• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2010

The medical and healthy paradigm is changing by various reasons such as improving of life quality, the limit of western medicine, demographic changes and so on. And the demand, interest and market size of traditional medicine(TM) and complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) are increasing continuously and there is a good traditional medicine called TKM(Traditional Korean Medicine) in Korea. TKM have differentiated characteristics like nature-friendly, systematic, preventive and personalized medicine from western medicine. TKM with these characteristics have possibility to increase national competitiveness and contribute to growth of economy. At this time, it is necessary to select key area of TKM R&D to increase competitiveness of TKM and to create new growth engine. In this paper, we suggest key area of TKM R&D through SWOT analysis, the analysis of world traditional medicine and expert's counsel. As a result, 3 key area and 10 specific fields of TKM R&D was selected, which they are 'the standardization for TKM technology and technique', 'the development of generic technology based on TKM' and 'the establishment of infrastructure for TKM information and material'. This study may contribute to make plan for TKM research and policy such as TKM middle and long term plan and TKM promotion plan.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1068-1076
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• 2010

This study was to establish and evaluate international educational program for foreign traditional medicine students with traditional Korean medicine in School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University, and discussed prerequisite requirements for international educational program. The Introduction to Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) was constructed with Korea and TKM, Understanding TKM, Future of TKM, Clinical Skills (lecture and practice), Clinical practice (observation), Field trip, and others. The overall assessment was concluded as excellent (91.7%). The prerequisite requirements for planning and operating educational program, and key points for the success of international program were discussed. And the necessity of Center for International Educational of Traditional Medicine was described. This study can be used as a reference manual for globalization of TKM education and proposal for making policy on TKM.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.264-272
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was carried out to measure perceptions about Traditional Korean Medicine hospitals and provide data for improvement of TKM hospital management. Methods : We surveyed the general population from 1st to 17th December, 2008, and patients visiting a TKM hospital from 1st June to 9th December, 2008. Results : Result as follows. 1. The response ratio for the generally preferred medical institution was in the order of western medical clinic, pharmacy, general hospital, TKM clinic, TKM hospital. 2. The response ratio for the preferred medical institution for herbal medicine treatment was in the order of TKM clinic, herbal medicine store, TKM hospital, pharmacy. The preferred medical institution for acupuncture treatment was in the order of TKM clinic, TKM hospital, acupuncture clinic, public health center. 3. The most common response to reason for receiving traditional Korean medical care was "traditional Korean medical care is more effective than western medical care." 4. The proportion of first treatment and second treatment of patients visiting at TKM hospital was about 1:1. 5. 72.3% of patients had been to another medical institution. 6. The response ratio for the first visited medical institution for the same disease was in the order of general hospital, western medical hospital, western medical clinic, TKM clinic. 7. The response ratio for the concern about TKM treatment was in the order of expensive charge for TKM treatment, uncertainty of TKM treatment effect. Conclusions : Through this research, we can understand the perception about TKM hospital treatment of the general population and patients visiting TKM hospitals.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to facilitate mutual comprehension between Western and Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) by analyzing recognition of medical school students on traditional medical prescription and treatment such as herbal medicines and acupuncture. Methods : We conducted a survey targeting medical school students of four medical schools from April through May 2009, and analyzed 208 cases responded. Results : Survey results revealed that medical school students took knowledge of traditional medicine from TV programs and on the Web in general. They thought they had considerable traditional medical knowledge but did not almost understand for professional contents. Regardless of some positive recognition for traditional herbal medicine, negative perspectives were more common and its safety and efficacy on the drug reference were considered as a major reason. On the other hand, recognition on acupuncture was comparatively positive. Scientific data for both herbal medicine and acupuncture are lacking in reality but the attitude only for acupuncture was different. Of the survey respondents, 57.8% had negative attitude against diagnostic methods of TKM and 59.1% opposed to the usage of modern medical equipments by TKM doctors. With regard to the future position of TKM, they tacitly approved that TKM would be absorbed into the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and importance of TKM objectification, followed by Government's support. Conclusions : Medical school students neither affirm nor deny TKM as a whole but the state of awareness for each item was similar to the physician. In terms of TKM its internal and external innovation would be required to continuously establish objectification of TKM prescription and scientific research on treatment technology.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.758-769
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• 2010

