| Frequency | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Reasons (n=317)* | Â | Â |
  Family/friend’s recommendation | 111 | 35.0 |
  HDS will work | 71 | 22.4 |
  Willing to try anything that helps | 61 | 19.2 |
  Prefer to use HDS | 34 | 10.7 |
  Health care provider’s recommendation | 21 | 6.6 |
  Safer than conventional medicines | 9 | 2.8 |
  Easy access | 5 | 1.6 |
  Recommended by traditional practitioners or HDS sellers | 2 | 0.7 |
  Experienced adverse effects from conventional medicines | 2 | 0.7 |
  Recommended by other patients with CKD | 1 | 0.3 |
Information sources (n=222)* | Â | Â |
  Family and friends | 115 | 51.8 |
  TV, radio or internet | 50 | 22.5 |
  Health care providers | 12 | 5.4 |
  Books or newspapers | 12 | 5.4 |
  Traditional practitioners | 8 | 3.6 |
  HDS companies | 7 | 3.1 |
  Leaflets from HDS companies | 7 | 3.1 |
  Own knowledge of HDS | 7 | 3.1 |
  Other patients with CKD | 2 | 1.0 |
  Scientific evidence | 2 | 1.0 |