• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.2115-2118
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• 2016

Background: The study aimed to assess complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and their associated factors with breast cancer patients in Bandung, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: In total, 330 breast cancer patients were administered questionnaires on their CAM use and CAM predictive factors including socio-demographic parameters, clinical data and quality of life, trust in physicians, trust in hospitals, satisfaction and informational needs. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate log regreesion analysis. Results: Overall 33.3% of patients reported use of CAM. Lower income, lower education, presence of metastasis, prolonged diagnosis, less trust in physician were found to be highly associated with CAM use. Conclusions: CAM use by breast cancer patients can be interpreted as an attempt to explore all possible options, an expression of an active coping style, or expression of unmet needs in the cancer care continuum. Physicians need to openly discuss the use of CAM with their patients and identify whether they have other unmet supportive needs.

• 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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used among degenerative arthritis patients in Korea. Method: This study used a descriptive survey method. Study subjects of the study were 278 degenerative arthritics selected from hospitals located in Kyungpook province and Daegu city. Data were collected between February 15, 2007 and March 31, 2007. Results: 62.6% of degenerative arthritics had used CAM. Manipulative Methods has shown to be one of the most effective methods on CAM. The utilization of CAM may be interpreted mainly due to the desperate need find therapeutics of their disease by all possible means (57.5%). Major factors that affect the decision of the patient include family, relatives, friends(42%), and the other patients who were in the similar circumstance (32.8%). Effectiveness of CAM has shown the following result "for complete cure of symptoms(77.0%), for health promotion (42.0%) and for psychological stabilization (29.9%)". 43.7% of the patients answered that they stopped of using CAM because of non-effectiveness. Conclusion: This study found that CAM among degenerative arthritic patients was a popular alternative method. Therefore, some nursing-oriented intervention method is needed together with a systematic guidelines of CAM usage is required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.22-31
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the complementary and substitute relationships between the use of Korean medicine (KM) and that of Western medicine (WM) in the treatment of musculoskeletal disease. Methods: We analyzed the 2009 Korea Health Panel dataset. General characteristics and the medical utilization of respondents were analyzed descriptively. Logistic regression, negative binominal regression, and Tobit regression analysis were used to identify the relationships between the use of KM and the use, visit frequency, and expenses of WM, respectively. Results: In the treatment of musculoskeletal disease, KM use and non-herbal treatments with Korean medicine significantly reduced WM use. Herb medication use significantly increased WM visit frequency. There were no significant relationships between KM use and WM expenses. Conclusions: There are substitute relationships between WM use and KM use, especially non-herbal treatments in KM. Therefore we need to develop the clinical protocols of KM and WM treatments in the treatment of musculoskeletal disease for proper distribution medical resources.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

It is difficult to combine oriental and western medicine. Each medicine has a different academic background, perspective on the world, and studying methodology. The claim that two paradigms can not be combined is not obtained from an actual verification, but this means it is so hard to combine two medicines having different backgrounds. The amalgamation of oriental and western medicine should be phased in on the basis of the continuous reciprocal understanding and commitment. First, the strength and weakness of each medicine over the treatment and research are required to be identified. Then, a few complementary areas can be chosen enabling a trial of fusion on a small scale. A cycle of problem solving and a new research can be set by analyzing research results obtained through the implementation over a period of time. In other words, the researchers of oriental and western medicine should repeat a continuous and gradual complementary research process by identifying issues to be improved and complemented through a consensus. Once the methodology obtained through the process of problem solving and proficient implementation is established in a stable condition, a method to widen the fusion area by expanding the operating area and implementation method can be chosen. However, the integral system of oriental medicine shouldn't be substituted by mechanical idea or reductionism. What should be done primarily for oriental medicine is to objectify things through quantification. In particular, the oriental treatment should accept the microscopic diagnosis to determine the structure and observe the biochemical change.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.167-171
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• 2005

