Telemedicine and the Use of Korean Medicine for Patients With COVID-19 in South Korea: Observational Study.
JMIR Public Health Surveill
; 7(1): e20236, 2021 01 19.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2141281
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it has since spread worldwide. The Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) established the COVID-19 telemedicine center of Korean medicine (KM telemedicine center) in Daegu and Seoul.OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to describe the results of the KM telemedicine center and the clinical possibility of using herbal medicines for COVID-19.METHODS:
All procedures were conducted by voice call following standardized guidelines. The students in the reception group obtained informed consent from participants and they collected basic information. Subsequently, Korean Medicine doctors assessed COVID-19-related symptoms and prescribed the appropriate herbal medicine according to the KM telemedicine guidelines. The data of patients who completed the program by June 30, 2020, were analyzed.RESULTS:
From March 9 to June 30, 2020, 2324 patients participated in and completed the KM telemedicine program. Kyung-Ok-Ko (n=2285) was the most prescribed herbal medicine, and Qingfei Paidu decoction (I and II, n=2053) was the second most prescribed. All COVID-19-related symptoms (headache, chills, sputum, dry cough, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, dyspnea, chest tightness, diarrhea, and loss of appetite) improved after treatment (P<.001).CONCLUSIONS:
The KM telemedicine center has provided medical service to 10.8% of all patients with COVID-19 in South Korea (as of June 30, 2020), and it is still in operation. We hope that this study will help to establish a better health care system to overcome COVID-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
/
Telemedicine
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
/
Infant, Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
JMIR Public Health Surveill
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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