A public survey of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine use during the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background During COVID-19, the public actively sought non-pharmacological and self-management approaches to prevent infection. Little is known on the use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) by the public as preventive measures. This study investigated the prevalence and patterns of TCIM use during the pandemic, and identified factors associated with its use among the general population in Hong Kong. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2020. The survey solicited information on the respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics, risk perception of the pandemic, and use of TCIM before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine predictors of TCIM use. Results In total, 632 responses (completion rate = 88.1%) were analyzed. TCIM was used by 44.0% of respondents during the pandemic. The most popular forms of TCIM were vitamins or other dietary supplements (n = 160, 25.3%) and Chinese herbal medicine (n = 122, 19.3%) during the pandemic. The most frequently reported indication was strengthening the immune system, especially for vitamins or other dietary supplements (n = 142/160, 88.8%). Respondents who reported using TCIM were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29–2.59), had higher education attainment (aOR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.39–3.59), and older-aged (age >55 years: aOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.04–3.02). Respondents who resided in districts with moderate to high number of confirmed COVID-19 cases (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.07–2.42) and had a higher level of risk perception (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.07) were also more likely to use TCIM. Conclusion TCIM was used commonly in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. While vaccination and social distancing remain the mainstay of controlling the pandemic, professional bodies should proactively consider public preferences and provide information regarding the effectiveness and safety of TCIM for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.

Exploring indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used to treat COVID-19 related symptoms

“…Leaves, roots, bulbs and barks were used to make infusions, decoctions and therapeutic steam to treat the symptoms of influenza, fever, cough and sore throat. These observations are consistent with findings that indigenous plant-derived medicine is often used to treat fever, cough and influenza, which are recently associated with some of the COVID-19 symptoms (York et al, 2011;Lam et al, 2021). These were identified as the most common symptoms treated with plant-derived medicines that are administered orally for respiratory infections in South Africa (York et al, 2021).…”

“…The most common practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic adopted by members of the public involve non-pharmacological and self-management approaches (Lam et al, 2021). For example, the use of ginger, lemon, turmeric and onion to prevent the infection.…”

Prevalence and Determinants of Sex-Specific Dietary Supplement Use in a Greek Cohort

“…In a Chinese survey conducted in March 2020, Zhao et al found that 31.2% of the participants consumed DS or Chinese herbs to cope with COVID-19 [ 54 ]; similarly, in a survey conducted in Spain, at least 21.3% of the participants reported use of vitamins and mineral supplements, mostly women [ 55 ]. However, in a survey conducted in Hong Kong, no significant difference in DS use was found before vs. during the pandemic [ 56 ].…”

Traditional Medicine Practice in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic: Community Claim in Jimma Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

“… 27 However, the finding was comparable with the study conducted in Hong Kong; in which 44% of the participants practiced traditional medicines for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. 28 Different studies claimed that traditional medicine could be a possible candidate for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. 29 , 30 There is a report that traditionally used plant species as food can boost immunity.…”

“…The questionnaires were adapted from previous studies conducted to assess community claims for other types of infections and modified as required. [22][23][24]27,28 The questionnaires were prepared in English. To check the clarity and reliability of the questionnaire, a pretest was conducted on 5% of the sample size.…”