HEALTH SERVICE RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in
Salons 10-12.
THURSDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM
Chung V, Griffiths S, Lo SV, Wong E.
Use of traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Health, Welfare
and Food Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government vchung@cuhk.edu.hk
BACKGROUND: Formal recognition of the role of
traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in as a part of the Hong Kong health
care system was not introduced until the hand over the city's sovereignty
from UK to the mainland China in 1997. The effect of this change on
TCM utilization and its relationship with western medicine (WM) remains
uncertain. Data collected as a thematic household survey by the Census
and Statistic Department in 2002 provides the first large scale cross
sectional study of the population. It included questions on TCM use
five years after the reunification.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and pattern
of TCM use among the local population and explore the relationship between
TCM and WM.
METHOD: Using the government's census framework,
samples of institutional and non-institutional residents were derived.
All household in the sample were approached for face-to-face interviews
during household visit during May to July 2002, using a pilot tested
structured questionnaire. To derive unbiased overall results, the data
collected were weighted in accordance with the number of persons by
sex and age in the non-institutional population; while the rest were
weighted against the number of residents in each stratum of institutions.
SPSS was used for data management and analysis.
RESULT: Initial results show that 31 672 persons
were successfully interviewed, with a high response rate of 97.2% among
the institutional samples and of 78.4% for the non-institutional residents.
2.67% of the population mentioned recent use (herbalists, bonesetters
or acupuncturists consultations within 30 days prior the interview)
or regular use (persistent TCM consumption in the past 6 months) (n=845).
Among patients with chronic diseases (n=7838), 4.87% used TCM regularly
or recently. Of respondents who suffered any illness in 30 days prior
the survey (n=7597), 3.86% preferred TCM to conventional medicine if
they were sick (n=1221); while 2.70% reported self administration of
TCM herbs, over-the-counter TCM products or topical medications, and
8.77% consulted herbalists, bonesetters or acupuncturists. We will present
further interrelationships and explore their implications for the healthcare
system.
CONCLUSION: Popularity of TCM among chronic
disease patients indicates its possible role in long term care of the
ageing local population. Existing self prescription of TCM over-the-counter
products raises the issues of the need for public health attention on
TCM related products' and their regulation, efficacy and safety.
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