BACKGROUND
The frequency of patients undergoing musculoskeletal surgery has been increasing with the increase in average life expectancy of the population. An aging population with sustained musculoskeletal pain and disability is the main complaint of Korean medical institutions. Recently, Korean medicine clinicians have addressed the collection and analysis of the medical utilization pattern of patients with musculoskeletal discomfort after surgery, to identify the current demographics of patients and to provide empirical evidence for Korean medicine postoperative rehabilitation strategies as well as political decisions on the healthcare coverage of Korean medicine.
OBJECTIVE
Overall, the aims of Korean Medicine Patient Registry of Postoperative Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders (KPOP-MD) are to (1) explore the general characteristics of postoperative patients with musculoskeletal discomfort and (2) evaluate the overall improvement after performing various Korean medicine treatment regimens for musculoskeletal disorders, based on a process involving the collection of nationwide registry outcomes.
METHODS
KPOP-MD will collaborate with 17 traditional Korean medical institutions and register postoperative patients with musculoskeletal discomfort. A total of 150 patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be registered in the study. After registration, we will collect personal health information from each patient, such as general socio-demographics, surgical site discomfort, anthropometrics, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at each assessment. The primary endpoint will be a change in the numeric rating scale for pain at the surgical location. The additional evaluation variables will be a change in the site-specific patient-reported questionnaires, recovery status questionnaires, other discomfort assessments, and cost data.
RESULTS
not applicable
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first prospective, multicenter, patient-based registry of postoperative patients with musculoskeletal disorders in various traditional Korean medical institutions. The results of this registry will provide valuable information on the current status of postoperative patients who receive Korean medicine treatments and evidence for reasonable decision-making in the Korean medicine healthcare system in the future.
CLINICALTRIAL
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03842098.
Use of Traditional Korean Medicine by Patients with Musculoskeletal Disorders
