• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

The medical and healthy paradigm is changing by various reasons such as improving of life quality, the limit of western medicine, demographic changes and so on. And the demand, interest and market size of traditional medicine(TM) and complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) are increasing continuously and there is a good traditional medicine called TKM(Traditional Korean Medicine) in Korea. TKM have differentiated characteristics like nature-friendly, systematic, preventive and personalized medicine from western medicine. TKM with these characteristics have possibility to increase national competitiveness and contribute to growth of economy. At this time, it is necessary to select key area of TKM R&D to increase competitiveness of TKM and to create new growth engine. In this paper, we suggest key area of TKM R&D through SWOT analysis, the analysis of world traditional medicine and expert's counsel. As a result, 3 key area and 10 specific fields of TKM R&D was selected, which they are 'the standardization for TKM technology and technique', 'the development of generic technology based on TKM' and 'the establishment of infrastructure for TKM information and material'. This study may contribute to make plan for TKM research and policy such as TKM middle and long term plan and TKM promotion plan.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.264-272
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was carried out to measure perceptions about Traditional Korean Medicine hospitals and provide data for improvement of TKM hospital management. Methods : We surveyed the general population from 1st to 17th December, 2008, and patients visiting a TKM hospital from 1st June to 9th December, 2008. Results : Result as follows. 1. The response ratio for the generally preferred medical institution was in the order of western medical clinic, pharmacy, general hospital, TKM clinic, TKM hospital. 2. The response ratio for the preferred medical institution for herbal medicine treatment was in the order of TKM clinic, herbal medicine store, TKM hospital, pharmacy. The preferred medical institution for acupuncture treatment was in the order of TKM clinic, TKM hospital, acupuncture clinic, public health center. 3. The most common response to reason for receiving traditional Korean medical care was "traditional Korean medical care is more effective than western medical care." 4. The proportion of first treatment and second treatment of patients visiting at TKM hospital was about 1:1. 5. 72.3% of patients had been to another medical institution. 6. The response ratio for the first visited medical institution for the same disease was in the order of general hospital, western medical hospital, western medical clinic, TKM clinic. 7. The response ratio for the concern about TKM treatment was in the order of expensive charge for TKM treatment, uncertainty of TKM treatment effect. Conclusions : Through this research, we can understand the perception about TKM hospital treatment of the general population and patients visiting TKM hospitals.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.758-769
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• 2010

This is a preliminary study for examining the identity issue of the current Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). In order to examine the identity issue, it is necessary to understand "what" current TKM is. The current TKM has been formed in the complicated historical settings and the newly formed academic geography of modern times, completely different from those of the traditional era. This paper took diachronic and synchronic approaches in order to understand the current TKM. In the process of modernization and scientization of the TKM-which had begun in the early twentieth century-the western medical knowledge merged into the TKM. Also, as the College education of the TKM began after the Liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, the TKM scholars accepted the western medical department system to develop the TKM into professional knowledge. Meanwhile, since the late 1970s, the TKM has been influenced by the modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the TCM knowledge also merged into the TKM. And recently, the research methodology of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and the clinical research technique of the western medicine-like Evidence based Medicine (EBM)-are affecting the scientization and clinical study of the TKM. The current TKM has been formed as a result of the hybridization of these different knowledges. These changes in the TKM were inevitable for the survival of it in the fast changing world. But these changes brought with them problems. Among those, the identity issue is the most important and crucial.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2018

Background: Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) is widely used to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea; however, studies investigating factors that influence the use of TKM are scarce. Thus, we investigated the clinical factors that might influence the use of TKM. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional, multicenter survey was performed from August 2014 to May 2016. The history of TKM use, type and severity of CP, current treatment characteristics, presence of accompanying disabilities or other health problems not directly related to CP, and monthly cost for the treatment of CP were surveyed. Results: In total, 182 children were recruited, and 78 children (42.9%) had used TKM. Among these 78 children, 50 (64.1% of the TKM-use group) had used both acupuncture and herbal medication, 15 (19.2%) had used acupuncture only, and 13 (16.7%) had used herbal medication only. Children with non-typical CP, accompanying disabilities and general health problems tended to use TKM. The monthly cost of treatment for CP was significantly higher in the TKM-use group than that in the no-TKM-use group, suggesting that economically disadvantaged children may have difficulty in accessing TKM. Dietary supplements, conventional pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation therapies did not affect TKM use. Conclusion: Children with non-typical symptoms or those with poor overall health status are likely to use TKM. Additionally, TKM use leads to increased treatment costs. Studies investigating the motivation for starting or ceasing TKM therapy, socioeconomic factors and the attitude of parents towards complementary and alternative medicine should be performed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.777-789
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• 2011

