The Needs and Priorities for Government Grants for Traditional Korean Medicine: Comparing the Public and Traditional Korean Medicine Doctors

Abstract EN

This study was conducted to compare the need for research and development (R&D) of Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) perceived by the public and Traditional Korean Medicine doctor (KMD) in.

Survey data from 2462 people and KMD were utilized for this study.

Overall, 25.10% of the public and 90.91% of KMD answered that government grants for TKM R&D were “extremely necessary.” The majority of respondents reported that grants were needed “for the advancement of science and technology in TKM” (public, 46.28%; KMD, 34.08%).

Research regarding herbal medicine was the top priority of TKM R&D in both groups.

However, “research facilities and training for researchers (27.85%)” was a close second priority of the public, but not KMD.

Moreover, the public believed that safety from adverse effects and toxicity was a more important area of R&D in each discipline, but KMD did not find these to be important.

The public and KMD generally agreed on the need for government grants for TKM R&D, but the public was more interested in safety than KMD.

Therefore, government policy decision makers must consider opinions of both the public and KMD when planning government grants.