The choice between Chinese medicine and Western medicine practitioners by Hong Kong adolescents

A survey of 3,355 Hong Kong adolescent students showed that the prevalence of TCM clinic consultation in a three-month period was 8.6%. Among students who sought doctor consultation in a three-month period, 17.8% consulted a TCM doctor. Students who sought doctor consultation for fall-related injuries were more likely to have consulted TCM doctors only, while those for skin disease were more likely to have consulted both TCM and western doctors. Perceived cost, efficacy, trust of western doctors and socioeconomic factors were not associated with choice of doctor type. Our findings are different from those on Hong Kong adults' use of health care services as reported in other studies.