Internship opportunity at KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation
KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) is one of the leading international non-profit organizations dedicated to fighting tuberculosis (TB) worldwide. We are an international center of expertise for TB control that stimulates effective, efficient and sustainable tuberculosis control strategies in a national and international context. We are an organization of passionate TB professionals; including medical doctors, researchers, training experts, nurses and epidemiologists.
Over the past century we have built a wealth of knowledge and expertise, initially by successfully driving back TB in the Netherlands, and subsequently by partnering in the fight against TB in over 40 countries worldwide.
We operate from a central office in The Hague in the Netherlands and additional country offices worldwide). KNCV raises funds from individual, institutional and corporate donors.
Scientific background
Tuberculosis is still the deadliest infectious disease worldwide. With the ongoing globalization, persons including those with tuberculosis, cross borders either because voluntary or forced. It is of outmost importance that persons with tuberculosis who cross borders continue their treatment in order to prevent transmission of tuberculosis or the development of resistance due to interruption or discontinuation of anti tuberculosis treatment. The continuation of TB care and prevention for persons with tuberculosis is called cross border TB control.
To date, there is no harmonized approach for cross border TB control. To facilitate the continuation of care of persons on anti-tuberculosis treatment, (some) TB physicians and experts use their international network to ensure the continuation of care in the destination country. To advise on best practices and potentially a more harmonized approach in the future, we will interview TB experts and care givers to evaluate the best practices and lessons learned in cross border TB control in the EU/EEA countries.
Title Internship:
Cross border TB control practices in the European Union: a qualitative study.
Research question:
What are cross border TB control practices in countries in the EU/EEA?
Methods
Setting and design
For this qualitative study, we will use semi-structured online interviews with TB experts, physicians and nurses with practical experience in cross border TB control.
Data collection
For this study, the intern will conduct online semi-structured interviews in English with the interviewees. The interviews will be guided by a interview topic guide. Interviews will be organized either through TEAMS or Zoom and will be audio-recorded. Interviewees will provide a-priori informed consent for taking part in this study and for the audio-recording of their interviews.
Analysis
After verbatim transcription of interviews, we will use a thematic analysis approach including inductive and deductive coding to analyze the interviews. After coding of the initial interviews, a coding scheme will be developed to guide the coding of the remaining interviews. The intern and the supervisor will work closely together for the analysis and of the interviews and will frequently discuss the coding of the interviews and the interpretation of the results. NVivo will be used to assist in data management and analysis.
Work to do and competences
- Organize and conduct semi-structure online interviews in English
- Verbatim transcription of interviews
- Analysis of interviews through a thematic approach
- Scientific writing
- Presentation of study findings in English
Requirement
- The intern must be affiliated/enrolled in an university masters program, of which this internship should be part
- This is a fulltime internship, the intern is expected to work at the KNCV office in the Hague at least two days per week
Time schedule
February 2025-June 2025
Supervision
The intern will be supervised by Dr. Ineke Spruijt [senior TB consultant and epidemiologist].
Medical ethics committee
For this study, approval from the medical ethical committee will be sought before commencement of the internship.
Expected result
- MSc thesis;
- Presentation in English for the university, internally in the organization and internationally to stakeholders;
- Draft manuscript for scientific publication.
Application
You can send your application before 25 November 2024 to dr. Ineke Spruijt via ineke.spruijt@kncvtbc.org. Candidates for this internship will be approached for an interview and assessment, to be carried out later in the week of 25 November. For questions you may also contact dr. Ineke Spruijt via ineke.spruijt@kncvtbc.org.