Sho-Seiryu-To is known to be effective against allergic diseases, but its effect on skin itching has not been reported. We observed the effect of Sho-Seiryu-To on three elderly patients who, desoite using an anti-allergic drug, has severe chronic skin itching with peripheral eosinophilia. All three patients decreased their peripheral eosinophilia and improved their skin condition within eight weeks. We conclude that Sho-Seiryu-To could be capable of treating elderly patients with chronic skin itching and peripheral eosinophilia.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.16.1-16.3
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• 2015

Evidence based medicine involves using both the individual clinician's expertise and the current best available external clinical evidence from systematic research in deciding on the appropriate care for individual patients. The current approach to evidence based practice in healthcare adds a third component which is patient values. Evidence based practice is thus a triad, in which the practitioner's expertise, research evidence and the patient's values are all given consideration. The balance to be struck between them depends on the individual case. The literature indicates that complementary medicine practitioners are moving away from traditional knowledge and towards the use of evidence based practice in their clinical discussions. In the context of the daily practice of complementary medicine practitioners and their continuing development of their knowledge base of evidence based practice, this short review discusses the good and bad of a review journal article.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2008

Objective : We designed this study to analyse the anti-cancer effects of materials of green vegetable juice by using the natural standard methodology and apply the results to new studying and evaluating methods. Methods : We investigated the main stream of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the methodology of natural standard, guideline in CAM, and concrete 15 green vegetable juice in cancer therapy. Results : There are 15 graded materials of green vegetable juice that associated with cancer in natural standard contents. Most of them get grade C, unclear or conflicting scientific evidence. Conclusion : Natural Standard aims to provide high-quality, reliable information about CAM therapies to clinicians, patients, and healthcare institutions. We have to acquire more reliable evidence in future.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.23.1-23.6
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• 2015

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice is still popular among the Malaysian population nowadays although western or allopathic medicine is the first line of treatment. Dissatisfaction with health services and therapeutic effects of western medicine or preference for holistic, integrative approach in treatment are common reasons favouring the increasing popularity of CAM practices. The efforts toward integration of CAM and western medicine in Malaysia were rather slow and in a piece-meal fashion. Strategic efforts in strengthening government and self-regulation among practitioners, formalizing education, promoting research, and cultivating national and international networks are necessary to achieve an integrative system. Regulations to restrict the practice and sale of CAM products to licensed practitioners, strict and mandatory registration of the practitioners, inclusion of CAM in essential medicines list, and pricing regulations must be comprehensively discussed. Development of curriculum, offers of scholarship and incentives, promotion of courses and seminars for professionals is necessary to increase the numbers of CAM experts. Malaysia should follow the efforts of other countries on the production and documentation of local CAM data, allocation of funding, and establishment of research centres to assess the efficacy of potentially useful local products. Local and international collaboration in research and continuous education is important for exchange of knowledge and skills. In conclusion more coordinated efforts in regulation of CAM practice and products, formalizing CAM training and education would significantly move the process forward and allow the public to enjoy more health benefits from CAM practice in Malaysia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.225-230
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine patient characteristics and other factors associated with discontinuation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in Korea. Methods: A national, multicenter, cross-sectional survey of cancer patients was performed in which 674 of 2,661 patients were analyzed for their use of CAM after cancer diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to CAM discontinuation. Results: Among the surveyed cancer patients, 25.3% (674 of 2,661) had used CAM, whereas 38.3% (258 of 674) of those with CAM experience had discontinued CAM therapy. The most frequently used form of CAM was herbs (43.5%). The major reasons for the discontinuation of CAM included absence of effects (23.9%), financial burden (22.9%), and physician opposition (13.7%). Other factors associated with the discontinuation of CAM included metastatic cancer (OR = 2.06), a long duration of cancer treatment (OR = 3.34), dissatisfaction (OR = 4.34), and side effects (OR = 4.23) of CAM therapy. Conclusions: For cancer patients to correctly employ CAM therapy, increase their satisfaction, and reduce their side effects, efforts should be made to analyze the cost effectiveness of CAM, and valid information must be provided to physicians and cancer patients.