Abstract
Objective : This research was carried out to find out the general understanding of allergic diseases, the frequencies of allergic diseases and the attitude toward their oriental medical treatment(OMT) among common people. Methods : A total of 360 visitors at The 2nd International Exhibition on Oriental Medicine in 2000, participated in this research. We performed this survey with 22 items on the questionnaire. Results : Respondents knew the. fact that the allergic diseases were hereditary and could be affected by the living environment. 41.8% of the respondents had a past history of allergic diseases. Among the people who had allergic diseases, 63.5% had allergic rhinitis, which was the largest portion. Among them, 52.9% had a familial history. 81.5% of respondents with allergic diseases received western medical treatment for their allergies, 16.3% received both western and oriental medical treatment and 2.2% received OMT only. Among those who were treated for allergic disease, 62.0% were unsatisfied with the low effect of the treatment. To the point of excellence of OMT, 69.7%, which was the largest portion of respondents, believed that OMT could improve their constitutions. The problem with OMT was the high price of herbal medicine and this was the problem most frequently stated, by 51.4% of respondents. There was a positive attitude towards the effect of OMT, and respondents had a preference to receive OMT in the future(p<0.01). Conclusions : These days, it is a fact that the OMT for allergic diseases has a lower proportion to that of western treatment In order to increase the role of OMT, we think, oriental medical doctors need to develop an explanatory model of improving $people^{\circ}{\phi}s$ constitutions and should lower the cost of herbal medicine.
