Multicenter Analysis of the Current Status of Unproved Complementary/Alternative Medicine Other than Herbal Medication in Allergy Patients.
- Author:
Hyun Jung LEE
1
;
Jae Hyun LEE
;
Yong Won LEE
;
Cheol Woo KIM
;
Hun Jong DHONG
;
Hae Sim PARK
;
Young Joo CHO
;
Jin Hee CHO
;
Sang Heon CHO
;
Bok Yang PYUN
;
Kwang Hoon LEE
;
Hae Ran LEE
;
Jung Won PARK
;
Chein Soo HONG
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. cshong@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Multicenter Study ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Complementary medicine;
Allergy;
Epidemiology
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aromatherapy;
Asthma;
Baths;
Breathing Exercises;
Complementary Therapies;
Dermatitis, Atopic;
Diet;
Humans;
Hypersensitivity;
Korea;
Massage;
Motivation;
Patient Education as Topic;
Prevalence;
Rhinitis;
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial;
Urticaria;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2011;80(1):68-77
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of unproven complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) to treat allergies is popular in Korea. We conducted a multicenter survey of the current use of CAM other than herbal medication in Korean allergy patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 510 adults with allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and chronic urticaria, from ten hospitals. They underwent a structured questionnaire interview and clinical assessment of the prevalence, motivation, costs, and subjective assessment of CAM. RESULTS: Of the patients, 16.7% used at least one type of CAM to treat their allergic diseases. Common types of CAM were diet (48.6%), aroma therapy (23.8%), massage (14.3%), breathing exercises (7.6%), baths (5.7%), and mind control (5.7%). The therapeutic effects of CAM included "improved" in patients using mind control (50%), diet (50%), breathing exercises (75%), and baths (33.3%), but "worse" in patients using aroma therapy (28%), and massage (26.7%). About 36.4% of the patients used CAM more than four times per year, and the average cost per CAM user was 370,000 won/year. The main reason for trying CAM was 'hope to improve my constitution'. CONCLUSIONS: CAM is used widely for treating allergic diseases in Korea. Detailed knowledge of CAM and patient education are important. Further studies of the clinical efficacy of CAM are needed.
