Objectives
In sasang constitutional medicine, it has been known that diagnosing Sasang constitution correctly is mostly important. We had developed an Integrated Sasang Constitutional Analysis Tool (SCAT) β-version using face, voice, body shape and questionnaire before. The purpose of this study is to suggest whether SCAT β-version is reliable or not.
Methods
We collected 371 subjects from 6 oriental medical clinics. We analyzed the Sasang constitutional diagnostic results using Kappa and coincidence rates between experts in Sasang constitution and SCAT β-version which was developed on the basis of face, body shape, voice and characteristics and symptom questionnaire data.
Results
The agreement rates between SCAT β-version and experts was 69.3% in total, and 73.2%, in Taeeumin, 70.8% in Soeumin, and 56.9% in Soyangin in detailed. The Kappa was 0.510 (p value<.000). There was an increasing trend of agreement rates and kappa value corresponded to increasing constitutional probability. When The constitutional probabilities were changed from below 40%, to over 40%, 50%, 60%, the agreement rates corresponded from 50.8% to 79.5%, 91.4%, 95.7% respectively.
Conclusions
A SCAT combined with a constitutional probability seemed to help experts to diagnose a patient’s Sasang constitution correctly.
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