Factors associated with the use of pharmacopuncture in addition to acupuncture in South Korea: An analysis of a nationally representative panel

Pharmacopuncture is a widely used Korean medicine treatment, but its usage patterns and associated factors remain unclear. This study aimed to explore factors related to the use of pharmacopuncture alongside acupuncture and investigate the associated medical cost burden in South Korea. We analyzed the 2019 Korea Health Panel Annual Data, focusing on adult outpatients who received acupuncture alone or both acupuncture and pharmacopuncture (PA). We employed individual-level and visit-level approaches, using chi-square tests, t-tests, and binary logistic regression for analysis. Among 1280 patients, 10% were PA users. Logistic regression showed that PA use was significantly associated with being aged 30 to 49 (odd ratio [OR] = 2.531; P = .009), having an education level of elementary school or lower (OR = 2.571; P = .011), and being in the 2nd (OR = 1.914; P = .041) or 3rd income percentile (OR = 1.925; P = .020). Of 13,101 medical visits, 5.80% involved PA, with PA visits incurring significantly higher costs than acupuncture only visits (KRW 4438.33 vs 14,700.16; P < .001). Arthritis, shoulder disorders, and other joint conditions were more prevalent among PA visits (P < .001). This study reveals socioeconomic factors influencing pharmacopuncture use and highlights potential health inequalities in its access in South Korea. The higher costs associated with PA visits suggest a need for considering its inclusion in health insurance coverage. Future research should focus on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and standardization of pharmacopuncture to address unmet healthcare needs and inform policy decisions.