Factors Associated with the Use of Dietary Supplement of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease：Information Source Analysis

• Main Authors: Chih-Yu Hsu, 許芝瑜
• Other Authors: Susan C. Hu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/30868432206183294518

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 96 === Background：In order to maintain and improve health, the main strategy is “health promotion” and “self-care”. For achieving the goal of promoting health, " self-care" is the demonstration by individuals, families and the communities; it is also the base of health care system. Individuals can promote and maintain health, but also can prevent, discover and treat diseases by self-care; they may be able to control health. Therefore, in order to improve chronic illness, “self- care” will be an important strategy, but the behavior of taking dietary supplements and the research on the source of related information will become a more important subject in health care system. Objective：The research synthesizes both domestic and foreign related literature discussion, and coordinates practical study findings as well as the quantity analysis for understanding the information source for patients, who are diagnosed with coronary heart diseases, taking dietary supplements, including taking vitamins, plant nutriment and Chinese herbs and so on. Further, this research aims to discuss the correlation between social demography and information source. According to the result of this research, caretakers are expected to have a further understanding about the channels, through which the patients obtain the information source of the dietary supplements, while they involve themselves in taking care of the sickness and engaging in health education. Also, via the integration of patients’ prescribed medicine and dietary supplements, the potential interaction among medicine, dietary supplements and Chinese herbs can be reduced. Method： The approach of this research is based on purposive sampling, and patients who are diagnosed with coronary heart disease are targeted. From June to September in 2007, the structural questionnaire is employed for collecting cases in health insurance pharmacies in communities located in Tainan city. In the first stage, the major work is to select the number (n=26) of the pharmacies for the studies. In the second stage, the key point falls on selecting effective samples (n=502), which are targeted for analysis. Result：Among the total 502 samplings, female accounts for 51.79%, and male makes up 48.20%. The age levels range from 40 years old to over 70 years old. The average age is 60.32 years old. In the aspect of education levels, most of the interviewees of the questionnaire have high school degree, accounting for 45.42%. Regarding the history of disease, 84% of the interviewees have other combined diseases. Hypertension is ranked as number one, the followings are high cholesterol and diabetes. Nearly 41% of the patients take more than 5 kinds of prescribed medicine for their chronic illness. Meanwhile, 3.38% of the patients indicated that they have not taken any supplements for the past two weeks. 96.61% of the patients pointed out that they have not taken any supplements for the past two weeks. Among the interviewees, 91% of the patients have taken plant nutriment; nearly 60% of the patients have taken vitamin and 80% of the patients have taken Chinese herbs. Nevertheless, the result of the analysis also finds that patients who take supplements do not inform their doctors of what they take by themselves, especially those who take vitamin and Chinese herbs. When it comes to the characters or channels having strong influence, the users of red yeast and Chinese herbal medicine(Over The Counter) are mainly affected by “radio stations”. Multivitamins takers are primarily affected by “television”. As for users of gingko, soybean isoflavones and single vitamin are affected by “pharmacists". Moreover, in the aspect of Chinese herbal medicine, the major effect factor for the users of Chinese native medicine comes from ”family”. However, “doctors” don’t have any influence on patients who take Chinese herbal medicine. Discussion and Conclusion：From the study, we notice that there are more female patients, compared with male ones, take supplements. The supplements that each age level takes are not exactly the same. There is only Chinese herbal medicine that is generally accepted by middle-aged and senior patients. Regarding the related factors with effect, “ radio stations”and ”pharmacists ”, compared with other factors, have stronger influence on patients who take supplements. From literatures, we know that Red yeast; Gingko and Vitamin E have a function to prevent cardiovascular diseases. However, it doesn’t mean that they are completely safe for patients when they take them, combining with Anticoagulants and Statins. Under this condition, it might increase side effect, interaction or harm patients’ liver and kidney . Therefore, if caretakers are prompt to have a sharp observation at the very beginning and integrate the channels, through which patients get the supplements, it can reduce each potential interaction between dietary supplements and medicine.