• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2004

Objectives : To evaluate the cost and proportion of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the total healthcare costs among the elderly in the last 6 months of life. Methods : The care-giving families of 301 persons older than 65 years, who died between July 1st and December 31st of 2001, and were also registered in Self-Employed Health Insurance Programs in Seoul, were interviewed. Results : The cost of CAM was 1.09 million Won, which as a proportion of the total healthcare cost was 38.1%. The elderly aged between 65 and 69 year-old, male, living with their spouse, Buddhist and having cancers had higher CAM costs in an ANOVA and simple regression analysis. After controlling of various factors, age was the only significant factor associated with the cost of CAM. The elderly above 80 years old, female, bereaved and Buddhist had higher proportional CAM costs, and the elderly having cancers or cardiovascular diseases had lower proportional CAM costs in an ANOVA and simple regression analysis. After adjusting for various factors, the elderly above 85 years old, female and Buddhist had higher proportional CAM costs, and the elderly having cancers had lower proportional CAM costs. Conclusion : The very old and Buddhist, and/or the ill with no clear diagnosis, may depend more on CAM. Further research will be needed on the meaning and impact of CAM and their costs to public health and the total healthcare system.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2008

Objectives : Integrative medicine in Korea is the 21st century-style medical practice of two orthodox medical doctrines, traditional Korean medicine and western conventional medicine, as well as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM with scientific evidence should be incorporated in undergraduate curricula for the purpose of Korean integrative medicine. Methods : Items of detailed objectives, syllabi, textbooks, instructor's experiences, and effectiveness and reason for difficulty of the CAM curriculum for undergraduate students were analyzed and the preference of CAM therapies and others were also evaluated. Results and Discussion : The effectiveness of this CAM class curriculum was high (8.0$\pm$1.4) enough to be used in other Oriental medical colleges. Development of ability for self-study was rated as 7.0$\pm$1.7 and the helpfulness for clinical use was marked as 6.8$\pm$1.9. Students preferred placebo, Ayurveda, aromatherapy, yoga, functional food, bio-feedback and homeopathy. The difficulty degree was 7.2$\pm$1.6, and the amount of content was suggested as the major reason for it. We also found that this curriculum can be a model for self-oriented study and problem-based learning. Discussions were made for the improvement of the implemented CAM curriculum, which was shown to be very effective for the achievement of Korean integrative medicine. Conclusion : We have successfully installed a CAM curriculum for undergraduate students at the College of Oriental Medicine, and it can be used in others.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2010

These days, traditional and complementary/alternative medicine (TM/CAM) becomes more upsurging topics of increasing importance and the use and popularity of TM/CAM is rapidly expanding, Since the tradition and situation on TM/CAM of each country is quite different, the concept and system of TM/CAM expressed by different countries shows the variety of range. Some countries recognize TM/CAM as one part of two branches of medical science and have integrated into national health care system. In these countries, education systems for TM/CAM are also well organized formal education systems, such as the Republic of Korea, DPR Korea, China (including Hong Kong and Macao), and Viet Nam. However, other countries in Asia and the Pacific. still do not have formal and/or informal education system and do not recognize TM/CAM as a kind of health care systems. This paper reviews the current situation of education and training on TM/CAM in the Asia and the Pacific. As a result, fifteen countries (31.3%) of 48 member countries in Asia and the Pacific have formal education systems for TM/CAM, twelve countries (25.0%) do not have formal education system and twenty one countries (43.7%) do not have available information. At least six countries are allocating the curriculum of medical school to the education of both allopathic and traditional medicine. For the proper use and development of TM/CAM, the development of formal education system as well as the integration into the national health care system are needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.721-731
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was done to describe the research trend of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM) in Korea and internationally. Method: A Systematic review of CAM related literature published from 2000 to 2005 was done. A comprehensive search by using 34 CAM modalities as search terms to identify all articles dealing with CAM was undertaken from 4 databases: PubMed, RICHIS, KoreaMed, and Riss4U. A Total of 588 abstracts and 223 original articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers using systematic analysis guidelines. Data regarding the types of study design, characteristics of subjects and researchers, and classification of CAM modalities was recorded. The outcome measures of CAM were identified. Results: CAM research has been rapidly increasing worldwide in the last decade. In Korea, nursing(53.5%) followed by medicine(42.7%) occupied the majority of CAM research in comparison to medicine(42.9%) and disciplines in CAM(25.0%), like homeopathy, internationally. Prevailing research designs in Korea were experimental and quasi-experimental, however, randomized clinical trials were found. Internationally, survey research was dominant, with the exception of randomized clinical trials that were mostly an experimental design. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a robust research design in CAM research is needed to accumulate strong scientific evidence and to adopt nursing interventions from CAM modalities.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2009

