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Background <p>Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is gaining global recognition. The cross-border exchange of knowledge, particularly regarding the cultural aspects of various medical systems, has become more important than ever for fostering integrative medicine and inclusive health care. This study investigates the factors influencing international students’ intentions to share TCM culture across borders, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a framework.</p> Methods <p>A TCM Culture Sharing Scale was developed based on the TPB model through expert consultation, Delphi surveys, and psychometric evaluations, followed by a pilot survey. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among international students studying in Mainland China. Logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and various sociodemographic factors on international students’ intentions to share TCM culture with people from their home countries.</p> Results <p>Of the 1,438 valid responses, ATT (OR = 1.306, 95% CI: 1.202–1.419, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) and PBC (OR = 1.554, 95% CI: 1.437–1.682, <i>P</i> &lt; 0.001) significantly predicted international students’ intentions to share TCM culture with people from their home countries, while SN was not significant. Male students, atheists, and those with prior TCM experiences were more likely to share TCM culture. Students pursing their doctorate degree or from Europe showed lower odds of sharing. The multivariable model demonstrated strong predictive power (AUC = 0.933).</p> Conclusion <p>This study highlights the importance of ATT and PBC in shaping international students’ intentions to share TCM culture across borders and suggests that fostering positive attitudes and empowering students through resources and experiential learning can enhance cross-border dissemination of TCM culture. Aligned with broader efforts to establish more integrative and inclusive healthcare systems, this study provides insights into enhancing the global dissemination of CAM, emphasizing its cultural foundations. Future research should expand to longitudinal and qualitative approaches for broader and deeper insights into CAM culture sharing.</p>

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Intercultural dissemination of complementary and alternative medicine: unveiling the intentions of foreign students in China to share traditional medicine culture cross-border

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月11日

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  • Jingna Wang,
  • Du Gao,
  • Yan Pan,
  • Jing Zhang,
  • Ying Xu,
  • Zihui Zhu,
  • Yuezhou Wang,
  • Qian Zhang,
  • An Chen

摘要

Background

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is gaining global recognition. The cross-border exchange of knowledge, particularly regarding the cultural aspects of various medical systems, has become more important than ever for fostering integrative medicine and inclusive health care. This study investigates the factors influencing international students’ intentions to share TCM culture across borders, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a framework.

Methods

A TCM Culture Sharing Scale was developed based on the TPB model through expert consultation, Delphi surveys, and psychometric evaluations, followed by a pilot survey. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among international students studying in Mainland China. Logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of attitudes (ATT), subjective norms (SN), perceived behavioural control (PBC), and various sociodemographic factors on international students’ intentions to share TCM culture with people from their home countries.

Results

Of the 1,438 valid responses, ATT (OR = 1.306, 95% CI: 1.202–1.419, P < 0.001) and PBC (OR = 1.554, 95% CI: 1.437–1.682, P < 0.001) significantly predicted international students’ intentions to share TCM culture with people from their home countries, while SN was not significant. Male students, atheists, and those with prior TCM experiences were more likely to share TCM culture. Students pursing their doctorate degree or from Europe showed lower odds of sharing. The multivariable model demonstrated strong predictive power (AUC = 0.933).

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of ATT and PBC in shaping international students’ intentions to share TCM culture across borders and suggests that fostering positive attitudes and empowering students through resources and experiential learning can enhance cross-border dissemination of TCM culture. Aligned with broader efforts to establish more integrative and inclusive healthcare systems, this study provides insights into enhancing the global dissemination of CAM, emphasizing its cultural foundations. Future research should expand to longitudinal and qualitative approaches for broader and deeper insights into CAM culture sharing.