Abstract
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are major causes of care burden in patients with dementia. Integrative care, including Western medicine (WM) and Korean medicine (KM), can be an attractive option for this condition. To investigate the experience and perceptions of dementia care; experience, knowledge, and perceptions of management for BPSD; the need for guidance of integrative care for BPSD management, KM doctors were surveyed. A total of 137 KM doctors completed the survey. Most institutions where the participants worked were able to provide integrative care services (88.32%). The rate of referral for dementia patients from the WM to KM departments was also highest in the convalescent hospital setting (94.92%), while the rate was lowest in the public health center setting (38.46%). The common purpose of KM treatments for patients with dementia included “psychological symptom treatment” (37.23%); however, the number of referrals from WM to KM departments for BPSD management was relatively few (25.64%). Participants perceived that knowledge about KM or integrative care for BPSD of non-KMD personnel working at the same institution was generally low. Based on these results, facilitating mutual exchange between WM and KM can help establish integrative care for dementia management in Korea.
Highlights
According to survey responses obtained from 137 KM doctors (KMDs) who were currently treating patients with dementia, KMDs working in a convalescent hospital setting treated dementia patients most frequently (21 patients or more per month, 47.54%) and had the highest proportion of inpatients with dementia (75% or more, 47.54%)
The rate of referral for dementia patients from the Western medicine (WM) department to Korean medicine (KM) departments was highest in the convalescent hospital setting (94.92%), while the rate was lowest in the public health center setting (38.46%)
The results indicate that KM treatment, such as acupuncture, is being attempted as an additional option for improving cognitive impairment where conventional medicine has limitations [3]
Summary
Dementia is characterized by cognitive impairment that significantly interferes with functions of daily living and is commonly caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. As a leading cause of the disease burden, approximately 50 million people were living with dementia in. 2018 worldwide, and this number is expected to reach 152 million by 2050 [1]. The total annual cost for dementia patients was estimated to be, on average, USD 30,554 per patient [2], and the cost is expected to gradually increase [1]. Recent studies have emphasized the multiple etiologies of dementia, the importance of multidisciplinary management and lifestyle modification [3,4,5]
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