Association Between Cancer and Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine in U.S. Chinese Women: Findings From the PINE Study

To examine U.S. Chinese older women and the association between their cancer screening behaviors and self-reported cancers with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use across sociodemographic characteristics. Through the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE), 1,830 Chinese older women self-reported history of cancer screening, presence of women's cancers, and TCM use according to type. Analyses were performed using multivariate regression models. Chinese older women who underwent breast cancer screening are more likely to use herbal TCM (rate ratio [RR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.03, 1.29]), acupuncture (RR = 1.62, CI = [1.21, 2.15]), massage therapy (RR = 2.05, CI = [1.46, 2.88]), and tai chi (RR = 1.86, CI = [1.28, 2.69]). Those who had cervical cancer screening are more likely to use herbal TCM (RR = 1.32, CI = [1.17, 1.48]), acupuncture (RR = 1.66, CI = [1.27, 2.18]), massage therapy (RR = 1.61, CI = [1.17, 2.21]), tai chi (RR = 1.69, CI = [1.19, 2.40]), and other forms of TCM (RR = 1.36, CI = [1.04, 1.79]). Those with cervical cancer are less likely to use herbal TCM (RR = 0.42, CI = [0.19, 0.93]). Contrary to previous studies, our results suggest that U.S. Chinese older women who have engaged in cancer screening use TCM while those with self-reported cancer did not use TCM at a higher rate. This warrants further research on TCM utilization to identify reasons of use in this population and encourage patient-centered care.