A Survey on Korean Medicine Doctors' Recognition and Clinical Status for the Advancement of Korean Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Cold Hypersensitivity in the Hands and Feet: Based on the 2025 Survey

Objectives: : This study aimed to investigate the current recognition and clinical utilization of the 2021 clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for cold Hypersensitivity in the hands and Feet (CHHF) among Korean medicine doctors (KMDs) and to provide a foundational roadmap for future guideline enhancement.Methods: An online survey was conducted from July 28 to August 3, 2025, targeting 626 KMDs in the final analysis process. The questionnaire covered demographic characteristics, CPG awareness, and perspectives on diagnosis, treatment, and clinical requirements for CHHF.Results: While 40.6% of respondents were aware of the CPG, active utilization was remarkably low at 1.9%, primarily due to insufficient publicity and a gap between academic content and clinical reality. Although diagnosis currently relies heavily on patients’ subjective reports (84.0%), 63.7% felt that objective diagnostic devices (e.g., DITI, ultrasonography) are necessary. Regarding treatment, 72.2% supported the inclusion of herbal decoctions in National Health Insurance. Furthermore, there was a high demand for specialized guidelines for menopausal women (75.1%) and those with mental health comorbidities (64.2%). Respondents emphasized the need for patient-oriented materials (66.9%) to prevent information distortion.Conclusions: Future CHHF guidelines should focus on digital accessibility (e.g., EMR integration), standardization of diagnostic devices, and the development of patient-centered educational content. This study is significant as it provides a practical roadmap for establishing an advanced, evidence-based Korean medicine clinical system for CHHF.