Predictors of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Completion in College Students: A High Adherence Study in China

To investigate and evaluate factors associated with completion of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) among college students with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 399 LTBI college students who initiated TPT in Shandong Province, China. TPT completion rates were determined. Factors associated with TPT completion were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Of the 399 students initially initiated TPT, 364 (91.2%) eventually completed treatment. Non-medical students were more likely than medical students to discontinue TPT early [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.13-0.78; E-value = 1.79). Students with higher family income (aOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.12-0.60; E-value = 1.94) and higher education levels (aOR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.31; E-value = 3.48) were less likely to complete the TPT. Students who did not experience adverse reactions during medication (aOR = 9.46, 95% CI: 2.67-33.64; E-value = 3.08) were more likely to complete TPT. E-value analysis showed robustness to unmeasured confounders.

Standardized medication management is critical to the completion of preventive treatment. To improve TPT adherence, we suggest tailored interventions based on factors associated with TPT completion, such as the individual (type of student, level of education, incidence of adverse events) and family characteristics (household income) of college students with LTBI, are identified as improving LTBI treatment completion.