Study on the Awareness of the Traditional Korean Medicine for the Preparation of Globalization

Abstract

Purpose: "Traditional Korean Medicine"(TKM) has been managed in Korea government healthcare system. The excellence and distinctiveness of TKM is recognized by the international community, and listed in the 2009 UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this study, we will see how many foreigners know about TKM by characteristics of the respondents.Methods: For research, we developed a self administered questionnaire. The survey was conducted to 105 people who participated 2014 The International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health(2014.5). Among these questionnaires, we used only 100, except that has not been filled in. The questionnaires are composed of awareness of TKM, TM holds nations, TM method of treatment and general characteristic of the respondents (gender, nationality, age etc). To measure TKM awareness by general characteristic of the respondents, we used descriptive statistics and chi-square test technique.Results: 67% of the respondents were female, 55% are American, 12% are Chinese, 8% are Japanese and the rest of them are from Europe or Australia etc. 21% to 25% of responders age was in twenties and fifties. More than half of the respondents have heard of TKM. Among them male respondents were 60.6% higher than female, and the ratio of Asian is higher than other regions. The older responders are, the higher awareness of TKM they have.Conclusion: TKM has been managed by national health care system and systematically formulated. More than half of the international community aware of the TKM, especially the country where has similar culture and close in geographical distance. As the excellence and distinctiveness of TKM were recognized by the international community, Korea government and relevant organizations have to do their best to promote TKM internationally.Contact: Yunhui Baek, yunhuibk11@kiom.re.kr http://dx.