Knowledge, attitude, utilisation and satisfaction of traditional Chinese medicine in Hong Kong

The Influencing Role of Cultural Values on Attitudes of the Chinese Public Towards Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for the Control of COVID-19

Purpose

The use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for disease prevention and healthcare has been strongly supported by the Chinese government in recent years, but public perception of TCM remains controversial or resistant, especially in preventing and treating COVID-19. It is therefore crucial to understand the factors that influence public attitudes.

Methods

By applying a measure of attitudes towards TCM in epidemic prevention, this study conducted a nationwide survey (n=1192) on the relationships between attitudes towards TCM for the control of COVID-19 and trust, perceptions of risk, scientific literacy, policy endorsement, and cultural values.

Results

The results of the study showed surprisingly that scientific literacy and risk perception did not dominate the Chinese public's attitudes towards TCM for the control of COVID-19. Meanwhile, egalitarianism, policy endorsement, trust in scientist and healthcare personnel played a positive role. Moreover, egalitarianism positively regulates the relationship between trust in scientist and attitudes towards TCM epidemic prevention and control, while collectivism negatively regulates the relationship of the preceding variables.

Conclusion

All these findings suggest that attitudes towards the use of TCM are not based on rational cognition and logical reasoning, but are mainly influenced by emotional and cultural factors. This study will help researchers and practitioners understand the importance of cultural values, trust, policy endorsement, and attitudes towards TCM epidemic prevention and control to TCM's use in healthcare.

The Influence of Medicine Approaches on Patient Trust, Satisfaction, and Loyalty

The increase in traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) methods has revealed the necessity of determining relevant behavioral tendencies among healthcare users. In our study, the evaluation of TCM approaches of healthcare users living in North Cyprus in terms of treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction, and the effects of these variables on patient loyalty, were investigated. Data were collected utilizing the scale approach as well as the survey technique in order to measure the variables in the study. A total of 452 participants completed the survey. TCM has a positive effect on treatment effectiveness, patient trust and patient satisfaction. Patient trust and patient satisfaction have a positive effect on patient loyalty, whereas treatment effectiveness did not have a significant effect on patient loyalty. There is a significant and positive mediating effect of patient trust and patient satisfaction between TCM and patient loyalty. However, the mediating effect of treatment effectiveness is not significant between TCM and patient loyalty. This study will help researchers and practitioners understand the importance of attitude, trust, effectiveness, satisfaction and loyalty in relation to TCM. It is suggested that studies that measure the behaviors of patients should increase in order to obtain better health outcomes.

Predictors of the intention to use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) using extended theory of planned behavior: a cross-sectional study among TCM users in Hong Kong

Background

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine are available and have a long history in Hong Kong. Little is known on the intention to use TCM in Hong Kong. In this study, the intention to use TCM was examined by the extended theory of planned behavior.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from 15 and 29 November 2021. Respondents’ attitude towards using TCM, intention to use TCM, knowledge, perceived behavioral control, perceived service quality, satisfaction, subjective norms and demographic characteristics were collected from the survey. To examine the conceptual framework in this study, partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was adopted.

Results

In total, 446 responses (completion rate = 74.3%) were analysed. Attitude towards TCM was the strongest predictor to the intention to use TCM followed by satisfaction and subjective norms. Attitude had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention to use TCM. Attitude had a full mediating effect on the relationship between knowledge and intention to use TCM. Satisfaction had a full mediating effect on the relationship between perceived service quality and intention to use TCM.

Conclusions

This is the first study to investigate the predictors of the intention to use TCM in Hong Kong by using TPB. Individuals’ attitude towards TCM has showed stronger effect to the intention to use TCM than other predictors, such as satisfaction, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. To enhance the intention to use TCM in Hong Kong, key stakeholders, including TCM professional organisations, health professionals and policymakers, should develop a positive attitude towards TCM among Hong Kong population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03598-x.