubMed. Findings: It couldtake a long time for a diagnosis to be made and sometimes the women had to be persistent, while others could be diagnoses as an incidental finding. Some womendid not know that their symptoms were not normal and therefore did not seekmedical care. Information about PCOS from the health care did not always meetthe patient’s needs. The fertility aspect was thought to be the main focus from the health care providers and that the phycological aspects were forgotten. Symptoms like overweight and hirsutism affected the social life in a negative way and mental illness was common. Conclusion: Polycystic ovary syndrome needs to be brought more attention to and to be normalized. A more holistic care where not only the main focus is on the medical aspects of PCOS, but instead also sees that the individuals need for support and information can be met.

Introduction: Au Nigeria, la couverture de la détection et du traitement de la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante (TPR) est toujours faible malgré la mise en place de services gratuits depuis 2011. Le pays se classe au sixième rang mondial avec une proportion de cas de patients résistants aux médicaments de 4,3% et de 15% dans les cas d’une réinitialisation au traitement. Le pays a aussi un fardeau élevé pour la tuberculose, la TPR, et le VIH, avec une prévalence de 219 et 11 pour 100 000 habitants pour la tuberculose et la TPR et de 1,28 pour 1 000 habitants pour le VIH. Sans traitement, la mortalité due à la tuberculose est d'environ 70% en dix ans, augmentant avec la coïnfection par le VIH, et la résistance aux médicaments; et descendant en dessous de 5% avec traitement. Les taux de survie de la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante sont plus faibles et le traitement est plus long, plus coûteux et plus toxique. Cela peut poser des défis différents à la fois pour les patients et les systèmes de santé comparativement à la tuberculose de la forme commune. Cependant, la réponse au traitement et la survie sont influencées par la détection précoce et à l'initiation rapide au traitement, idéalement dans les quatre semaines suivant le diagnostic, en particulier avec la coïnfection par le VIH. Les caractéristiques sociodémographiques interagissent souvent de manière complexe avec des facteurs systémiques, pour accroître la vulnérabilité et les désavantages - ces interactions sont particulièrement bien examinées à travers un cadre conceptuel d'équité à l'accès à la santé, et pourrait offrir des analyses et des recommandations pertinentes pour les politiques. Cette thèse explore les barrières et les facilitateurs à l’accès au diagnostic et au traitement au niveau des patients et du système de santé au Nigéria. Méthodes: Cette thèse est une étude transformative de méthodes mixtes. Nous avons d’abord réalisé une revue systématique mixte pour identifier les obstacles et les facilitateurs influençant l’accès au diagnostic et au traitement de la TPR en Afrique subsaharienne. Nous avons par la suite mené une méta-synthèse qualitative pour examiner en profondeur les obstacles aux soins de la tuberculose auxquels se heurtent les patients, la communauté, et le système de santé. Nous avons utilisé les résultats des deux revues systématiques pour affiner notre cadre conceptuel afin d'orienter la conception et l'analyse de l'étude empirique qui a suivi. Le cadre conceptuel adapté est basé sur le cadre de Levesque. Ce cadre centré sur les patients conceptualise l’accès aux soins selon des dimensions du système de santé et des patients. Cette étude comprenait également une analyse rétrospective d’une cohorte de patients diagnostiqués en 2015 (n = 996) à l'aide de données secondaires nationales et une analyse en cascade des soins de la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante entre 2013 et 2017. Nous avons mené des analyses statistiques descriptives et analytiques. Nous avons effectué une régression logistique et d'autres tests d’association pour mesurer la relation entre les variables catégorielles. L’étude qualitative était une étude de cas qui consistait à examiner la dynamique de soins du point de vue des patients (n = 86 participants, n = 7 groupes de discussions, 5 entretiens approfondis avec des patients diagnostiqués et non traités), leurs familles (n = 19 participants, n = 1 groupe de discussion, 7entretiens approfondis ), membres de la communauté (n = 23 , n=2 groupes de discussion), agents de santé (n = 5 entretiens approfondis) et gestionnaires de programme (n = 29 entretiens approfondis) dans quatre États du Nigéria. Nous avons analysé nos données qualitatives à l'aide d'une analyse thématique. Résultats: Notre revue systématique mixte et notre méta-synthèse qualitative ont indiqué des obstacles et des facilitateurs à l’accès aux soins de la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante au niveau du système de santé et des patients. Les problèmes de fonctionnement des laboratoires et des cliniques, l’absence de connaissances et les attitudes des prestataires de soins, et la gestion de l'information étaient des obstacles à l’accès aux soins de la TPR. Les facteurs facilitateurs comprenaient des outils de diagnostic plus récents, la décentralisation des services et le coût gratuit des soins. Au niveau des patients, la perte de suivi avant ou pendant les soins en raison de la perception négative des soins dans les services publics, le genre, la famille, l’engagement professionnel ou scolaire, et le recours aux soins dans le secteur privé constituaient des obstacles. Les facilitateurs étaient la séropositivité pour VIH, la multitude de symptômes, et le soutien financier des patients. Nos résultats quantitatifs ont révélé une certaine amélioration mais des progrès insuffisants dans le diagnostic et