Survey of Korean Medicine Doctors' Practices in Treating Shoulder Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Shoulder pain affects 20-40% of the global population and is associated with substantial healthcare costs. This study aimed to investigate the current clinical practice for shoulder pain in Korean medicine (KM) clinics and collate the insights to suggest updates to the Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines (KCPGs) for shoulder pain. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs) from 6 March 2023 to 27 March 2023. The survey comprised 28 questions related to clinical practice, diagnosis, treatment, progress, prognosis, perception of KM on shoulder pain, and demographic characteristics. Some questions accepted multiple responses, whereas some were scaled response questions. Statistical analyses were performed on the collected data. Results: In total, 788 KMDs participated in the survey. More than 40% reported treating over 20 shoulder pain patients monthly. Diagnosis primarily relied on pain pattern, range of motion (ROM), activities of daily living (ADL), and social history. Prognostic valuation also relied on these parameters. Most KMDs used multiple treatment methods, including acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping therapy, Chuna therapy, and herbal medicine. Conclusions: KMDs adopted a comprehensive multifactorial approach toward shoulder pain treatment. Insights from this survey will help update the previous KCPG for shoulder pain.