Table 2. Comparisons of citizen’s health knowledge, magical health belief, holistic health belief, and CAM attitudes with their herbal medicine (HM) use and HM non-user during COVID-19 pandemic (n = 1621).

Characteristics	HM non-user n=616, mean ± SD	HM user n=1005, mean ± SD	P value *
Self-perceived knowledge about HM	18.17 ± 4.25	20.63 ± 3.67	<0.001
Visual identification and differentiation of raw medicinal plants	3.05 ± 0.91	3.56 ± 0.73	<0.001
Medicinal effect and areas of application of raw medicinal herbs	3.31 ± 0.84	3.57 ± 0.78	<0.001
Medicinal effects and areas of application of processed HM products	3.06 ± 0.82	3.43 ± 0.76	<0.001
Potential unwanted side effects of raw or processed HM products	3.01 ± 0.78	3.42 ± 0.73	<0.001
Potential unwanted interaction effects with other HM products	2.96 ± 0.80	3.33 ± 0.74	<0.001
Safe dosage and safe use	2.95 ± 0.79	3.32 ± 0.73	<0.001
Magical Health Belief	30.70 ± 4.35	32.33 ± 4.18	<0.001
An imbalance between energy currents lies behind many illnesses	3.22 ± 0.65	3.36 ± 0.64	<0.001
Colors change the organism’s energy vibration in a direction that is beneficial to health	2.88 ± 0.67	3.10 ± 0.65	<0.001
Plants are living beings whose energy potentials can be transmitted to human beings	3.37 ± 0.66	3.50 ± 0.59	<0.001
By massaging diseased organs surrogate in the sole of the foot, the organ will be restored	3.06 ± 0.77	3.17 ± 0.77	0.004
An incorrect diet makes food rot in the body	2.88 ± 0.91	3.08 ± 0.89	<0.001
If we don’t somehow clean our bodies, unhealthy toxins remain in them	3.40 ± 0.72	3.53 ± 0.68	<0.001
It is good to detoxify one’s body every now and then with a fast	3.62 ± 0.59	3.75 ± 0.49	<0.001
An illness should be treated with a medicine that has properties similar to those of the illness	2.95 ± 0.74	3.18 ± 0.73	<0.001
Since our bodies are 70 percent water, we should be eating a diet that has an approximate water content of 70 percent	3.06 ± 0.77	3.17 ± 0.77	0.004
The statement that red drinks improve haemoglobin is probably valid.	2.27 ± 0.88	2.50 ± 0.94	<0.001
Holistic Health Belief	18.87 ± 1.82	19.17 ± 1.60	0.001
Positive thinking can help you fight off a minor illness	3.81 ± 0.50	3.88 ± 0.36	0.003
When people are stressed, it is important that they are careful about other aspects of their lifestyles as their body already has enough to cope with	3.61 ± 0.57	3.71 ± 0.53	0.001
The symptoms of an illness can be made worse by depression	3.82 ± 0.47	3.87 ± 0.41	0.029
If a person experiences a series of stressful life events, they are more likely to become ill	3.78 ± 0.49	3.82 ± 0.46	0.121
It is important to find a balance between work and relaxation in order to stay healthy	3.84 ± 0.43	3.89 ±0.36	0.015
CAM Attitudes	13.02 ± 2.36	14.21 ± 2.48	<0.001
Complementary medicine should be subject to more scientific testing before it can be accepted by conventional doctors (CAM 1)	1.28 ± 0.50	1.39 ± 0.67	<0.001
Complementary medicine can be dangerous in that it may prevent people getting proper treatment (CAM 2)	2.13 ± 0.83	2.41 ± 0.92	<0.001
Complementary medicine should only be used as a last resort when conventional medicine has nothing to offer (CAM 3)	2.28 ± 0.83	2.58 ± 0.93	<0.001
It is worthwhile trying complementary medicine before going to the doctor (CAM 4)	2.63 ± 0.79	2.84 ± 0.84	<0.001
Complementary medicine should only be used in minor ailments and not in the treatment of more serious illness (CAM 5)	2.02 ± 0.78	2.09 ± 0.93	0.100
Complementary medicine builds up the body’s own defences, so leading to a permanent cure (CAM 6)	2.69 ± 0.76	2.90 ± 0.85	<0.001

Data are presented as the mean ± SD, and p value were calculated using

^* independent sample t-test. A p value of <0.05 indicates statistical significance. CAM; Complementary and alternative medicine. Items CAM 1, 2, 3 and 5 was reverse score which indicated that a higher score on the CAM indicate more positive attitudes towards CAM.