This study aimed to identify acceptable and patient-centred pathways to care for tuberculosis survivors (TBS) experiencing persistent or recurrent respiratory symptoms in Blantyre, Malawi. Although many individuals successfully complete TB treatment, a significant proportion continue to experience long-term respiratory complications such as cough, breathlessness, and chest pain. However, there are no clear guideline-driven pathways for managing these symptoms, contributing to inconsistent care and poor health outcomes. 

Using a mixed-methods design, the study was conducted in two stages. First, qualitative focus group discussions with TBS and healthcare workers explored lived experiences, health-seeking behaviours, and perspectives on post-TB care. Findings from this phase informed the development of a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), which was used to quantify preferences for different attributes of post-TB care pathways. The DCE served as an exploratory step to generate preliminary evidence on patient and provider preferences.  

The findings are expected inform the design of larger DCE’s and future interventions, contributing to the development of feasible, patient centred post-TB care models and strengthening the evidence base for post-TB care policy and practice.