Traditional Korean Medicine Home Care for the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea

Comparative efficacy of traditional non-pharmacological add-on treatments in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global public health concern. In this study, we examined the comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions within East Asian traditional medicine (EATM-NPI) for enhancing pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with stable COPD. A thorough search of electronic databases conducted until May 22, 2022, identified studies employing EATM-NPI in such patients. The evaluation focused on the impact adjunctive therapies on pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1]) and exercise capacity (6-min walking distance [6MWD]). The qualitative assessment encompassed 142 studies, with 133 studies included in one of three network meta-analyses. Participants, aged 49-76 years, ranged from 9 to 139 per group, predominantly from China (87.7% of studies). Overall study quality was generally low, and reported adverse events were mild. Notably, moxibustion and qigong adjunctive therapies demonstrated significant improvements in FEV1 (L) and FEV1 (%). Additionally, chuna, acupuncture, qigong and moxibustion adjunctive therapies were associated with significant improvements in 6MWD. In conclusion, EATM-NPI adjunctive therapy, when combined with standard pharmacological treatment, exhibited effects on pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Systematic review registration: The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023389431), https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023389431.

Risk factors of passive suicidal ideation among outpatients in traditional medicine clinics: The case of Korean medicine in South Korea

Suicide is the leading cause of death worldwide, especially in South Korea. Individuals using Korean medicine (KM) clinics are common in this country, but KM doctor is not yet used in the country's suicide prevention policy. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors of passive suicidal ideation (SI) among outpatients at KM clinics, and attempted to develop a predictive model of SI through multivariate analysis. The Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019, a nationally representative survey in South Korea, was analyzed. In this study, 1924 (weighted n:5,958,666) people aged 19 or older who used the KM outpatient service at least once in 2019 were set as study subjects. The authors calculated the weighted prevalence of passive SI and identified significant sociodemographic, physical, and mental factors using the Rao-Scott chi-square test and weighted logistic regression. A suicide risk scorecard was developed using the point to double the odds method to quantify individual risk, resulting in a score range of 0-100. We found high prevalence of passive SI among KM outpatients (7.5 %), and the annual prevalence of passive SI tended to be higher with increasing age (4.6 % in young adults, 6.7 % in middle-aged, and 12.4 % in old age). Also, the prevalence increased as stress worsened (2.0 % in hardly, 3.9 % in a little, 13.7 % in a lot, and 24.8 % in very much). By using multiple logistic regression analysis, SI risk prediction score model was developed, including basic livelihood security recipients, presence of chronic diseases, perceived stress, depression, and low quality of life. According to our findings, passive SI is not uncommon among KM outpatients. Based on current findings, the potential role of KMDs in the country's suicide prevention strategy can be discussed focusing on specific groups such as socioeconomically vulnerable groups, the elderly population, and those with physical illnesses.

Utilization of Traditional Korean Medicine Services by the Older Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Korean healthcare service is divided into conventional medicine and traditional Korean medicine (TKM). This cross-sectional study compared the older population (65 years and older) with two groups of the general population (19–50 years and 51–64 years) to understand the current patterns in the use of TKM services by the older population. Using data from the 2017 National Survey of TKM Usage, we analyzed the main purpose and diseases or symptoms for TKM use, the reason for choosing TKM over other types of medicine, and the treatments provided. Both age groups sought TKM services to “[treat] a disease”. The top five diseases and symptoms in the older adult (65 and older) group were musculoskeletal and are as follows: arthritis and joint diseases (37.8%, n = 166), disc-related diseases (25.5%, n = 112), back pain (8.4%, n = 37), frozen shoulder and shoulder pain (7.7%, n = 34), and sprain (5.9%, n = 26). The most frequently used treatments for these diseases were acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and physiotherapy. The present study suggests that older adults primarily used TKM clinics for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Further studies are necessary to assess the clinical effectiveness of conventional medicine versus TKM versus a combination of both in treating musculoskeletal disorders.