• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.62-84
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to compare patient's satisfaction on the pharmacy services after introducing the new system of separation of dispensing from prescribing medicines, between those filling their prescriptions from the pharmacy nearby hospitals and those from the pharmacy in their resident areas. To measure patient's satisfaction, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 354 outpatients who received prescriptions from any of the three university hospitals located in In-Cheon city. Study results showed that geographic accessibility to pharmacy was a main attribute to select pharmacy. Size of the pharmacy and availability of prescription drugs are the second major reasons for pharmacy selection for the patients from the pharmacy nearby hospital, whereas patronage is the second major reason for those from the pharmacy in resident areas. Overall satisfaction was higher among the patients from the pharmacy in resident areas than those from the pharmacy nearby hospitals, mainly due to better facilities(waiting area, public telephone, etc), kindness, cleanliness, shorter waiting time, and pharmacist's concern about patient's health. On the other hand, the patients of the pharmacy nearby hospitals showed low satisfaction because of long waiting time and the lack of pharmacist's knowledge and information about patients' health status and medication history. Patients visiting the hospital that has pharmacy-hospital cooperation system showed higher satisfaction as compared to those visiting the hospital without such system. This study provided an empirical evidence that it would be more advantageous for patients to receive pharmacy services from pharmacies located in their living areas than from pharmacies nearby hospitals. This implies that there is a strong need for adequate strategies to enhance the role of pharmacies in resident areas under the new system of separation of dispensing from prescribing medications.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.99-105
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate relative bioavailability of the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in emulsion and three liposome formulations after a single oral administration (60 mg/kg) into rats. Emulsion formulation of CoQ10 was prepared by conventional method using Phospholipon 85G as an emulsifier, and three liposome formulations (neutral, anionic, and cationic) of CoQ10 were prepared by traditional lipid film hydration technique using Phospholipon 85G, cholesterol, and charge carrier lipids (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane chloride salt for cationic liposome and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate monosodium salt for anionic liposome). Mean particle size of all CoQ10-loaded liposome was less than a micron, and size distribution of the liposome population was homogeneous. Bioavailability of CoQ10 in emulsion was 1.5 to 2.6-fold greater than liposome formulations in terms of $AUC_{0-24\;h}$. $T_{max}$ was 3 h when administered as emulsion while it was greater than 6 h in liposome formulations. Notably, it was approximately 8 h in cationic liposome. $C_{max}$ was highest in emulsion and was significantly decreased when administered as liposome. Charged liposome showed even lower $C_{max}$ than neutral liposome, especially in cationic liposome. In conclusion, therefore, it is suggested that clinicians and patients consider bioavailability issue a primary concern when choosing a CoQ10 product, especially when very high plasma level is required such as in the treatment of heart failure and Parkinson's disease.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.183-202
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• 1998

This study is to investigate patient's choice of health care and the demand for Korean traditional medicine care in rural areas in 1995. It tried to evaluate the effect of out-of-pocket expenditure, travel time, and waiting time on improving care-seeking and substituting clinical medicine for pharmacy care and Korean traditional medicine care in rural areas. The statistical model of this study is conditional logit to estimate effects of choice-specific and individual-specific characteristics on the choice of type of services. This study used, as explanatory variables, average out-of-pocket payment, travel time, and waiting time of services required to use the services. The model was empirically tested using data from 1995 Korean National Health Survery. The results showed that rural Koreans responded to out-of pocket payment and travel time. Increases of out-of-pocket payment and travel time decreased the probability to choose care in rural Korea. Rural Koreans were more likely to seek care than others with low out-of-pocket payment and travel time. The probability of choosing Korean traditional medicine were higher among the members of the households with higher education level and older persons, while they were lower in the households with large family than others compared with the probabilities of choosing public health facilities. The result of this study implies that policy on use of health care in rural Korea can be focused in managing travel time and out-of-pocket payment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2016