This is a preliminary study for examining the identity issue of the current Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). In order to examine the identity issue, it is necessary to understand "what" current TKM is. The current TKM has been formed in the complicated historical settings and the newly formed academic geography of modern times, completely different from those of the traditional era. This paper took diachronic and synchronic approaches in order to understand the current TKM. In the process of modernization and scientization of the TKM-which had begun in the early twentieth century-the western medical knowledge merged into the TKM. Also, as the College education of the TKM began after the Liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, the TKM scholars accepted the western medical department system to develop the TKM into professional knowledge. Meanwhile, since the late 1970s, the TKM has been influenced by the modern Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and the TCM knowledge also merged into the TKM. And recently, the research methodology of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and the clinical research technique of the western medicine-like Evidence based Medicine (EBM)-are affecting the scientization and clinical study of the TKM. The current TKM has been formed as a result of the hybridization of these different knowledges. These changes in the TKM were inevitable for the survival of it in the fast changing world. But these changes brought with them problems. Among those, the identity issue is the most important and crucial.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.773-777
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• 2012

Since 2010, in general hospital, they can install western medical post, traditional Korean medical post, and dental post. So the environment is made for the Cooperative medical system between traditional Korean medicine(TKM) and western medicine(WM) to be performed. So we found out about how doctors think about TKM and what is needed for TKM & WM cooperative system to work well. When we found out about how recognition changed about TKM during their medical school years and after they became doctors, positive answer increased from 25.6% to 30%, negative answer decreased from 41.9% to 32.0%, severely negative increased from 9.3% to 16%. They changed to positive about TKM after they became doctors. But severely negative also increased. The element they lose faith in TKM is their doubt about the scientific aspects of TKM. On the other hand, severely negative recognition was also raised. 73.8% of respondents thought the most effective treatment of TKM was for myalgia. 33.3% of them answered the chance to encounter TKM was the mass media, indicating its limitation. 60.5% of them considered major reason for negative evaluation of TKM is its non-scientific aspects and only 30.9% said TKM treatment could be recommended to patients at the hospital. Doctors in WM for recognition on TKM is mostly negative and major reason is its non-scientific aspects. As the solution to this problem, scientification of TKM is suggested through research projects. These connections must be resolved to smoothly work interdisciplinary system of TKM and WM.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2018

