What constitutes treatment effectiveness? the differential judgements of Chinese Australian patients and doctors

Analysis of interviews and focus groups with users of traditional Chinese m edicine (TCM) and ethnic Chinese general practitioners (GPs) in Sydney,Aust ralia, demonstrated the concept of treatment effectiveness held by users ha d four aspects: diagnosis, intervention, outcome and prevention of recurren ce. Respondents assessed orthodox medicine and TCM utilizing all four aspec ts. Orthodox medicine was considered effective for diagnosis and valued for the speed of its intervention. However, respondents regretted its failure to use food in treatment. Orthodox medicine was considered best for symptom relief but TCM was considered to be better at dealing with root causes of illness and was consequently better at preventing illness recurring. Respon dents saw prevention as illness specific contrasting with the lifestyle pre vention espoused by orthodox medicine. Respondents criticized TCM in Austra lia because of the perceived low expertise of practitioners and poor herb q uality. GPs valued accurate diagnosis and symptom relief but were less conc erned about root causes of illness and did not see food as a treatment inte rvention. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.