• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3125-3130
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is a common cancer affecting women in Malaysia and the use of complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) has been associated with delays in getting treatment. The aim of the study was to explore the use of CAM and the influencing factors in the Northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on a convenience sample of 100 Malaysian breast cancer survivors. Findings: The reported use of CAM among the breast cancer survivors was lower than in other studies but the types of CAM used had a similar pattern with nutrition supplements/vitamins being the most common. The factors that positively influenced the use of complimentary/traditional therapy were income and getting information from television or radio. Survivors with access to internet/blogs appear to have lower odds of using complimentary/traditional therapy compared to the respondents who reported no such access. Conclusions: Information transmitted via television and radio appears to have a positive influence on CAM use by breast cancer patients compared to other information sources and it is important to ensure that such information is accurate and impartial.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2018

Background: Breast cancer is a treatable disease, but some women reject conventional treatment in favor of unproven "alternative therapies," which may have serious implications for their survival. Therefore, a process is needed to lead them to more appropriate treatment choices. Case presentation: Here, we present the case of a 51-year-old Korean female diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (stage IIB, T2N1M0) in Nov. 2015. She refused a standard surgical resection together with chemotherapy and opted instead for moxibustion by nonmedical personnel. Consequently, her preference for alternative therapy without conventional treatment exacerbated her disease. Just a little over a year later, integrative cancer treatment, including chemotherapy based on histological founding, and complementary treatment, comprised of acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine, were administered for 5 months. Finally, she successfully underwent modified radical mastectomy showing a pathological complete response. She received only adjuvant chemotherapy without any alternative medicine afterwards, and she maintained a good status without recurrence. Conclusion: In the case of breast cancer patients who are resistant to surgery and chemotherapy, integrative therapy considering adverse effects from conventional treatment should be preferred to bitter opposition to alternative medicine.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.184-193
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of the user of complementary alternative therapies(CAT) and to identify the important predictive factors associated with them. Method: This study included 142 patients attending outpatient rheumatology clinics of D Hospital in Busan between July and August in 2001. The multiple logistic regression model was developed to estimate the likelihood of user or nonuser of CAT. Result: The duration of illness and chance score of health locus of control were found to be significant factors through the estimated coefficients of using CAT. Duration of illness is longer and chance score of health locus of control is higher in patients who have used CAT in past than that of nonuser. When the model performance was evaluated by comparing the observed outcome with predicted outcome, the model correctly identified 95% of user of CAT and 31% of nonuser. Conclusion: In this survey, duration of illness and chance score of health locus of control are found to be significant factors in predicting utilization of CAT. Nurses who care for rheumatoid arthritis patients should take consideration into health locus of control in planning health education programs.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was performed to develop a scale for evaluation of attitudes toward complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) and to investigate nurses' attitudes toward CAT. Method: The subjects were 263 nurses working at a university hospital in Seoul and Inchon. The personally designed questionnaire was tested for its reliability and validity. Nurses' attitudes to CAT were evaluated using the questionnaire. Results: Cronbach's $\alpha$ coefficient was 0.7405. 23 items were selected by item analysis and 4 factors including application, therapeutic effect, social interest and communication about CAT were classified by factor analysis. The mean score of attitudes and its subcategories were high, especially that of communication was very high. Nurses had a positive response to CAT in several items; acceptance as nursing intervention, its therapeutic value, complement for conventional medicine, and open communication about CAT. Attitudes were different significantly according to education and number of working years. There were high relationships between attitudes and its subcategories except communication. Conclusion: The Scale of attitudes toward CAT was proven to be reliable and valid. Positive nurses' attitudes toward CAT will help the patients be provided with a proper and safe way to take CAT.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of hypertension-related nursing intervention programs and their effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Methods: Fifteen studies were selected from four databases (Korean studies, Riss4U, RICHIS, and JKAN) published as of 2009. They were analyzed by meta-analysis method. The selected studies contained a control group with pre-test and post-test design, measured blood pressure as a dependent variable, and used a reported statistical value for blood pressure to measure the size of effects. Results: The hypertension-related nursing intervention programs were relatively effective in lowering both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, although they were more efficient to decrease diastolic pressure. Among the hypertension-related intervention programs, complementary and alternative therapies were more effective in lowering blood pressure compared to lifestyle change intervention. Conclusions: To acquire substantial data of intervention effects, and complementary and alternative therapy, subjects in pre-hypertensive stage, and elderly people, better industrial and scholastic research methods need to be developed for future research. Further studies are needed to establish complementary and alternative therapies. Studies with different group of participants and studies using effective research design are in need as well.