• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.43-58
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• 2005

Internationally, many countries are facing the demand for reshaping health care systems to cope with rapid changing circumstances in health care sector. The recent growth of oriental medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the many countries is, to a large extent, due to the growth of the number of oriental medical doctors and physicians who have taken up alternative therapies alongside conventional medicine. To cope with the changing environments, many countries consider to develop integrative health care which is now used widely in health care sector. In both biomedical and CAM sectors(including oriental medicine), attention appears to have shifted away from separating therapeutic modalities into categories such as biomedical or CAM, towards a focus on merging diverse modalities into a 'new' integrative health system. In Korea, one of peculiar characteristics of health care system is that as health care provider, Hanbang medicine (traditional Korean medicine) and (western) medicine coexist since 19 century. Recently, the government of Korea has given many efforts to enhance the role and function of traditional Korean medicine in health care sector. However, the strategies and measures for integrative health care settings combining traditional Korean medicine and western medicine on health sector have not been developed yet. The research question of this study is In Korea, what are the trends and problems in interface of traditional Korean medical sector and Western medical sector; what are the causes of or associated factors to the problems; how to cope with the problems and how to resolve the causes?; what are the health policy directions and its strategies that the government should take to cope with the future demand and the burden on health care sector? In order to do this, this study explores the current situations and issues on the interface between traditional Korean medicine and (western) medicine in various ways using contents analysis of existing data and documents related to traditional Korean medicine and health policy. Finally, we discussed stakeholders' views on the interface in the health care sector. Then, health policy options to have shifted away from separating therapeutic modalities into categories such as 'traditional Korean medicine' or 'western medicine', towards a focus on merging diverse modalities into a 'new' integrative health system.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.79-82
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• 2013

The demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing worldwide. High-technology medicine is not always effective and is often accompanied by neglected self-care and high cost. Also, conventional medicine has become dependent on expensive technological solutions to health problems. Integrated medicine is not simply a synonym for complementary medicine. It involves the understanding of the interaction of the mind, body, and spirit and how to interpret this relationship in the dynamics of health and disease. Integrative medicine shifts the orientation of the medical practice from a disease-based approach to a healing-based approach. In South Korea, CAM education was first provided 20 years ago, and integrative medicine is becoming part of the current mainstream medicine. Increasing numbers of fellowships in integrative medicine are being offered in many academic health centers in the U.S. Also, it has emerged as a potential solution to the American healthcare crisis and chronic diseases, which are bankrupting the economy. It provides care that is patient-centered, healing-oriented, emphasizes the therapeutic relationship, and uses therapeutic approaches originating from conventional and alternative medicine.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to discuss the role of integrative medicine (IM) in contemporary health care settings, and how and which factors affect and facilitate the success of IM in terms of the integration of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine in primary health care (PHC). IM is meant to provide the best possible health care, for both patient and physician. The way of IM use in the developed countries presents various ways that IM can be provided, and it appears that strategies have been successfully developed to facilitate integration. Although few of the barriers to the integration of CAM and conventional medicine have been resolved, concerns over the legitimacy of CAM in health care (e.g., safety, biomedical evidence, and efficacy) are being overcome by the use of evidence-based practice in IM delivery. There are dominant models of IM that have been developed. The model types signify different levels of equity between CAM and conventional medicine in regard to the power, autonomy, and control held by each. However, the factors common to all IM models, whether describing CAM as supplementary or complementary to conventional medicine, is the concept of a health care model that aspires to be client-centred and holistic, with focus on health rather than disease as well as mutual respect among peer practitioners. Finally, this study concluded that the growth and viability of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) depend on evidence-based practices and identifying the successful influences on the integration of TKM and conventional medicine for recognition of its inherent value in PHC. Some recommendations for the integration of TKM and conventional medicine were suggested.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2014

