• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4081-4086
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• 2012

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is prevalent among individuals with cancer, especially breast cancer survivors. This study was conducted among 394 breast cancer survivors in selected regions of Peninsular Malaysia to identify the pattern and factors associated with CAM use. About 51% of the respondents reported CAM use as complementary treatment. Vitamins (47.2%), spiritual activities (33.2%) and other dietary supplements (30.7%) were the most commonly used CAM therapies. Common reasons for CAM use were to increase the body's ability to perform daily activities (70.9%), enhance immune function (58.3%) and improve emotional well-being (31.7%). Users obtained CAM information mainly from friends and family members (62.5%), physicians (25.0%) and mass media (13.9%). Ethnicity and years of education were significantly associated with CAM use. Although no adverse effects of CAM were reported, breast cancer survivors should discuss their CAM use with health professionals to prevent potential adverse effects of these therapies.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this research is to examine the perceptions that current Korean medical students have towards the practice and efficacy of Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). Methods: A survey questionnaire was given to 91 Korean medical students assessing their attitudes towards CAM. Results: 1) Most students (82.4%) expressed concern about CAM. 2) Many students (59.3%) expressed a positive attitude towards the efficacy of CAM. No surveyed student (0%) thought the efficacy of CAM was due to the placebo effect. 3) Many students (75.8%) posited that Korean Medicine would ultimately absorb CAM to facilitate the development of Korean medicine. 4) Most surveyed students (87.9%) answered they planned to integrate the use of CAM in their clinical practice. Conclusions: The survey questionnaire results suggests that Korean medical students have a positive perception toward CAM. They also have an affirmative attitude towards the clinical use of CAM.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.8
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• pp.313-318
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• 2016

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a phrase used to describe additional health care methods such as mind/body practices and natural products not regarded as treatments by conventional medicine. The use of CAM in children with common neurologic diseases is more frequent than its use in healthy children (24%-78% vs. 12%). However, less than half of patients report such use to their physicians. The preferred modalities of CAM vary in different countries due to their different cultures and traditions. The most common factor significantly associated with the use of CAM is parental CAM use in most studies. The frequency of the use of CAM in children and adults with neurologic diseases is similar, and both rates are higher than the rates in those without these conditions. The preferred modalities of CAM in adults are diverse, and megavitamins and mind/body therapy (prayer and chiropractic care) are included. The most common factor significantly associated with the use of CAM in adults with neurologic diseases is high educational level. Physicians need to be concerned with patients' use of CAM and provide correct information about CAM so that patients may make the right decisions. Further study is needed to determine the evidence-based efficacy of CAM use in children with common neurologic diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2012

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence and utilization pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods : We conducted a nationwide survey and a total of 535 individuals with type 2 diabetes were asked about their demographic, diabetes-related characteristics and CAM use. We used multiple logistic regression modeling to determine independent predictors of CAM use. Results : Of the 535 subjects, 417 (77.9%) used CAM in last 12 months. The most commonly used modality was red ginseng (17.9%). CAM use was independently associated with being married, northern area residence, higher education and diabetes duration of 3-5 years. More than half(58.3%) of the CAM users used it expecting a better outcome in addition to conventional therapy. Information sources about CAM were mostly friends (36.0%) and family (31.9%), only 28.1% of diabetic patients seek counsel from medical doctors or oriental medical doctors about CAM. Many people perceived CAM as effective (62.7%) and reported side effects only rarely (1.2%). Conclusions : Many diabetic patients used CAM and found it effective, which urges clinicians to pay attention to CAM use of their diabetic patients. Also, further studies are required regarding efficacy and safety about CAM.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.98-108
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• 2007

Purpose: To compare the health promoting behavior in rural elderly people by complementary alternative medicine(CAM) utilization. Methods: The data were collected from March 06th to May 26th, 2006. The participants were 207 rural elderly persons in Korea. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with the SAS win 8.0 program. Results: The rate of using CAM was 60.9%. Non-religious, perceived poor health and high concerns about health group used it more. The most common type was oriental medicine(35.7%), the most common motive was body protection(21.2%) and major source of information was other patients(35.9%). Almost all the subjects(90%) were satisfied with using CAM. The average score for the health promoting behavior was $2.67{\pm}.32$(range 1.65-3.71). The average scores for each subscale were, personal communication 2.98, self-actualization 2.79, nutrition 2.78, health responsibility 2.58, exercise 2.40, stress management 2.38. Significant differences in health promoting behavior were found according to CAM utilization: personal communication, self actualization. Conclusion: There were differences health promoting behavior between the elderly CAM utilization: Systemic guidelines of CAM use are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.24-41
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• 2012

