Views of Hong Kong Chinese medicine practitioners on the application of the "Chinese Medicine Anti-epidemic Plans" prepared by the Chinese medicine expert group of central authorities: a focus group study.

Publisher: BioMed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101761232 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2662-7671 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 26627671 NLM ISO Abbreviation: BMC Complement Med Ther Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : BioMed Central, [2020]-

COVID-19*/rehabilitation ; Epidemics*/prevention & control ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional* ; Pandemic Preparedness* ; Traditional Medicine Practitioners*; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Focus Groups ; Hong Kong ; Expert Testimony

Background: Drawing on the extensive utilization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to combat COVID-19 in Mainland China, experts designed a series of TCM anti-epidemic strategies. This study aims to understand Hong Kong CM practitioners' application of and opinions on the "Chinese Medicine Anti-epidemic Plans."
Methods: Online focus group interviews were conducted, and purposive sampling was employed to invite 22 CM practitioners to voluntarily participate in three interview sessions. The interviews were audio recorded, then transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed using template analysis.
Results: Three themes were derived: (1) facilitators of the "Chinese Medicine Anti-epidemic Plans," (2) barriers of the "Chinese Medicine Anti-epidemic Plans," and (3) expectations on improving the "Chinese Medicine Anti-epidemic Plans." The participants could obtain relevant information from various sources, which highlights the value of the plans for TCM medicinal cuisine and non-pharmacologic therapies and guiding junior CM practitioners, supplementing Western medicine interventions, and managing Chinese herb reserves in clinics. However, the barriers included the lack of a specialized platform for timely information release, defective plan content, limited reference value to experienced CM practitioners, and lack of applicability to Hong Kong. The expectations of the CM practitioners for improving the plans were identified based on the barriers.
Conclusions: To enhance the implementation of the anti-epidemic plans, CM practitioners in Hong Kong expect to utilize a specific CM platform and refine the plans to ensure that they are realistic, focused, comprehensive, and tailored to the local context.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Anti-epidemic plans; CM practitioner; COVID-19 pandemic; Chinese medicine; Focus group; Hong Kong; Qualitative study

Date Created: 20240504 Date Completed: 20240710 Latest Revision: 20240710

20240711

PMC11069236

10.1186/s12906-024-04469-3

38704524