Use of traditional chinese medicine in the Hong Kong special administrative region of China.
OBJECTIVE
The role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a part of the Hong Kong health care system was not formally recognized until the handover of the city's sovereignty from the United Kingdom to mainland China in 1997. Population-representative data collected in a Thematic Household Survey (THS) in 2002 provided the first large-scale, cross-sectional study of utilization of TCM after 1997.


METHODS
Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 31,762 noninstitutional and institutional residents, a representative sample of Hong Kong's population of 6,504,255.


RESULTS
Among all respondents, 3.9% preferred TCM when they experienced medical problems. Of those reporting symptoms of medical problems in the 30 days preceding the THS, 1.8% had utilized TCM regularly in the past 6 months; 8.8% had consulted a TCM practitioner, and 2.7% had used TCM over-the-counter products. The utilization rate of TCM for respondents younger than 14 years was lower in all categories. Among patients who claimed to have medical benefits or insurance policies (N = 12,869), 14.5% were covered for TCM. Logistic regression analysis showed that preference for TCM was higher among women, older persons, and those with lower scores on the General Health Survey Short Form (SF-12), chronic disease, and higher education levels. Being single, institutionalized, and an older patient with a chronic disease were negatively associated with choice for and usage of TCM. Respondents with a higher education level and chronic disease patients were more likely to have insurance coverage for TCM, while those who were older, chronic disease patients, and single persons were least likely to have such coverage.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the pre-1997 studies, the THS of 2002 made three novel findings. First, respondents of higher socioeconomic class emerged as a new class of TCM users. Second, there was a low rate of TCM utilization among institutionalized elderly persons. Lastly, older respondents were less like to be covered by TCM insurance. This paper discusses the issues raised by the THS of 2002 and suggests areas for future research, including a better understanding of TCM accessibility among the elderly and possible financing opportunities for community TCM services.
Chung
Vincent
V
School of Public Health, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. vchung@cuhk.edu.hk
Wong
Eric
E
Woo
Jean
J
Lo
Sui Vi
SV
Griffiths
Sian
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution