• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.69
• /
• pp.72-86
• /
• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of Eastern, Western, and collaborative treatments and suggest a cost-effective approach for patients with frozen shoulder pain. Methods : Using the data of fifty-two patients, treatment effectiveness was measured by CSA, SPABI, and ROM scales and changes from the baseline score were evaluated. Data source for cost estimation was based on the national health insurance (NHI) payment system. Because the price in NHI was differentiated by health care institutions, five collaborative types were considered in assessing costs. Cost-effective ratios were computed for economic evaluation. Results : Compared with Eastern treatment, collaborative and Western treatments showed better effects on CSA scale after 4 weeks' treatment. The collaborative approach was also the most effective treatment on SPADI and ROM scales. The direct cost per patient receiving Eastern treatment was less than other treatments. In general, collaborative treatment dominated Eastern and Western treatments in cost-effectiveness an analysis. However, the cost-effectiveness ratio of Eastern treatment resulted in \9,000 compared to \29,000 of collaborative treatment on SPADI. Four different indicators of ROM scales resulted in different approaches as the cost-effective treatment. Conclusions : Considering cost-effectiveness ratios, collaborative treatment was the best treatment on CSh and SPADI scales after 4 weeks' treatment. As for ROM scales, the recommended alternatives were Eastern treatment for patients with abduction and adduction disabilities, Western treatment for those with flexion disability, and collaborative approach fir those with extension disabiliry.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to confirm the effectiveness of East-West collaborative hospital treatment on the prognosis of Bell's palsy. Methods : We screened patients who visited the Facial Palsy Center in Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong between June 2006 and June 2014 by inclusion/exclusion criteria. We reviewed the medical records of 270 patients, including demographics and results of electromyography. We tried to compare the recovery rate of Bell's palsy in the medical records with that of the previous study by calculating the odds ratio after 2, 3 and 6 months from the onset. Results : The odds ratio between our data and that from the previous study after 6 months from the onset was 4.899. Additionally, the odds ratios after 2 and 3 months from the onset were 1.471 and 2.054, respectively. All the odds ratios showed statistical significance. Conclusions : East-West collaborative hospital treatment showed significant effectiveness on the prognosis of Bell's palsy.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.25-35
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate attitude of western medicine(WM), Korean medicine (KM), and nursing school students toward the east-west collaborative medical practices(EWCMP). Methods : The participants were 185 WM students, 123 KM students, and 230 nursing students belonging to two universities (P and D) in Busan metropolitan city, Korea. Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics, $X^2$ test, t-test and ANOVA with SPSS win 14.0. Results : Of 538 participants, overall 87.1% has heard EWCMP. Preferred type of EWCMP was significantly different by participants' backgrounds. WM students preferred (western) medical treatment with minor supportive Korean medical care(85.5%). However, KM students emphasized EWCMP with the same weight in both medical and Korean medical treatment(59.0%), and nursing students were in between two schools. Intention to recommend EWCMP for the consumer was 67.4%, and also showed very different between WM students and others, 37.3% of WM students, 89.4% of KM students, and 83.9% of nursing students. WM students showed more negative opinion on the EWCMP than KM and nursing students, Conclusions : The attitude of WM, KM, and nursing school students toward EWCMP was very similar to that of WM doctors, KM doctors, and nurses, respectively. WM students showed big difference in the overall attitude toward EWCMP from that of KM and nursing students. It is recommended to introduce the joint curriculum or exchange programs between WM and KM schools.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.43-56
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the attitude of healthcare consumers toward the East-West Collaborative Medical Practices(hereafter EWCMP). Method : The participants were 245 healthcare consumers who visited outpatient clinic of an university hospital, and attended at an emergency rescue educational program held by an emergency medical center, Busan. Data were collected by interviewing or self-reporting with questionnaires and analyzed with descriptive statistics and $X^2$ test with SPSS win 14.0. Results : 53.1 percent of 245 participants has heard, 13.9 percent has ever used, and 82.4 percent wanted to use EWCMP in the future. For participants who has used EWCMP, the decision to use it was made by themselves(58.8%), 26.5% of them was satisfied with EWCMP, and 79.4% showed the intention to introduce EWCMP to others. The use of EWCMP was significantly different by gender($X^2$=4.702, p=0.030) and having job or not($X^2$=14.305, p<0.001). Preferred type of EWCMP was to use both medical and Korean medical treatment at the same time(42.4%). Musculoskeletal disease(51.0%) and circulatory disease(51.0%) were expected to be the most effective when the EWCMP applied to them. Utilization of EWCMP was expected to be effective in disease treatment(88.2%), diagnosis(83.3%), and prevention(75.1%), and to increase medical cost(66.1%). Intention to use of EWCMP was not significantly different by demographic characteristics. Conclusion : Considering low proportion of utilization of and positive attitude toward the EWCMP among general populations, it is needed to introduce or advertise EWCMP to them.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2011

Objective : Stroke is the most common disabling neurological disease of adult life. And some part of the clinical symptoms and signs are correlated to the post stroke complication. This study was to analyze the therapeutic effect of the East-West collaborative treatment, especially on the motor power and the clinical symptoms and signs improvement of ischemic stroke patients. Method : For 2 weeks as possible, we observed the patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving East-West collaborative treatment. We assessed the patients using Motricity Index (MI) and the changes of clinical symptoms and signs three times at seven-day intervals. At the end of the study, we compared the results. Result : Motricity Index of patients changed from 71.55 to 76.03 (upper limb) and 73.05 to 79.42 (lower limb), respectively. Some items of clinical symptoms and signs showed the statistically significant result. Especially, the urination and defecation symptoms improved obviously. Conclusion : The East-West collaborative treatment has an effect on motor power and clinical symptoms and signs improvement of acute ischemic stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.41-61
• /
• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this survey was to investigate the using experiences and attitudes of general public toward the East-West collaborative medical practices (EWCMP). Methods We selected objects in general public and structured questionnaires were administrated to both 295 offline participants and 795 online participants. The data was collected from 15 to 28 February 2016 and analyzed statistically by frequency, ${\chi}^2$ cross-over analysis with SPSS software. Results The total number of participants was 1,090 and 66.1% of them has heard but only 19.5% has ever used EWCMP. For participants who has used EWCMP, the decision to use it was made by themselves (53.2%), 44.0% of them was satisfied with EWCMP, 89.4% of them showed revisiting intention to EWCMP hospital, and 72.2% of them showed the intention to introduce EWCMP to others. And 52.3% of them were optimistic about the prospects of EWCMP, especially in the field of disease treatment (49.9%) and rehabilitation (20.6%). On the reasons for lack of development of EWCMP, 31.9% of them listed prejudices existing on both sides firstly (31.9%). Preferred type of EWCMP was to use both western and Korean medical treatment at the same weight (53.9%). To promote EWCMP, it is required to confirm the concept of collaborative medical practice to the medical professions and government authorities (29.5%). Conclusions Considering low proportion of utilization and positive attitude toward the EWCMP among general populations, it is need to introduce or advertise EWCMP to them.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.121-132
• /
• 2009

Objectives : To evaluate the current status of East-West combination treatment in joint disorders. Methods : The medical records of patients who visited the Joints & Rheumatism Center at the Kyung Hee East-West Neo Medical Center from April 2006 to June 2009 were evaluated. The general characteristics of patients who underwent combination treatment, trend in number of cross-system referrals, and disorders and involved body regions of patients referred to the Eastern medical hospital from the Western medical hospital were initially assessed. 6 major disorders were found from the initial scanning. The trend in number of cross-hospital referrals, number of visits to the Eastern medical hospital, current status of combination treatment, treatment modality, and reason for cross-system referral was evaluated. Results : 1. 1510 patients were referred from the Eastern medical hospital to the Western medical hospital, and 1065 patients were referred from the Western medical hospital to the Eastern medical hospital. First visit patients reached a peak at the second quarter of 2007 and fourth quarter of 2006 respectively, and have steadily decreased from then on. Referrals of female patients were twice as common as male patient referrals. Patients in their sixth or seventh decade of life were most commonly referred, and more outpatients were referred compared to inpatients. 2. Patients with knee joint disorders were most commonly referred from the Western medical hospital to the Eastern medical hospital, followed by hip, shoulder, ankle, wrist, and elbow joint disorders. The most common disorders for each of the above regions in referred patients were knee osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis of the hip, adhesive capsulitis, and ankle strain and sprain. The generalized disorders rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis followed. 3. Patients referred to the Eastern hospital received approximately 3 to 10 Eastern medical treatment sessions. 45 percent remained on constant combination treatment, and 98 percent of referred patients received acupuncture treatment. Conclusions : In regard to the number of patients and duration of combination treatment, combination treatment was successfully performed for knee osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, while it was not so for avascular necrosis of the hip, adhesive capsulitis, and ankle strain and sprain. Further research on this subject is required.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2013

Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture treatment with those of collaborative treatment regarding acute Bell's palsy. Methods Twenty-six patients who received outpatient treatment between March 2012 and February 2013 were divided into 2 groups. The East-West treatment group (EW group, n=12) received prednisolone and then acupuncture afterwards. The Eastern treatment group (E group, n=14) received just acupuncture. Acupuncture was administered 3 to 4 times a week, and both groups were educated to practice facial muscle exercises at home. Evaluations were made before treatment, after 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks using the House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system. Results Compared to before treatment, the House-Brackmann grades of both EW and E groups after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment significantly decreased (p<0.05). Regarding group comparison, the House-Brackmann grade of the EW group was significantly lower than the E group at 1 week (p=0.043), but there was no significant difference at 2 and 3 weeks. Regarding improvement of House-Brackmann grades, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 1, 2 and 3 weeks (p>0.05). Conclusions Compared to just acupuncture treatment, collaborative treatment with prednisolone significantly improved the House-Brackmann grade after 1 week, but there was no difference as time passed. Because early intervention determines the prognosis of Bell's palsy, collaborative treatment at the early stage will be clinically helpful to patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.151-161
• /
• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture and medial branch block(collaborative treatment) with just medial branch block regarding acute low back pain. Methods : Forty inpatients who received treatment between January 2012 and February 2013 were divided into 2 groups. The East-West treatment group(EW group, n=20) received one treatment of medial branch block and then acupuncture afterwards. The Western treatment group(W group, n=20) received one treatment of medial branch block. Both groups continued to receive manual therapy 3 times a week. Evaluations were made before medial branch block, 7 days after, and 14 days after using the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS). Results : Compared to before treatment, the NRS score of both EW and W groups after 7 and 14 days of treatment significantly decreased(p=0.0001). But only the EW group showed additional improvement between days 7 and 14(p=0.005). Regarding group comparison, the NRS score of the EW group was significantly lower than the W group at 7 days(p=0.037), and even more at 14 days(p<0.0001). Conclusions : Although medial branch block alone significantly improved acute low back pain, collaborative treatment with acupuncture was even more effective, with increased efficacy as time passed. Further research is recommended regarding the effects of collaborative treatment with acupuncture on acute low back pain.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.49-60
• /
• 2008

This study investigated the Oriental medicine knowledge and educational requirement of medical staff working in Oriental-Western collaborative medicine hospitals(except for Oriental and Western medicine doctors) based on the recognition that not only mutual understanding and cooperation between Oriental and Western medicine doctors but also the knowledge of Oriental medicine of medical support staff such as nurses, medical technologists, pharmacists and administrative staff are very important to promote Oriental-Western collaborative medical treatment. The study results are summarized as follows : First, it was found that the ratio of nurses who took Oriental medicine education was much higher than those of other groups. They took Oriental medicine education in the types of school curriculum (27.0%) and special lectures in workplace(20.4%). Second, many of the people who took Oriental medicine education were found to be not satisfied with the education in general - 32.7% of them answered the education content was "so so" and 48.4% of them answered "unsatisfactory." Third, the general necessity of Oriental medicine education was found to be an average of 3.60 out of 5, and the number was higher "after employment"(average=3.85) than "before employment"(average=3.04). Fourth, the study found that Oriental-Western collaborative medicine hospital staff are well aware of the necessity of the knowledge of Oriental medicine in the cases of communications between different occupational types, consultations with patients or their guardians, treatment and nursing and the establishment of the practice of specialized Oriental medicine institutes. Fifth, the levels of Oriental medicine knowledge showed a difference in average value according to the role range(p<0.000), and it was found that there is an interaction effect between occupation type and role range(p<0.015).