Objective: Prescription rate of dabigatran and rivaroxaban, which are the direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), has increased. We have analyzed the prescription trend and medication use of dabigatran and rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods: It was retrospectively studied from September 2012 to April 2014 using the electronic medical records and the progress notes. Patients with NVAF (n=424) were evaluated on the medication use, prescribing preferences, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and the availability of prescription reimbursement of dabigatran (n=210) and rivaroxaban (n=214). Results: Dabigatran was prescribed higher than rivaroxaban (23.3% versus 7.5%, p<0.001) in the neurology department, but rivaroxaban was prescribed higher compared to dabigatran in the cardiology department (87.4% versus 74.3%, p<0.001). Dabigatran was prescribed more than rivaroxaban in high risk patients with CHADS2 score ${\geq}3$ (44.3% versus 31.3%, p=0.006). Dabigatran patients seemed to have more ADRs than patients with rivaroxaban (25.2% versus 11.2%, p<0.001), but no serious thrombotic events and bleeding were found. Only 35.6% (n=151) were eligible for prescription reimbursement by the National Health Insurance (NHI). Bridging therapy (86, 31.5%) and direct-current cardioversion (57, 20.2%) were main reasons of ineligibility for reimbursement. Conclusion: Prescription preferences were present in choosing either dabigatran or rivaroxaban for patients with NVAF. Inpatient protocols and procedures considering patient-factors in NVAF need to be developed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2005

This study was intended to contribute towards the development of proper drug use system for pediatric patients by investigationg problems related to their medication and identifying drugs that need to be developed into low dosage tab-lets or syrups for pediatric use based on our analysis on the prescriptions for pediatric inpatients from 22 hospitals in South Korea on a day of Feb. 2003. The usage rates in the proportion of less than 0.5 and 1 per unit of oral solid formulation were $29.9{\%}$ and $54.3{\%}$ in hospitals with 1000 beds or more, 36.5 and $60.6{\%}$ in hospitals with 500 to less than 1000 beds, $60.8{\%}$ and $81.6{\%}$ in hospitals with less than 500 beds. Of the 63 oral solid formulation products that were used two or more times in the proportion oi less than 0.5 units, 34 products ($54.0{\%}$) were used as such despite the fact that syrups and lower dosage tablets or capsules were available in the market, and 24 products ($38.1{\%}$) so even when syrup formulations were available. Therefore, it would be desirable that pharmacist communities in charge of dispensing identify the most frequently crushed drugs or those that require special attention in choosing dispensing powders or solutions and develop dispensing guidelines that can be adopted by pharmacists in practice. Moreover government-led policies are needed to encourage development and manufacture of the formulations for pediatrics and to correct unsound prescription and dispensing practices such as using crushed forms of certain oral solid formulations although alternative formulations are available in the market.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.211-219
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• 2012

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in the treatment of extensive diseases related to various symptoms; inflammation, pain and fever. NSAIDs work by blocking prostaglandin synthesis, but adverse drug events (ADEs) have been increasing dramatically such as gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation and stenosis, a kind of serious ADEs. Therefore, NSAID-related ulcer complication guidelines have been announced containing various risk factors and symptoms. Thus, this study aims to evaluate of NSAID usage and appropriateness for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer complication based on American journal of gastroenterology (AJG) guideline 2009. Further, the study suggests Korean guideline for prevention of NSAID-related ulcer compared to AJG guideline. For this study, data was collected through electronic medical record (EMR) at Seoul national university of Bundang hospital. The primary end point was a composite of NSAID-related ulcer risk factor, types of NSAIDs, co-prescribed NSAID ulcer prevention drugs and NSAID-related ulcer after taking NSAID. The risk factors include over 65 years, high dose NSAID, previous ulcer history and taking drugs (e.g. aspirin, anticoagulant and steroid) causing ulcer. If a patient has 3 or 4 factors, that patient was classified high risk group. And if 1 or 2 factors that patient was classified moderate risk group. The patient who has no risk factor was in low risk group. I studied 8,120 patients who received NSAID from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2009. High risk group was 16(0.2%), moderate risk group was 4,364(53.7%), and low risk group was 3,740(46.1%). The results show that high risk group should be prescribed COX-2 inhibitors with ulcer prevention drugs, and moderate or low risk group need traditional NSAIDs with ulcer prevention drugs. This may be different with 2009 AJG guideline because AJG guideline suggested taking COX-2 inhibitor alone in moderate group or taking traditional NSAID alone in low risk group could get higher ulcer complication. The results indicated that choosing preventive drug is important in case that how many risk factors the patients have. The proper drugs would be helpful for safe and effective NSAID usage in each patient group.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1009-1017
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• 2009

