• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2021

Objectives: Our study aimed to determine the attitudes of second- and final-year medical students and doctors (teaching faculty) of modern medicine towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) using the Complementary, Alternative, and Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire (CAIMAQ). Methods: We invited 248 second-year medical students, 245 final-year medical students, and 48 faculty members to participate in the study. The CAIMAQ consists of 30 items, divided into five categories assessing various aspects of CAM, and scored using a 7-point Likert scale. The median scores obtained were compared between groups; a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 138 medical students and faculty responded and participated in the study, of which, 24 (17.4%) were faculty, 40 (29%) were final-year medical students and 74 (53.6%) were second-year medical students. The overall attitude towards the various CAM concepts and therapies was positive. In general, the faculty were significantly less likely to consider referring patients for CAIM treatments, integrating them with conventional medicine, referring patients to alternative healthcare providers, considering the use of subtle energy fields as an ethical form of treatment, or considering CAIM treatments to be less invasive and harmful compared with conventional medicine. There was no significant difference in the attitudes of second- and final-year students. Conclusion: The attitude of medical students and doctors towards CAM is positive, and although the medical faculty have reservations in recommending specific types of CAM therapies or integrating them with conventional care, building evidence for supporting CAM therapies in specific diseases is likely to increase its uptake among health care professionals.

• 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.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.226-226
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• 2009

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2008

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease burden of cancer, to investigate how many cancer patients use CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) therapies with or without conventional medicine, to know reasons for use of cancer CAM therapies, and finally to discuss viewpoints on treating cancer with traditional Korean medicine (TKM). Method: In order to know the disease burden of cancer, the prevalence and mortality of cancer patients of Korean, American, and WHO reports were investigated, and the usage of cancer CAM therapies was investigated in several reports. The viewpoints about cancer treatment with TKM were suggested with the characteristics of TKM. Results: One hundred thousand Korean people were diagnosed [in time period] as new cancer patients, and cancer patients are gradually increasing every year. Cancer is a leading cause of deaths in Korea and worldwide. From 21% to 63% of Korean cancer patients, 80% of American cancer patients, and 35.9% of European cancer patients used CAM therapies, and the most common therapy was an herbal therapy. Conclusions: TKM has been used to treat cancer since initial use of acupuncture and herbs with basic viewpoints on human health and disease. First, TKM regards occurrence of cancer as an environmental problem of the whole human being. Second, the pathologic concept centered on antipathogenic Qi (Zheong Qi) can reinforce the functioning of the patient's own natural vitality to overcome cancer. Third, TKM deals with cancer patients through mind, body, and spirit based on the monoism of mind and body.

• 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.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1609-1615
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• 2016

Breast cancer is one of among all cancers with increased incidence, high mortality rate, and high economic and social costs. The the most common type of cancer among females worldwide, breast cancer is actually the uncontrolled proliferation of cells which attain malignancy. Recently it has shown that breast cancer contributes 11% among all types of cancer diagnosed globally on an annual basis and it is one of the leading causes of death among women. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) is a receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 normally involved in the proliferation and division of breast cells. In some abnormal cases the HER2 gene does not work correctly and makes too many copies of itself. HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancers constitute an aggressive type of breast cancer and tend to grow faster and are more likely to spread. However, therapies that specifically target HER2, such as Herceptin$^{(R)}$ (traztuzumab), are very effective. HER2 targeted therapies, has significantly improved the therapeutic outcome for patients with HER2 positive breast cancer.

• 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.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze nursing research trends on the complementary and alternative therapies (CAT) for the cancer patients in Korea. Method: Thirty eight articles published in 17 nursing-related journal from 1987 to 2008 were analyzed. Results: Nursing Researches on CAT for the cancer patients have increased since 2000. Among the 38 studies, 34 studies used Quasi-experimental design and 13 studies (33%) were conducted for the breast cancer patients. Mind-body therapy (53%), manual healing therapy (42%), and pharmacologic and biological therapy (5%) were the often used CAT types. Nausea, vomiting, vital signs, immune cell, pain, and fatigue were measured as physiologic outcome variables; anxiety, depression, and hope as psychological outcome variables; and quality of life as social outcome variables. Conclusion: More CAM studies are needed targeting the patients with various cancer types and home-based cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.27-40
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• 2003

Objective： To determine second, third and fourth-year medical students' opinions and knowledge related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a school with no requirement or elective course on the subject. Study Design： A questionnaire was offered to second, third and fourth-year medical students of the Medical College of Kosin University from August 7th, through August 30th, 2003. Results： Most students had been exposed to CAM therapies, knew that the majority of the South Korean public was using CAM, believed that some CAM interventions were useful, and did not believe CAM therapies were a threat to public health. Only one fifth of the students(22.5％) disagreed that they had to have requirement or elective course on CAM in their curriculum. Most students had insufficient knowledge or understanding of the safety or lack of it for ten of the more common CAM modalities. Most respondents thought these interventions were useful, but would not refer a patient nor dissuade a patient from seeking out such interventions. Conclusion： Medical students in this school self-identified an interest about the clinical usefulness of ten CAM modalities, but did not have sufficient knowledge about the safety for ten of the more common CAM modalities. Including CAM topics in the medical school curriculum would better prepare physicians to respond to patient inquiries about CAM and thereby to fulfill their role as patient advocates.