• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.250-261
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• 2001

Alternative therapy for rheumatoid arthritis has become worldwide phenomenon this decade without scientific validation. This study was undertaken to explore the prevalence, patterns of use, and perceived efficacy of alternative therapies by patients attending a rheumatology clinic. We conducted a crossectional survey of 142 RA patients with structured questionnaire at outpatient rheumatic clinic from July to August in 2001. Results of this study were summarized as follows : 1. 85.9% of subjects were woman. Mean age was 49.97years, duration of rheumatoid arthritis was 5.6years. Mean pain score was 5.29cm. 2. 74.6% of subjects perceived rheumatoid arthritis as a controllable disease. 31% of patients combined medical treatments with alternative therapies. 58.5% of patients perceived that combining medical treatments with alternative therapies is the most effective strategy in controlling disease. 3. 77.5% had used more than one alternative therapy since the diagnosis was made. The major reason of discontinuation of use was no effect for the treatment of their disease. 4. 34.5% were currently using an alternative therapies and 50.9% were going to use alternative therapies in future. 5. 42.7% reported that alternative therapies was effective and only 3.6% reported side effects. 6. The perceived effect score was 3.14cm in general expecially the physiological score 2.91cm, psychological score 4.16cm. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a high use of alternative therapies by rheumatoid arthritis patients. And the perceived effect score of physiological aspect was not higher than one of psychological aspect. Therefore it should be considered in education program for the use of alternative therapies.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.212-227
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns of alternative therapy and to describe the characteristics of cancer patients used alternative therapy. The sample of this study were 232 consisted of cancer patients who visited at Pusan National University Hospital, Dong-a, Kosin University Hospital. The data were gathered from August, 1 to October, 30 1999 and analyzed by using SPSSWIN program for frequency, percentile and $X^2$-test. The important results of this study are as follows. 1. In population-sociological characteristics, sexual distribution showed female 52.6%, and the male 47.4%, age distribution showed that more than 60year old group are most as 31.5%. 2. In the disease characteristics, colon and rectal cancer patients were most as 19.0%. In the type of pain, the most of subjects were "dully pain" as 25.4%. In the pain level, 134 subjects complained pain, mean maximal pain score was $7.3{\pm}2.29$ in 10 points rating scale. 3. 132 patients (56.9%) among 232 cancer patients had used alternative therapy. The most common type of alternative therapy was dietary and nutritional therapy 44%, the place of use. home 43.2%, duration, less than 3 months, 56.8%. The most common motive was a recommendation by friends or family. The degree of satisfaction after the use of alternative therapy was high for 22.0%. 4. In the relation between general characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, the only living area was showed a significant statistical differance($X^2$ = 4.070, P= .044). also in the relation between disease characteristic and utilization of alternative therapy, morbidity periods, the size of higher pain, the type of treatment were showed a significant statistical differance($X^2$= 7.964, 7.303, 3.565, P=.044, .026, .042). In conclusions, these findings indicate that cancer patients use various complementary and in alternative therapy. therefore, suggested that medical doctors or nurses verify the true effects or side-effects from the most common complementary or alternative therapies through experiments.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.563-572
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate community health practitioners' knowledge of, use patterns of, and attitudes toward CAM. Method: The subjects of this study were 817 community health practitioners (CHPs) from 9 Provinces in Korea selected through convenient sampling. They completed and submitted self-report questionnaires at the annual meeting of CHPs or sent completed questionnaires to us by mail. Result: Of the CHPs, 8.1% had a certificate of CAM-related education program, and 39.9% worried about the efficacy of CAM. They knew about massage (74.0%), finger pressure (68.1%), hand acupuncture (67.8%), diet (65.5%) and herb (64.7%). They had used herb (43.3%), massage (36.8%), hand acupuncture (32.7%) and vacuum (31.2%) with positive effects and recommended residents to use them. Attitude toward CAM tended to be positive in those with certificates of CAM, those with high academic qualification, those aged 40 or below, and those working in Chungcheong-do. Conclusion: This study showed that CHPs were interested in CAM while they worried about the therapeutic effects of it. Further studies to draw cross-sectional and national data on the use patterns of CAM from the various population and standardized instruments to investigate the types of CAM were suggested.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2002

