Table 3.
Reasons for HDS use from both quantitative and qualitative studies at baseline
| Quantitative results (n = 166) | Qualitative results (n = 16) | |
|---|---|---|
| Question | Frequency (%) | |
| Reasons why HDS used (n = 271)* | ||
| Family/friend’s recommendation | 95 (35) | Influenced by their social network who were health care professionals or teachers (n = 9) |
| HDS will work | 65 (24) | Perception of their benefits |
| Willing to try anything that helps | 53 (20) | (n = 11) |
| Prefer to use HDS | 26 (10) | Health care needs (n = 7) |
| Willing to try (n = 4) | ||
| Intention to use (n = 2) | ||
| Health care provider’s recommendation | 17 (6) | No mention |
| Safer than CM or no adverse effects from using HDS, compared with CM | 8 (3) | Perception of their safety (n = 5) |
| Their characteristics | ||
| No or little side effects | ||
| Safer than CM | ||
| Had experiences or concerns about adverse effects of CM (n = 2) | ||
| Easy access | 4 (2) | No mention |
| Recommended by traditional practitioners or HDS sellers | 2 (< 1) | Their family recommended and then consulting Chinese herbal medicine practitioners (n = 1) |
| Recommended by fellow patients | 1 (< 1) | Influenced by their social network (n = 9) |
| Information sources (n = 188)* | ||
| Family and friends | 100 (53) | Influenced by their social network (n = 9) |
| TV, radio, internet, leaflets, books or scientific evidence | 59 (31) | Influenced by the media (n = 9) |
| Practitioners | 18 (10) | No mention |
| HDS sellers | 6 (3) | No mention |
| Own knowledge of HDS | 4 (2) | No mention |
| Another patient with CKD | 1 (1) | No mention |
*Participants were able to report more than one reason or information source, so these total more than 166.
CM = Conventional medicine.