Korean J Fam Med.  2009 Mar;30(3):182-189. 10.4082/kjfm.2009.30.3.182.

Patterns of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies in Patients with Chronic Fatigue or Pain

• Choi DH
• Kim CH
• Shin HC
• Park YW
• Sung EJ
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2235626
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2009.30.3.182

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that patients with chronic fatigue or frequent pain seek complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAT) in Western countries. We conducted this study to determine the pattern of CAT use and the factors related to CAT use in patients with chronic fatigue or pain in Korea.
METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study. The participants (n = 143) with chronic fatigue or pain completed a self-reported questionnaire including demographic characteristics and lifestyle as well as disease-related and CAT-related items.
RESULTS
The frequency of CAT use was 51.0& and 39.2& over the past 10 years and 1 year, respectively. The most common type of CAT used was herbal medicine. The therapeutic effects of the CAT were similar to physicians' prescriptions. CAT were most often used in combination with conventional medicine rather than alone. More than 70.0& of subjects did not consult their physicians for the use of CAT. The duration of illness, severity of fatigue and pain was signifi cantly related to the use of CAT.
CONCLUSION
Many patients with chronic fatigue or pain use CAT. Most of these patients do not consult their physicians regarding CAT use.

Keyword

Complementary Therapy; Fatigue; Pain

MeSH Terms

Animals
Cats
Complementary Therapies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Fatigue
Herbal Medicine
Humans
Korea
Life Style
Prescriptions