Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Dong-Eui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Department of Healthcare Management, College of Nursing, Healthcare Sciences and Human Ecology, Dong-eui University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Aug 30;103(35):e39518. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000039518.
Pharmacopuncture is a widely used Korean medicine treatment, but its usage patterns and associated factors remain unclear. This study aimed to explore factors related to the use of pharmacopuncture alongside acupuncture and investigate the associated medical cost burden in South Korea. We analyzed the 2019 Korea Health Panel Annual Data, focusing on adult outpatients who received acupuncture alone or both acupuncture and pharmacopuncture (PA). We employed individual-level and visit-level approaches, using chi-square tests, t-tests, and binary logistic regression for analysis. Among 1280 patients, 10% were PA users. Logistic regression showed that PA use was significantly associated with being aged 30 to 49 (odd ratio [OR] = 2.531; P = .009), having an education level of elementary school or lower (OR = 2.571; P = .011), and being in the 2nd (OR = 1.914; P = .041) or 3rd income percentile (OR = 1.925; P = .020). Of 13,101 medical visits, 5.80% involved PA, with PA visits incurring significantly higher costs than acupuncture only visits (KRW 4438.33 vs 14,700.16; P < .001). Arthritis, shoulder disorders, and other joint conditions were more prevalent among PA visits (P < .001). This study reveals socioeconomic factors influencing pharmacopuncture use and highlights potential health inequalities in its access in South Korea. The higher costs associated with PA visits suggest a need for considering its inclusion in health insurance coverage. Future research should focus on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and standardization of pharmacopuncture to address unmet healthcare needs and inform policy decisions.
穴位注射疗法是一种广泛应用的韩国医学治疗方法，但它的使用模式和相关因素尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨与穴位注射联合针灸相关的使用因素，并调查在韩国与相关医疗费用负担。我们分析了 2019 年韩国健康面板年度数据，重点关注接受单独针灸或针灸联合穴位注射（PA）治疗的成年门诊患者。我们采用个体水平和就诊水平的方法，使用卡方检验、t 检验和二元逻辑回归进行分析。在 1280 名患者中，10%为 PA 用户。逻辑回归显示，PA 使用与年龄在 30 至 49 岁之间（比值比[OR] = 2.531；P =.009）、接受小学或以下教育水平（OR = 2.571；P =.011）和处于第二（OR = 1.914；P =.041）或第三收入百分位数（OR = 1.925；P =.020）显著相关。在 13101 次就诊中，有 5.80%涉及 PA，PA 就诊的费用明显高于仅接受针灸治疗的就诊（韩元 4438.33 比 14700.16；P <.001）。关节炎、肩部疾病和其他关节疾病在 PA 就诊中更为常见（P <.001）。本研究揭示了影响穴位注射使用的社会经济因素，并强调了在韩国获得穴位注射治疗的潜在健康不平等。PA 就诊相关的较高费用表明需要考虑将其纳入健康保险覆盖范围。未来的研究应侧重于穴位注射的有效性、成本效益和标准化，以解决未满足的医疗保健需求并为政策决策提供信息。
