• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.83-96
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to grasp the opinion of Korean feminine seniors on the life support appliances for their healthy ageing: medication dispenser, video phone, activity monitor and sleep monitor. The focus group interviews, asking the usability of the appliances, were answered by each 6 feminine seniors of more than 65 years, residing in Corvallis of U.S.(group I), Cheongju(group II), and Ulsan(group III) of Korea. The results are as follows. (1) The medication dispenser proved to be very useful to all the respondents. All the seniors, who take more than one medicine a day, felt it helpful that the medication dispenser makes them to take medicines at fixed time. In addition, they hoped the medicine envelope to be developed for the dispenser use by the supply side. (2) The seniors showed interest in the manner the video phone works; to work by the voice, rather than by the finger. They expressed the hope of the video phone to display the communication contents, in consideration of their weakening hearing. (3) The seniors who live alone, especially, felt intimacy to the activity monitor, thinking as if some helpers were beside them. The fact that it can send emergency calls immediately when situations happen, gave the seniors emotional safety as a patron. (4) The sleep monitor, although essential to the serious cases without moving ability, was proved less necessary to the healthy seniors. They expressed the hope of this appliance to be evolved for the use with the mattress without bed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.61-78
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• 2021

Background and Objective: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) increases the risk of negative health outcomes, including drug-related admissions. Tools for structured medication review have been developed to ensure optimal medication use and safety. Here, we aimed to evaluate medication use review (MUR) tools for community-dwelling older patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement (PRISMA). We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 1991 to 2020, excluding tools that are specifically applied to hospitalized patients or nursing home residents. We identified the most common inappropriate medications, drug-disease interactions, drug-drug interactions and prescribing omissions presented among tools. Results: From among 9,788 identified reports screened, 60 met our inclusion criteria; finally, 27 were eligible for data analysis considering originality and up-to-dateness. Most tools presented explicit criteria (93%), and only one was specific to community-dwelling elderly. The most common PIM was tricyclic antidepressants. Use of diltiazem and verapamil in patients with heart failure and the combination of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics and warfarin were the most frequent disease-specific PIM and drug-interaction, respectively. Conclusions: Although several medication review tools have been developed for older adults, specific guidelines for community-dwelling populations remain limited. Furthermore, the list of PIMs differed among available tools. In future, specific but integrating MUR tools need to be developed for clinical practice considering this population.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to assess the safety and effect on glucose level of Bojungikgi-tang in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: To review patients' clinical characteristics and laboratory tests retrospectively, we investigated 15 hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who took Bojungikgi-tang at Kyung Hee University Korean Medical Hospital for at least one day between January 2012 and December 2022. The blood glucose levels, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), 2-hour postprandial glucose (PP2) levels, and glycated hemoglobin level, were collected to determine the effect of the Bojungikgi-tang on blood sugar changes. Furthermore, to evaluate the safety of Bojungikgi-tang, hepatic function and renal function tests were implemented, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate. Results: When Bojungikgi-tang and a standard treatment for diabetes were administered for patients with type 2 diabetes, it was confirmed that there were no statistically significant changes in FBS and PP2 levels in the analysis of each medication taken. There was no significant difference in the safety profile after taking Bojungikgi-tang. Conclusions: The combined administration of Bojungikgi-tang with standard hypoglycemic medication for patients with type 2 diabetes may not affect blood glucose levels and safety.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.44-55
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate perception of patient safety culture and safety care activity among hospital nurses and to identify factors associated with the safety care activity. Methods: A total of 399 nurses working at secondary or tertiary hospitals in B city were participated in. Data were collected using 'Questionnaire on Patient Safety' and 'Safety Care Activity Questionnaire'. Results: The mean score of patient safety culture was 3.41 out of possible 5. The mean score of safety care activity was 4.40 out of possible 5. There was a positive relation between the perception of patient safety culture and the safety care activity. Through stepwise regression analysis with 22.4% of accountability, it was found that the perception of the safety care activity was associated with communication process, a sub-domain of safety culture, marital status, experience of incidence reporting, and level of patient safety. Conclusion: The findings show the importance of communication among nurses to improve the safety care activity. To provide high quality of care for patients, it is necessary to educate nurses on fire safety, patient education, and medication safety and improve their communication skills.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.70-85
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were (1) to describe patients' behaviors to protect themselves from medical errors and their involvement in decision making on the diagnostic and treatment procedures (2) to examine whether patients' characteristics, such as age, sex, education, experience of hospitalization and/or surgery influence their self protect behaviors and involvement in decision making on the diagnostic and treatment procedures. A survey was conducted with 99 patients visited one university hospital in Seoul, Korea. A 20-item questionnaire, a 4-point Likert scale, was used to measure the degree of patients' active involvement in decision making; patients' self protect behaviors regarding medication, hospitalization, and surgery; and communication (Cronbach's alpha=0.801). SPSS 12.0 was used for the descriptive and correlation analysis. Only 6.1% of the participants were involved in the decision making process for the diagnostic tests and treatment. More patients did self-protect behaviors associated with the medication than other areas but widely varied from 18.2 to 94.3 % among various items. More people with age of 60 or older compared to people in younger age groups reported more protect behaviors particularly associated with medication. Patient education is needed to improve their active role in preventing medical errors and to promote patients' safety.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2022

