Preferences for the Use of Appropriate TCM Techniques among Primary Health Workers: a Discrete-choice Experiment-based Study

Background The promotion of appropriate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) techniques in primary care institutions is an important measure emphasizing the co-development of Chinese and western medicine, and enhancing the inheritance and development of TCM. Objective To analyze primary health workers'preferences for the use of appropriate TCM techniques, providing policy recommendations for the promotion and use of such techniques in primary healthcare institutions. Methods This questionnaire survey was conducted between July and August 2021. A discrete choice model with seven attributes and 18 choice sets obtained through the use of an efficient orthogonal design were used to develop the questionnaire used in the survey, and the questionnaire has three versions each version with evenly allocated six choice sets (including an opt-out option). Additionally, the three versions have a common general demographic part (sex, age, education level, professional title, etc.) and one common consistency test question. A