Current Status and Updates of Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines: A 2024 Review

초록

BackgroundKorean Medicine (KM) has been a vital part of healthcare, providing holistic treatment approaches for diverse conditions. With the growing demand for integration with conventional medical frameworks, the development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) has become essential. These guidelines aim to ensure consistent and effective care while enhancing the credibility of KM in the global healthcare community.MethodsThis review comprehensively analyzed the latest KM CPGs to examine their distribution across diseases, levels of evidence, and strengths of recommendations. The analysis categorized guidelines into key clinical focus areas, assessed the supporting evidence, and evaluated the strength of recommendations provided.ResultsKM CPGs primarily address musculoskeletal, symptom-based, mental, and nervous system disorders, reflecting critical areas of clinical application. Most recommendations are supported by moderate evidence, with high-strength (Grade A) recommendations encompassing treatments such as acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, and chuna.ConclusionsWhile KM CPGs have made significant advancements in standardizing care and providing evidence-based recommendations, challenges remain in their implementation, particularly in balancing standardization with KM's individualized treatment approach. Continuous refinement of guidelines and integration of robust research are necessary to optimize KM's role in evidence-based healthcare.

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