A Survey on the Awareness of Balneotherapy in Dermatologic Outpatients and Dermatologists

Park, Minkee; Jin, Eun Mi; Park, Byung Cheol; Kim, Myung Hwa; Hong, Seung Phil

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Balneotherapy, although not a well-established treatment, has been used for dermatologic diseases from ancient to modern times. However, there is little knowledge regarding the current awareness of balneotherapy in dermatologic patients and dermatologists.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the current situation of balneotherapy, we first evaluated the utilization and awareness of balneotherapy among dermatology outpatients and dermatologists.
METHODS
A written questionnaires were completed by 183 outpatients who visited the Department of Dermatology at a University Hospital. Online questionnaires were completed by 37 dermatologists.
RESULTS
Only a small percentage of the outpatients used thermal springs/spas for therapeutic purposes. On the contrary, 93% of them used it for leisure and rest. Most outpatients thought the cleanliness of water is the most important factor in thermal springs/spas. Both outpatients (81%) and dermatologists (81%) regarded balneotherapy as a medically unestablished folk remedy. Though regarded as a folk remedy, almost all outpatients (98%) thought that balneotherapy helps improve general health problems, such as fatigue and skin diseases, or conditions related to blood circulation, pain, and joint/muscle. Participants thought that dermatology and rehabilitation medicine can be connected to balneotherapy. Although they thought that balneotherapy can improve general health, most dermatologists (70%) mentioned that it is difficult to judge the efficacy of balneotherapy owing to the lack of sufficient evidence.
CONCLUSION
Although not yet considered as a confirmative therapeutic modality owing to the lack of medical verification, there is positive recognition and outlook for the effect of balneotherapy in Korea. To offer precise information to patients, more attention from dermatologists would be needed to confirm its actual efficacy.