Purpose : Premature ovarian failure, characterized by amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea, estrogen defieciency and elevated gonadotropins in woman less than 40 years of age, affects approximately 1% of woman and is associated with autoimmune phenomena or genetic abnormalities, but mostly idiopathic. This disease is loss of ovarian function seems not to be always permenent. Method : We investigated herb medication was effective in patient of premature ovarian failure. Results: Signs and symtoms of estrogen deficiency were improved and mensturation occurred monthly and the elevated during treatment of herb medication. As a result of our case recovering of ovarian function, we hope more investigtions about treating premature ovarian failure by oriental medicine will be gained.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.96-113
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• 1999

This retrospective descriptive study was conducted to survey the use of alternative therapy by chronicly ill patients. The subject of this study were 205 chronicly ill patients at Pusan National University Hospital. The data for this study were patient record. The data were gathered from August, 1 to September, 30 1998 and analyzed through SPSSWIN program for frequency, percentile and $x^2-test$. The important results of this study are as followings. Of population-sociological characteristics on studied objects, sexual distribution showed a similar percentage male 47.8% and the female 52.2%. Age distribution showed that the 60-69 year old group made up 31.5%, and was the highest. Of religion Buddism was the most frequest. The diagnosis distribution showed cancer at 28.8% and coronary artery disease at 16.1%. According to the results of the study, 51.2% of subjects had used alternative therapy. The most common type of alternative therapy was dietary and nutritional therapy, 40.2%, the place of use, home, 44.0%, duration, less than 3 months, 51.5%. The most common motive was a recommendation by friends or family. The degree of satisfaction after the use of alternative therapy was high for 21.0%, and slight for 53.3%. The reaction after the use of alternative therapy was increasing power for patients with coronary artery disease and cancer, sugar control for those with DM, and pain control for those with chronic arthrits. The study showed that for chronicly ill patients, age, religion, diagnosis name have an important effect on the use of alternative therapy. In conclusion, chronicly ill patients showed high-use of alternative therapy but they did not used alternative therapy as a healing method. Therefore we must provide an education program nurses and physicians. And we must provide more information or healing method's and support chronicly ill patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2004

The primary purpose of this study was to describe psychological aspects of menopausal women who have experiences on alternative therapies, such as pomegranate tree fluid, life pack, evening primerose, zacro syrup, zacro pill, multi-vitamin, oriental medicine instead of estrogen. In order to have insights on the participants behaviors, this qualitative research was conducted. The participants in this study were six women who have been taking at least one of the alternative therapies to relieve the menopausal symptom. Data had been collected from November 2002 to May 2003. The interview questions were about motivations to seek the alternative therapy, menopausal symptoms, feelings or positive effects after the treatment. The interviews were recorded and transcribed into written documents. The method described by Giorgi was utilized for data analysis. The study results were as follows : 1. The participants sought the alternative therapy based on their own information or by friends' recommendations. The motivations of taking the therapy were to live younger and healthier by reliving menopausal symptoms including somatic symptoms, such as irregular menstruation, flushing sense, cold sweating, insomnia, dull headache, vagina dryness, cystitis after sexual intercourse, joint pain, nervousness, depression, skin dryness, and suppression of activity. 2. The participants expressed that they became more active and felt better with disappearing menopausal symptoms after about 2 to 3 weeks treatment. 3. The participants did not want to accept the fact that they had menopause, which caused avoidance of having medical diagnosis and medical treatment. They also did not want to let their spouses know about their symptoms. 4. The major reason of taking the alternative therapy was to avoid the side effects of estrogen therapy in spite of high costs of the alternative way. 5. The participants suggested that menopausal women needed to be educated about physical and psychological symptoms of menopause. They also needed to be informed about how to manage it. In conclusion, accurate information about foods and drugs utilized for the alternative therapy was needed. Medically proved methods to recognize positive effects and side effects were also necessary. These goals could be achieved by continuous medical observations and further research.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2005

