Age and Ageing 2004; 33: 135-142
© 2004, British Geriatrics Society
Research Paper |
The use of Chinese herbal medicines and their correlates in Chinese older adults: the Singapore Chinese Longitudinal Aging Study
1 Departments of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore
2 Departments of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore
Address correspondence to: T. P. Ng, Department of Psychological Medicine, The National University of Singapore, Faculty of Medicine, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597. Fax: (+65) 779 1489. Email: cofngtp{at}nus.edu.sg
Abstract
Background: there are very few studies of the use of Chinese herbal medicine and their psychosocial and health-related determinants in older adults.
Objectives: to determine the prevalence of use of Chinese herbal medicine in community-living Chinese older adults in Singapore and its associations with socio-economic status, social support, health behaviour, health and functional status.
Design: cross-sectional analyses of baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study of old adults (Singapore Chinese Longitudinal Aging Study).
Setting: community of Toa Payoh in Singapore (total population 22,800 out of 3 million).
Participants: community residents comprising 2010 Chinese older adults aged 65 years and above.
Measurements: participants completed a questionnaire on Chinese herbal medicine use and other information on psychosocial and health-related variables.
Results: the use of Chinese herbal medicine over the past year was reported by 25.3% of the subjects, among whom 52% reported concurrent use of Western prescription medications. Significant factors that were strongly and independently associated with Chinese herbal medicine use were limited to extensive social support (OR = 2.66–5.56), current smoking (OR = 1.35), regular taiqi (OR = 1.94), arthritis (OR = 2.36), cancer (OR = 3.15), hypnotic use (OR = 2.08), IADL disability (OR = 1.72) and poor treatment compliance (OR = 2.35).
Conclusion: positive and negative psychosocial and health-related factors determine the use of Chinese herbal medicine use in Chinese older adults, consistent with the dual-pattern use of Chinese herbal medicine as health supplement and complementary/alternative medicine.
Keywords: complementary alternative medicine, psychosocial, health behaviour, elderly, Chinese herbal medicine
Received January 25, 2003; Revision received August 29, 2003. accepted in revised form August 29, 2003.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L.-H. Chang and J. Wang Integration of complementary medical treatments with rehabilitation from the perspectives of patients and their caregivers: A qualitative inquiry Clinical Rehabilitation, August 1, 2009; 23(8): 730 - 740. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. L. Bishop and G. T. Lewith Who Uses CAM? A Narrative Review of Demographic Characteristics and Health Factors Associated with CAM Use Evid. Based Complement. Altern. Med., March 13, 2008; (2008) nen023v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Mok, W Yeo, P. Johnson, P Hui, W. Ho, K. Lam, M Xu, K Chak, A Chan, H Wong, et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study of Chinese herbal medicine as complementary therapy for reduction of chemotherapy-induced toxicity Ann. Onc., April 1, 2007; 18(4): 768 - 774. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K N Woodward The potential impact of the use of homeopathic and herbal remedies on monitoring the safety of prescription products Human and Experimental Toxicology, May 1, 2005; 24(5): 219 - 233. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|