Background: Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) is widely used to treat children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea; however, studies investigating factors that influence the use of TKM are scarce. Thus, we investigated the clinical factors that might influence the use of TKM. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional, multicenter survey was performed from August 2014 to May 2016. The history of TKM use, type and severity of CP, current treatment characteristics, presence of accompanying disabilities or other health problems not directly related to CP, and monthly cost for the treatment of CP were surveyed. Results: In total, 182 children were recruited, and 78 children (42.9%) had used TKM. Among these 78 children, 50 (64.1% of the TKM-use group) had used both acupuncture and herbal medication, 15 (19.2%) had used acupuncture only, and 13 (16.7%) had used herbal medication only. Children with non-typical CP, accompanying disabilities and general health problems tended to use TKM. The monthly cost of treatment for CP was significantly higher in the TKM-use group than that in the no-TKM-use group, suggesting that economically disadvantaged children may have difficulty in accessing TKM. Dietary supplements, conventional pharmacological treatments, and rehabilitation therapies did not affect TKM use. Conclusion: Children with non-typical symptoms or those with poor overall health status are likely to use TKM. Additionally, TKM use leads to increased treatment costs. Studies investigating the motivation for starting or ceasing TKM therapy, socioeconomic factors and the attitude of parents towards complementary and alternative medicine should be performed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Objectives : There is a correlation between student's satisfaction of education and their occupation satisfaction. Therefore, Korean medical school students' satisfaction toward their education is important for their medical ability in Traditional Korean Medicine(TKM). The purpose of this study is to investigate TKM school students' satisfaction of education and their perceptions of TKM level. Methods : The questionnaire used in this study is consisted of questions about students' satisfaction and their perception toward issues about TKM. 168 cases were collected, and I analyzed 164 cases. Results : 43.9% of students think that the ratio of western medical courses to TKM courses in TKM school's curriculum is 'Proper'. 54.3% of students do not satisfy their curriculum. But, 51.2% of students would recommend high school students for entrance to TKM school. 77.9% of students think 'TKM doctor should use modern medical device'. 92.7% and 61.9% of students think 'Needed' toward 'Cooperation of western medicine and Korean medicine', and 'Medical unification' each. There are correlations ; (1)'recognition toward ratio of curriculum', (2)'satisfaction of curriculum', (3)'degree of recommendation to enter the TKM School', (4)'relation between TKM and Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) or Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM)'. Conclusions : Student's satisfaction of education is not quite high than satisfaction of TKM study itself. Most of respondents agreed usage of medical devices. The more they thought that they had curriculum for western medicine, the lesser they thought that medical unification was ont needed. Further studies are needed to assess satisfactions of students for their education with more accuracy results.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.17-25
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted to explore the contemporary perception of traditional Korean medical doctors (TKMDs) on traditional Korean medicine (TKM) policies and issues. Methods: A questionnaire that included traditional medicine policy- and treatment-related issues was sent to 130 TKM medical centers and 4,300 TKM local clinical offices in Korea, and received responses from total 648 TKMDs in 122 TKM medical centers and 465 TKM local clinical offices. Results: Of the responding TKMDs, 40% believed that unification of Western and traditional medicines would benefit both modes of medical treatment, 67.6% were against allowing Chinese doctor certification to be effective in Korea through the Korea-China FTA (Free Trade Agreement), and 57.8% believed that the number of TKMDs should be reduced. We also found that 46.1% of TKMDs believed that more lectures on Western medicine would be needed in schools of TKM. Moreover, 87.5% of respondents regarded medical knowledge as necessary for treatment, and 49.4% believed National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine (NCCAOM) would be not necessary. TKMDs regarded governmental efforts as more vital than education in schools or individual efforts for enhancement of the traditional medical care market in Korea. To efficiently provide the advantages of complementary CAM, such as cost and safety, detailed research is required when policy is made. Conclusions: The TKM industry must implement policies how the relationship with Western medicine can be better defined under the current dual medical system. On the issue of human resources, more research will be needed on the current policy, which serves to maintain the status quo by blocking the importation of Chinese practitioners and by reducing the number of new practitioners.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 2015

Objective : This study aims to figure out what the medical students' attitudes toward traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are and how TKM education affects them. Method : We performed content analysis on 283 assignments submitted by senior students who took a 'TKM and complementary alternative medicine (CAM)' course in a medical school in 2010 and 2011. The assignment was to write an report after reviewing a research article about 'TKM or CAM' or interviewing a person engaging in a related field. Results : 193(68.2%) students chose a article review and 90(31.8%) students chose an interview. Significantly more students chose TKM topic in interview group than in article review group(p=0.021). Most frequent questions in interview are as follows; 'comparison of TKM and western medicine'(15.7%), 'education in TKM school'(8.8%), and 'TKM and evidence based medicine'(8.8%). Among students who expressed their attitudes toward TKM, 52.4% of them showed positive attitudes before entering medical school, however, 54.6% of them showed negative attitudes in medical school years. Among students who indicated attitude change before and after the TKM course, 35.9% of them changed positively. Conclusion : TKM education might have positive effects on medical students' attitude toward TKM. It is necessary to expand TKM education and introduce effective education stategy in order to alleviate medical students' misunderstanding and prejudice against TKM.