A study on factors affecting receptivity to traditional chinese medicine In Singapore.

• Main Authors: Chu, Hui Wen., Liu, Jia., Tan, Pei Ting.
• Other Authors: Goh Chye Tee
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Motivation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/51593
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In an ageing population like Singapore, the integration of TCM into the mainstream healthcare system may serve as an ideal long-term healthcare solution to combat the threat of geriatrics. However, TCM is still considered as an alternative medicine. Therefore, our research aims to explore the factors that affect the receptivity of non- and rare users to TCM. For our research, twenty factors were identified based on literature reviews and observations of the overall TCM context in Singapore. The identified factors were further grouped into five constructs namely credibility, social support, clinic features, promotional means and clinic image. Our research findings showed credibility as the most important construct, followed by social support, in affecting the non- and rare users’ receptivity to TCM. Differences in opinions were also observed along socio-economic lines such as age, education, ethnicity, dominant language and gender. The younger generation placed lower emphasis on clinic features and promotional means relative to the older generation. The major races, females and Mandarin-dominant placed higher emphasis on social support relative to the minor races, males and English-dominant respectively. Then, recommendations aimed at increasing credibility and social support of TCM were proposed to increase the appeal of TCM. Finally, further research on factors affecting the receptivity of TCM among non-Chinese races was suggested. Research on factors affecting the perception of western medicine was also suggested for meaningful comparisons with our research.