This study examined the knowledge and understanding of integrative medicine in Korea, specifically conflicts between western and oriental medicine within Parallel (Dual) health care systems. Qualitative methodology using grounded theory guided semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Western Medical Doctors (W.M.D., n = 6), Oriental Medical Doctors (O.M.D., n = 5) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (T.C.M.P., n = 4). Thematic analysis was used to determine broad themes from the interviews. 15 professionals (W.M.D. (40%), O.M.D. (33%), T.C.M.P. (27%), 10 males (67%) and 5 females (33%), mean age 45) were interviewed, recorded, and transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: systematic conflicts, integration and future directions. Subthemes of systematic conflicts included: credibility of Oriental Medicine, commercial imperatives, maintaining social standing of O.M.D., professional qualifications and lack structures supporting collaborative practice. Integration subthemes included lack of academic linkage and clarity for appropriate triage, opposing medical paradigms and limited social imperative. Future directions should include: social justification, guarantee of oriental medicine legitimacy, role of government and understanding of scientific evidence. To successfully integrate dual medical systems there is a need to address differences in social-environmental factors and perceptions of scientific understanding, as well as developing strong academic links in clinical practice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.915-919
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• 2005

The increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) in Korea as well as in U.S.A. and Europe seems to lead to a growing integration of CAM with conventional medicine. By using conventional mainstream medicine with CAM(integrative medicine) proved in efficacy and safety, integrative medicine seeks to treat the whole person, to assist the innate healing properties of each person and to promote health and wellness as well as the prevention of diseases. Also in pediatric diseases, especially for cancer patients, integrative medicine serves as an interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and children-centered care which results in more effective care by synergistically combining therapies. But the research to prove the efficacy and safety of CAM and the education for CAM in the medical school should proceed before applying them to patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.645-652
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• 2016

Objectives: To compare the effects of Eastern-Western integrative medical care (EWIM) and Western single rehabilitation therapy (WSRT) on the functional recovery of stroke patients.Methods: Seventy-six stroke patients were recruited retrospectively. The participants were divided into two groups: EWIM and WSRT. Data on age, sex, stroke-related risk factors, stroke type, neurological deficits according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), elapsed time to the initiation of rehabilitation, duration from the onset to follow up, initial functional status, and function after therapy for 3 mon were obtained from a review of the patients’ medical records. Between-group differences in functional outcomes were analyzed before and after treatment using the functional ambulation category (FAC), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), modified Barthel Index-Korean version (K-MBI), and Euro-Quality of Life-5 Dimension (EQ-5D).Results: At 3-mon poststroke, all the functional outcome measures had improved in both groups (P<0.05). However, the improvements were greater in the EWIM group, and the improvement was statistically significant in the K-MBI (P=0.048) and EQ-5D (P=0.042).Conclusions: With respect to activities of daily living and health-related quality of life, EWIM is a more effective stroke therapy than WSRT.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this research was to provide basic data for developing the collaborating care of Korean traditional medicine and western medicines by analyzing the perceptions of residents visiting local health centers on the collaborating care. Method : To this end, a self-administrated questionnaire was surveyed to 417 participants from March 10 to March 19, 2005. The questionnaires were regarding medical preferences, effectiveness, co-operative treatment types, and the demographic characteristics of the study population. The main statistical methods employed for analysis were frequency chi-square test analysis, using SPSS system 12.0 software for Windows. Result : First, the perceptions of collaborating care, such as preference and effectiveness, were better for residents who had experienced Korean traditional medicine(p < 0.05). Second, the most favorable collaborating care type was the neuromuscular disease and rehabilitation, and in particular, the preference of the patient who had experienced Korean traditional medicine was much higher than those who had not experienced it(p < 0.05). Third, as for recognizing the future of collaborating care, respondents insisted that collaboration care has to be conducted under evidence-based research. The reasons why collaborating care has not been active were reported as "difference in solving disease problems between oriental medicine and western medicine." The most important role of the Korean traditional medicines in the public sector was to provide specialized service for the elderly and low income households. Conclusion : Most respondents expected the positive effects of the collaborating care and wanted it to develop, particularly for neuromuscular diseases. As for the health promotion program in health centers, it was more popular than the home visiting program for the elderly and preventive rehabilitation for stroke. Now we must plan to balance between the need of the community and the medical provider on collaborating care.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2022

