The Role and Policy of Korean Medicine Doctor for the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Article information

J Korean Med. 2023;44(2):45-59

doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.23016

Juchul Kim ¹

, Heasun Chun ²

, HeeJung Lee ³

, Jungtae Leem ⁴^,⁵^,

¹Research Institute of Korean Medicine Policy, The Association of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Korea

²Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam, Korea

³National Agency for Korean innovatice Technologies Development Center for evidence-based practice guidelines of Korean Medicine, Seoul, Korea

⁴Hanbang Cardio-Renal Syndrome Research Center, School of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University

⁵Research Center of Traditional Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University

Correspondence to: Jungtae Leem, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, #460 Iksan-daero, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-63-850-6914, E-mail: julcho@naver.com

Received 2023 March 13; Revised 2023 April 19; Accepted 2023 May 12.

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated the role of Korean medicine doctors in the national quarantine system and the status of their duties through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews with Korean medicine staff who participated in COVID-19 work.

Methods

We developed a questionnaire survey to investigate the status and perception of Korean medicine doctors’ participation in responding to infectious diseases, and the results were derived by conducting frequency analysis and T-test using SPSS program. The measurement variables of this study were the status of COVID-19 related work participation and perception of Korean medicine doctors’ role in infectious diseases, and the maximum significance level was 0.05.

Results

There were 300 respondents to the survey, and as for the COVID-19 related work, Korean medicine treatment for COVID-19 patients accounted for the most(52.7%), and various preventive and treatment tasks such as epidemiological investigations and specimen collection were conducted.

Conclusion

According to this study, it was confirmed that there are sufficient legal and administrative grounds for Korean medicine doctors to perform specimen collection and epidemiological investigations. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare a policy framework to solidify the status of Korean medicine doctors in national infectious diseases in the future.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infectious Disease; Specimen Collection; Epidemiological Investigation; Korean Medicine

Table 1

Investigation Content

Table 2

Summary of Interviewee

Table 3

Demographic Characteristics (N=300)

Table 4

Participation Work Related to COVID-19 (N=300, Multiple Response)

Table 5

COVID-19 Related Performed Work Diagnosis and Difficulties (N=300, Multiple Response)

Table 6

Satisfaction with Work Related to COVID-19(N=300)

Table 7

Tasks to Strengthen the Role of Korean Medicine Doctor in Emerging Infectious Diseases (N=300, Multiple Response)

Table 8

In-Depth Interview with Korean Medicine Staff on COVID-19

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