• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is prevalent in preschoolers and schoolchildren. The utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in patients with AD as well as the general population. This study is based on the utilization of CAM for children with AD. Subjects were children suffering from AD who participated in the project of 'Seoul Atopy Asthma Free School'. In 6,800, the number of subject available data to final analysis was 4,985 for children with AD. Independent variables were age, monthly income of households, sleep disturbance, and dependent variables were medical treatment (MT), oriental medicine clinic (OMC), home remedy (HR) use experience during the past 12 months. As a result, MT was 76.5%, OMC was 24.6%, and HR was 62.3%, while multiple treatment from OMC and HR was 34.2%, and MT with OMC and HR was 18.8%. And variables influenced on CAM were age, monthly income of households, and sleep disturbance. However, some parents, tended to recognize that home remedy was effective and safe than other treatments. Therefore, it is recommended to counsel with physician about the merits and demerits of CAM.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to obtain information of use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) and any reported adverse effects of them on vulnerable elders in a community. Methods: 1,837 elderly subjects aged 65 or higher with health problems were selected from those who were enrolled in a public health care center and received visiting health management services. A proportional stratified sampling method was used. Data collection was completed by face to face interviews using a structured questionnaire. The descriptive statistics and ${\chi}^2$-test were used to analyze the data. Results: The prevalence of CAM use last year was 57.5%, and 10.4% of the subjects reported adverse effects of the therapies. The mean score of the subjects' attitudes towards CAM was $4.1{\pm}3.44$ (range 1~10). The major sources of advice and exposure to CAM therapies were most likely to be from family and friends (72.5%). The primary reason for choosing CAM was to manage symptoms and relieve pain (86.6%). Conclusion: These findings suggest the need to develop nursing strategies for reducing and preventing adverse effects of CAM use by promoting awareness of using safe and appropriate CAM therapies.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2010

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is currently widespread and appears to be growing. As an increasing proportion of the population turns to CAM therapies, whether singly or in combination with allopathic medicine, the need for quality research in this area is reinforced. Much of this research consists of clinical studies aim ed primarily at clinicians, yet challenges arising from poor methodological quality will occur w hen interpreting study findings and their implications. For clinicians to be effective consumers of the scientific literature, familiarization with the principles of evidence based medicine (EBM) is essential. The goal of this review is to introduce clinicians to the concept of critical appraisal of clinical studies and foster critical thinking when reading research articles in order to best evaluate and incorporate study findings into their daily practice.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.29-42
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• 2017

Background : Efforts towards increasing insurance coverage for traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are being continued. However, various difficulties are faced in generating evidence for TKM due to limited financial support and the low quality of research methodology. Objectives : The objectives of this study were to review the Swiss evaluation program for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and assess the expansion in public health insurance coverage of complementary medicine as approved by referendum in Switzerland. Methods : The regulations of CAM in the European Union were assessed. Research articles, reports, government publications and websites which deal with the 'Programm Evaluation $Komplement{\ddot{a}}rmedizin$ (PEK)' and the referendum in Switzerland were searched for and analyzed. Results : The PEK was conducted from 1998 to 2005. The PEK evaluated the efficacy, utilization and cost-effectiveness of anthroposophical medicine, homeopathy, neural therapy, phytotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine. However, clear conclusions could not be drawn from the evaluation according to the PEK Report. Later, a referendum was implemented in which 5 therapies would be added to the Switzerland Constitution with the support of the public. The coverage of CAM was approved by Swiss a plebiscite with an approval rate of 67.0%. Conclusions : The reason for the successful referendum is suggested to be public support and the solidarity with CAM experts and politicians. It may be surmised that recognition of the political efforts and scientific aspects required to expand insurance coverage of TKM, and towards obtaining public support, is necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.90-98
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• 2008

Purpose: Menopausal syndrome is caused by urgent changes of sex hormone in women. The hormonal therapy can soothe the problems of menopausal patients, but it can increase the probability of another disease, such as breast cancer, heart attack, etc. So the demand of alternative herb therapy is increasing in Western countries. In Korea, herbal medicine is imported and used by Western doctors. To know and use the alternative herbal medicine, Korean Medical doctors should know their efficacy and safety. Methods: We researched the Medline(Pubmed) with the key word such as 'CAM', 'herb' and 'menopause'. We selected the herbs known as treating the menopausal syndrome and researched the similar or same herbs that are used in Korean medicine by the scientific name and efficient ingredients. To evaluate the efficacy of the herbs, we compared the herbs that were differently defined in alternative and Korean medicine Results: Balm, black cohosh, chaste berry, dong quai. evening primrose oil. ginkgo, St. John's wort, valerian root, and sarsaparilla were chosen as prevalent herbs used in alternative medicine. The pharmacologic effect of Black cohosh, licorice root, St. John's wort were recognized. But these three herbs are not usually prescripted for menopausal patients in Korean medicine. So we could apply these three herbs as one of Korean medical treatments. The efficacy of other herbs cannot be surely prescripted for menopausal patients. Conclusion: The efficacy and safety of alternative medicine is not proved yet. But to diversify the treatmental methods of Korean medicine, we need to prove and use these medicine as one of Korean medical treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2011

Pharmacological approaches have been included in conventional medical treatment for insomnia or sleep disorders. However, long-term use of frequently prescribed medications can often lead to habituation, critical withdrawal symptoms and/or side effects. Some individuals with insomnia or trouble sleeping have used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat their conditions. Recently, CAMs or herbs have been attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We reviewed the most widely available sleep-promoting herbs commonly used in the western and oriental countries.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.67-81
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• 2011

