TY - JOUR
T1 - Opinions on Kampo and reasons for using it - results from a cross-sectional survey in three Japanese clinics
AU - Hottenbacher, Lydia
AU - Weißhuhn, Thorolf E.R.
AU - Watanabe, Kenji
AU - Seki, Takashi
AU - Ostermann, Julia
AU - Witt, Claudia M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Dr. Yasuo Tannou opened his clinic for the survey and helped on many other occasions. Prof. Hirohiko Azuma, Prof. Hisataka Moriwaki, Dr. Tomohiro Kato, and Dr. Hiroshi Araki supported LH work during her stay in Japan. Kiyomi Ikenaga assisted in developing and translating the questionnaire, and gave valuable advice when deciphering the patients’ handwritten remarks. The research was supported by a travel grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and we thank Prof. Büchsel and the staff of the Tokyo DAAD office for on-site support. We thank Angelina Bockelbrink for her methodological support, Katja Icke for data management supervision and Iris Bartsch and Daniela Hacke for helping with the literature search. Furthermore, we thank the participating patients for their time and diligence.
PY - 2013/5/16
Y1 - 2013/5/16
N2 - Background: Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo) is often used in Japan, but very little data on its users are available. We investigated who uses Kampo, the reasons and opinions for its use.Methods: Questionnaire survey in three Japanese outpatient clinics offering Kampo in different settings: Kampo only, Kampo and traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo and Western medicine. Before seeing the doctor, patients were asked about socio-demographic data, medical history, experience with Kampo, general health-related opinions and behaviours, opinions about Western medicine and Kampo, and reasons for Kampo utilization. Descriptive statistics and predictors for Kampo use were calculated.Results: A total of 354 questionnaires were completed. Participants were 50.97 ± 15.60 (mean ± SD) years of age, 68% were female. Of all patients, 73% (n = 202) were using Kampo currently and 84% (297) had taken Kampo before. Questions on general health-related opinions and behaviour revealed a strong environmental awareness. The most frequent indications for earlier Kampo use were: common cold (36%), gastrointestinal complaints (30%), oversensitivity to cold (" Hi'e-sho" ; 29%), stress/anxiety (21%), and shoulder stiffness (20%). Kampo users suffered more often from chronic illnesses (OR 2.88 [1.48-5.58]). Beliefs in underlying philosophy (Wu Xing (adjusted OR 3.08, [1.11-8.55]), Ying and Yang (OR 2.57 [1.15-5.73], a holistic way of seeing the patient (OR 2.17 [1.53-3.08]), and in Kampo efficacy (OR 2.62 [1.66-4.13]) were positively associated with Kampo use. So was, interestingly, conviction of the efficacy of Western medicine (OR 1.87 [1.28-2.74]). Half of the patients had a general preference for a combination of Kampo and Western treatment.Conclusions: Most patients visiting a clinic that also provided Kampo had previous experience with Kampo. Usage was associated with beliefs in philosophical Kampo concepts and its efficacy.
AB - Background: Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo) is often used in Japan, but very little data on its users are available. We investigated who uses Kampo, the reasons and opinions for its use.Methods: Questionnaire survey in three Japanese outpatient clinics offering Kampo in different settings: Kampo only, Kampo and traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo and Western medicine. Before seeing the doctor, patients were asked about socio-demographic data, medical history, experience with Kampo, general health-related opinions and behaviours, opinions about Western medicine and Kampo, and reasons for Kampo utilization. Descriptive statistics and predictors for Kampo use were calculated.Results: A total of 354 questionnaires were completed. Participants were 50.97 ± 15.60 (mean ± SD) years of age, 68% were female. Of all patients, 73% (n = 202) were using Kampo currently and 84% (297) had taken Kampo before. Questions on general health-related opinions and behaviour revealed a strong environmental awareness. The most frequent indications for earlier Kampo use were: common cold (36%), gastrointestinal complaints (30%), oversensitivity to cold (" Hi'e-sho" ; 29%), stress/anxiety (21%), and shoulder stiffness (20%). Kampo users suffered more often from chronic illnesses (OR 2.88 [1.48-5.58]). Beliefs in underlying philosophy (Wu Xing (adjusted OR 3.08, [1.11-8.55]), Ying and Yang (OR 2.57 [1.15-5.73], a holistic way of seeing the patient (OR 2.17 [1.53-3.08]), and in Kampo efficacy (OR 2.62 [1.66-4.13]) were positively associated with Kampo use. So was, interestingly, conviction of the efficacy of Western medicine (OR 1.87 [1.28-2.74]). Half of the patients had a general preference for a combination of Kampo and Western treatment.Conclusions: Most patients visiting a clinic that also provided Kampo had previous experience with Kampo. Usage was associated with beliefs in philosophical Kampo concepts and its efficacy.
KW - Kampo
KW - Patient opinions
KW - Survey
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U2 - 10.1186/1472-6882-13-108
DO - 10.1186/1472-6882-13-108
M3 - Article
C2 - 23680097
AN - SCOPUS:84878502150
SN - 1472-6882
VL - 13
JO - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
M1 - 108
ER -