Attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals in a comprehensive tertiary hospital regarding traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of influenza

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals at a comprehensive tertiary hospital regarding the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in influenza treatment. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between June 5 and July 14, 2024. Data were collected using a validated self-designed questionnaire assessing healthcare professionals’ attitudes and practices. Analysis of 606 questionnaires (95.43% response rate) revealed 70.79% doctors (59.08% female); 79.21% had TCM influenza experience. Mean attitude score (50.69 ± 6.73) indicated favorable TCM perceptions, but practice scores (28.47 ± 5.43) showed moderate engagement. Attitude and practice scores correlated significantly (*r* = 0.5252, P  < 0.001). Educational events ( P  < 0.01), family TCM use ( P  < 0.001), and TCM-employed relatives ( P  < 0.05) mediated attitudes and practices. Although healthcare professionals demonstrated generally positive attitudes towards TCM, their actual clinical practice remained limited. To promote the integration of TCM into influenza care, targeted training and educational programs are recommended.