title: Determinants of health care-seeking delay among tuberculosis patients in Shandong Province, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is beneficial for tuberculosis patients to seek health care in time. The aim of this study was to understand the situation of initial health care-seeking delay among tuberculosis patients in eastern China, and explore its influencing factors, to provide a basis for formulating related polices and reducing its transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted in six counties of Shandong Province, China, and we selected study sites by multi-stage random sampling. Subjects were pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered with the county tuberculosis dispensaries at study sites that completed treatment during the period October 2006 to September 30, 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the 819 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, the median initial health care-seeking delay time was 6 days, and 49.8% of them were initial health care-seeking delayed. The logistic regression analysis showed that marriage (odds ratio = 0.354, 95% confidence interval: 0.193-0.650) and knowledge of the national tuberculosis subsidy policy (odds ratio = 1.753, 95% confidence interval: 1.258-2.441) were associated with initial health care-seeking delay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changing the perception of patients and popularizing the national tuberculosis subsidy policy will do well towards reducing initial health care-seeking delay.
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors: Xiuxiu
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors: Ruoyan
authors: R
authors: Gai
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Mei
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
authors: Xingzhou
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Social Medicine and Health Services Management, Institute of Public Health, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China lzxu@sdu.edu.cn.
authors: Lingzhong
authors: L
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult