Abstract:

Objective This study aims to demonstrate the treatment intention of the floating population in the presence of suspicious symptoms of tuberculosis, and to analyze the influencing factors of delayed treatment intention, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of TB in floating population.Methods During May to September in 2015, PPS sampling method was used to select 2 provinces respectively from eastern, central and western regions of China. In these provinces, based on convenience sampling method, a total of 3300 floating people from 3 main types of work place which contains factories, construction sites and service business in 12 cities were chosen to complete the survey, and 3294 valid questionnaires were collected (the effective rate was 99.8%). The questionnaire was designed based on the health belief model (HBM). The medical intention of objectives with different characters were analyzed, and the scores of each HBM module of people with different treatment intentions were calculated and compared, too.Results The proportion of delayed treatment intention of people with mild and moderate tuberculosis symptoms was 22.8% (751/3294) and 14.9% (491/3294), respectively. In both mild or moderate symptom groups, the highest proportion of delay was in the construction industry, namely, 29.7% (341/1149) and 22.2% (255/1149); people aged 41-50, 25.6% (212/829) and 18.9% (157/829); the western region,32.7% (342/1046) and 23.0% (241/1046). The delayed treatment rates in both mild and moderate TB symptoms groups were higher in those who did not receive the education for TB promotion, which was 26.2% (553/2111) and 16.5% (348/2111), respectively, while in those who once received, the proportions were 16.7% (192/1153) and 11.7% (135/1153) respectively. The average score of knowledge was (8.51±3.37); perceived TB threat, (12.28±2.62); perceived value of medical treatment, (14.27±1.89); perception of barriers, (13.03±1.12), prompt factor, (6.45±1.12).Conclusion The proportion of delayed treatment intention was high in floating population. It is necessary to enhance health education among the floating people, especially construction workers and people in the western region. The education should be designed based on the health belief model, include the benefits and barriers of timely medical treatment into the publicity.

Key words: Residential mobility, Questionnaires, Tuberculosis,pulmonary, Health knowledge,attitudes,practice, Office visits, Patient acceptance of health care