Table 4 Association of demographic, socioeconomic and health related characteristics with choices for Chinese medicine consultation and OTC medications

Gender

   Female

Reference

Reference

   Male

1.70 (1.49, 1.93)

< 0.001

0.94 (0.81, 1.10)

NS

Age

   15-29

Reference

Reference

   30-39

0.98 (0.79, 1.23)

NS

1.18 (0.89, 1.56)

NS

   40-49

1.10 (0.87, 1.37)

NS

1.57 (1.19, 2.08)

0.002

   50-59

1.18 (0.92, 1.49)

NS

1.49 (1.11, 2.01)

0.009

   60-69

1.40 (1.06, 1.86)

0.020

2.08 (1.48, 2.92)

< 0.001

   70 or above

1.75 (1.30, 2.35)

< 0.001

1.98 (1.38, 2.84)

< 0.001

Education level

   Below Primary

Reference

Reference

   Primary

0.66 (0.52, 0.85)

0.001

0.94 (0.71, 1.26)

NS

   Secondary

0.69 (0.53, 0.89)

0.004

0.85 (0.64, 1.15)

NS

   Tertiary

0.49 (0.36, 0.66)

< 0.001

0.72 (0.51, 1.03)

NS

Marital status

   Currently married

Reference

Reference

   Not currently married

1.09 (0.95, 1.26)

NS

1.06 (0.90, 1.26)

NS

Self reported health

   Poor

Reference

Reference

   Good/fair

1.38 (1.06, 1.81)

0.020

0.96 (0.70, 1.33)

NS

   Excellent/very good

1.28 (1.04, 1.58)

0.022

1.22 (0.96, 1.55)

NS

Self reported chronic disease status

   No

Reference

Reference:

   Yes

1.05 (0.90, 1.23)

NS

1.28 (1.08, 1.53)

0.007

Drinking habit

   No

Reference

Reference

   Yes

0.86 (0.72, 1.04)

NS

1.06 (0.85, 1.31)

NS

Current smoker

   No

Reference

Reference

   Yes

1.20 (1.01, 1.42)

0.034

1.12 (0.92, 1.38)

NS

Moderate exercise >= 2.5 hours/week

   No

Reference

Reference

   Yes

0.82 (0.73, 0.93)

0.002

0.93 (0.80, 1.08)

NS

Possession of western medicine insurance (%)

   No

Reference

Reference

   Yes

0.87 (0.76, 1.01)

NS

0.83 (0.69, 0.99)

0.038

Possession of Chinese medicine insurance (%)

   No

Reference

Reference

   Yes

0.52 (0.42, 0.65)

< 0.001

0.93 (0.73, 1.19)

NS

Monthly personal income

(for every increment of HK$ 1000, or US$ 128.2)

0.98 (0.98, 0.99)

< 0.001

1.00 (0.99, 1.00)

NS