Abstract: Objective To understand the qualities of life of new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in floating and household population and the risk factors affecting the quality in Guangzhou city. Methods A self-designed questionnaire was administered to 200 cases of new smear positive PTB patients, 100 in floating and in household population each. The quality of life was compared between the two groups. 205 pieces of questionnaires were sent out, 200 pieces were collected for analysis, among which 119 from male and 81 from female patients. The valid response rate of questionnaires was 97.5%.  Results In comparison with 2 months before the treatment, 16.0%,47.0%, 24.0%, 8.0% and 5.0% of floating patients felt much better, better, similar, worse, and much worse respectively. This was compared with 11.0%, 68.0%, 11.0%, 8.0% and 2.0% in household population. The difference is statistically different between floating and household population(χ²=15.78,P<0.05). The patients in household population had a more obvious improvement in health status than patients in floating population. The score for the impact of emotion on quality of life is (1.61±0.49), and （1.38±0.58） respectively for floating population and household population, and they were significantly different between the two groups (t=3.33,P<0.05). Conclusions The quality of life of floating population is low.

Key words: tuberculosis,pulmonary/therapy, quality of life