USE OF CHINESE THERAPIES AMONG CHINESE PATIENTS SEEKING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE

We observed that many Chinese-Americans presenting to our emergency de partment use traditional Chinese therapies. We therefore conducted a s urvey using a convenience sample of first- and second-generation adult Chinese immigrants to characterize their use of traditional therapies . Seventy-six patients completed the survey; 43% had used Chinese ther apy within 1 week of the ED visit. Use of Chinese therapies was common among first- and second-generation immigrants (44% and 42%, respectiv ely). Patients claiming affiliation with a practitioner of Chinese med icine used Chinese therapies most frequently (60%). However, those lac king a traditional therapist and those associated with a Western physi cian also used traditional therapies frequently (38% and 41%, respecti vely). Many Chinese patients visit both a Western and a Chinese practi tioner (17%). Emergency physicians treating Chinese-Americans should c onsider the possibility of concomitant use of traditional therapies. P hysicians should be aware of the medical and social implications of al ternative medical therapies.