Abstract: Objective  To explore the causes and influencing factors on TB patients and suspected patients who had been referred, but did not arrive at TB control institute with the implementation of medical-prevention cooperation, and to provide evidence for overall arrival rate improvement and appropriate policies and measures development. Methods  In the period May to July 2010, a questionnaire survey of suspected TB patients, including 60 arrived and 60 non-arrived patients, was conducted with standard investigation plan in Kashi city and Yingjisha county. The questionnaire was developed by National Center for TB Control and Prevention (NCTB), China CDC according to the investigation plan. The trained investigators interviewed 120 TB patients or suspected TB patients, and each questionnaire was checked by staff from CDC at autonomous region. Description, univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were used. Results  Univariate analysis showed: by self-administered medication, 18 cases thought they could be cured, 39 didn’t think so in arrival group, while the numbers in non-arrival group were 22 and 26 respectively (OR=1.223, 95%CI=0.700-2.138, Wald χ²=8.40, P=0.015). 48 cases and 37 cases were informed the national free policy on TB in arrival and non-arrival group respectively (OR=2.486, 95%CI=1.096-5.641, Wald χ²=4.88, P=0.027). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the patients who thought they could be cured by self-administered medication (β=-1.871, Wald χ²=7.069, P=0.008, OR=0.154, 95%CI=0.039-0.612) and those who were informed by the referring doctors of national free policy on TB (β=0.886, Wald χ²=4.000, P=0.045, OR=2.424, 95%CI=1.018-5.774) were influencing factors on arriving at TB dispensaries referred by non-TB control institutions. Conclusion  The health care workers should conduct TB health education activities patiently and carefully to avoid misunderstanding of TB, in order to improve referral arrival rate of TB patients in Kashi Prefecture.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary, Referral and consultation, Community networks, Factor analysis, statistical, Xinjiang