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Original Articles
- Causal Model of Herb Use Behavior Among Working-age Adults in Thailand
- Pitchada Prasittichok, Patcharee Duangchan, Sattawat Prapasiri, Ungsinun Intarakamhang
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2024;57(4):399-406. Published online June 21, 2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.554
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Abstract
Summary
PDF - Objectives
This study developed a causal relationship model of herb use from observational data and analyzed the direct and indirect effects of herb use on health according to the model.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 participants aged 26-59 years, selected through multistage random sampling. The instruments used for data collection included demographic information, herb use, health literacy (HL), perceived social support, societal values, and attitudes toward herb use. The conceptual model, hypothesized based on prior evidence, was tested using confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling. Path coefficients were estimated using the maximum likelihood method.
Results
The final model utilized empirical data, which showed that perceived social support had the most significant impact on herb use. This was followed by HL, positive attitudes toward herbal remedies, and societal values, with coefficients of 0.31, 0.18, and 0.16, respectively. When analyzing variables that indirectly affected herb use, it was clear that positive attitudes, perceived social support, and societal values significantly influenced herb use through HL, with influence coefficients of 0.08, 0.16, and 0.04, respectively. Together, these variables accounted for 68% of the variance in herb use.
Conclusions
The findings from this study can be utilized to develop and implement strategies that guide the use of herbal products, ultimately aiming to improve human health. -
SummaryKey Message
A causal relationship model of herb use was created from observational data in this research, and the direct and indirect impacts of herb use on health were examined based on the model. The most vital factor influencing the use of herbal remedies is the level of social support perceived by an individual. Significant roles are also played by health literacy, positive attitudes toward herbal remedies, and societal values. Positive outlooks, community backing, and cultural principles indirectly influence the utilization of herbal remedies through health literacy. The research results can help develop approaches to encourage the correct usage of herbal items, ultimately improving public health.- Medical Technology of North Korea: with Special Reference to the Content Analysis of Medical Textbooks.
- Seok Goo Lee, Hyeong Ryeol Yoon, Gi Hyo Lee, Ok Ryun Moon
- Korean J Prev Med. 1990;23(4):416-427.
- 2,944 View
- 30 Download
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Abstract
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- Unfortunately, we have poor knowledge of medical technology in North Korea. This study has thus attempted to identify the level and status of medical technology development through analyzing the contents of medical textbooks currently in use. This study has assumed that three factors are influencing the level and status of medical technology in a society ; the level of socio-economic development in general, the level of scientific technology revolution and health policy. Forty textbooks are collected for this purpose. The main findings are summarized as follows: 1) North Korea has strengths in that (1) its herb drugs, which are in a broad use, are cheaper, more safe and more attainable than bio-equivalent chemical ones, and (2) the development of its medical technology was carried out with emphasis on the practical and basic health needs. 2) North Korea has weaknesses in that (1) its medical diagnostic method largely depends on manual procedures, (2) the R & D investment in the development of chemical drugs, especially antibiotics, is very small, (3) the amount of medical equipments is in a absolute shortage, and (4) the medical technology is destitute of specialty, caused mainly by the overemphasis on Juche-Uihak or herb medicine. 3) Medical technology has two faces, positive and negative so that it cannot be successfully evaluated by one. It eventually acts a positive function for public health through developments of drug, equipment and new medical treatment method. But it is also true that it has negative effects such as the dehumanization of high cost medical technology, cost hike due to over-investments in expensive equipments, and the absence of wholistic care from overspecialization. 4) We have to consider economic status and the social needs of medical care in order to evaluate the medical technology of a society. It is also the ease with North Korea. A whole picture of the North Korean medical technology could be understood only if further comprehensive studies of medical technology are to be carried out for North Korea.
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