Survey on Satisfaction and Symptom Improvement of Korean Medicine Treatment in 122 Cases by Traffic Accident

Hye Ryeon Kim; Seon Hye Kim; Yeon Sun Lee; Won Suk Sung; Seo Hyun Park; Hyun Seok Cho; Dong Ho Keum; Kap Sung Kim; Eun Jung Kim; Kim, Hye Ryeon; Kim, Seon Hye; Lee, Yeon Sun; Sung, Won Suk; Park, Seo Hyun; Cho, Hyun Seok; Keum, Dong Ho; Kim, Kap Sung; Kim, Eun Jung

doi:10.13048/jkm.18025

JKM > Volume 39(3); 2018 > Article

Kim, Kim, Lee, Sung, Park, Cho, Keum, Kim, and Kim: Survey on Satisfaction and Symptom Improvement of Korean Medicine Treatment in 122 Cases by Traffic Accident

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2018; 39(3): 61-72.

Published online: September 30, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.18025

Survey on Satisfaction and Symptom Improvement of Korean Medicine Treatment in 122 Cases by Traffic Accident

Hye Ryeon Kim¹

, Seon Hye Kim¹

, Yeon Sun Lee¹

, Won Suk Sung¹, Seo Hyun Park²

, Hyun Seok Cho¹, Dong Ho Keum², Kap Sung Kim¹

, Eun Jung Kim¹

¹Dep. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University

²Dep. of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University

Correspondence to：김은정(Eun-Jung Kim) 동국대학교 한의과대학 침구의학과 Tel: +82-31-710-3751, E-mail: hanijjung@naver.com

Received August 30, 2018 Revised September 7, 2018 Accepted September 7, 2018

Abstract

Objectives

This study conducted a survey research to characterize traffic accident(TA) patients seeking Korean medicine treatment and to analyze the symptom improvement and satisfaction scores.

Methods

A survey was conducted in 122 outpatients, who visited OO University Korean Hospital due to TA-associated symptoms from November, 2017 to May, 2018. The questionnaire included information on patient demographic characteristics, accident circumstance details, pain levels, reason for treatment selection, treatment methods, treatment purpose, symptom improvement and satisfaction. All statistical analyses were performed using Windows SPSS version 20.0

Results

The characteristics of traffic accident patients using Korean medical institution were usually accidents that occurred while driving slowly, and minor injuries like a sprain. The most important consideration in choosing Korean medical institution was its past experience. The biggest reason for switching treatment from Western medicine to Korean medicine was for diverse treatments. Satisfaction with Korean medicine was measured between very satisfaction and satisfaction. Patients showed the highest satisfaction with acupuncture, followed by pharmacopuncture and chuna manual therapy. Most treatments were measured between very satisfaction and satisfaction. After treatment, 95.90 percent of the patients said they would recommend Korean treatment.

Conclusions

Although this study has limitations as research in survey format, we intended to analyze determining factors for the use of Korean medicine treatment through satisfaction, symptom improvement, and Numeric rating scale (NRS) change.

Keywords: Traffic Accidents, Korea Traditional Medicine, Satisfaction, Symptom Improvement

Table 1

Demographic Characteristics

Factor	No(%)	Factor	No(%)
Sex		Age, y

		<30	10(8.19)
Male	53(43.44)	30≤,<40	19(15.57)
		40≤,<50	36(29.50)

		50≤,<60	35(28.68)
Female	69(56.55)	60≤,<70	14(11.47)
		70≤	8(6.55)

Table 2

Traffic Accident Situation

Factor	No(%)	Factor	No(%)
Traffic accident type		Speed of the opponent car

Frontal impact	14(11.47)	At rest	0(0.00)
Side impact	18(14.75)	~ 30km/h	21(17.21)
Rear impact	73(59.83)	~ 50km/h	18(14.75)
Multiple	3(2.45)	~ 70km/h	7(5.73)
Pedestrian	7(5.73)	70km/h ~	6(4.91)
Bus	7(5.73)	Don’t know	70(57.37)

Location		Speed of my car

Driver’s seat	87(71.31)	At rest	56(45.90)
Passenger seat	16(13.11)	~ 30km/h	28(22.95)
Back seat	5(4.09)	~ 50km/h	17(13.93)
Pedestrian	7(5.73)	~ 70km/h	6(4.91)
Other	7(5.73)	70km/h ~	6(4.91)
		Pedestrian	7(5.73)
		Don’t know	2(1.63)