This study focuses on seeking a desirable direction for the discussions about identity issue of the current Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). The identity issue of the current TKM is about asking what exactly the current TKM is, what sets the TKM apart from the other medical systems, and what value the TKM has in the contemporary settings, and seeking suitable answers to all these questions. The most important factor that affects these answers is what kind of the concept of identity we have. Current discussions of the identity issue of the TKM take narrow and inflexible concepts of identity such as "Numerical Identity," or "Qualitative Identity", not suitable for TKM, which is always changing and open to other academic fields. This study suggests that Hannah Arendt's concept of identity is more desirable for the TKM, which highlights pluralism and relations, as well as defining identity as a creative, positive, and open-ended process. In addition, this study also suggests that taking a closer look at the "field", which has previously been hidden behind the discourse on the "modernization", will help in figuring out what exactly the identity of the current TKM is. Lastly, the current discussions about "unification of Eastern and Western medical system", and "Integrative Medicine" in Korea will affect the identity issue of TKM.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objective : This study aims to figure out what the medical students' attitudes toward traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are and how TKM education affects them. Method : We performed content analysis on 283 assignments submitted by senior students who took a 'TKM and complementary alternative medicine (CAM)' course in a medical school in 2010 and 2011. The assignment was to write an report after reviewing a research article about 'TKM or CAM' or interviewing a person engaging in a related field. Results : 193(68.2%) students chose a article review and 90(31.8%) students chose an interview. Significantly more students chose TKM topic in interview group than in article review group(p=0.021). Most frequent questions in interview are as follows; 'comparison of TKM and western medicine'(15.7%), 'education in TKM school'(8.8%), and 'TKM and evidence based medicine'(8.8%). Among students who expressed their attitudes toward TKM, 52.4% of them showed positive attitudes before entering medical school, however, 54.6% of them showed negative attitudes in medical school years. Among students who indicated attitude change before and after the TKM course, 35.9% of them changed positively. Conclusion : TKM education might have positive effects on medical students' attitude toward TKM. It is necessary to expand TKM education and introduce effective education stategy in order to alleviate medical students' misunderstanding and prejudice against TKM.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.49-62
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• 2010

Objectives: Current information & communication technology is advancing very rapidly and the ripple effects are spreading all over society traditional Korean medicine (TKM) is no exception. We draw up afuture plan and target system's architecture of KIOM's OASIS to follow the information change and reinforce the supporting infra for TKM research. Methods: First, we analyzed the information circumstances of western and eastern medicine, both overseas and domestic, especially investigating the detailed changes domestically. Second, we grasped the present conditions of OASIS and compared it with other information portals. Finally, we drew a future plan and system architecture from the analysis results. Results: First, the information status of western medicine is much more advanced than TKM's, and overseas information circumstances are likewise more developed than domestics. Second, we found that OASIS is performing the central research infra role well in TKM. Finally we designed an information system architecture which is composed of an infra layer, an application layer and a service layer. Conclusion: We must integrate information materials such as literature, research manpower, facilities and standards to make TKM's knowledge portal successful. In detail, we have to make TKM's information classification code, build up the electronic TKM library and offer complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) trends.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.773-777
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• 2012

Since 2010, in general hospital, they can install western medical post, traditional Korean medical post, and dental post. So the environment is made for the Cooperative medical system between traditional Korean medicine(TKM) and western medicine(WM) to be performed. So we found out about how doctors think about TKM and what is needed for TKM & WM cooperative system to work well. When we found out about how recognition changed about TKM during their medical school years and after they became doctors, positive answer increased from 25.6% to 30%, negative answer decreased from 41.9% to 32.0%, severely negative increased from 9.3% to 16%. They changed to positive about TKM after they became doctors. But severely negative also increased. The element they lose faith in TKM is their doubt about the scientific aspects of TKM. On the other hand, severely negative recognition was also raised. 73.8% of respondents thought the most effective treatment of TKM was for myalgia. 33.3% of them answered the chance to encounter TKM was the mass media, indicating its limitation. 60.5% of them considered major reason for negative evaluation of TKM is its non-scientific aspects and only 30.9% said TKM treatment could be recommended to patients at the hospital. Doctors in WM for recognition on TKM is mostly negative and major reason is its non-scientific aspects. As the solution to this problem, scientification of TKM is suggested through research projects. These connections must be resolved to smoothly work interdisciplinary system of TKM and WM.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2011

Objectives : We studied the ISP(information strategy plan) of oasis spanning 5 years. From this study we aimed at total road map to upgrade the service systematically and to carry out the related projects. If we do it as road map, oasis will be the core infra service contributing to the improvement of TKM(traditional korean medicine) research capability. Methods : We carried out 3 step ISP method composed of environmental analysis, current status analysis and future plan. We used paper, report and trend analysis document as base materials and did the survey to get opinions from users and TKM experts. We limited this study to drawing the conceptual design of oasis. Results : From environmental analysis we knew that China and USA built up the largest TM databases. We did the survey to get the activation ways of oasis. And we did the benchmarking on the advanced services through current status analysis. Finally we determined 'maximize the research value based the open TKM knowledge infra' as oasis' vision. And we designed oasis' future system which is composed of service layer, application layer and contents layer. Conclusion : First TKM related documents, research materials, researcher information and standards are merged to elevate the TKM information level. Concretely large scale TKM information infra project such as TKM information classification code development, TKM library network building and CAM research information offering are carried out at the same time.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Objectives : There is a correlation between student's satisfaction of education and their occupation satisfaction. Therefore, Korean medical school students' satisfaction toward their education is important for their medical ability in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). The purpose of this study is to investigate TKM school students' satisfaction of education and their perceptions of TKM level. Methods : The questionnaire used in this study is consisted of questions about students' satisfaction and their perception toward issues about TKM. 168 cases were collected, and I analyzed 164 cases. Results : 43.9% of students think that the ratio of western medical courses to TKM courses in TKM school's curriculum is 'Proper'. 54.3% of students do not satisfy their curriculum. But, 51.2% of students would recommend high school students for entrance to TKM school. 77.9% of students think 'TKM doctor should use modern medical device'. 92.7% and 61.9% of students think 'Needed' toward 'Cooperation of western medicine and Korean medicine', and 'Medical unification' each. There are correlations ; (1)'recognition toward ratio of curriculum', (2)'satisfaction of curriculum', (3)'degree of recommendation to enter the TKM School', (4)'relation between TKM and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) or Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM)'. Conclusions : Student's satisfaction of education is not quite high than satisfaction of TKM study itself. Most of respondents agreed usage of medical devices. The more they thought that they had curriculum for western medicine, the lesser they thought that medical unification was ont needed. Further studies are needed to assess satisfactions of students for their education with more accuracy results.