• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.161-173
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with primary menstrual difficulties taking NSAIDs. Methods: 30 women with primary menstrual difficulties with NSAIDs were assigned to treatment groups (n=15) and control groups (n=15). On their first visit, both groups were provided with a menstrual diary and were required to record the intensity of pain and the dosage of painkillers during each menstrual cycle. The treatment group received two acupuncture treatments per cycle during two cycles, and the control group did not receive acupuncture. Pain strength during menstruation was evaluated using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the total number of painkillers taken during menstruation and the average number of painkillers taken during a single dose was measured. Results: The treatment group had significant pain relief compared to the pre-test group and significant differences from the control group. In addition, there was a significant difference between the treatment group and the control group in the frequency of taking painkillers during the menstrual period and the dose in the test group was significantly lower than before treatment. Conclusions: This clinical trial showed that this acupuncture can help alleviate primary menstruation and reduce the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.24-36
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• 2022

Objectives: This study is a comparative analysis of the satisfaction and recognition characteristics for traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in people with disabilities and the general population of Korea. Methods: Here, 5,000 subjects were categorized into two groups based on a disability rating using the data from the 2017 National Survey for the Usage of Korean Medicine. The relationships among the sociodemographic characteristics, TKM usage status, recognition of TKM usage, and recognition of the effectiveness of the TKM treatment were analyzed based on the disease. The response reliability was verified using the chi-square test analysis method. Results: Disabilities corresponded with low rates of high school or higher education (44%, 83.5%) and no jobs (56.9%, 33.5%), mostly the status of the low-income class with a monthly household income of < 1,500 USD (50.9%, 10.5%), poor health conditions (55.2%, 9.8%), high chronic disease prevalence rate (69.0%, 19.9%), high medical care rate (11.2%, 0.5%), and low commercial health insurance subscription rate (44%, 74.2%). Furthermore, people with disabilities visited TKM institutions more often (88.8%, 74.1%) with a high frequency TKM usage rate of ≥ 1-2 times a month (26.2%, 15.3%). They also reported that the cost of using the TKM was very high (14.7%, 8.8%) and that primarily the application of insurance benefits should be improved (52.6%, 47.5%). The treatment effectiveness for diseases was high for musculoskeletal disorders for both people with disabilities and the general population. Conclusion: Preferential application of insurance benefits for musculoskeletal diseases must be extended to the TKM treatment as well, as people with disabilities have a high recognition for these conditions with TKM. It is difficult to perform randomized controlled trials on people with disability. Therefore, large-scale observational and cohort studies should be conducted. We hope this study will help establish a suitable TKM policy for people with disabilities.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.257-266
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• 2022

Purpose : This systematic review examined evidence published 2000-2021 for occupational therapy interventions for adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (adult ADHD). Methods : In order to find out the studies on the effect occupational therapy intervention on individuals with adult ADHD, studies published from 2000 to February 2022 were searched on Google Academic Search. The keywords used were "adult ADHD" AND "Occupational therapy". A total of 785 studies were searched, and from these, 3 studies were selected based on the application of the selection and exclusion criteria. The included studies comprised of 1 Quasi-experimental design study(one group pre-post test) and 2 randomized controlled trials design studies. The included studies were analyzed in PICO(patients, intervention, comparison, outcomes). Results : As a result of analysing the subjects of the included studies, subjects diagnosed with adult ADHD or classified as high-risk group in Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale test, the number of subjects was 97, and the average age was about 33 years old. Occupational therapy intervention methods for adult ADHD include Tailored Intervention, Computerized Cognitive Training, and Cognitive-Functional Intervention. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale was the most used to check the symptoms of ADHD, and the COPM was used the most to measure the effects of occupational therapy interventions. The dependent variables of occupational therapy intervention were occupational performance, quality of life, executive function (behavioral regulation, metacognition), self-regulation function, stress management, and sustained attention. The effect of the intervention was statistically significant in 78.5% of the total. Conclusion : It is expected that the results of this study can be used as basic data for evidence-based practice for occupational therapists to apply adult ADHD interventions. In the field of occupational therapy in Korea, research on various interventions that can improve the occupational performance of adults ADHD should be conducted.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-25
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• 2022

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of manual therapy for knee meniscus injuries. Methods We searched seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CAJ, Wanfang, RISS, ScienceON, and OASIS) to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using the keywords "manual therapy OR chuna OR tuina" and "meniscus injury." Results Eleven RCTs were selected based on the inclusion criteria, and all studies were conducted in China. Five studies were meta-analyzed. The systematic review revealed a positive effect of manual therapy for knee meniscus injury. Low risk of selection, attrition, and reporting bias were demonstrated in all studies. Ten studies had a high risk of performance bias. Conclusions The systematic review reported favorable results using manual therapy for knee meniscus injury. However, this study has several limitations because of the high risk of bias. Further clinical studies and reviews with higher levels of evidence are warranted.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2022

