title: An investigation of the use of traditional chinese medicine in stroke patients in taiwan.
abstract: Background. The use of complementary and alternative medicine in critical illness is increasing worldwide. This study investigates how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used in stroke patients. Methods. Using Taiwan National Health Insurance reimbursement claims, we compared the annual use of TCM between stroke patients and general population, identifying 15,330 patients with a new onset of stroke in 2000-2009. The sociodemographic status and medical comorbidities between stroke patients receiving TCM services and those without using the service were compared. Results. The use of TCM was higher in stroke patients than in the general population, 27.9% versus 25.4% in 2000 and 32.7% versus 27.8% in 2009, respectively, and grew consistently from 2000 to 2009. Among stroke patients, women, younger patients, white-collar employees, higher-income residents, and those living in areas with more TCM physicians were more likely to use TCM. Stroke patients using rehabilitation services were more likely to have more TCM visits (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.96-2.66) and higher expenditure on TCM (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.29-3.12) compared with stroke patients without rehabilitation. Conclusion. TCM is popular and well accepted in Taiwan. Patients with stroke have a higher TCM utilization rate than people without stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Jaung-Geng
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chin-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hsin-Long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Ta-Chen
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hwang-Huei
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fung-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Ta-Liang
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Shih