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. 2013 May 16:13:108.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-13-108.

Opinions on Kampo and reasons for using it--results from a cross-sectional survey in three Japanese clinics

Lydia Hottenbacher  1 , Thorolf Er Weißhuhn, Kenji Watanabe, Takashi Seki, Julia Ostermann, Claudia M Witt
Affiliations

Opinions on Kampo and reasons for using it--results from a cross-sectional survey in three Japanese clinics

Lydia Hottenbacher et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo) is often used in Japan, but very little data on its users are available. We investigated who uses Kampo, the reasons and opinions for its use.

Methods: Questionnaire survey in three Japanese outpatient clinics offering Kampo in different settings: Kampo only, Kampo and traditional Chinese medicine, Kampo and Western medicine. Before seeing the doctor, patients were asked about socio-demographic data, medical history, experience with Kampo, general health-related opinions and behaviours, opinions about Western medicine and Kampo, and reasons for Kampo utilization. Descriptive statistics and predictors for Kampo use were calculated.

Results: A total of 354 questionnaires were completed. Participants were 50.97 ± 15.60 (mean ± SD) years of age, 68% were female. Of all patients, 73% (n = 202) were using Kampo currently and 84% (297) had taken Kampo before. Questions on general health-related opinions and behaviour revealed a strong environmental awareness. The most frequent indications for earlier Kampo use were: common cold (36%), gastrointestinal complaints (30%), oversensitivity to cold ("Hi'e-sho"; 29%), stress/anxiety (21%), and shoulder stiffness (20%). Kampo users suffered more often from chronic illnesses (OR 2.88 [1.48-5.58]). Beliefs in underlying philosophy (Wu Xing (adjusted OR 3.08, [1.11-8.55]), Ying and Yang (OR 2.57 [1.15-5.73], a holistic way of seeing the patient (OR 2.17 [1.53-3.08]), and in Kampo efficacy (OR 2.62 [1.66-4.13]) were positively associated with Kampo use. So was, interestingly, conviction of the efficacy of Western medicine (OR 1.87 [1.28-2.74]). Half of the patients had a general preference for a combination of Kampo and Western treatment.

Conclusions: Most patients visiting a clinic that also provided Kampo had previous experience with Kampo. Usage was associated with beliefs in philosophical Kampo concepts and its efficacy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Opinions as predictors for Kampo use. Opinions on Kampo and Western medicine as predictors for Kampo use in a logistic regression model. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval, logarithmic scale. Black: adjusted for chronic disease (see text), grey: unadjusted. * Only patients who knew about concept, broad CI due to low number. “Western medicine” = “conventional” Western biomedicine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study centres and patient residences. Number of patients from each prefecture. Map based on public domain material [31].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Reason for choosing study clinic. Percent of valid answers per clinic. CM (traditional) Chinese medicine. Free text answers (multiple answers possible) included media/internet (n = 40), the specific demand for Kampo (38), proximity (20), recommendations from friends or family (2), and other (41).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Who selected the Kampo medication in previous use. Multiple answers possible. Percent of valid answers per clinic. * Prescription, ** Recommendation. CM (traditional) Chinese medicine.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Kampo knowledge. Patients’ self-rating of their knowledge. Percent of valid answers per clinic. CM (traditional) Chinese medicine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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