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

Jieun Yu; Inhyo Park; Eunji Ahn; Hanbit Jin; Dongsu Kim; Yu, Jieun; Park, Inhyo; Ahn, Eunji; Jin, Hanbit; Kim, Dongsu

doi:10.13048/jkm.25021

JKM > Volume 46(2); 2025 > Article

Yu, Park, Ahn, Jin, and Kim: Perspectives on the Use of Traditional Korean Medicine in Severe Trauma Patients: a Qualitative Study

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2025; 46(2): 93-107.

Published online: June 1, 2025

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

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

Jieun Yu¹^{, §}

, Inhyo Park²^{, §}

, Eunji Ahn³

, Hanbit Jin⁴

, Dongsu Kim⁵^{, *}

^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 April 14, 2025 Revised May 15, 2025 Accepted May 22, 2025

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)

Participants	Gender	Age	Total Clinical Career (years)	Severe Trauma Treatment Experience (years)	Hospital Type	Specialist Status
D1	Male	40’s	15+	5–10	Acute care	KM specialist
D2	Female	40’s	15+	5–10	Acute care	KM specialist
D3	Female	40’s	15+	10–15	Rehabilitation	KM specialist
D4	Male	50’s	15+	10–15	Rehabilitation	KM specialist
D5	Female	40’s	10+	10–15	Rehabilitation	KM specialist

Table 2

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

Participants	Gender	Age	Injured Area	Duration of Hospitalization	Recipt of KM Treatment during Severe Trauma	Prior Experience of KM Treatement
P1	Male	20’s	Polytrauma Including Lung and Ribs	12 Weeks	Yes	Yes
P2	Male	50’s	Polytrauma Including Ribs and Shoulder	6 Months	No	Yes
P3	Female	20’s	Pelvis, Ribs, Lungs and Spleen	4 Weeks	No	Yes

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