Perspectives on the Use of Traditional Korean Medicine in Severe Trauma Patients: a Qualitative Study

Article information

J Korean Med. 2025;46(2):93-107

Publication date (electronic) : 2025 June 1

doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.25021

Jieun Yu ¹^,^§

, Inhyo Park ²^,^§

, Eunji Ahn ³

, Hanbit Jin ⁴

, Dongsu Kim ⁵^,

^1,2School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University

^3,4,5College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University

Correspondence to: Dongsu Kim College of Oriental Medicine, Dongshin University, 120-9 Dongshindae-gil, Naju city, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, 58245, Tel: +82-61-330-3528, E-mail: dskim20@dsu.ac.kr

^§

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Received 2025 April 14; Revised 2025 May 15; Accepted 2025 May 22.

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the use of Korean Medicine (KM) for severe trauma, investigating its clinical application, challenges faced by patients and practitioners, and potential improvements.

Methods

Between December 2023 and September 2024, in-depth interviews were conducted with three trauma patients and five KM practitioners. The interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis.

Results

Trauma patients reported being rarely informed about KM by their Western medicine doctors during hospitalization. Many viewed KM as an additional financial burden, while considering Western treatments essential. Patients also faced challenges such as pain management side effects, prognosis uncertainty, isolation, and quality-of-life issues, suggesting KM’s potential to address these. KM practitioners typically treated severe trauma cases after referrals, often post-acute phase. They highlighted KM’s potential in pain relief, mitigating painkiller side effects, and improving chronic patients’ quality of life. However, KM treatments were underutilized due to reluctance from Western medicine doctors, lack of patient knowledge, insurance constraints, and treatment frequency limitations. Practitioners emphasized the need for proving KM’s safety and efficacy, developing clinical guidelines, improving coordination between KM clinics and hospitals, fostering hospital interactions, and securing policy and financial support.

Conclusions

This study identified challenges in KM trauma care and proposed solutions, offering insights to improve trauma care and enhance patient quality of life. The findings provide valuable data for the KM sector and health authorities.

Keywords: Korean Medicine; Severe Trauma Treatment; In-depth Interview; Thematic Analysis

Fig. 1

The Improvement Measures for Promoting KM Treatment for Severe Trauma Proposed by the Interview Participants (D1~D5)

Table 1

Characteristics of Participants 1: Korean Medicine Doctors (As of 2024)

Table 2

Characteristics of Participants 2: Severe Trauma Patients (As of 2024)

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