Purpose: The efficacy and safety of low-dose pregabalin and alpha lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy were evaluated and analyzed. Materials and Methods: This study designed a retrospective study that included patients with diabetic neuropathic pain. From 2009 to 2022, 100 patients who suffered from diabetic neuropathic pain were included in this study. The patients were divided into group I (pregabalin 150 mg/day with alpha lipoic acid 600 mg/day) and group II (pregabalin 300 mg/day with alpha lipoic acid 600 mg/day). The visual analogue scale (VAS), medication side effects, and neurometer results were compared. Results: The mean follow-up period of the above patients was 120.23 weeks in group I and 149.05 weeks in group II. The average VAS score in group I decreased by 3.23 points, and the average VAS score in group II decreased by 2.86 points. Approximately 24.3% of group I had side effects, such as dizziness, sleepiness, and gastrointestinal trouble, while 76.7% of patients in group II had side effects. Sixtyseven patients had a neurometer examination before and after the medication, and there is no statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion: The combination of low-dose pregabalin (pregabalin 150 mg/day) and alpha lipoic acid in diabetic neuropathy had a similar clinical effect and less frequent medication side effects than regular dose pregabalin (pregabalin 300 mg/day) and alpha lipoic acid. Therefore, low-dose pregabalin (pregabalin 150 mg/day) and alpha lipoic acid should be considered in treating diabetic neuropathy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.431-444
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify nursing interventions performed by nurses working in small-medium sized hospitals. Method: Using NIC(3rd revision), the data were collected from 241 staff nurses working in 6 general hospitals. Result: Fourteen interventions were performed at least once a day. The physiological: basic and complex domain was most frequently performed. The most frequently performed intervention was medication: IV, and followed by medication-related interventions such as medication: IM, analgesic administration, IV therapy, and IV insertion. Fifty-five interventions were rarely performed. Most of them were in the family domain. ICU nurses performed interventions most often, while OBGY-pediatric units nurses performed them least. The ICU nurses performed the physiological: basic and complex, and the safety domain more often than medical and OBGY-pediatric units nurses. For the OBGY-pediatric units, the nurses were performed rarely the family domain, especially child bearing and rearing care. Conclusion: This survey has helped to figure out the nursing care in small-medium sized hospitals. These findings will help in building and improving of the standardized interventions for small-medium sized hospitals in located local provinces.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2005

A female visited the Dept. of Oriental Ophthamology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology, Dong-eui University with Facial Nerve Palsy in Herpes Zoster Oticus. She had been taking ill with chronic hepatitis B and taking western medicine. We treated a patient with only Oriental Medicine.(the herbal medication and acupuncture etc). Because she was afraid of herbal medicine -induced hepatitis, went through an examination about LFT profile regularly. The symptom of Herpes Zoster Oticus was improved and there was no abnormality in LFT profile. Through this case, we thought that it is possible to treat the other disease of the patient with chronic hepatitis using herbal medication without hepatotoxic hepatitis. But for the safety of patient and doctor in several case, we need to accumulate objective data about the side effect of herbal medications inducing hepatotoxic hepatitis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.539-544
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• 2004

Herbal medicine has been used in the Eastern world for 2,000 years, and is beneficial for numerous diseases. There have been reports pertaining to the safety of herbal medicine, but there have been few reports about herbal medicine induced liver injury in Eastern or Western medicine. Most are descriptions of hepatotoxicity of certain toxic herbs. We experienced one case of drug induced liver injury in the treatment of cerebral infarction with Chungsim Yeonja-tang. Although the patient had not used medication and Chungsim Yeonja-tang has no toxic herbs in it. patient's ALP, AST, ALT, GGT was twice elevated after 20 days on medication. This was diagnosed as drug induced liver injury, possibly due to incorrect diagnosis of Sasang constitution. So no herbal medicine was given for seven days. Then Gagam Saeng Gan-tang was given. Gagam Saeng Gan-tang have been used to treat hepatic disease and have been known to have beneficial effects. After 25 days on medication, the clinical symptoms and liver function improved. So, this case is presented to bring more attention to the toxicity of herbal medicines.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.403-412
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• 2014

Purpose: Shift work disrupts the synchronization between the human biological clock and the environment. Sleep disturbances are common for shift work nurses, and may threaten patient safety. This study was done to investigate the sleep characteristics and medication errors (ME) of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses who work shifts, and ascertain if there is an association between these factors. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire from 126 ICU nurses on three shifts. Collected data included their sleep characteristics including sleep patterns and sleep disturbances, and ME for the past 2 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in sleep duration and sleep latency according to shift. Day shift nurses had the shortest sleep duration, and their sleep latency was the longest (about 49 minutes) compared to nurses on evening and night shifts; 54% reported sleep disturbances, 16% experienced ME, and among these nurses 50% were on the night shift. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between nurses' sleep duration and ME (adjusted OR 0.52 [95% CI 0.32-0.85]). Conclusions: The results confirmed that shift work nurses in the ICUs experience sleep disturbance, and that less sleep is associated with ME.