title: Factors associated with the utilization of traditional Chinese medicine in a small town in Hong Kong.
abstract: The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is largely unregulated in Hong Kong. Yet, as previous studies have shown, a sizable segment of the population consults TCM practitioners for health problems. This paper uses health care utilization data from a telephone health survey of 847 adult subjects in Tai Po District who had suffered from acute illness in the past month, to examine the profile of TCM users in the District. Women, older residents, unemployed workers, low skill laborers, current smokers and subjects dissatisfied with the quality of private sector clinics were significantly more likely to consult TCM practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lek Yuen Health Center, Shatin, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Lloyd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population