Research Article

Characteristics of Herbal Medicine Users and Adverse Events Experienced in South Korea: A Survey Study

Table 6

Behaviours and opinions related to herbal medicine after experiencing adverse events.

Question (number of respondents)Response (%)

Did you report adverse events? Yes14 (30.4)
No32 (69.6)

To whom did you report adverse events  TKM institution10 (71.4)
WM institution3 (21.4)
Pharmacy3 (21.4)
Public health centre2 (14.3)
Ministry of Health and Welfare2 (14.3)
Korea Consumer Agency1 (7.1)
KIDS1 (7.1)
MFDS1 (7.1)

Why did you not report adverse events? I did not know where to report20 (62.5)
I felt it was unnecessary7 (21.9)
I felt lazy5 (15.6)

How did you deal with adverse events  Consulted with TKM doctors20 (43.5)
Nothing specific13 (28.3)
Requested refund12 (26.1)
Consulted with WM doctors7 (15.2)
Consulted with pharmacist3 (6.5)

What did you think after the adverse events? I need to see an expert17 (37.0)
Drugs can have adverse events and I am going to continue taking herbal medicines14 (30.4)
I cannot trust herbal medicines anymore and I am not going to take herbal medicines13 (28.3)
I do not know2 (4.3)

responses possible. TKM: traditional Korean medicine; WM: western medicine; KIDS: Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management; MFDS: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.