la couverture du traitement au Nigeria entre 2013 et 2017. Notre analyse en cascade a montré des abandons significatifs entre chaque étape des soins, en commençant par les tests et en terminant par l'achèvement du traitement. En moyenne, 80% des cas estimés n'ont pas eu accès au test; 75% de ceux qui ont été testé n'ont pas été diagnostiqués; 36% des personnes diagnostiquées n'ont pas commencé le traitement et 23% d'entre elles n'ont pas terminé le traitement pour la période entre 2013-2017. En 2015, les patients et les enfants atteints de la TB qui résident au nord du Nigéria avaient une probabilité de 0,3 [IC à 95% 0,1-0,7] et 0,4[0,3-0,5] de terminer le traitement une fois la maladie diagnostiquée comparativement aux patients et aux enfants qui résident au sud du pays. Les hommes avaient une probabilité de 1,34 [IC à 95% 1,0-1,7] plus élevée de terminer le traitement après le diagnostic comparativement aux femmes. La localisation géographique et les niveaux de soins étaient associés à un traitement et / ou à un traitement rapide. Notre étude qualitative a identifié des obstacles aux soins aux niveaux individuel, familial, communautaire, et du système de santé. Certains groupes sociodémographiques de patients avaient un accès inéquitable aux soins de la TPR. Alors que les patients étaient pour la plupart traités de manière égale au niveau de l'établissement, certains patients avaient plus de difficulté à accéder aux soins en fonction de leur sexe, de leur âge, de leur profession, de leur niveau d'éducation, et de leur religion. La dynamique familiale et conjugale influencent l’accès aux soins des patients, en particulier des enfants et des femmes. Elle agissait parfois comme un obstacle aux soins. D’autres facteurs qui ont probablement entravé l’accès incluaient l’absence de considérations sur les droits d’accès et la protection des patients dans les directives de traitement et les protocoles de soins. Les patients ignoraient pour la plupart les causes de la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante et la disponibilité des soins gratuits. Le nombre d'agents de santé et les problèmes de formation, la faible performance des laboratoires et des cliniques sont des obstacles aux soins de la tuberculose au niveau du système de santé. Les principaux facilitateurs à l’accès aux soins comprenaient le soutien familial, le soutien financier aux patients et le traitement gratuit. Conclusions: Malgré la gratuité des tests et des traitements de la TB pharmaco-résistante au Nigéria depuis 2011, les couvertures de diagnostic et de traitement restent constamment faibles. Les obstacles à l’accès au diagnostic et au traitement de la TB et de la TB pharmaco-résistante sont similaires. Toutefois, la TB pharmaco-résistante présente des défis particuliers en raison de la complexité des procédures de prétraitement et des toxicités résultant des médicaments eux-mêmes. Notre étude avait pour objectif de mieux comprendre les facteurs qui influencent l’accès à l'initiation au traitement de la TB pharmaco-résistante. Nos résultats montrent que les obstacles les plus importants sont l'accès aux tests et au diagnostic, malgré les progrès technologiques de diagnostic et des protocoles cliniques. Notre étude a identifié plusieurs obstacles liés aux patients et au système de santé. La plupart des patients atteints de TB pharmaco-résistante n'ont pas accès aux tests et ne sont pas diagnostiqués, souvent en raison d'un manque d'information. Les politiques et les programmes de lutte contre la tuberculose pharmaco-résistante ne sont pas toujours équitables, en particulier pour les populations vivant dans les zones rurales, les enfants, et les femmes. Les résultats de notre étude ont généré des données probantes pertinentes pour les décideurs et les partenaires internationaux pour remédier aux disparités systémiques et fournir des services plus équitables. L'élimination des obstacles à l’accès aux soins en temps opportun devrait être une priorité urgente pour améliorer le programme de lutte contre la tuberculose au Nigéria. Dans la faible détection des cas et la couverture thérapeutique, les interventions devraient viser l'équité en facilitant l’accès aux soins des populations vulnérables. / Background: Detection and treatment coverage for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in Nigeria are persistently low despite the implementation of free diagnostic and treatment services since 2011. Nigeria has a high burden for tuberculosis, ranking 6th globally with 4.3% drug resistance in new, and 15% in retreatment cases. The World Health Organization classifies the country as a high burden for TB, DR-TB, and HIV, with a prevalence of 219 and 11 per 100,000 population for TB and DR-TB, and 1.28 per 1,000 population HIV. Without treatment, mortality from tuberculosis is approximately 70% within ten years, increasing with HIV co-infection and drug resistance - and decreasing to below 5% with treatment. DR-TB survival rates are lower, and treatment is longer, costlier, and more toxic; this may pose different challenges to both patients and health systems than is the case for drug-sensitive (DS-) TB. However, treatment response and survival are positively impacted by early detection and treatment initiation, ideally within four weeks of diagnosis, especially with HIV co-infection. Socio-demographic characteristics often interact in complex ways with systemic factors, to increase vulnerability and disadvantage – these interactions are particularly well examined through an equity of health access framework and could offer policy-relevant analyses and recommendations. This study explores patient and health system barriers and facilitators to diagnosis and treatment for DR-TB in Nigeria. Methods: This is a sequential transformative