| Response choices | ||
---|---|---|---|
 | Agree | Not sure | Disagree |
Perceived benefits | Â | Â | Â |
 At least as effective as western drugs | 31.9% | 22.8% | 45.2% |
 Less side effects than western drug | 69.1% | 15.7% | 15.2% |
 Cheaper than western drug | 37.4% | 18.8% | 43.9% |
 Help reduce medical costs | 42.1% | 17.9% | 39.9% |
 Safer than western drugs | 39.4% | 21.3% | 39.3% |
 Helps people to stay healthy | 54.9% | 21.4% | 23.6% |
Perceived severity | Â | Â | Â |
 COTC poisoning is more serious than for western drugs* | 34.2% | 42.7% | 22.9% |
 COTC poisoning due to drug interaction could be fatal | 82.8% | 12.0% | 5.2% |
 COTC overdose could result in hospitalization | 87.5% | 7.7% | 4.8% |
Perceived susceptibility | Â | Â | Â |
 Easy to misuse COTC due to unclear instruction | 33.8% | 5.9% | 60.4% |
 I am likely to experience COTC-related side effects | 9.9% | 8.4% | 81.7% |
 I am likely to experience drug interactions with COTC | 37.6% | 24.8% | 37.6% |
 Government has adequate regulation for COTC safety* | 15.0% | 20.6% | 64.5% |
Perceived barriers | Â | Â | Â |
 Making TCM doctor appointments for COTC advice is inconvenient | 27.2% | 31.7% | 41.1% |
 TCM prescriptions are expensive | 36.9% | 25.5% | 37.6% |
 Easy to find COTC information on the internet | 16.2% | 62.4% | 21.4% |
 Physicians do not have reliable knowledge about COTC | 71.8% | 16.9% | 11.3% |
 Pharmacists do not have reliable COTC knowledge | 65.3% | 17.8% | 16.9% |
 COTC package instructions are inadequate or unclear | 42.9% | 18.1% | 39.0% |
Preventive practices** | Habitually | Occasionally | Never |
 Read COTC labels | 66.8% | 24.0% | 9.3% |
 Read COTC package inserts | 55.9% | 32.0% | 12.2% |
 Ask COTC information from retailers | 13.2% | 35.7% | 51.1% |
 Search online for COTC information | 3.9% | 15.6% | 80.5% |
 Ask Western MDs or pharmacists about COTC use | 3.3% | 12.6% | 84.2% |
 Tell their medical doctor about TCM use | 33.2% | 20.6% | 46.2% |
 Asked TCM practitioner about COTC | 8.1% | 22.0% | 69.9% |