Background and Objectives: The popularity of complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) has grown at an astonishing rate in recent years. Because patients are interested in CAM and want to use it, physicians also should be concerned about CAM and know about the current situation of its usage. In this study, we tried to determine the prevalence of CAM use in the patients with head and neck cancer and correlate with demographics and tumor characteristics. Materials and Methods: A total of 87 patients with head and neck cancer previously treated with surgery at Seoul National University Hospital from March through June, 2004 were enrolled in this study. The patients were completed, questionnaire about the use of CAM and demographic information. Tumor characteristics were obtained from the patient's medical records. Results: Of the 87 patients, 33 patients(37.9%) use at least one CAM. There was no statistically significant correlation between patient's data and prevalence of CAM use. Of those patients using CAM, 16(48.5%) of 33 were using 2 or more therapies. The majority of agents used by patients in this study are mushrooms such as Phellinus and Reishi, followed by dietary therapy. A majority(60.6%) of patients were introduced to alternative medicine by friends or family members. Conclusion: Considerable cancer patients use CAM. Head and neck oncologists should inform themselves about CAM to counsel and educate the patients. Further scientific investigations on promising CAM agents may help advance cancer treatment.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2013

Purpose: The study was done to define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among primary brain tumor patients and factors influencing use. Methods: The study was conducted with convenience sampling in 5 neuro-oncology centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire developed by the researchers. Results: Of 250 patients approached, 231 (92.4%) agreed to participate. Overall, 26.8% of the respondents used CAM and the average cost for CAM use was 300,000 KRW. More than 72% of CAM users did not disclose CAM use to their health care professionals. The most frequently used therapy was natural products including mushrooms. Logistic regression analysis revealed that an education level of university or higher (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.56-5.44, p=.001), unemployment (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.04-3.80, p=.037), and WHO grade III & IV tumors (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.07-4.72, p=.048) were significant factors influencing CAM use. Conclusion: Three out of ten brain tumor patients spend substantial sum of money for CAM. In these situations, health care professionals should be aware of this phenomenon and provide adequate information and consultation to the patients.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to analyze the effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) as nursing interventions for patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA statement guidelines. To search for studies related to the effects of CAT applied as nursing care in OA patients, a combination of the keywords 'osteoarthritis,' 'complementary and alternative therapy,' and 'nursing care' were used. Finally, 12 articles retrieved from five electronic databases were included for the analysis. Results: Twelve studies were classified into seven interventions: Tai chi exercise, yoga, qigong, massage. flax seed compress, music, and meditation relaxation, administered by a nurse, and were RCTs. Outcome variables used for pain evaluation were WOMAC and VAS. The duration of interventions varied from 2 to 12 weeks. All twelve interventions had a positive effect on the outcome variables. Conclusion: CAT applied in nursing care for patients with OA significantly reduced pain and improved mobility. When planning a nursing intervention program, it is recommended to combine multiple therapies, considering the duration of effects. In addition, it is recommended to design the study as an RCT to secure the evidence for practical application.

• Annual Conference of KIPS
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.1426-1429
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• 2010

삶이 윤택해지면서 선진국에서는 건강에 대한 관심도가 높아 질병이 발생되기 전에 조기에 진단하여 예방하는 대체의학이 관심을 받고 있으며 이러한 대체의학 중 귀에 침을 자입을 하여 치료를 하는 이침(耳針)요법이 있다. 이침 요법은 부작용이 적고 자가 진단을 통해 응급처치가 가능한 것으로 실생활에서 손쉽게 이용하고 있다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 신장에 해당하는 이(耳)혈 상응점을 자극하여 신장과 관련된 지각(地閣)의 색 변화를 측정하였다. 이를 위해 동일한 조건에서 시행되는 신장 상응점을 자극하기 전과 후의 영상을 기반으로 이목구비 추출 및 색상 분석 프로그램을 이용하여 CMYK 중 검정 색상값을 의미하는 K값의 변화율을 적용하여 비교, 분석하였다. 결과적으로 신장 상응점 자극에 의해 K값이 낮아져 신장에 해당하는 혈(穴)을 자극할 시에 신장이 안정화 되었다는 결론을 도출하였다.