Table 4 Correlates of adverse events (AE) among over-the-counter Chinese medicine users (n = 789)
| Â | % reporting past-year adverse events | Unadjusted p-value | Multivariable regression of socio-demographic factors* | Full multivariable regression model** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
% (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | OR (95% CI) | ||
Total sample of COTC users | 3.2% (1.9-4.4) | Â | Â | -- |
Gender | Â | 0.146 | Â | Â |
 Male | 2.2% (0.7-3.7) |  | 1.00 | -- |
 Female | 4.0% (2.1-5.9) |  | 1.40 (0.56-3.50) |  |
Age | Â | 0.043 | Â | Â |
 18-44 | 1.9% (0.5-3.2) |  | 1.00 | -- |
 45+ | 4.4% (2.4-6.4) |  | 1.30 (0.49-3.49) |  |
Educational level | Â | 0.002 | Â | Â |
 F6 and higher | 0.7% (0.0-1.6) |  | 1.00 | 1.00 |
 Up to F5 (grade 11) | 4.8% (2.8-6.7) |  | 7.43 (1.74-31.8)2 | 9.64 (2.20-42.3)2 |
Household income | Â | 0.291 | Â | Â |
 HKD 15,000 or more | 4.3% (1.2-7.5) |  | -- | -- |
 HKD 0–14,999 | 2.7% (1.4-4.1) |  |  |  |
Health insurance | Â | 0.100 | Â | Â |
 Insured | 4.3% (2.2-6.3) |  | 1.00 | -- |
 Uninsured | 2.2% (0.1-3.6) |  | 1.34 (0.57-3.16) |  |
Employment | Â | 0.008 | Â | Â |
 Employed or FT student | 1.8% (0.1-3.0) |  | 1.00 | -- |
 All else | 5.1% (2.7-7.5) |  | 1.92 (0.79-4.64) |  |
COTC Knowledge levels | Â | 0.307 | Â | Â |
 High knowledge score (> IQR) | 6.0% (0.1-12.0) |  |  | -- |
 Score in interquartile range | 2.9% (1.6-4.2) |  |  |  |
 Low knowledge score (< IQR) | 2.9% (0.0-6.9) |  |  |  |
Perceived benefits | Â | 0.141 | Â | Â |
 High benefits score (>IQR) | 2.2% (0.3-4.1) |  |  |  |
 Score in interquartile range | 4.2% (2.3-6.0) |  |  |  |
 Low benefits score (< IQR) | 0.9% (0.0-2.8) |  |  |  |
Perceived barriers | Â | 0.472 | Â | Â |
 Low barriers score (< IQR) | 3.2% (0.4-5.9) |  |  | -- |
 Score in interquartile range | 2.8% (1.3-4.2) |  |  |  |
 High barriers score (>IQR) | 4.9% (1.0-8.7) |  |  |  |
Perceived severity of COTC AE | Â | 0.260 | Â | -- |
 High severity score (>IQR) | 2.7% (1.4-4.0) |  |  |  |
 Score in interquartile range | 4.3% (0.9-7.7) |  |  |  |
 Low severity score (< IQR) | 7.7% (0.0-18.7) |  |  |  |
Perceived susceptibility to COTC AE | Â | 0.604 | Â | Â |
 High susceptibility Score (>IQR) | 2.9% (0.4-5.4) |  |  | -- |
 Score in interquartile range | 2.6% (1.1-4.2) |  |  |  |
 Low susceptibility score (< IQR) | 4.1% (1.3-6.9) |  |  |  |
Preventive practices | Â | 0.008 | Â | Â |
 Low preventive practices Score (< IQR) | 1.4% (0.0-3.3) |  |  | 1.00 |
 Score in interquartile range | 2.5% (1.0-3.9) |  |  | 2.59 (0.55-12.1) |
 High preventive practices score(>IQR ) | 6.0% (2.7-9.4) |  |  | 6.47 (1.38-30.3)1 |
Exposed to any TCM warnings | Â | 0.650 | Â | Â |
 Yes, | 2.9% (1.4-4.4) |  |  | -- |
 No/Can’t recall | 3.5% (1.3-5.6) |  |  |  |
Self-efficacy for obtaining reliable COTC info? | Â | 0.123 | Â | Â |
 Yes, have self-efficacy | 2.4% (1.0-3.8) |  |  | 1.00 |
 No/Not sure | 4.4% ( 2.1-6.7) |  |  | 1.42 (0.59-3.42) |
Usual source of COTC info | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Health professionals | 2.2% (0.0-5.3) | 0.570§ |  | -- |
 Internet | 2.3% (0.0-6.9) | 0.724§ |  | -- |
 Package labels & inserts | 3.1% (1.2-4.6) | 0.387§ |  | -- |
 Family & Friends | 3.8% (1.8-5.9) | 0.377§ |  | -- |
 Retailers | 5.6% (2.2-9.0) | 0.037§ |  | 1.98 (0.78-5.09) |
 Newspapers | 6.7% (2.0-13.2) | 0.109§ |  | 0.61 (0.11-3.26) |
 TV | 9.4% (2.0-16.7) | 0.003§ |  | 2.93 (1.01-8.50)1 |
 Magazines | 11.9% (1.7-22.1) | 0.001§ |  | 3.32 (1.03-10.7)1 |
 Books | 6.9% (0.2-13.6) | < 0.001§ |  | 2.74 (0.84-8.90) |