Traditional Korean and Western medicine use after industrial accidents: A hurdle model analysis

The number of injured workers using Traditional Korean Medicine (KM) soared from 752 in 2013 to 10,273 in 2023, yet this trend remains underexplored. This cross-sectional study examined the frequency and factors linked to KM and Western Medicine (WM) use among injured workers.

Data from 6,985 participants in the 2018 and 2023 waves of the Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance (PSWCI) were analyzed. A hurdle model assessed outpatient visits: logistic regression for the probability of use and negative binomial regression for visit intensity. Demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors were included as covariates.

Of 6,985 participants, 182 used KM, 5,970 used WM, and 833 reported no outpatient visits. Having private medical insurance and lower limb injuries showed higher Total Marginal Effects (TME) of both KM and WM utilization. KM use showed higher TMEs among females and those with occupational diseases but lower TMEs for injuries to other body regions. Higher WM utilization was linked to workers with disabilities, hypertension, chronic conditions, and extended rehabilitation, while the 2023 cohort, higher education and income, alcohol consumption, and re-employment were linked to lower WM use.

Between 2018 and 2023, adjusted KM utilization remained unchanged, whereas WM visits declined. KM use was positively linked to being female and having occupational diseases. WM visits tended to rise with greater medical severity yet decreased as socioeconomic conditions improved. Still, the rise in total KM claims under WCI indicates a growing demand for conservative, pain-relieving musculoskeletal care.