Use and perception of Smoking Cessation in Traditional Medicine: A Survey of Korean Medical Practitioners

Abstract

Objectives : This survey assessed Korean medical doctors’ (KMDs’) use and perception of smoking cessation therapies in traditional Korean medicine (TKM) and their drawbacks. Methods : A total of 14,485 KMDs affiliated with the Association of Korean Medicine were sent surveys via email. They were asked the use and perception of smoking cessation therapies in TKM and their drawbacks: Present use of Korean medicine treatment for smoking cessation, ideal treatment for smoking withdrawal symptoms, advantages and disadvantages of smoking cessation treatments in Korean medicine were asked with closed-ended questionnaire. Results : Two hundred fifty-three KMDs (1.75%) responded to the questionnaire. According to the results of the study, more than half of KMDs (51.4%) answered that they have practiced smoking cessation therapy. The most frequently used treatments for smoking cessation were ear acupuncture (EA) (74.6%) and acupuncture (15.4%), and the most of TKM doctors said that they were the most effective treatments. The advantages of smoking cessation treatment in TKM were the fewer adverse events (53.4%), availability to stimulate acupoints continuously in everyday life (48.2%), and the possibility of controlling withdrawal symptoms. Disadvantages included the long treatment duration and the necessity of frequent visits to the doctor. The greatest disadvantage was the lack of sufficient evidence for the effectiveness of TKM smoking cessation protocols. Conclusions : Despite of the low response rate, the survey results show that the main treatment modalities for smoking cessation are acupuncture, and this was also estimated effective for stop smoking. However, to improve smoking cessation rate, the more various smoking cessation treatments should be developed.