Factors influencing quality of life in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Jingsong Yuan, Yuanling Wu, Yi Lin, Guofang Deng, Jingfang ChenIntroduction
Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) continues to pose a significant global public health challenge and is associated with substantial physical, psychological and social burdens. Beyond traditional clinical outcomes, quality of life (QoL) has received increasing attention in PTB research and care because it reflects patients’ physical, psychological and social well-being. Although several primary studies have explored factors associated with QoL among patients with PTB, the existing evidence is fragmented, with considerable variation in study populations, disease characteristics and assessment instruments. To date, no comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis has synthesised the determinants of QoL among patients with PTB. This study aims to systematically identify, integrate and quantitatively summarise factors associated with QoL among patients with PTB, thereby providing an evidence base to inform targeted nursing interventions and patient management strategies.
Methods and analysis
This protocol was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols statement to ensure rigorous reporting. A systematic and comprehensive literature search will be conducted in eight electronic databases, comprising five English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Embase and Scopus) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database and Wanfang Database), from inception to 30 November 2025. Observational studies examining associations between potential influencing factors and QoL or health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among adult patients with PTB will be eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data and assess methodological quality, with disagreements resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. Meta-analysis will be performed only when studies are sufficiently comparable in terms of population, influencing factors, QoL or HRQoL measurement and effect estimates; otherwise, findings will be summarised narratively. Where meta-analysis is appropriate, quantitative synthesis will be performed using Review Manager software and subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted where data permit.
Ethics and dissemination
Since this study involves the synthesis and secondary analysis of previously published data, formal ethical approval is not required. The results of this study will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant academic conferences. They will provide a robust evidence base for clinical nursing practice and guide the development of future research directions.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD420251196862.