Current Status of Traditional Korean Medicine Services in Public Sector: A Study for Integrating Traditional Korean Medicine into Community Care System

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.

Impact of Long-Term Care Service Quality on User Cooperation/Participation: Mediating Effect of Self-Determination

The purpose of this study is to determine whether home care service quality affects users' voluntary cooperation/participation through self-determination. For this purpose, survey data from 358 long-term care service users in Korea were analyzed by applying a structural equation model. Data collection was conducted from February to March 2019. Data collection was conducted in February-March 2019. The results showed that home care quality did not directly affect users' voluntary cooperation/participation in the service delivery process, and self-determination fully mediated the relationship between quality and cooperation/participation. Based on these results, the importance of providing appropriate information, reflecting users' voices, and the attitude and role of experts was emphasized in order to promote user participation/cooperation through self-determination.

Satisfaction and Perceived Effectiveness on Herbal Decoctions for Postpartum Care: a cross-sectional survey of mother's experience

Objectives

In East Asia, postpartum care has traditionally been considered important for maternal health; however, studies on this are still insufficient. Therefore, we examined the satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of herbal decoctions used in postpartum care in a city in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Methods

We analyzed anonymized secondary data obtained from a retrospective cross-sectional survey of women who had taken herbal decoctions provided by the support service for women giving birth in a local city in ROK. The questionnaire items consisted of basic information regarding childbirth, the need for the herbal decoction support service, satisfaction, and the effectiveness of the service received.

Results

A total of 68 women were included in the study, and those aged 30-39 accounted for 73.13%. Of the 68 women, 79.37% visited within 3 weeks of childbirth. Women's satisfaction regarding herbal decoction support for postpartum care was 76.47%, and most women (98.53%) responded that they needed it more than twice. More than 50% of women showed improvement in puerperal wind disorders, weight gain, and delayed eliminated lochia.

Conclusion

A large proportion of women who took herbal decoctions reported satisfaction and perceived effectiveness when used to treat puerperal wind disorders. Nevertheless, future well-designed clinical studies are needed to provide information on whether herbal decoctions effectively prevent and treat puerperal wind disorders.

A Study on the Development of a Model for Providing Traditional Korean Medicine and Welfare Services for Community Care

Objectives

This study aims to develop a community care model in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) by developing a community care participation model for the health of the elderly and deriving tasks to implement it.

Methods

This study implemented a group interview with experts. A fact-finding survey was conducted targeting 16 local governments that are implementing a leading project to identify the status of TKM service provision and welfare service linkage in all regions. An expert group interview (FGI) targeted public and private sector experts for each job role, the former represented by those in charge of the central government’s health care policy and administrative delivery system, and the latter by professors majoring in social welfare, professors majoring in health, and local TKM societies. After forming the expert groups, three expert group interviews were conducted.

Results

Through collective interviews with experts, a model for providing TKM and welfare services in community integrated care was derived by dividing it into local and central government levels. The strategies and tasks for promoting TKM-oriented health welfare services were derived from 3 strategies, 8 tasks, and 20 detailed tasks.

Conclusion

The core direction of the TKM health care model is the region-centered provision of TKM and welfare services. To this end, policy support for the use and linkage of health care service resources is required at the central government level, and linkage and provision of health welfare services centered on TKM are necessary through linkage and convergence between service subjects and between government health care projects.

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

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the status of community care services regarding traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for older adults and raise awareness on current opinions and services of TKM institutions. Methods: The National Development Institute of Korean Medicine conducted a survey of 16 local governments by sending official letters through an electronic document system from October 2020 to November 2020. The survey items included basic demographic information and information about TKM service. Results: Eleven (68.8%) of the 16 local governments provided TKM home care services. A total of 136 TKM clinics provided home care services for 598 older adults with musculoskeletal disorders. The number of TKM services provided in five or more local governments were cupping 11 (100.0%), acupuncture 11 (100.0%), education and consulting 10 (90.9%), and moxibustion 9 (81.8%). Moreover, pain (recorded on visual analogue scale) and quality of life significantly improved following TKM services (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Covered under medical policy, TKM homecare services could function as a viable alternative for continued medical care disrupted during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic. In addition, standardisation and legalisation of these services could ensure and improve their efficiency.