Factors associated with utilization of traditional Chinese medicine by white collar foreign workers living in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has remained an integral part of Chinese culture and society for thousands of years. In Taiwan TCM is a recognized element of its National Health Insurance Scheme. However, there is no knowledge about how TCM is accessed by foreign workers from a non-Asian cultural background. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and patterns of TCM use among non-Asian white-collar workers living in Taiwan, and examine factors likely to influence their use of TCM.


METHODS
This study applied a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 207 white-collar foreign workers of a non-Asian background currently holding National Health Insurance cards who had lived in Taiwan for 4 months or more participated in this study.


RESULTS
The prevalence of TCM use was 45%. The most frequently used therapies were traditional Chinese herbs/medicine and acupuncture. Factors indicating the likelihood of TCM usage were age 31-40 years, visit to an allopathic medical doctor in the last year, ability to read Chinese, having a friend or family member available to assist in the use of TCM, and access to information about TCM services available in Taiwan.


CONCLUSIONS
Utilization of TCM by people of a non-Asian background living in Taiwan appears to be most influenced by enabling factors including language ability, access to information, and informal reference persons.
Daly
Maria
M
Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. mariadaly2000@yahoo.co.uk
Tai
Chen-Jei
CJ
Deng
Chung-Yeh
CY
Chien
Li-Yin
LY
D000288:Administrative Personnel; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America / Q000208:ethnology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013020:South America / Q000208:ethnology; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult