title: Factors associated with utilization of traditional Chinese medicine by white collar foreign workers living in Taiwan.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. mariadaly2000@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Chen-Jei
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Chung-Yeh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Li-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chien
mesh_terms: 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