Abstract
Objectives : This study was aimed to promote the cooperative system of Korean and Western medicine in the dual health care system through a survey of physicians on recognition, problems and solution of the cooperative system. Methods : The research took place at Dongguk University Hospital from May 25 to 27, 2009 with 44 professors, residents, and interns employed by the hospital. Results : Of total 44 surveyed doctors, positive and moderate responses on the cooperative system between Korean and Western medicines were 40.9% and 43.2%, respectively. They scored it positive (62.5%) and moderate (31.3%) based on their experiences. These results can be supposed to represent the environment for the interdisciplinary medicine. Even in the interdisciplinary hospital of Korean and Western medicine, 68.2% of responders had no experience of the cooperative medical system. Expected interdisciplinary efficient departments were ordered rehabilitation medicine, neurology and orthopedics and associated with musculoskeletal disorders, the most frequent diseases treated by Korean traditional medicine. Conclusions : Korean and Western medical doctors, as medical personnel, intellectual persons as well as specialists, need a recognition and attitude to understand and respect each others' medicine. However, both groups also realize there are many complicated issues in the treatment of patients. It is difficult to require a change of Western doctors' perceptions and attitude toward Korean traditional medicine only with results of a survey. For the efficient cooperative system in the medical field, Korean medical doctors will need to study and consider specific problems mentioned by Western medicine.