Loss of consciousness or trauma

Yes	10(8.19)
No	112(91.80)

Table 3

Symptoms after an Accident

Factor	No(%)	Factor	No(%)
Region of pain*		Additional Symptoms*

Neck	94(77.04)	Headache	43(35.24)
Low back	82(67.21)	Dizziness	29(23.77)
Shoulder	82(67.21)	Anxiety	14(11.47)
Wrist	26(21.31)	Indigestion	14(11.47)
Back	20(16.39)	Others	14(11.47)
Knee	20(16.39)
Others	58(47.54)

The onset of pain		Disease code*

~24 hours	82(67.21)	S134: Sprain and strain of cervical spine	89(72.95)
24~48 hours	33(27.04)	S3350: Sprain and strain of lumbar spine	70(57.37)
within a week	6(4.91)	Others	57(46.72)
more than a week	1(0.81)

* Multiple choices were allowed for ‘region of pain.’, ‘additional symptoms’ and ‘disease code’.

Table 4-1

Characteristics of Korean Medicine Service

Factor	No(%)
The person who decide to visit

Own decision	65(53.27)
Recommendations	57(46.72)

Reasons for choosing a Korean medical institution*

Looking at press reports	5(4.09)
Not satisfied with the treatment of other western medical institutions	18(14.75)
Other western medical institution services are unkind	4(3.27)
Concerned about side effects of western medical treatment	19(15.57)
Experience with korean medicine before	55(45.08)
Get more treatments than Western treatments.	35(28.68)
Close to home or work	28(22.95)
Others	6(4.91)

Primary treatment goal

Relief from pain	54(44.26)
Improvement of functions of inconvenient parts	35(28.68)
Improving quality of life	3(2.45)
Reducing the need for medication	2(1.63)
A smooth return to daily life	20(16.39)
Recovery of deterioration caused by traffic accidents.	8(6.55)

A pre-visit medical institution†

Western & Korean medical institution	11(9.01)
Western medical institution	44(36.06)
Korean medical institution	11(9.01)

The more effective case of Korea medicine

Any traffic accident that does not require surgical treatment	77(63.11)
Additional symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety	11(9.01)
For old or frail people	1(8.19)
Has a chronic disease associated with the pain caused by a traffic accident.	33(27.04)

Recommend to others

Yes	117(95.90)
No	1(0.81)
Don’t know	4(3.27)

* Multiple choices were allowed for ‘regions of visit.’

† Only patients with a transit hospital(n=66) responded.

Table 4-2

Reason for Changing from Western Medicine to Korean Medicine

Question*	Mean±SD	Very considerate No(%)	Considerate	Neutral	Inconsiderate	Very inconsiderate	No reply
Korean medicine works better than western medicine treatments.	1.91±0.92	23(42)	15(27)	14(25)	2(4)	0(0)	1(2)
Western medical treatments show no signs of improvement.	2.19±1.08	19(54)	12(22)	19(54)	2(4)	2(4)	1(2)
Korean medicine treatment(acupuncture, herbal medicine,, etc.) is preferred to western medicine treatments (pain anti-inflammatory, physical therapy)	1.87±1.01	26(47)	13(24)	12(22)	2(4)	1(2)	1(2)
After western medicine treatment, the symptoms come back again.	2.77±1.19	9(16)	12(22)	19(54)	8(15)	5(9)	2(4)
Concerned about side effects of western medical treatment	2.38±1.30	18(33)	11(20)	12(22)	7(13)	4(7)	3(5)
Korean medicine is effective in treating car accident aftereffect	2.07±1.01	19(11)	17(31)	14(25)	3(5)	1(1)	1(1)
Get more treatments than Western treatments.	1.45±0.86	40(73)	8(15)	4(7)	3(5)	0(0)	0(0)
Korean doctors and employees are more friendly.	1.98±1.05	24(44)	12(22)	14(25)	3(5)	1(2)	1(2)

* Multiple choices were allowed.

