Attitudes of Hong Kong Chinese to traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine: survey and cluster analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether within a cohort of Hong Kong out-patients definable subtypes exist based on their attitudes to traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.


METHODS
Data were collected using a structured questionnaire.


METHODS
The sample of 503 subjects was recruited at two local outpatient clinics in Hong Kong.


METHODS
The study employs demographic variables, illness status, the Chinese-Western Medical Belief Scale, trust of physicians and subjects' preferences on consultation fees, attitude of health care professional, efficacy of service and waiting time during consultation.


RESULTS
A cluster analysis yielded three clusters based on their attitudes towards traditional Chinese and Western medicine. One cluster, 24% of the sample, is noted for being older, poorer, more likely to be female and to have chronic conditions; they are sceptical of western physicians. The second cluster (63% of the sample) is younger and have considerably more belief in Western than traditional Chinese medicine. The third group (14%) is intermediate in age and is noted for a marked faith in both forms of medicine.


CONCLUSIONS
A clear profile of these attitudes of Hong Kong Chinese may benefit health care professionals in making appropriate patient-doctor relationships and planning patient care.
Chan
M F
MF
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, PR China.
Mok
E
E
Wong
Y S
YS
Tong
T F
TF
Day
M C
MC
Tang
C K Y
CK
Wong
D H C
DH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires