Analysis of factors related to the use of Korean medicine treatment in adult patients with depressed mood: Based on the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019

Tae-Hyeon Lee; Il-Su Park; Chan-Young Kwon; Lee, Tae-Hyeon; Park, Il-Su; Kwon, Chan-Young

doi:10.13048/jkm.24026

JKM > Volume 45(2); 2024 > Article

Lee, Park, and Kwon: Analysis of factors related to the use of Korean medicine treatment in adult patients with depressed mood: Based on the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2024; 45(2): 83-95.

Published online: June 01, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.24026

Analysis of factors related to the use of Korean medicine treatment in adult patients with depressed mood: Based on the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019

Tae-Hyeon Lee¹

, Il-Su Park²

, Chan-Young Kwon³^{, *}

¹Department of Biomedical Health Science, Dong-eui University Graduate School

²Department of Healthcare Management, Dong-eui University College of Nursing, Healthcare Sciences and Human Ecology

³Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine

Correspondence to: Chan-Young Kwon, Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-eui University College of Korean Medicine, 52-57, Yangjeong-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-51-850-8808, Fax: +82-51-867-5162, E-mail, beanalogue@deu.ac.kr

Received April 19, 2024 Revised May 6, 2024 Accepted May 7, 2024

Abstract

Objectives

This study analyzed the factors related to outpatient service to Western medicine (WM) and Korean medicine (KM) of Korean adults with depressed mood using data from the 2019 Korea Health Panel Study.

Methods

The general characteristics according to group of 827 individuals, and the factors influencing the use of integrative medicine (IM) medical service were identified using the Chi-square test and binary logistic regression results. The factors were classified based on the Andersen healthcare utilization model. The results of regression analysis were presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Among the individuals of the study, 658 (79.6%) were in the WM group and 169 (20.4%) were in the IM group. In the WM group and the IM group, the presence of suicidal ideation was common at 37.7% and 43.2%, respectively. As a result of regression analysis, the living in Busan/Daegu/Ulsan/Gyeongsang compared to living in Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon [OR = 0.522 (95% CI = 0.328 to 0.830)], and presence of musculoskeletal [OR = 1.686 (95% CI = 1.071 to 2.653)] and mood disorders [OR = 1.737 (95% CI = 1.106 to 2.726)] were the most influential factors on the use of IM medical service.

Conclusions

This study is the first in Korea to analyze the patterns of medical institution use and factors used in KM treatment among adults with depressed mood. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence for the contribution of KM to national mental health in the context of depression.

Keywords: Korean medicine, Depression, Depressed mood, Pain, Korea Health Panel Annual Data

감사의 말씀

This work was supported by Innovative Human Resource Development for Local Intellectualization program through the Institute of Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (IITP-2024-2020-0-01791). This study used the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 (Version 2.0.1) jointly hosted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the National Health Insurance Service.

Table 1

Differences in characteristics according to treatment group.

Variables	Category	WM group (n=658)	IM group (n=169)	X² or t (p-value) Compared to WM group
Age	19–29	46 (7.0%)	7 (4.1%)	1.820 (.177)
	30–49	147 (22.3%)	39 (23.1%)	.042 (.838)
	50–64	188 (28.6%)	40 (23.7%)	1.619 (.203)
	65+	277 (42.1%)	83 (49.1%)	2.692 (.101)
	mean age (yr)	58.47±0.65	60.00±1.21	−1.08 (.280)

Sex	men	217 (33.0%)	47 (27.8%)	1.653 (.120)
Sex	women	441 (67.0%)	122 (72.2%)	1.653 (.120)

Education level	elementary school or below	192 (29.2%)	65 (38.5%)	5.409* (.020)
	middle or high school	309 (47.0%)	60 (35.5%)	7.144** (.008)
	college above	157 (23.9%)	44 (26.0%)	.346 (.557)

Region	Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon	183 (27.8%)	61 (36.1%)	4.436* (.035)
	Gangwon	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.6%)	.164 (.685)
	Daejeon/Chungcheong/Sejong	95 (14.4%)	31 (18.3%)	1.588 (.208)
	Gwangju/Jeolla/Jeju	139 (21.1%)	31 (18.3%)	.637 (.425)
	Busan/Daegu/Ulsan/Gyeongsang	235 (35.7%)	45 (26.6%)	4.958* (.026)

Total income per year	1st percentile	271 (41.2%)	66 (39.1%)	.253 (.615)
	2nd percentile	162 (24.6%)	37 (21.9%)	.547 (.460)
	3rd percentile	124 (18.8%)	34 (20.1%)	.141 (.707)
	4th percentile	101 (15.4%)	32 (18.9%)	1.281 (.258)
	mean income (10,000 won)	3244.33±109.63	3671.50±277.09	−1.43 (.154)

Employment status	active	296 (45.0%)	84 (49.7%)	1.206 (.272)
Employment status	non-active	362 (55.0%)	85 (50.3%)	1.206 (.272)

Health insurance type	employee or local	580 (88.1%)	154 (91.1%)	1.195 (.274)
Health insurance type	medical aid or others	78 (11.9%)	15 (8.9%)	1.195 (.274)

Disability	presence	73 (11.1%)	25 (14.8%)	1.761 (.185)

Self-assessed health	good	98 (14.9%)	21 (12.4%)	.665 (.415)
	fair	269 (40.9%)	66 (39.1%)	.187 (.666)
	poor	291 (44.2%)	82 (48.5%)	1.002 (.317)

Perceived stress	very much	97 (14.7%)	33 (19.5%)	2.324 (.127)
	much	325 (49.4%)	86 (50.9%)	.120 (.729)
	a little	193 (29.3%)	41 (24.3%)	1.704 (.192)
	rarely	43 (6.5%)	9 (5.3%)	.334 (.563)

Anxiety	presence	295 (44.8%)	69 (40.8%)	.875 (.350)

Suicidal ideation	presence	248 (37.7%)	73 (43.2%)	1.716 (.190)

Pain/discomfort	very much	38 (5.8%)	5 (3.0%)	2.164 (.141)
	much	343 (52.1%)	112 (66.3%)	10.870*** (.001)
	no	277 (42.1%)	52 (30.8%)	7.203** (.007)

Chronic disease	N of chronic diseases	1.58±0.06	1.92±0.13	−2.48* (.013)

Cancer	presence	39 (5.9%)	13 (7.7%)	.711 (.399)

Cardio-cerebrovascular	presence	269 (40.9%)	71 (42.0%)	.071 (.790)

Endocrine	presence	160 (24.3%)	39 (23.1%)	.113 (.737)

Liver	presence	16 (2.4%)	1 (0.6%)	2.261 (.220)

Musculoskeletal	presence	224 (34.0%)	81 (47.9%)	11.139*** (.001)

Respiratory	presence	24 (3.6%)	4 (2.4%)	.674 (.412)

Dementia	presence	9 (1.4%)	4 (2.4%)	.868 (.315)

Mood disorders	presence	115 (17.5%)	42 (24.9%)	4.755* (.029)

Renal	presence	12 (1.8%)	1 (0.6%)	1.319 (.485)

Note.

* p<.05;

** p<.01;

*** p<.001.

Abbreviations. IM, integrative medicine; WM, Western medicine.

Appendix 1

Differences in individual chronic disease according to treatment group.

Variables		Category	WM group (n=658)	IM group (n=169)	X2(p-value) Compared to WM group
Cancer	Gastric cancer	presence	2 (0.3%)	2 (1.2%)	2.161 (.187)
	Colon cancer	presence	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0.052 (1.000)
	Lung cancer	presence	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0.487 (.695)
	Breast cancer	presence	8 (1.2%)	2 (1.2%)	0.001 (1.000)
	Cervical cancer	presence	2 (0.3%)	0 (0%)	0.515 (1.000)
	Thyroid cancer	presence	8 (1.2%)	4 (2.4%)	1.246 (.279)
	Other cancer	presence	14 (2.1%)	4 (2.4%)	0.036 (.772)
Cardio-cerebrovascular	Hypertension	presence	244 (37.1%)	63 (37.3%)	0.002 (1.000)
	Angina pectoris	presence	28 (4.3%)	6 (3.6%)	0.170 (.829)
	Myocardial infarction	presence	27 (4.1%)	11 (6.5%)	1.775 (.214)
	Cerebral hemorrhage	presence	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0.487 (.695)
	Cerebral infarction	presence	20 (3.0%)	13 (7.7%)	7.598* (.013)
Endocrine	Diabetes mellitus	presence	134 (20.4%)	36 (21.3%)	0.072 (.831)
	Hypothyroidism	presence	24 (3.6%)	5 (3.0%)	0.189 (.817)
	Hyperthyroidism	presence	10 (1.5%)	1 (0.6%)	0.882 (.705)
Liver	Hepatitis B&C	presence	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.6%)	0.487 (.695)
	Alcoholic hepatitis	presence	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	NA
	Liver cirrhosis	presence	8 (1.2%)	0 (0%)	2.075 (.371)
Musculoskeletal	Knee arthrosis	presence	121 (18.4%)	43 (25.4%)	4.209 (.051)
	Degenerative arthritis of joints other than the knee	presence	48 (7.3%)	19 (11.2%)	2.815 (.113)
	Rheumatoid arthritis	presence	14 (2.1%)	5 (3.0%)	0.414 (.564)
	Intervertebral disc disorder	presence	108 (16.4%)	52 (30.8%)	17.759*** (.000)
	Other spinal disorders	presence	25 (3.8%)	4 (2.4%)	0.815 (.485)
Respiratory	Asthma	presence	19 (2.9%)	2 (1.2%)	1.578 (.279)
	Emphysema	presence	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	NA
	COPD	presence	7 (1.1%)	2 (1.2%)	0.018 (1.000)
	Bronchiectasis	presence	3 (0.5%)	0 (0%)	0.773 (1.000)
Dementia	Dementia	presence	9 (1.4%)	4 (2.4%)	0.868 (.315)
Mood disorders	Depressive or bipolar disorder	presence	115 (17.5%)	42 (24.9%)	4.755* (.029)
Renal	Chronic renal failure	presence	12 (1.8%)	1 (0.6%)	1.319 (.485)

Note.

* p<.05;

*** p<.001.

Abbreviations. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; IM, integrative medicine; NA, not applicable; WM, Western medicine.

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