Lin, Yi ChinYi ChinLinKuo, Raymond N.Raymond N.Kuo2020-05-192020-05-192019-12-0110232141https://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/493741© 2019 Chinese Public Health Association of Taiwan. All rights reserved. Objectives: Our objective in this study was to characterize the means by which changes in the availability of TCM affect the ambulatory utilization of TCM among various groups of TCM users. Methods: TCM mobile health care coverage and the number of TCM physicians per 10,000 were used to define accessibility. We focused on two groups of patients, as follows: individuals who faced an increase in access to TCM and individuals who faced a decrease in access to TCM. N We also considered individuals who did not face any changcs in access to TCM as a control group. Propensity score matching was used in the selection of the control group. After parameter matching, difference-in-difference analysis was used in conjunction with the generalized estimating equation (GEE) within a two-part model for analysis. Results: Individuals who were provided greater access to TCM increased their utilization of TCM, compared to the control group, as follows: probability (+1.094 x), frequency (+1.022 x), and cost (1.128 x). Individuals who experienced a reduction in access to TCM decreased their utilization of TCM, compared to the control group, as follows: probability (-0.823 x), frequency (-0.940 x), and cost (-0.763 x). Conclusions: Our results reveal that access to TCM resources affects the ambulatory utilization of TCM. We therefore recommend that efforts be made to improve access to TCM in areas where TCM resources are scarce and that the government develops policies aimed at narrowing the differences in the utilization of TCM.Accessibility of tcm resources | Ambulatory care utilization of tcm | Areas deficient in tcm resources | Difference in difference[SDGs]SDG3adult; ambulatory care; article; case report; Chinese medicine; clinical article; female; government; human; male; physician; propensity scorejournal article10.6288/TJPH.201912_38(6).1080722-s2.0-85078491327https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85078491327