A Study on the Using Patterns of Alternative Therapy in Arthritics living in the Metropolitan Area

관절염 환자의 대체요법 이용양상에 관한 연구 - 수도권 거주 관절염 환자를 대상으로 -

Purpose: This study was to investigate the using pattern of alternative therapies in chronic arthritics. Method: We interviewed 192 Arthritis patients lived in the metropolitan area with structured questionnaire from August to september in 2004. Data were analyzed statistically by using SPSS program. Result: Results were summarized as follows; 1. 89.0% of subjects had utilized one or more types of alternative therapies 80.8% of these patients did not consult a nurse or doctor with using alternative therapies. 2. 87.7% of subjects obtained information of using the alternative therapy from similar patients, their families or relatives etc. The most frequently used types of alternative therapies are hand acupuncture(58.0%), bathing(29.6%), massage(25.4%) taping therapy(13.0%). 3. After using alternative therapies, over 80% of subjects answered that they were satisfied to effects of alternative therapies and only 9.4% of them responded that they experienced side effects from use of alternative therapies. Conclusion: results of the study showed that most of patients with arthritis have used alternative therapies, they were satisfied to effect of using alternative therapies. Therefore, many research for use of alternative therapy and the development of standardized protocol of nursing intervention appling alternative therapy need to be achieved.