DOI: 10.3886/e237655v2
title: Korea Health Panel Data (2015–2018) for Analyzing Medical Utilization of Cancer Patients

description: Cancer remains a leading
cause of mortality worldwide, and patients frequently utilize traditional
medicine (TM) or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage
cancer-related symptoms. While previous research has demonstrated that TM and
CAM may alleviate specific conditions in cancer patients, evidence regarding
their economic impact remains inconclusive. In Korea, traditional Korean
medicine (TKM) operates alongside Western medicine (WM) under a formal
licensing framework, yet certain CAM practices remain outside the purview of
licensed TKM practitioners. This study aimed to investigate the
use of TKM in patients with cancer and its costs and to confirm the role of TKM
by revealing the correlation between WM costs and non-professional CAM costs. Korean Medical Panel
Data (2015–2018) from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs were
analyzed. T-tests were conducted to compare TKM use and associated WM and CAM
costs among cancer patients. Correlation and generalized linear model (GLM) analyses
were employed to account for participant characteristics, and ordinary least
square (OLS) was used to assess the effect of TKM use on quality of life. The
analysis identified 321 cancer patients, comprising 150 individuals who had used
TKM at least once and 171 were non-users. TKM was utilized an average of
2.41±7.22 times per patient, incurring mean costs of 26.27±96.04 USD. TKM use
did not significantly affect WM or CAM costs; however, TKM and CAM costs were
positively correlated, and higher TKM costs were associated with decreased
quality of life. Although TKM utilization and its costs were not significantly
related to WM costs, this may reflect the use of TKM for indications beyond
cancer treatment. In addition, since TKM costs tended to be independent of WM
costs, TKM represented an additional financial burden for cancer patients,
which may affect their quality of life. Therefore, future measures should be
developed to alleviate the economic burden of cancer patients.
description: Weight variables are not available in the dataset.
description: Response Rates: The response rate varied each year. In the final survey conducted in 2018, the retention rate of the original panel was 53.8%.
description: Presence of Common Scales: The structure was designed differently depending on the type of questions.
description: The first phase of the Korea Health Panel (2008–2018) ensured national representativeness by using the 2005 Population Census as the sampling frame. The additional sample drawn in 2012 was based on the 2010 Population Census. To reflect the practical realities of survey implementation, the sample included only general households residing in enumeration districts (EDs) across the 16 provinces and metropolitan cities, excluding special enumeration areas such as islands, special facilities, and dormitories.
description: Korea Health Panel survey participants residing in South Korea. Smallest Geographic Unit: Town / Township
description: computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI); face-to-face interview; unique authoring, dissemination, or processing information