The Behavior Patterns of using Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Degenerative Arthritis Patients

퇴행성관절염 환자의 보완.대체요법 이용행태

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used among degenerative arthritis patients in Korea. Method: This study used a descriptive survey method. Study subjects of the study were 278 degenerative arthritics selected from hospitals located in Kyungpook province and Daegu city. Data were collected between February 15, 2007 and March 31, 2007. Results: 62.6% of degenerative arthritics had used CAM. Manipulative Methods has shown to be one of the most effective methods on CAM. The utilization of CAM may be interpreted mainly due to the desperate need find therapeutics of their disease by all possible means (57.5%). Major factors that affect the decision of the patient include family, relatives, friends(42%), and the other patients who were in the similar circumstance (32.8%). Effectiveness of CAM has shown the following result "for complete cure of symptoms(77.0%), for health promotion (42.0%) and for psychological stabilization (29.9%)". 43.7% of the patients answered that they stopped of using CAM because of non-effectiveness. Conclusion: This study found that CAM among degenerative arthritic patients was a popular alternative method. Therefore, some nursing-oriented intervention method is needed together with a systematic guidelines of CAM usage is required.