Chapter 8 - Sweet commercial drink adoption by urban Chinese middle-class people – Between social control and new beverage consumption contexts

2020 ◽  
pp. 97-106
Author(s):  
Jingjing Ma
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Commercial Sugar ◽  
Industrial Modernity ◽  
Boiled Water ◽  
Middle Class People

This chapter focuses on the consumption practices of Chinese urban middle-class people regarding sweet commercial drinks. A qualitative study conducted between 2014 and 2016 revealed that bland boiled water is considered relatively healthy but is not evocative of conviviality, in contrast to commercial beverages and sugar which are considered more unhealthy, but associated with pleasure and conviviality. This ambivalence appears in the representations of sweet commercial drinks, especially around the symbol of balance between traditional Chinese medicine and dietetics and industrial modernity. This chapter addresses the new social and family tensions that have emerged regarding beverage and sugar management. It highlights the settings in which commercial sugar-containing beverages have been embedded in the consumption patterns of middle-class city dwellers in China.

scholarly journals Professionalism in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Heng Kwan ◽  
Sarah Chooi ◽  
Sungwon Yoon ◽  
Xiang Ling Ang ◽  
Jie Kie Phang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Conventional Medicine ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Medical Professionalism ◽  
Professional Relationship ◽  
Relationship Skills ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Background Medical professionalism is important for establishing public trust in doctors. Its definition is culture-sensitive. However, no research has explored medical professionalism in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners. This study aims to (a) establish the domains of professionalism in TCM practitioners in Singapore, and to (b) compare the domains of professionalism of practitioners trained in TCM and practitioners trained in conventional medicine. Methods Data for this qualitative study was collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs) with TCM practitioners. IDIs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted by two independent coders using the Professionalism Mini-Evaluation Exercise (P-MEX) as a framework. The domains of professionalism in TCM and conventional medicine were then compared, using data from a similar study on professionalism in practitioners trained in conventional medicine. Results A total of 27 TCM practitioners (40.7% male) participated in this study. The four domains of professionalism in the P-MEX, namely doctor-patient relationship skills, reflective skills, time management and inter-professional relationship skills, and two new sub-domains, “communicated effectively with patient” and “demonstrated understanding and integrated with conventional medicine”, were relevant to TCM practitioners. This is largely similar to that of practitioners trained in conventional medicine, with a few differences, including “ensured continuity of care” and “used health resources appropriately”. Conclusion The domains of professionalism in TCM practitioners were established and they are similar to that of practitioners trained in conventional medicine. This study is the first to define medical professionalism in TCM practitioners. Findings will provide guidance on the education of professionalism in TCM practitioners.

The changing meaning of millets: Organic shops and distinctive consumption practices in Bengaluru, India

2020 ◽  
pp. 146954052090250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirka Erler ◽  
Markus Keck ◽  
Christoph Dittrich
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Practice Theory ◽  
Consumption Patterns ◽  
Social Classes ◽  
Symbolic Boundaries ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Organic Foods ◽  
Consumption Practices

The number of organic shops in Bengaluru has increased remarkably in the last few years, with millets being the main products drawing consumers. Yet, organic shops are only attracting middle-class consumers. We observed and interviewed 104 customers in five organic shops in Bengaluru to find out why this is the case. In this article, we follow practice theory to discuss the reported consumption patterns. We show that consumers, influenced by commercials and the advice of medical and nutritional professionals, legitimize their consumption of organic foods as an investment in their future health. We show that the customers of organic shops legitimize their consumption practice with affective engagements; thereby, performing symbolic boundaries that distinguish them from other social classes. This distinction manifests itself in the consumption of millets, which contributes to the change of the meaning of this food from a life-sustaining staple to a lifestyle superfood. In this article, we take a critical look at the role of organic retailers and how they reproduce class-based consumption practices in India.

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