• 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.

• Korean Journal of Hospice Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.15-21
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the perception of cancer in aspirants for hospice volunteer. Methods: Aspirants for hospice volunteer were surveyed by questionnaire before education of hospice program in September 2005 at Pyongan Hospice Center of Sam Anyang Hospital. The questionnaire was composed of total 28 items. Ten items were general characteristics and the remaining 18 items knowledge, attitude and practice of cancer and cancer pain. The data were analyzed by SPSS WIN 11.0 program using frequency, mean, percentage. Results: Eighty nine questionnaires were returned. There were 6 males and 83 females, and median age of aspirants was 46 years. Forty five aspirants(51%) had a cancer patient in th family or relatives and the others 44(49%) not. Forty eight(54%) had favorable attitude about modern clinical medicine for cancer treatment and the others 39(44%) unfavorable. Fifty eight(65%) had favorable attitude about complementary and alternative medicine for cancer treatment and the others 20(23%). In response to the question about 'How illness is a cancer', 25 aspirants(25%) responded to chronic disease, 42(47%) suffering incurable disease, the others 17(19%) death sentence, respectively. A number of aspirants had wrong knowledge and understanding of cancer, cancer pain and opioid analgesics. Seventy one percent aspirants feared cancer pain. Conclusion: The credibility to modern clinical medicine for cancer treatment was relatively low in aspirants for hospice volunteer compared with complementary and alternative medicine. They recognized a cancer as suffering incurable disease and death sentence than chronic disease. A number of aspirants had wrong knowledge of cancer, cancer pain and opioid analgesics. Therefore, further studies and trial will be warranted to evaluated the causes of these results and improve the credibility of modern clinical medicine for cancer treatment in general population.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.65.2-65.2
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• 2004

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1103-1108
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• 2009

Purpose: Recently, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been increasingly used in children. Studies have shown that 34% of adults and 11% of children use CAM in the USA and Canada. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and patterns of CAM use in elementary children in Korea. Methods:From July to August 2007, parents of elementary children completed a questionnaire survey at Gwang-ju. In all, 794 questionnaires were analyzed. Results:Of the 794 respondents, 278 answered that their pupils (35%) had experienced CAM. The following types of CAM therapy were used: herbal medicine, 62.5% dietary supplements, 31.2% vitamins, 30.2% and acupuncture, 11.1%. CAM therapies were used for the following diseases: nutritional deficiency, 33.3% atopic dermatitis, 31.3% arthralgia, 31.3% allergic rhinitis, 28.8% obesity, 26.3% and asthma. The following were the motives to use CAM: prevention of diseases (33.5%), dissatisfaction with modern medicine (21.2%), and complementary therapy to modern medicine (20.5%). People gained information about CAM through neighbors (65%) and mass media (21%). Moreover, 83 parents (30%) were satisfied with CAM because of its effectiveness. Conclusion:Many parents have advocated the use of CAM in their children. However, most of them used CAM without any prescription or adequate knowledge. Further studies are required to determine the efficacy of CAM.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Objectives: Many countries have been using Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for treating cancer and it has been given more weight than before. This study aimed to look into its current status and perspective way to suggest the way which Korean oriental medicine goes to. Methods: We searched internet web sites that are relative with CAM in oncology parts and made lists for this study. We downloaded the essays in the form of electronic files in that web sites and copied the originals consulting to each libraries and relative institution. Results: North America was processing the standardization of CAM based evidences and China was making their traditional medicine representative medicine of CAM. India was developing their traditional medicine because of their domestic need and its results were recognized by National Cancer Institute (NCI). CAM was regulated and studied legally in Europe. Japan was using mushroom for immune therapy clinically. Mexico had a large scale of medical valley in Tijuana area and made it international. Conclusions: The efforts to develop and study CAM for treating cancer are increasing in the world. We need to know the current status of CAM in the world, and make our way that Korean oriental medicine goes to.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of various treatment modalities including pharmacotherapy, educational-behavioral therapy, and complementary alternative treatment for children with mental retardation (MR) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Korea. Methods : The sample consisted of 50 parents who have children with MR (N=28) or ASD (N=22) : 38 boys, 12 girls ; mean age 14.06 (4.14) years old. A questionnaire was composed of the experienced modality, duration, cost, satisfaction, etc. Results : According to the results, 56.0%, 100.0%, and 36.0% of children with MR or ASD have experienced pharmacological treatment, educational-behavioral therapy and complementary alternative medicine (CAM), respectively. Children who experienced educational-behavioral therapy and CAM experienced 3.52 kinds of education-behavioral therapy and 2.78 kinds of CAM, respectively. Monthly cost of pharmacological treatment was lowest among three modality categories. Regarding treatment satisfaction by parental report, the lowest score was recorded for CAM. Conclusion : Parents who have a child with MR or ASD are trying many treatment modalities and feeling the burden of their treatment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2004

Objectives : To evaluate the cost and proportion of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in the total healthcare costs among the elderly in the last 6 months of life. Methods : The care-giving families of 301 persons older than 65 years, who died between July 1st and December 31st of 2001, and were also registered in Self-Employed Health Insurance Programs in Seoul, were interviewed. Results : The cost of CAM was 1.09 million Won, which as a proportion of the total healthcare cost was 38.1%. The elderly aged between 65 and 69 year-old, male, living with their spouse, Buddhist and having cancers had higher CAM costs in an ANOVA and simple regression analysis. After controlling of various factors, age was the only significant factor associated with the cost of CAM. The elderly above 80 years old, female, bereaved and Buddhist had higher proportional CAM costs, and the elderly having cancers or cardiovascular diseases had lower proportional CAM costs in an ANOVA and simple regression analysis. After adjusting for various factors, the elderly above 85 years old, female and Buddhist had higher proportional CAM costs, and the elderly having cancers had lower proportional CAM costs. Conclusion : The very old and Buddhist, and/or the ill with no clear diagnosis, may depend more on CAM. Further research will be needed on the meaning and impact of CAM and their costs to public health and the total healthcare system.