Purpose: The study was conducted to ascertain the use of the complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in stroke patients, in order to provide the appropriate CAM information to patients recovering from stoke. Methods: Subjects were 201 stroke patients who were randomly selected from a health care center and a welfare center. Data from a self-administered questionnaire collected from February to April 2009 was analyzed using SPSS/WIN 12.0. Results: Subjects averaged 67.4-yr-of-age. Of the 201 subjects, 69.2% had used CAM. CAM use was statistically significant in diagnosis, duration of post stroke, paralysis, and education about CAM. CAM was used in the mid-portion of treatment by 47.3% of the subjects, and 41.7% used it for more than a year. Of those using CAM, 52.7% of the subjects responded that their reason was the belief in the treatment's beneficial effects. Of the subjects 89.2% reported most frequent use of oriental medicine. Conclusions: The majority of stroke patients surveyed frequently and continuously used CAM in their mid-period of treatment expecting positive effects.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the pattern and factors associated with women's use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during postpartum in Korea. Methods: With a descriptive survey design, data of 423 postpartum women were collected via online and offline surveys. Results: A total of 251 women (59.3%) reported CAM use during postpartum. Eating animal-based foods (65.3%), plant-based health foods (52.2%), and using oriental medicine (31.8%) were commonly used in postpartum women. The reason for using CAM were physical recovery (39.1%), breastfeeding (29.7%), weight loss (24.8%), prevention of postpartum complications (5.1%), and others (1.3%). People who recommended CAM use was mainly family (41.3%), and expense of using CAM was 751,188 Korea won. Most women discussed CAM use with doctor (44.9%), and 29.3% of women didn't even consult CAM use with health care providers. Most of (72.3%) women were satisfied with CAM use. Higher level of education and monthly income, being employed, primipara, normal range of gestational weight gain, no abortion experience, and no maternal complication were significantly associated with CAM use in postpartum women. Conclusion: Results of this study were somewhat different from those of western research. Findings offer baseline data of CAM use in postpartum women, and health care providers need to understand it when they care for them.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7847-7852
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• 2015

