Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of the study participants (N = 207; n1 = 94; n2 = 113)

From: Factors associated with utilization of traditional Chinese medicine by white collar foreign workers living in Taiwan

Predisposing factors

    

Characteristics

All (% of n)

TCM use (% of n1)

Non-use (% of n2)

P

Age

   

.006

   21–30

35.7

30.4

40.7

 

   31–40

37.2

50.0

27.4

 

   41–50

18.4

15.2

21.2

 

   51–62

8.7

4.3

10.6

 

Sex

   

.15

   Male

73.9

69.1

77.9

 

   Female

26.1

30.9

22.1

 

Currently married

   

.08

   Yes

28.0

50.0

38.1

 

   No

72.0

50.0

61.9

 

Education

   

.31

   University

80.0

76.6

82.3

 

   Post-graduate

20.0

23.4

17.7

 

Monthly income

   

.05

   <= 100,000 NT

30.4

24.5

37.7

 

   >100,000 NT

69.6

75.5

62.3

 

Smoker

   

.07

   Yes

43.0

54.2

33.6

 

   No

57.0

45.7

66.4

 

Alcohol consumed on usual night out or occasion when drinkinga

   

.02

   < 8 units

66.2

74.5

59.3

 

   >= 8 units

33.8

25.5

40.7

 

Enabling Factors

    

Family/friend available to assist in use of TCM

   

.001

   Yes

63.8

76.6

53.1

 

   No

36.2

23.4

46.9

 

Access to information of TCM services

   

.001

   Very good/adequate

25.6

39.4

14.1

 

   Poor

74.4

60.6

85.8

 

Ability to read Chinese

   

.001

   <500 characters

81.6

71.3

90.3

 

   500 – 1000 characters

18.4

28.7

9.7

 

Need factors

    

Use of out-patient or emergency services in the last year

   

.21

   Yes

41.1

54.3

62.8

 

   No

58.9

45.7

37.2

 

Visit to an allopathic doctor about a health problem in the last year

   

.05

   Yes

61.8

72.3

53.1

 

   No

38.2

27.7

46.9

 

Physical pain in the last 2 weeks

   

.02

   Yes

49.8

58.5

42.5

 

   No

50.2

41.5

57.5

 
  1. P value from χ2 statistics.
  2. aOne unit of alcohol is described as a half a pint of beer, lager cider (3–4% alcohol by volume), single 25 ml measure of spirits (40% abv), and one and a half units as 125 ml (medium glass) of wine (12% abv)