Investigation on the Demand for TCM 'Preventive Treatment of Disease' Service in Community Elderly Care Facilities

Background The theoretical system and intervention technologies of TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service are mature, with certain economic and cultural advantages coping with health needs in different states. Providing TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service in community elderly care facilities closer to residents can both promote the efficient utilization of resource and enhance the experience of the elderly access to health services. Objective To explore the perceptions, attitudes and needs of the providers (medical workers providing TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service) and demanders (elderly access to health services) in community elderly care facilities, in order to clarify the service contents that should be promoted and complementary operational conditions when providing TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service in community elderly care facilities. Methods From 2020-07-31 to 2020-08-10, the medical workers providing health care service and the elderly access to services in the community elderly care facilities with the highest average daily service attendance administered by 6 community health service centers were investigated using self-designed questionnaire by the project team members. The questionnaire for providers mainly included the perspectives and suggestions on the performance of TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service which was completed by themselves. The questionnaire for demanders to services mainly included thier health needs, acceptability of TCM "preventive treatment of disease" service and its providing in community elderly care facilities which was completed by the health care workers mentioned before by questioning. Results The survey results of the providers showed that 81.6% (93/114) of the participants indicated that they had heard of or understood the concept of preventive treatment of disease, 41.2% (47/114) of them had performed health service project in community elderly care facilities, and 91.2% (104/114) of them considered that community elderly care facilities are suitable for providing health services. The survey results of the demanders showed that common helth problems mentioned by the elderly in the community included hypertension (57.0%, 138/242), diabetes (40.1%, 97/242), and low back pain (30.2%, 73/242), etc. 56.2% (136/242) of the participants indicated that they had received TCM health services with the satisfaction rate of 52.2% (71/136), 74.8% (181/242) of them had not heard of or learn much about preventive treatment of disease, 50.4% (122/242) of them were interested in TCM health services provided in community elderly care facilities. The suivey results of both providers and demanders showed that the the top 5 TCM "preventive treatment of disease" services suitable for community elderly care facilities are TCM four diagnostic methods, sports health care, living adjustment method, diet therapy and emotion regulation. Conclusion The health needs of the elderly in community elderly care facilities are consistent with the disease spectrum of the community. There is a demand and interest of preventive treatment of disease among the residents in the facilities. Community family physicians are interested and willing to provide the services in the facilities. The providing of TCM "preventive treatment of disease" services in community elderly care facilities have mass foundation and technical feasibility. However, there is a demand to strengthen the promotion, clarify charge, facilitate service delivery, and supply with appropriate service technologies.