Purpose: Research carried out with gynecologic cancer patients using CAM was reviewed to provide a source for discussing which CAM method is used for which purpose, patients' perceptions on the effects/side effects occurred during/after using CAM and their sources of information regarding CAM. Materials and Methods: This literature review was carried out for the period between January 2000 and March 2015 using Scopus, Dynamed, Med-Line, Science Dırect, Ulakbim, Research Starters, Ebscohost, Cinahl Complete, Academic Onefile, Directory of Open Access Journals, BMJ Online Journals (2007-2009), Ovid, Oxford Journal, Proquest Hospital Collection, Springer-Kluwer Link, Taylor & Francis, Up To Date, Web Of Science (Citation Index), Wiley Cochrane-Evidence Base, Wiley Online Library, and Pub-Med search databases with "complementary and alternative medicine, gynecologic cancer" as keywords. After searching through these results, a total of 12 full length papers in English were included. Results: CAM use in gynecologic cancer patients was discussed in 8 studies and CAM use in breast and gynecologic cancer patients in 4. It was determined that the frequency of CAM use varies between 40.3% and 94.7%. As the CAM method, herbal medicines, vitamins/minerals were used most frequently in 8 of the studies. When the reasons why gynecologic cancer patients use CAM are examined, it is determined that they generally use to strengthen the immune system, reduce the side effects of cancer treatment and for physical and psychological relaxation. In this review, most of the gynecologic cancer patients perceived use of CAM as beneficial. Conclusions: In order that the patients obtain adequate reliable information about CAM and avoid practices which may harm the efficiency of medical treatment, it is recommended that "Healthcare Professionals" develop a common language.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.276-285
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to help in explaining the necessity of education on complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) and opening relevant curriculums in nursing education by grasping the kinds of CAM in which nursing students want to be opened. Data were collected from September 27, 2003 through October 20, 2003. A group of 865 nursing students were surveyed using questionnaires in seven universities whose curriculums on CAM have not been available. Collected data were statistically analyzed by using SAS 8.02 system, and the study results are as follows: 1. The average of subjects' behavior toward CAM was 3.52 of the total 5 with practical affairs 3.79. medical treatment 3.79, social concerns 3.84, and communication 3.78. 2. Most nursing students $(90.6\%)$ did not precisely understand the meaning of CAM although they had heard of it. Most of them $(85.5\%)$ had no experience of applying CAM. The study also revealed that more qualified CAM lecturers in the future are needed: specialist in the relevant field $(83.2\%)$, doctor and herb doctor $(6.5\%)$, clinical nurse $(6.0\%)$ and professor of the department of nursing science $(4.3\%)$. 3. Concerning students' behavior toward CAM, there were statistically significant difference between students from agrarian and fishing villages (F=4.91. p=.007) and the others. 4. CAM courses that students want were therapeutic touch (massage) $(22.9\%)$. aroma therapy $(14.8\%)$, manual healing methods $(14.7\%)$, treatment of blood vessel $(8.3\%)$, foot reflexology $(7.9\%)$, and heart remedy $(6.8\%)$. In conclusion, the study indicated that nursing students had positive attitudes toward CAM and for this. healers should have a frank talk with patients in order to maximize symptom-relieving effects. However, the study showed that most nursing students did not understand the exact meaning of CAM. Considered the fact that improvement of both health status and quality of life will be an important issue in the future, active introduction and education of CAM in nursing curriculum are a matter of necessity.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this review was to investigate whether evidence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) was reflected in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for insomnia based on relevant clinical trials. Methods: We conducted a systematic search on domestic and international CPG databases and medical databases. In addition, we conducted manual searches of relevant articles. Three authors independently searched and selected relevant studies; any disagreement was resolved by discussion. We extracted and analyzed the following data: published language, country, development group, participants, interventions, presence or absence of recommendations for CAM, level of evidence, grade of recommendation for CAM, and methods of development. Results: We identified 8,241 records from domestic and international databases, and 22 CPGs were included. Eleven of the 22 CPGs mentioned CAM interventions including herbal medicine, relaxation, acupuncture moxibustion, Tai Chi, meditation, hypnosis, biofeedback, Tuina, and external herbal medicine. However, most of the CPGs indicated 'no recommendation' or 'weak recommendation' for CAM interventions. Only Valeriana dageletiana Nakai and relaxation were considered to have experimental evidence. Valeriana dageletiana Nakai was recommended for improvement of sleep latency, sleep maintenance, total sleeping time, and sleep cycle. Relaxation was recommended as effective intervention for relieving physical and psychological arousal. Conclusions: Despite systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials on CAM for insomnia, most of the CPGs for insomnia did not reflect the evidence obtained. Further CPGs for insomnia should be developed by considering the current advanced studies in the field of CAM.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-69
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• 2010

Objective: Interests in integrative medicine and CAM(Complementary and Alternative Medicine) are on the rise. However, the term 'integrative medicine' is often confused with the concept of CAM. This paper aims at clarifying the concept of integrative medicine. Methods: The definition, concept, and research methods used to explain integrative medicine have been inquired into. Also, the differences between the researches on integrative medicine and those on CAM have been studied. Moreover, domestic researches regarding integrative medicine have been analyzed. Results: The concept of integrative medicine was born in order to create a more patient-centered medicine by actively accommodating the medical system classified as CAM. The biggest difference that discriminates integrative medicine from CAM is the fact that integrative medicine does not depend solely on establishing its grounds through the process of RCT(Randomized Controlled Trial). Conclusion: Domestic researches regarding integrative medicine naturally leads to the concept of unification of medicine, but they do not concern the original meaning of integrative medicine. It is only after active discussions on the meaning, philosophical backgrounds, and research methods of integrative medicine become possible that a truly patient-oriented medicine will be realized.