Objectives: This study reviewed research trends concerning the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and to suggest future research directions appropriate to medical circumstances in Korea. Methods: We searched for surveys of CAM use in 8 databases including 6 Korean databases, Ovid MEDLINE, and the CINAHL electronic database. Three independent reviewers working in pairs screened titles and abstracts of articles for eligibility. Full text was retrieved in case of disagreement on the eligibility. The main analysis targets included survey researcher's affiliation, terminology used in the title, study subject, definition of CAM, classifications of CAM modalities, and the area assortment of CAM and traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Results: 92 articles were included for analysis. The major constituent of affiliation was doctors (53%). According to years, study subjects were diversified to a large range of diseases. Since 2003, terminology is absorbed to use CAM. But actually, the most commonly used definition in the research was comprehensive such as "not generally considered part of major medicine" (55.4%) and the most used classification of CAM was self-criteria (61.9%). As for area assortment of CAM and TKM, many therapies exist in a gray zone between CAM and TKM. Conclusions: Standardized definition and classification criteria about CAM fit to the Korean healthcare system have not yet developed. For traditional Korean medicine academia, more concern should be paid to establishing appropriate development of definitions and classification criteria.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.23-39
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• 2014

Objective : This review aims at analyzing Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies, using for oral health to know current use of CAM in dental area by analyzing randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). Method : We searched the following 6 electronic databases until 1 July 2014. : Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database(AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature(CINAHL), the Cochrane Library. We included parallel RCTs and cross-over RCTs that assessed the efficacy of CAM regardless of blinding and language. Results : A total of 154 RCT articles were included. There were 2-arm parallel study design(69.5%), 3-arm parallel study design(20.8%), 4-arm parallel study design(4.5%) and Cross-over design(5.2%). Complementary and alternative medicine RCTs in oral health tend to increase in the early-2000s and in the mid-2010s. In addition, 154 citations were classified according to diseases and interventions that categorized Natural Products studies(68.2%), Mind and Body Practices studies(31.8%). We classified in detail that vitamin and mineral therapies(29.9%), dietary supplements(24.7%), acupuncture(23.3%), Herbal medicine(13.6%), homeopathy (2.6%), energy therapies(2.6%), Massage(1.9%), biofeedback(0.6%), traditional medicine(0.6%). Conclusion : Increasing publications and diverse interventions regarding CAM for oral health is observed by analyzing RCTs from the literature review. Further studies are needed to be performed as systematic reviews to verify their effectiveness and the research to inquire into side effect.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2022

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between cancer-related stress and the types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) used by subjects diagnosed with colorectal cancer. The number of study subjects was 142, and for data analysis, descriptive statistics, t-test, χ² test, logistic regression procedures were performed. Of the subjects, 114 were CAM users, who accounted for 79.6%. When it came to using CAM, 82 (72.6%) said they did "to prevent cancer recurrence." The most popular reason for not using CAM was "to focus on treatment as instructed by the doctor," with 22 (75.8%) respondents selecting the answer. Of those who used CAM, 79 (55.6%) said they took "dietary supplements," followed by 65 (45.8%) who picked "vitamins and minerals." Regarding CAM usage, ginger, aloe, swimming, and walking had the highest satisfaction (4.25 ± 0.71). The cancer-related stress of subjects who use CAM (18.21 ± 15.37) was higher than that of subjects who did not use CAM (10.11 ± 12.08). Logistic regression analysis determined that cancer-related stress were factors significantly associated with CAM use. Patients using CAM had higher cancer-related stress, suggesting that stress on cancer increased CAM interest. Safe and reliable CAM information and standardized recommendations should be provided to cancer survivors. We propose the development of training programs for CAM to improve communication between medical staff and patients and to protect patients.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Objectives: Many countries have been using Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treating cancer and it has been given more weight than before. This study aimed to look into its current status and perspective way to suggest the way which Korean oriental medicine goes to. Methods: We searched internet web sites that are relative with CAM in oncology parts and made lists for this study. We downloaded the essays in the form of electronic files in that web sites and copied the originals consulting to each libraries and relative institution. Results: North America was processing the standardization of CAM based evidences and China was making their traditional medicine representative medicine of CAM. India was developing their traditional medicine because of their domestic need and its results were recognized by National Cancer Institute (NCI). CAM was regulated and studied legally in Europe. Japan was using mushroom for immune therapy clinically. Mexico had a large scale of medical valley in Tijuana area and made it international. Conclusions: The efforts to develop and study CAM for treating cancer are increasing in the world. We need to know the current status of CAM in the world, and make our way that Korean oriental medicine goes to.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2115-2118
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• 2016

Background: The study aimed to assess complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and their associated factors with breast cancer patients in Bandung, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: In total, 330 breast cancer patients were administered questionnaires on their CAM use and CAM predictive factors including socio-demographic parameters, clinical data and quality of life, trust in physicians, trust in hospitals, satisfaction and informational needs. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate log regreesion analysis. Results: Overall 33.3% of patients reported use of CAM. Lower income, lower education, presence of metastasis, prolonged diagnosis, less trust in physician were found to be highly associated with CAM use. Conclusions: CAM use by breast cancer patients can be interpreted as an attempt to explore all possible options, an expression of an active coping style, or expression of unmet needs in the cancer care continuum. Physicians need to openly discuss the use of CAM with their patients and identify whether they have other unmet supportive needs.