Purpose : As the number of patients with systemic diseases is increasing in the old, the relevance of oral health is gaining particular research interest. To provide fundamental resources for dental services, this study examined the relationship between doctors' diagnoses of circulatory diseases and patients' awareness of oral health and oral care behaviors. Methods : SPSS 26.0 was used to assess various variables, including doctor's diagnosis of circulatory diseases, gender, age, household income quintile, participation in economic activity, marital status, subjective level of oral health awareness, mastication discomfort, speaking and chewing discomfort, dental inspection, use of oral care goods, teeth brushing during the previous day, and untreated oral conditions. Results : The circulatory diseases suffered by the subjects were as follows: 56 % high blood pressure, 36 % dyslipidemia, 6 % stroke, and 8 % myocardial infarction or angina. A higher age meant a higher diagnosis rate of high blood pressure (p<.001) and stroke (p<.001). Those with dyslipidemia showed a higher rate of receiving oral inspection (p=.040), and an untreated oral condition was more frequently observed among those not diagnosed with the disease (p=.035). The subjects who were not diagnosed with stroke showed a higher rate of oral inspection (p<.001), while those who had a prior experience of stroke suffered a higher rate of mastication discomfort (p=.020). People who had high blood pressure showed a lower rate of using oral care goods (p<.001), and those diagnosed with stroke showed a lower rate of brushing teeth the previous day. Conclusion : This study found a correlation between the diagnosis of circulatory diseases and the awareness of oral health and oral care behavior. Consequently, oral health education should be included in mental health-related education, and customized training to teach teeth brushing and the use of oral care goods should be provided to patients with circulatory diseases during dentist visits.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth interview with dentists in order to provide fundamental data regarding their thoughts in relation to the dental hygiene process of care and its necessity in clinical practice, with the aim of ensuring that dental hygienists can perform their duties as experts. Method : Following explanation of the study, we administered the questionnaire to those who agreed to participate between September 26 and October 28, 2017. A Naver-form (mobile) questionnaire was distributed to the research subjects for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) 24.0. Analysis was performed by calculating the frequency and percentage of the general characteristics of the subjects, occupational expertise, and the dental hygiene process of care. Result : Among the 56 research subjects, 48 (85.7 %) were men and 8 (14.3 %) were women. Awareness on the part of respondents of the job responsibilities associated with the dental hygiene process of care ratio was as follows: 11 (19.6 %) categorized their level of knowledge regarding the dental hygienist's job duties as "very much know"; 13 (23.2 %) as "somewhat know"; 18 (32.1 %) as "neither"; and 9 (16.1 %) as "somewhat don't know", while 5 (9.0 %) said "I have no idea". The dental hygiene process of care was categorized as "very much necessary" by 50.0 % of respondents; as "somewhat necessary" by 35.7 %; and as "neither" by 14.3 %. Conclusion : The dental hygiene process of care is one of the methods used to continuously manage patients with dental-related concerns. Recently, the management of patients in the dental clinic has changed from a disease treatment model to a concept of active prevention for improving the quality of life related to oral health. The dental hygiene process of care is considered a very necessary dental health care service because it functions to continuously introduce oral health care or preventive care programs in clinical practice.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2017

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the difference in roles between administrative staff and head resident officer in a university. In health care service design, the DACUM has been used to understand relationships between nurses and nurses' aides. Methods : Administrative staff and head resident officer's jobs were analyzed using DACUM. We organized a DACUM committee and workshop. The committee comprised of six members discussed their roles, duties, and task elements. Result : The DACUM for administrative staff consisted of 8 duties and 30 task elements, and for the head resident officer it consisted of 8 duties and 23 task elements. Conclusion : In conclusion, the role of the administrative staff and head resident is similar but different in terms of task elements. To increase job efficiency, it is important to separate roles and responsibilities in the job.