A cross-sectional study on knowledge and attitude toward Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among adults in selected regions of Malaysia
-
Suresh Kumar
,
Kingston Rajiah
Abstract
Background: The objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge and attitude of adult Malaysians about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to understand the variation in the knowledge and attitude toward TCM among different demographic groups of adult Malaysian population and to determine the pattern of TCM use among adult Malaysians.
Methods: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey using the convenience sampling method. A total of 400 adult Malaysians were recruited for this study. An interview-administered questionnaire was used. Descriptive statistics Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were used to analyze the data. The reliability of survey data in this study may affect since closed-ended questions are used.
Results: The more commonly utilized therapy was herbal medicine (n=192, 82.1%), acupuncture (n=79, 33.8%) and oriental massage (n=58, 24.8%). The mean knowledge score and mean attitude score for the respondents were 5.00±1.71 and 7.17±2.10 respectively. There was a significant difference in the mean knowledge score between genders, among TCM users and non-TCM users, people of different education levels and ethnicity.
Conclusions: There were more TCM users than non-TCM users and the use of TCM was higher in females than males. The most popularly used TCM modalities were herbal medicines and acupuncture. Gender, education, ethnicity and use of TCM had a significant effect on adults’ knowledge toward TCM.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Experimental techniques for screening of antiosteoporotic activity in postmenopausal osteoporosis
- Preclinical Studies
- Immunomodulatory activity of methanol leaf extracts of Cameroonian medicinal plants
- Dietary supplementation with green tea extract promotes enhanced human leukocyte activity
- Newtonoate as an active principle of Newtonia griffoniana for anxiolytic activity in Swiss mice
- Antibacterial activity of combination of synthetic and biopolymer non-woven structures
- Amelioration of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress indices in diabetic Wistar rats using methanol leaf extract of Bridelia micrantha (Hochst) Baill. (Euphorbiaceae)
- Possible anti-diarrhoeal potential of ethanol leaf extract of Chromolaena odorata in castor oil-induced rats
- Inhibition of AKT signaling by supercritical CO2 extract of mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) in human glioblastoma cells
- Clinical Studies
- A cross-sectional study on knowledge and attitude toward Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among adults in selected regions of Malaysia
- Assessment of the impacts of traditional Persian medical schemes and recommendations on functional chronic constipation compared to a classic medicine lactulose, a randomized clinical trial