Objectives This report aimed to investigate the possibility of correcting facial asymmetry using cervical Chuna manipulation treatment and functional cerebrospinal technique and introduce meaningful additional improvement of systemic symptoms of non-surgical Korean medicine treatments through three case studies. Methods Three patients with facial asymmetry were treated using Korean medicine treatments. The effects of the treatments were all measured using photographs, lateral cephalograms, and whole-body radiogram and Likert scale. Results After Korean medicine treatment, there were significant correction effects of asymmetry in photography, cephalography, and whole-body radiogram and meaningful score of Likert scale. Conclusions This study suggested that Korean medicine treatments may be effective in facial asymmetry. Improving muscular asymmetry, including soft tissue asymmetry and functional asymmetry, has meaningful effects on maintaining an overall balance of the body. Facial asymmetry should be treated by making an alignment of the whole body and there should be further well-designed, randomized, and placebo-controlled trials to verify these results.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Samryungbaekchul-san on childhood anorexia. Methods We searched 11 English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese databases for studies published up to May 30, 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of Samryungbaekchul-san on childhood anorexia were included. In the meta-analysis, relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were indicated as dichotomous variables, and mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% CIs were indicated as continuous variables. Results We included 12 RCTs with 1345 participants. The Samryungbaekchul-san treatment group had a significantly higher total effective rate (TER) than that of the western medicine control group (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.64, I² = 0%). The combined Samryungbaekchul-san and western medicine treatment group had significantly higher TER (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.40, I² = 0%) and levels of neuropeptide Y (SMD 0.93, 95% CI 0.47-1.39, I² = 70%) and ghrelin (SMD 1.45, 95% CI 1.14-1.76, I² = 0%) than those of the western medicine alone group. Additionally, leptin levels were significantly lower in the combined treatment group (SMD -1.19, 95% CI -1.88 to -0.51, I² = 86%) compared with the western medicine alone group, although statistical heterogeneity was substantial. Conclusions Samryungbaekchul-san may be effective for childhood anorexia. However, owing to limitations such as high clinical heterogeneity between the studies, unclear risks of biases, and insufficient reports of adverse events and follow-ups, well-designed RCTs with a low risk of bias are needed in the future.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.301-316
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of heat stimuli (e.g., fire needling, warm needling) in acupuncture for acute gout. Methods: Four international online databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched to identify randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) that used fire needling and warm needling for acute gout. The methodological quality of the RCTs was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool. Thirteen RCTs (840 patients) were included and analyzed. Three evaluation tools (total effective rate, uric acid level, and pain score) were mainly used. Comparisons were made between Western medicine (WM) and i) fire needling or warm needling treatment alone, ii) fire needling and bloodletting combination treatment, iii) combination of fire needling, bloodletting, and herbal medicine, iv) warm needling (concurrently). Heat stimuli in acupuncture alone or in combination treatment were more effective in terms of the total efficacy rates, uric acid levels, and pain scores than WM alone. Results: In all the evaluation tools, the treatment effects in the fire needling alone or warm needling alone treatment group and the fire needling and bloodletting combination intervention group were significantly better than those in the WM control group. The warm needling and WM combination intervention groups also experienced significantly better treatment effects in terms of total efficacy rates and uric acid levels. Only the pain scores in the fire needling, bloodletting, and herbal medicine combination groups demonstrated significant improvement. Only four studies mentioned adverse reactions: one reported loss of appetite; three studies reported none. According to the Cochrane RoB tool, most studies showed either high or uncertain RoB. Conclusion: Heat stimuli during acupuncture could be effective for acute gout. However, as the included studies were regionally biased, more high-quality studies are needed to confirm the level of evidence.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.20-35
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to review clinical studies and investigate the efficacy and safety of oriental medicine on memory in menopausal women. Methods: 'menopause', 'memory', 'oriental medicine' were searched on 4 online databases (Cochrane Library, Pubmed, CNKI, OASIS). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated menopausal memory with oriental medicine treatment were included. The methodological quality of each RCT was assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: 8 RCTs were selected among 1067 articles. The overall risk of bias was evaluated as uncertain. 5 studies showed that oriental medicine alone was significant effective, but 1 long-term study with the same oriental medicine did not sustain the effect, and 2 studied were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Oriental medicine can be an effective option for improving memory in menopausal women. but considering the small number and quality of studies, inconsistent and insufficient evidence, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.19-32
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• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to systematically review the degree of pain and function improvement in acupuncture treatment for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from Medline/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, WanFang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Citation Information by NII (CiNII), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceON, KoreaMed, and Korean Medical Database (KMbase). The methodological quality of selected RCTs' were evaluated according to Cochrane RoB2 tool. Results Total of 158 studies were identified and 7 RCTs were selected for systematic review. Frequently used evaluation method were visual analogue scale and Kujala scores. All studies showed significant effect on pain reduction and knee function between before and after treatment, but showed partial significance between the intervention and control group. Conclusions Research showed that acupuncture treatment is an effective treatment for improving the pain and function of PFPS, but it is difficult to conclude that it has a significant effect compared to other treatments. Selected studies included subjective evaluation indicators and the total of selected studies were small, so the interpretation of the results is limited. Also most of the included studies are evaluated to have some concerns of bias. Therefore, subsequent research should continously be done in more objective and systematic method.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of healthy lifestyle interventions (HLSIs) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS). Methods: Major databases were searched for English-language original articles published between January 1, 2000 and May 2, 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs were included. Quality was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Nineteen studies were included. Significant effects on HR-QoL were found for interventions using a multi-modal approach (exercise and education) (d=-0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.84 to -0.07, p=.02), lasting not less than 6 months (d=-0.72; 95% CI=-1.15 to -0.29, p=.0010), and using a group approach (d=-0.46; 95% CI=-0.85 to -0.06, p=.02). Self-efficacy showed significant effects when HLSIs provided health education only (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18; p=.003), lasted for less than 6 months (d=-0.40; 95% CI=-0.69 to -0.11, p=.006), and were conducted individually (d=-0.55; 95% CI=-0.92 to -0.18, p=.003). The physical outcomes (physical activity, fatigue, exercise capacity-VO₂, exercise capacity-upper body, body mass index) revealed no statistical significance. Conclusion: Areas of HLSIs for CACS requiring further study were identified, and needs and directions of research for holistic health management were suggested.