Objectives: To survey the pattern of traditional Chinese medicine usage among chronic hepatitis B patients.
Design: Self-administered questionnaire survey.
Setting: Hepatitis clinic at a university hospital in Hong Kong.
Main outcome measures: Proportion of chronic hepatitis B patients who have ever used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and factors associated with the use.
Results: Three hundred and sixty-two patients completed the survey (response rate 93%). One hundred and sixteen (32%) patients reported history of traditional Chinese medicine usage. One hundred and five (91%) patients felt that Chinese medicine had few or no side effects. Most (81%) patients did not inform their physicians on Chinese medicine usage. On multivariate analysis, recent travel to Mainland China, perceived active hepatitis and family members with chronic hepatitis B were independent factors associated with the use of Chinese medicine.
Conclusions: Chronic hepatitis B patients commonly use traditional Chinese medicine. As patients seldom inform the physicians about the use of Chinese medicine, doctors should explicitly enquire about this because of potential therapeutic implications.