Analysis on influence factors of indirect economic burden of tuberculosis patients in Shandong province

ObjectiveTo explore the indirect economic burden and its influence factors among tuberculosis(TB) patients in Shandong province and to provide scientific basis for TB prevention and control in China.MethodsA faceto-face questionnaire survey was conducted among registered smear-positive TB patients selected with stratified random cluster sampling from 36 towns of 6 counties or districts from October 1,2006 to September 30,2007.ResultsAmong the 501 TB patients at the end of treatment,the average indirect economic burden of one patient was 193.73 RMB yuan, with a median of 73.17 yuan.The influence factors of indirect economic burden of the patients were time of visiting a doctor before confirmatory diagnosis of TB,hospitalization,residential place,and the first medical institution for the diagnosis.ConclusionIndirect economic burden of TB patients is high and measures should be taken to reduce indirect economic burden of TB patients in Shandong province.