Development of Clinical Pathway of Korean Medicine for Managing Patients with Asthma

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a clinical pathway (CP) of Korean medicine (KM) for managing patients with asthma to standardize clinical practice and improve quality of care.Methods: The CP was developed through a literature review, a survey on current KM asthma management, and multidisciplinary expert consensus. A draft CP was prepared and revised through Delphi validation using CVR, consensus, convergence, and stability indices.Results: The final CP presents two versions (KM clinics and hospitals), tailored to outpatient and inpatient care settings, and includes diagnostic evaluation, initial assessment, treatment (herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, Chuna, and education), and monitoring. Both time–task matrix and algorithm versions were developed to provide a clear and intuitive visualization of the clinical process, incorporating referral criteria for Western medicine consultation.Conclusions: This CP offers a standardized model for KM asthma care and may enhance treatment outcomes, resource utilization, and patient satisfaction.