title: A hospital clinic-based survey on traditional Chinese medicine usage among chronic hepatitis B patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To survey the pattern of traditional Chinese medicine usage among chronic hepatitis B patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaire survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis clinic at a university hospital in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Proportion of chronic hepatitis B patients who have ever used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and factors associated with the use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and sixty-two patients completed the survey (response rate 93%). One hundred and sixteen (32%) patients reported history of traditional Chinese medicine usage. One hundred and five (91%) patients felt that Chinese medicine had few or no side effects. Most (81%) patients did not inform their physicians on Chinese medicine usage. On multivariate analysis, recent travel to Mainland China, perceived active hepatitis and family members with chronic hepatitis B were independent factors associated with the use of Chinese medicine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic hepatitis B patients commonly use traditional Chinese medicine. As patients seldom inform the physicians about the use of Chinese medicine, doctors should explicitly enquire about this because of potential therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 9/F, The Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Road, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Vincent Wai-Sun
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Man-Yee
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Alex Yui
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Angeline Oi-Shan
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Cheuk-Yin
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Man-Tak
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Hor-Yee
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Henry Lik-Yuen
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal