Use of Chinese therapies among Chinese patients seeking emergency department care.
We observed that many Chinese-Americans presenting to our emergency department use traditional Chinese therapies. We therefore conducted a survey using a convenience sample of first- and second-generation adult Chinese immigrants to characterize their use of traditional therapies. Seventy-six patients completed the survey; 43% had used Chinese therapy within 1 week of the ED visit. Use of Chinese therapies was common among first- and second-generation immigrants (44% and 42%, respectively). Patients claiming affiliation with a practitioner of Chinese medicine used Chinese therapies most frequently (60%). However, those lacking a traditional therapist and those associated with a Western physician also used traditional therapies frequently (38% and 41%, respectively). Many Chinese patients visit both a Western and a Chinese practitioner (17%). Emergency physicians treating Chinese-Americans should consider the possibility of concomitant use of traditional therapies. Physicians should be aware of the medical and social implications of alternative medical therapies.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City