Table 5-1

NRS, Improvement and Satisfaction of All Patients

	Initial NRS	Post-treatment NRS	Symptom Improvement	Satisfaction

	Mean±SD
All(n=122)	6.15±2.09	3.11±1.54	1.87±0.43	1.71±0.60

Table 5-2

Improvement and Satisfaction by Demographic Characteristics

Factor	Symptom improvement	Satisfaction

	Mean±SD
Age, y

<30 (n=10)	1.90±0.32	1.80±0.63
30≤,<40 (n=19)	1.95±0.23	1.68±0.58
40≤,<50 (n=36)	1.92±0.50	1.64±0.59
50≤,<60 (n=35)	1.80±0.47	1.71±0.57
60≤,<70 (n=14)	1.79±0.43	1.79±0.70
70≤ (n=8)	1.88±0.35	1.88±0.64
	p=0.77	p=0.90

Sex

Male (n=53)	1.85±0.41	1.75±0.59
Female (n=69)	1.88±0.44	1.68±0.61
	p=0.65	p=0.50

Statistical analyses were performed using the Independent 2-sample T -test or analysis of variance(ANOVA).

Table 5-3

NRS, Symptom Improvement and Satisfaction of Korean Medicine by Accident

Factor	Initial NRS	Recent NRS	Improvement	Satisfaction

	Mean±SD
Traffic accident type

Frontal(n=14)	5.86±2.28	2.79±1.72	1.64±0.50	1.64±0.63
Side(n=18)	6.56±2.09	3.67±1.71	1.89±0.47	1.78±0.65
Rear(n=73)	5.85±1.97	2.93±1.28	1.90±0.41	1.71±0.61
Multiple(n=3)	6.33±1.53	4.00±1.73	2.00±0.00	1.67±0.58

Pedestrian (n=7)	7.57±2.37	2.71±2.14	1.71±0.49	1.71±0.49
Bus(n=7)	7.29±2.36	4.14±2.04	2.00±0.00	1.71±0.49

p value	0.19	0.28	0.27	0.79

Location

Driver(n=87)	6.07±1.90	3.03±1.36	1.87±0.42	1.76±0.61
Passenger (n=16)	5.50±2.38	3.38±1.82	1.88±0.50	1.44±0.51
Back(n=5)	4.60±1.67	2.20±1.64	1.80±0.45	1.60±0.55

Pedestrian(n=7)	7.57±2.37	2.71±2.14	1.71±0.49	1.71±0.49
Bus(n=7)	7.29±2.36	4.14±2.04	2.00±0.00	1.71±0.49

p value	0.0029*	0.12	0.86	0.71

Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance(ANOVA) or the Kruskal-Wallis test.

* Statistically significant(p<0.05)

Table 5-4

Symptom Improvement and Satisfaction of Korean Medicine by Additional Symptoms

Factor	Symptom improvement	Satisfaction

	Mean±SD
Additional symptom

Yes(n=60)	1.85±0.44	1.66±0.54
No(n=62)	1.89±0.41	1.77±0.64
p value	0.67	0.45

Statistical analyses were performed using the Independent 2-sample T -test or analysis of variance(ANOVA).

Table 5-5

NRS, Improvement and Satisfaction of Korean Medicine by the Pain Characteristic

Factor	Initial NRS	Recent NRS	Improvement	Satisfaction

	Mean±SD
The onset of pain

~24 hours(n=82)	6.18±2.30	3.56±1.87	1.85±0.47	1.70±0.60
24~48 hours(n=33)	5.97±1.63	3.76±1.64	1.94±0.24	1.82±0.58
more than 48 hours(n=7)	6.57±1.27	4.00±1.83	1.71±0.49	1.43±0.53

p value	0.76	0.75	0.38	0.26

Region of pain

Neck(n=94)	6.20±1.90	3.69±1.69	1.87±0.42	1.74±0.60
Low back(n=82)	6.33±2.10	3.70±1.75	1.88±0.43	1.73±0.63
Shoulder (n=82)	6.48±1.99	3.93±1.70	1.87±0.44	1.72±0.61
Wrist(n=26)	6.12±2.07	3.42±1.86	1.77±0.51	1.54±0.58
Back(n=20)	6.90±1.92	4.20±1.58	1.75±0.44	1.55±0.60
Knee(n=20)	6.55±2.48	4.25±2.34	1.85±0.49	1.60±0.60

p value	0.73	0.47	0.77	0.50

Statistical analyses were performed analysis of variance(ANOVA)or the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Table 6