Background : Complementary and alternative medicine has bee used to cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, many hospitals have tried to integrate complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) with conventional medical approaches for patients with chronic diseases. Recently, the prevalence of the use of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) among patients with chronic diseases, expecially, hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident is increasing in Korea. To date, however, there were only few studies addressing the patients' attitudes, and utilization of TKM, compared to the well-documented escalating use of TKM among consumers in Korea. Objectives : The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of TKM use among hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident and to determine what factors affect to use CAM among the patients. The study also aims to provide information on TKM and assist therapy selection among various CAM therapies for hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident within health care system in which both practitioners of TKM and practitioners of modern Western medicine coexisted. Methods : The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 32-items questionnaire. The subjects were one hundred fifty nine patients with chronic diseases who visited or admitted to health care facilities in a hospital in Seoul Metropolitan city, Korea. Data were analyzed using 'SPSS Statistics 18.0 Network Version(on release 18.0.1 of PASW Statistics)' program. Various statistical methods were used to obtain a profile for participants and the therapies most frequently used by hemiplegia patients of TKM. Logistic regression analysis was employed in order to determine the predicting variables of TKM use. Results : The prevalence of the use of TKM was 51.6%. The most common TKM therapies used by the patients included acupuncture(93.2%), herbal medicine(64.8%), and cupping(37.5%). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the variables significantly related with TKM use were gender, marital status, job, No. of visiting health care facilities/week. Conclusions : This study shows that the use of TKM among the hemiplegia patients is relatively high in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach for patients with chronic diseases and an efficient chronic disease management system in Korea.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.72-84
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate prevalence and the frequency of using Korean medicine, Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), and other parallel treatments in children and young adolescence with neurological diseases. Methods From April to July 2011, parents of the children and adolescents patients suffering from neurological disease completed questionnaires. Results 578 parents answered the questionnaires. 310 cases (53.5%) were using Parallel Treatments. Types of the Parallel Treatments being used are as follows. Rehabilitation 166 cases (27.4%), Speech Therapy 169 cases (27.9%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 109 cases (18.0%), Health supplement 72 cases (11.9%), Counselling, Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 45 cases (7.4%), Herbal Medicine 24 cases (4.0%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 13 cases (2.1%), Neurofeedback Therapy 1 case (0.2%), Etc 7 cases (1.2%). 257 cases (44.5%) have used Parallel Treatment before. Parallel Treatments being used in the past are as follows. Herbal Medicine 146 cases (35.4%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 64 cases (15.5%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 54 cases (13.1%), Rehabilitation 47 cases (11.4%), Speech Therapy 46 cases (11.1%), Health supplement 30 cases (7.3%), Counselling? Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 15 cases (3.6%), Neurofeedback Therapy 4 case (1.0%), Chuna, Manual Massage 2 case (0.5%), Etc 5 cases (1.2%). Conclusions Although patients were on both western medicine and Korean medicine, CAM, and other parallel treatment, the ratio of Korean medicine treatment was not as high as expected. Further studies are required to develop the model of integrative medicine.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.105-115
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• 2014

Objective : Traditional medicine (TM) has been playing its role in national healthcare system and it is taken as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from the viewpoint of modern Western medicine. In the UK, not a few practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are working as CAM practitioners using herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy. Cases of dispute in the TCM practice are not rare these days because patients who take TCM service are increasing by year. Method : In the UK, dispute cases of the Traditional Medicine of East Asia can be found these days, however, it is hard to find a reported court case. A medical dispute case of TCM will be analysed to see the legal management and the resolving principle in the alternative medicine practice with some cases of Korean Medicine (KM) being discussed. Results : The usual pattern of clinical negligence can be discussed from the points of a duty of care, breach of that duty by negligence, and the harm to the patient from that breach of duty. The judge followed this procedure In this case to discuss the claims. The department of health proposed to introduce regulation to provide the reasonable quality in TCM practice, and the governmental system would be essential to regulate both the TCM practice and practitioners. Conclusion : The dispute case of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) practice is important for the clinical negligence in TCHM practice. Judging the negligence of a TCHM practitioner involves the conventional negligence principle in tort law, and the TCHM practitioners are required to keep up with the up-to-date information on the related medical specialty. The reasoning is almost the same as that shown in the court case of Korea. The TCHM practice in the UK needs to be under the regulation by the government. The standard of care we expect of a TCHM practitioner is a further matter to discuss from the healthcare and social viewpoints.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2017

Backgrounds: The demand of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including Korean Medicine (KM) is increasing worldwide. But cancer patients (CP) still have a difficulty in gathering CAM information or communicating with their doctors, and clinical status in cancer care is unclear in the field of KM in Korea especially. The aim of this study is to examine clinical status of KM for cancer symptom care by KM doctors in medical service institutions. Methods: Total forty nine KM doctors completed the site survey questionnaire. The questionnaire items were to list chief symptom complaints of CP treated with KM and effective KM therapies. Results: The majority of the respondents were general physicians without KM specialist board (67.4%) who have 10-20 years clinical experience with CP (55.1%). Primary cancer lesion, diagnostic status, and treatment period were not different in KM clinical service institutions. In chief symptom complaints of CP treated with KM, gastrointestinal (32.9%), musculoskeletal (19.9%), circulatory & respiratory (16.2%), psychiatric (14.1%), urinary (5.8%) symptoms were in turn. In effective KM therapies assessed by KM doctors, xerostomia (45.7%) and cancer-related fatigue (44.8%) were more effective with herbal treatments. Peripheral neuropathy (43.4%), depression, insomnia (38.2%), and cancer pain (31.9%) were preferred to treat using acupuncture. Conclusion: The CP treated with KM used evenly KM medical service institutions regardless of hospital size, and there will be further survey for CP treated KM in the future.