mixed-methods study. First, a mixed-methods systematic review identified barriers and facilitators affecting diagnosis and treatment for DR-TB in sub-Saharan Africa. A subsequent qualitative meta-synthesis was used to examine in more depth the patient, community, and health system barriers to TB care. The results of the systematic reviews were used to refine our conceptual framework and to guide the design and the analysis of the subsequent empirical study. The adapted conceptual framework is based on the Levesque framework for patient-centred healthcare access, which conceptualises access to care as having health system and patient dimensions. This study also included a retrospective cohort analysis of patients diagnosed in 2015 (n= 996 ) using National secondary data, and a DR-TB care cascade analysis of the period between 2013 and 2017. We used descriptive statistics, logistic regression and other tests of association to measure the relationship between variables categorical. The qualitative phase used a case study design to examine the dynamics of care from patients' perspectives (n= 86 participants, N= 7 focus group discussions (FGD), 5 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with diagnosed and untreated patients), their relatives (n= 19 participants, N= 1 FGD, 7 IDIs ), community members (n=23 in 2 FGDs), healthcare workers (n= 5 IDIs ), and program managers (n= 29 IDIs) in four States in Nigeria. We analysed our qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: Our mixed methods systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis revealed barriers and facilitators to DR-TB care at the health system and patient levels. Health system laboratory and clinic operational issues, poor provider knowledge and attitudes and information management were some barriers. Facilitators included newer diagnostic tools, decentralisation of services and free cost of care. At the patient level, loss to follow-up before or during care due to negative public sector care perceptions, gender, family, work or school commitments and using private sector care were some barriers. Facilitators were HIV positivity, having more symptoms, and financial support. Our quantitative findings revealed some improvement but inadequate progress in diagnosis and treatment coverage in Nigeria between 2013 and 2017. Our cascade analysis showed significant dropouts between each stage of care, starting with testing and ending with treatment completion. On average, between 2013-2017, 80% of estimated cases did not access testing; 75% of those who test were not diagnosed; 36% of those diagnosed were not initiated on treatment and 23% of these did not finish treatment. In 2015, children and patients in Northern Nigeria had odds of 0.3 [95% CI 0.1-0.7] and 0.4 [0.3-0.5] of completing treatment once diagnosed; compared with adults and patients in Southern Nigeria; while males were shown to have a 1.34 [95% CI 1.0-1.7] times greater chance of completing treatment after diagnosis compared to females.. Geographic locations and levels of care were associated with ever receiving treatment and or timely treatment. Our qualitative data and document review identified barriers to care at individual, family, community, and health systems levels. Some patient socio-demographic groups had inequitable access. While patients were mostly treated equally at the facility level, some patients experienced more difficulty accessing care based on their gender, age, occupation, educational level and religion. Parental and spousal influences affected patients, particularly children, and women, and were sometimes barriers to care. Other factors that likely hampered access include the absence of considerations for patients’ access rights and protection in the treatment guidelines and workers manuals. Patients were mostly unaware of the causes of DR-TB disease and the availability of free care. Health worker numbers and training, clinic, and operational laboratory issues limited patients’ access at the health system level. The main facilitators to care included family support, patient financial support, and free treatment. Conclusions: Despite the provision of free DR-TB testing and treatment in Nigeria since 2011, coverage for diagnosis and treatment remain persistently low. Our literature review identified many of the same access factors affecting both DS-TB and DR-TB. However, DR-TB had peculiar challenges due to complexities in pre- treatment procedures, and in toxicities as a result of the medications themselves. This study was designed to investigate the access factors impacting DR-TB treatment initiation identified in literature. However, our findings showed that the biggest barriers to DR-TB care were essentially in access to testing and diagnosis, making any advances in diagnostic technology and treatment regimens of little benefit to DR-TB patients in Nigeria. Several patient and health system factors were shown to impede access to DR-TB care, particularly for certain groups of patients. Most DR-TB patients are not accessing testing and do not get diagnosed, often due to a lack of information. Also, DR-TB policies, structures and processes are not always equitable, especially for rural dwellers, children and women. Findings from our mixed methods study provided the additional insights needed by policymakers and implementing partners to address systemic disparities and provide more equitable services based on the population's needs. Eliminating barriers that negatively impact timely access to care should be an urgent priority for the TB program in Nigeria. In Nigeria's low case-finding and treatment coverage, interventions should target equity and ease of access, specifically for the barriers identified at the patient and health system levels.