This study was performed to analyze the preferences and actual use patterns of university students (96 males and 187 females) for bakeries in the Gyeongju area of Korea. A total of 283 questionnaires were used for the examination and statistical analyses were completed using SPSS Win (14.0) by descriptive analysis and $x^2$-tests. The most favored bakery products were prepared items such as sandwiches and toast. Most of the respondents (92.9%) typically used bread for snacks, and the main places of purchase were well-known bakery shops (38.5%) in which females preferred well-known shops more than males. In addition, the respondents liked milk (79.9%) and jam (39.7%) as the beverage and food, respectively, to eat with bread. When choosing bread, the main selection point was taste (80.2%) and the cost per person per visit was usually 1,000~5,000 won (63.3%). The consumption frequency rate revealed that 49.1% of the students consumed bread as a snack, while 24.8% consumed bread with other foods 1~2 times a week. In the case of purchasing bread as a snack, females had more purchases than males (p<0.05). Students who lived in their own home (p<0.001) with a commute time to school greater than 30 minutes (p<0.001) had the highest number of bread purchases as a snack. The most important point for bread purchase was hygiene (4.60). Overall, for the development of bakeries in the Gyeongju area it seems imperative to address the bakery shop environment, including such aspects as hygiene, price, and new bread product development for students.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.143-162
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• 1998

This is a study for the construction of nursing care based upon the Korean attitude toward medicine. Factors which were investigated include the source of nursing care, the reason for choosing care, the type of heath care chosen, the accessability of caregivers, and the desired location of death. The population examined in this study consisted of 517 adults distributed in six large cities and 191 adults from five rural communities. Data was analyzed using frequency, percent, Cronbach alpha, $X^2$ - test, t - test, F - test and scheffe post hoc contrast with an SAS program. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. Among sources of nursing care used, first rank rated-pharmacy(54.4), private hospital(18.2), general hospital(8.4), folk remedies in house (5.0), chinese hospital(2.8), prayer(2.8) and others(8.4), and the reasons for choosing nursing care rated 'the easiest method' (63.6), 'the best method'(15.7), 'reliable'(10.8) and 'lower cost burden'(4.6) in order of preference. 2. The type of nursing care chosen rated western medicine(6.80), chinese medicine(6.15), folk remedies(5.46), faith remedies(3.51) and divination remedies (1.41). There were significant differences in the effect recognition degree to various kinds of medicine. 3. The difference of the type of nursing care chosen according to general characteristics showed that urban residents were higher than rural community residents(t=2.15, p=0.0320) in western medicine, and urban residents, women, and singles were higher than rural community residents(t=2.04, p=0.0414), men (t= -2.89, p=0.0039), and married(t=2.50, p= 0.0126) on folk remedies. With repect to age and education those 21-30, under 20 and 31-40, graduated from college and graduate school were higher than above 51, above 61 (F = 7.76, p = 0.0001), graduated from elementary school(F=4.39, p=0.0006) on folk remedies. In other categories, rural community residents, women, younger people. Christians were higher than urban residents ( t = -2.73, p=0.0305), men(t= -4.15, p=0.0001), older people (F=2.48, p=0.0307), Catholic, Buddhist, or atheist (F= 70.18, p=0.0001) on faith remedies. Those graduated from high school and Buddhist were higher than unschooled, graduated from middle school(F=3.18, p= 0.0075), atheist, Catholic or Christian(F=18.32, p=0.0001) on divination redemies. There were significant differences concerning age and education level. 4. The accessibility of caregivers rated 'caregivers should be nearby if the patients need them' (50.0), 'caregivers must be there all day (24 hours)' (39.6), 'caregivers must be there at night only'(5.0), 'caregivers must be there during the day only'(2.6), 'caregivers always should visit during visiting hours' 0.4), 'caregivers don't need to be there at all' (1.2). The frist rank of suitable caregivers were rated as spouse(66.6), mother(24.2), daughter (3.6), daughter-in-law(1.9), and the reasons of thinking thus were rated as 'the most comfortable' (81.5), 'people should correctly with regards to family they'(7.1), 'the easiest' (5.4), 'take good care of the patient' (5.1) and 'lower cost burden' (0.4). 5. The desired location of death rated as the following: his/her house (91. 6) to the hospital(8. 4). A person going to encounter death in the hospital wanted his house(78.5) over the hospital(21.5), and a person dieing in the hospital prefered his house(52.9) over the hospital(47.1) as a funeral ceremony place. The following suggestions are made based on the above results. 1. A sampling method that enhances the re presentativeness should be used in regional and/or national related research and replicated to confirm the result of this study. 2. This study should be used to understand the Korean view of medical centers and to meet the expectations of patients in Korean nursing. 3. Research on the Korean traditional view of humans and expectations of the sick, health and illness, and health behavior, the perception of dying, the decision to heal, and the view of general medicine should continue to be conducted continuosly so that Korean nursing theory can be advanced on these concepts.