Practices, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Chinese University Students Toward Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Control of COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The application of traditional Chinese herbal medicine has been officially recommended and strongly promoted in China as an important complement to conventional prevention and treatment for COVID-19. Capturing the practices, knowledge and attitudes of young adult population toward using Chinese herbs for COVID-19 is important for understanding the future of Chinese herbal medicine over the coming decades.

Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted from May to June, 2022, among 313 student volunteers in Wuhan University of Science and Technology, a provincial comprehensive university in China.

Results: Results showed that only 18% of students had used Chinese herbs to prevent COVID-19. The main information sources were social media, the students' family members, relatives, friends, etc. as well as the healthcare professionals. However, most students only sometimes paid close attention to related reports and news articles in social media. Clear pharmacological and toxicological properties of herbs were considered by 43% students as the most important factor to promote their own application of Chinese herbs to fight COVID-19. The mean knowledge score was 1.64 out of 5. Students' overall attitudes toward application of Chinese herbal medicine to fight COVID-19 were very positive.

Conclusion: These data suggests most university young adults had a positive attitude but lack of practices and knowledge towards traditional Chinese herbal medicine for COVID-19 control.

Keywords: Chinese herbs; pandemic; questionnaire; young adults.

Figure 1

Practice of Chinese university students to use Chinese herbs to fight COVID-19 (n = 313). (A) Information sources; (B) Attention degree; (C) Most important promoting factor.

Figure 2

The preferred treatment option for mild (A) or severe (B) cases of COVID-19 (n = 313).