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eCAM Advance Access published online on April 23, 2007
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nem025
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© 2007 The Author(s).
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Patterns of Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Stroke Patients at Two University Hospitals in Korea

Yong-Il Shin1,2, Chung-Yong Yang1,2, Min-Cheol Joo1,2, Sam-Gyu Lee3, Jae-Hyung Kim3 and Myeong Soo Lee4,5

1Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation2Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea3Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Research Institute of Medical Science, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju4Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea

This study measured the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Korean stroke patients. Questionnaire-based 20-min interviews were conducted at the hospitals by a trained nurse after an outpatient visit. It included questions on demographic information, clinical information and the utilization of CAM. Of 304 stroke-patient respondents, 164 (54%) had used CAM, of which 66% had started taking CAM products following suggestions from family members and other relatives. Of the 57% of users who felt that CAM was effective, 84% considered that it improved the symptoms of stroke and 16% felt it was effective in achieving psychological relaxation. Of the eight CAM categories used by respondents, 92% used traditional Oriental medical treatments, 36% used plant- and animal-derived over-the-counter health care products, 24% used minerals and vitamins, and 11% used manual therapies. The majority of stroke patients (68%) were trying a new type of CAM, and half of the respondents (45%) relied on the knowledge of their general practitioner about CAMs when deciding whether to use them. Most of the stroke patients in this study used CAM, and a half of them reported beneficial effects. Despite the presence of adverse side effects, they tended to be used without discussion with chief physicians, and hence physicians should be actively involved in the usage of CAM.

Keywords: complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) – stroke – survey

For reprints and all correspondence: Myeong Soo Lee, PhD, Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter, EX2 4NT, UK. Tel: 44 (0)1392 439035; E-mail: drmslee{at}gmail.com; myeong.lee{at}pms.ac.uk

5Present address: Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter & Plymouth, Exeter, UK

Received July 27, 2006; accepted December 4, 2006


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