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to provide a basic resource for developing nursing interventions and educational programs for complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) by examining nursing students' perception, experience, and attitudes toward CAT. Methods: Data were collected targeting 230 nursing students from October 20 to November 10, 2014, and analyzed by using descriptive statistics, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, and ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 18.0. Results: Results showed that CAT were performed by CAT specialists in combination with hospital treatments for individuals suffering from chronic pain and musculoskeletal diseases. Nursing students obtained information on and experience of CAT through the Internet. CAT were used for psychological and mental stability as a supplementary treatment. The majority of the participants used Yoga followed by massage as a sub-therapy of the program. They said that openness of medical staff and active communication are important for having a positive attitudes toward CAT. There are differences in attitudes toward CAT according to gender, student levels, and previous experience on CAT. Conclusion: It is crucial for nursing students to have right perception, experience, and attitudes toward CAT in order to apply CAT to the clinical field.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: The data were collected from 21 terminal cancer patients and families through the in-depth interview. Data analysis were performed by the Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1976). Results: The reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminal cancer patients and families was then categorized with 4 elements; Awareness of limitations in contemporary medical treatments, Belief in effectiveness of the CAM, Satisfaction with emotional needs of family members, and Disbelief due to negative attitudes of physicians. The result indicated the following 9 themes expectation for a complete cure, uncertainty in hospital treatments, complementary method for management of side effect of chemotherapy, alleviation of symptoms and life-sustaining, fear for side effects of cancer treatments, belief in earned information, referrals by other, responsibility of family, and dissatisfaction with negatine attitudes of physicians. Conclusion: Physicians should provide a sufficient explanation and try to effectively communicate with clients about hospice and palliative service and the CAM. We strongly realized that concerns about patients' best care and satisfactions with family's needs should be understood.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.144-154
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• 2007

Purpose: This descriptive study was conducted to identify the use of complementary and alternative therapies, and the perception and attitudes toward CAT in Korean adults. Methods: The 1,010 study subjects were recruited from ten regions in South Korea. Data were collected from July to September, 2004. Results: The 43.2% of the sample(n=436) had an experience of using CAT. The subjects using CAT was more likely to have high score in the CAT perception compared to the subjects with no experience of CAT(p=.001). The primary source of information about CAT was mass media(59.7%). The 52.4% of the sample answered that CAT was supplementary and the 27.7% answered CAT was applicable to chronic pain or musculoskeletal disorders. Subjects(34.8%) pointed out that the greatest problem was no scientific informant in the use of CAT. The primary reason of using CAT was to maintain their health or to prevent disease(44.0%), and the 59.0% of the subjects responded that CAT was effective. Majority of subjects were satisfied with CAT(63.3%) and experienced no side effects of CAT(90.6%). Conclusion: This study suggests that professional counseling and education for CAT is needed for Korean public as well as the research approach to test the effects of CAT.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.83-92
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review systemically journals on the studies for complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of endometriosis. Methods: Through medical websites, foreign clinical literatures about complementary and alternative medicines of endometriosis were searched. The cite used was http://www.Pubmed.gov. And then they were divided into three groups. In vitro, in vivo, clinical studies. Results: 1. We researched 2 papers about in vitro. Both were used extract of herbal mixture. And they used CCL5, SE-1, COUP-TF, 17-$\beta$-HSD1, 17-$\beta$-HSD2 which were not commonly used in Korea. 2. We researched 8 papers about in vivo. Most of them used blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicine, just few used tonic medicine. And they used acupuncture which were not used in Korea. Most of Korean paper also used blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicine and rarely used tonic medicine. 3. We researched 19 papers about clinical studies. They had much more cases(average=60) than Korean paper. They were also used western medicine randomized sham-controlled trial. Conclusion: Afterward we need to study for comparing western medicine and herb medicine. And we concern about acupuncture therapy.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.72-84
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate prevalence and the frequency of using Korean medicine, Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM), and other parallel treatments in children and young adolescence with neurological diseases. Methods From April to July 2011, parents of the children and adolescents patients suffering from neurological disease completed questionnaires. Results 578 parents answered the questionnaires. 310 cases (53.5%) were using Parallel Treatments. Types of the Parallel Treatments being used are as follows. Rehabilitation 166 cases (27.4%), Speech Therapy 169 cases (27.9%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 109 cases (18.0%), Health supplement 72 cases (11.9%), Counselling, Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 45 cases (7.4%), Herbal Medicine 24 cases (4.0%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 13 cases (2.1%), Neurofeedback Therapy 1 case (0.2%), Etc 7 cases (1.2%). 257 cases (44.5%) have used Parallel Treatment before. Parallel Treatments being used in the past are as follows. Herbal Medicine 146 cases (35.4%), Acupuncture, Moxibustion 64 cases (15.5%), Education (Art, Music, Play) 54 cases (13.1%), Rehabilitation 47 cases (11.4%), Speech Therapy 46 cases (11.1%), Health supplement 30 cases (7.3%), Counselling? Cognitive & Behavioral Therapy 15 cases (3.6%), Neurofeedback Therapy 4 case (1.0%), Chuna, Manual Massage 2 case (0.5%), Etc 5 cases (1.2%). Conclusions Although patients were on both western medicine and Korean medicine, CAM, and other parallel treatment, the ratio of Korean medicine treatment was not as high as expected. Further studies are required to develop the model of integrative medicine.