Satisfaction by Treatment

	Acupuncture (n=122)	Cupping (n=94)	Herbal medicine (n=65)	Herbal acupuncture (n=61)	Physical therapy (n=61)	Moxibustion (n=42)	Extract (n=30)	Wet cupping (n=29)	Chuna (n=24)	Bee venom (n=17)
mean±SD	1.57±0.67	1.68±0.72	2.01±0.91	1.61±0.71	1.74±0.79	1.64±0.73	1.87±0.86	1.66±0.55	1.58±0.72	1.76±0.83
Very satisfied No(%)	62(51)	41(44)	20(31)	29(48)	26(43)	21(50)	13(43)	11(38)	13(54)	8(47)
Satisfied	53(43)	44(47)	29(45)	29(48)	27(44)	15(36)	8(27)	17(59)	8(33)	5(29)
Neutral	6(5)	8(9)	12(18)	2(3)	7(11)	6(14)	9(30)	1(3)	3(13)	4(24)
Dissatisfied	0(0)	0(0)	3(5)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)
Very dissatisfied	1(1)	1(1)	1(2)	1(2)	1(2)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)	0(0)

Table 7-1

Symptom Improvement and Satisfied by Pre-visit Medical Institution

A pre-visit medical institution	Symptom improvement			Satisfied
A pre-visit medical institution	mean±SD
Western & Korean medical institution (n=11)	1.63±0.50		No(%)	1.45±0.52		No(%)
		Very improvement	4(36)		Very satisfied	5(45)
		Improvement	7(64)		Satisfied	5(45)
		Neutral	0(0)		Neutral	1(9)
		Deteriorated	0(0)		Dissatisfied	0(0)
		Very deteriorated	0(0)		Very dissatisfied	0(0)
Western medical institution (n=44)	1.81±0.50	Very improvement	10(23)	1.56±0.55	Very satisfied	20(46)
		Improvement	32(73)		Satisfied	23(52)
		Neutral	2(5)		Neutral	1(2)
		Deteriorated	0(0)		Dissatisfied	0(0)
		Very deteriorated	0(0)		Very dissatisfied	0(0)
Korean medical institution (n=67)	1.91±0.38	Very improvement	8(12)	1.81±0.61	Very satisfied	20(30)
		Improvement	57(85)		Satisfied	40(60)
		Neutral	2(3)		Neutral	7(10)
		Deteriorated	0(0)		Dissatisfied	0(0)
		Very deteriorated	0(0)		Very dissatisfied	0(0)
p value	p=0.05			p=0.02*

* Statistically significant(p<0.05)

Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance(ANOVA).

Table 7-2

NRS Change by Pre-visit Medical Institution

A pre-visit medical institution			Initial NRS		Recent NRS		p value	Rate of change
A pre-visit medical institution			mean±SD				p value	Rate of change
Western & Korean medical institution (n=11)	~1 week	1	6.63±1.96	6	3.36±1.12	5	0.00*	17%
	~2 weeks	2		6.5		5		23%
	~1 month	1		7		2		71%
	~2 months	2		7		3.5		50%
	~6 months	3		6.7		3.3		51%
	6 months	2		6.5		2		69%
Western medical institution (n=44)	~1 week	3	6.63±2.17	3.7	3.64±1.63	2.3	0.00*	38%
	~2 weeks	4		6.5		4.8		26%
	~1 month	18		6.0		3.2		47%
	~2 months	7		8.1		3.9		52%
	~6 months	7		8.5		4.8		44%
	6 months	8		7.4		4.6		38%
Korean medical institution (n=67)	~1 week	5	5.79±1.91	4.4	3,30±1.55	3	0.00*	27%
	~2 weeks	19		5.7		3.3		42%
	~1 month	31		5.8		3.1		46%
	~2 months	10		6.2		3.3		47%
	~6 months	7		6.3		3.6		43%
	6 months	4		6.5		4.3		34%

* Statistically significant(p<0.05)

Statistical analyses were performed using paired sample t-test or analysis of variance(ANOVA).

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