Attitudes to traditional Chinese medicine amongst Western trained doctors in the People’s Republic of China

This study analyses the attitudes of Western trained doctors to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Shenyang, Northern China. Research methodology involved a series of structured interviews as well as developing a questionnaire. Two hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed in four centres, 177 were returned. Ninety-eight percent of respondents had some theoretical and practical TCM training; the older doctors having significantly more than their recently qualified colleagues. There was clear consensus that TCM (mainly herbal medicine) was useful and safe in treating patients with chronic or intractable illness. Doctors were influenced in their choice of treatment by their training, clinical experience and the available published research. TCM was not practiced in isolation, but in conjunction with Western medicine; 76% treating their patients with TCM, 90% treating their friends or family and 82% referring patients to TCM specialists.