title: Exploring the role of multiple chronic conditions in traditional Chinese medicine use and three types of traditional Chinese medicine therapy among adults in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous people with chronic conditions like to use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, or integrated treatment of TCM and Western medicine (WM). Our study explored the associations between multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and TCM use and the use of specific types of TCM therapy among adults in Taiwan. In addition, we explored the TCM use of adults with seven common types of chronic conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, a national representative sample in 2005 was used. The Chronic Condition Indicator and the Clinical Classifications System created by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality were used to define the number of chronic conditions of adults. Logistic regressions adjusted for demographic characteristics were used to analyze the associations. The frequency of TCM use among adults with different numbers of chronic conditions was quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCM use for adults with ≥5 chronic conditions (odds ratio [OR] 1.86) was higher than TCM use for adults with 2-4 chronic conditions (OR 1.51) and TCM use for adults with one chronic condition (OR 1.48). The increase in the OR of the use of Chinese herbs and traumatology manipulative therapy according to the number of chronic conditions was not as substantial as that of acupuncture-moxibustion. The frequency of TCM use exhibited an increasing trend with the increase in the number of chronic conditions (p<.001). Among the seven common types of chronic conditions for adults, TCM use for adults with arthropathy (OR 2.01) was the highest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The probability and frequency of TCM use increased as the number of chronic conditions increased. The probability of Chinese herbs use, traumatology manipulative therapy use, and, particularly, acupuncture-moxibustion use increased as the number of chronic conditions increased. We suggest that government policy makers emphasize administering integrated TCM and WM care to people with chronic conditions or MCC.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|2Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yiing-Jenq
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|4Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: 6Department of Medical Research and Development, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.|7Community Medicine Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult