CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE - HOW DO PATIENTS WHO CONSULTFAMILY PHYSICIANS USE THESE THERAPIES

OBJECTIVE To determine how a population of Chinese patients consulting family physicians in Vancouver use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) , specifically Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. DESIGN Bilingu al survey (English and Chinese). SETTING Four family practices with pr edominantly Chinese patients in metropolitan Vancouver. PARTICIPANTS T he 932 patients or family members who visited one of the practices. MA IN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic characteristics; frequency and reason for visiting a family physician, Chinese herbalist, or acupuncturist; choice of practitioner ii affected by one of 16 common conditions. RES ULTS The study population was mostly Chinese and immigrant to Canada. Chinese herbal medicine was currently used by 28% (262/930) of respond ents (more than one visit in the last year), and another 18% (172/930) were past users. Acupuncture was currently used by 7% (64/927) and ha d been used in the past by another 8% (71/927). Use of Chinese herbal medicine varied significantly (P<.01) according to age, sex, immigrant status, and ethnicity. Acupuncture use varied significantly only by a ge. The main reasons for consulting Chinese herbalists were infection (41%, 157/382), respiratory problems (11%, 42/382), and rheumatologic problems (10%, 38/382), whereas acupuncturists were consulted almost e xclusively for rheumatologic problems (80%, 45/56). CONCLUSIONS Using TCM in conjunction with visiting family physicians was very popular am ong this predominantly Chinese study population. Patients with acute c onditions, such as influenza, consulted both their family physicians a nd Chinese herbalists in quick succession. On the other hand, those su ffering from more chronic conditions, such as rheumatologic diseases, were more likely to start using TCM after repeated visits to their fam ily physicians.