Abstract
This research has academic significance in that it uses the data from "Research on Usage of Korean Medicine Service and Medicine" to analyze the differences in usage of Korean medicine service by regions and genders on a national scale. The items analyzed were the sociodemographic characteristics, preferences of forms of Korean medicine service by gender and province. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences by marital status, education, occupation, and income (p<.01). Men used service for back pains (23.0%), muscle injuries (20.7%), back sprain (16.5%), ankle sprain (11.2%), and arthritis (10.5%). Women used service for back pains (26.5%), arthritis (18.7%), muscle injuries (12.9%), back sprain (12.1%), and indigestion problems (10.1%). There were statistically significant differences among men and women (p<.01). In the comparison analysis by cities, back pain was the biggest reason (p<.01), but there were differences from city to city; In Gwangju, back sprains (24.4%) and ankle sprains (16.1%) were first and second reasons, while In Ulsan, back sprains were the first reason (29.8%). By province level, back pains were the biggest reason for men, but there were differences by provinces (p<.05); In Chungbuk and Jeonnam, muscle injuries were first (23.7% and 23.9%, respectively). In conclusion, there were differences by cities and provinces in usage of Korean medical service, as well as by gender.