Use of Folk Therapy in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Prevalence and Associated Factors

Chun-Chuan Shih; Lu-Hsiang Huang; Hsin-Long Lane; Chin-Chuan Tsai; Jaung-Geng Lin; Ta-Liang Chen; Chun-Chieh Yeh; Chien-Chang Liao

doi:10.1155/2015/649265

Use of Folk Therapy in Taiwan: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of Prevalence and Associated Factors

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015:2015:649265. doi: 10.1155/2015/649265. Epub 2015 Jun 11.

Authors

Chun-Chuan Shih¹, Lu-Hsiang Huang², Hsin-Long Lane³, Chin-Chuan Tsai³, Jaung-Geng Lin⁴, Ta-Liang Chen⁵, Chun-Chieh Yeh⁶, Chien-Chang Liao⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan ; Taipei Chinese Medical Association, Taipei 100, Taiwan ; Quality of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy Medical Association, New Taipei City 247, Taiwan ; Ph.D. Program for Clinical Drug Discovery from Botanical Herbs, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
² Clinical Informatics and Medical Statistics Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
³ School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan.
⁴ School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
⁵ Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
⁷ School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 110, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background. This study investigates the prevalence of and factors associated with users of folk therapy in Taiwan. Methods. Using data from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey and the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 16,750 adults aged 20 years and older. Sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, medical utilization, and health behaviors were compared between people using and not using folk therapy. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of factors associated with folk therapy were analyzed. Results. The one-month prevalence of folk therapy use was 6.8%, which was significantly associated with ages of 30-59 years (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.49-2.63), women (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.40-1.90), nonindigenous population (OR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.14-3.17), having two or more unhealthy lifestyle habits (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.26-1.81), high density of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.20-1.62), and being ill without receiving medical care in past six months (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.76-2.53). Medical care utilization of TCM and Western medicine were also associated factors for folk therapy. Conclusions. The use of folk therapy is correlated with sociodemographics, lifestyle and health behaviors.