Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study were to researched a Korean medicine doctors' recognition about coldness of hands and feet, and developing of korean medicine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for coldness of hands and feet. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 399 Korean medicine doctors belonging to the Association of Korean Medicine by e-mail and analyzed the answers. Results: 1. 86.86% of the respondents agreed about the necessity of CPG for coldness of hands and feet. 2. 84.2% of respondents wanted coding of Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) on coldness of hands and feet. 3. To diagnosis a coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a Subjective symptoms (98.5%), Infrared thermographic imaging device (DITI) (26.32%) Heart rate variablity test (HRV) (17.04%), Thermometer (9.77%), Cold stress test (2.76%) 4. Causing of coldness of hands and feet, the respondents considered a constitution or heredity (84.71%), stress (73.66%), lack of exercise (64.91%), irregular eating habits (51.63%), Cold meals (32.83%), depression (31.33%), etc. 5. Treating coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a herbal medicine (66.85%), acupuncture (70.7%) Pharmacopuncture (23.85%) and moxibustion (60.08%) for $10.91{\pm}8.03week$. Conclusions: We researched a Korean Medicine doctors' recognition of CPG, clinical diagnosis, treatment on a coldness of hands and feet, and policy they required.
