• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.23-33
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• 2008

Objectives : The study was accomplished to find out how korean medical doctor take oriental medical service for hypertension patients in clinical practice Methods : Survey questions were developed based on consensus of 2 clinician, 2 oriental internal medicine specialist and 1 acupuncture specialist. The list of the Korean oriental medical doctors is provided by the Association of the Korean Oriental Medicine. The questionnaire were distributed via E-mail to 9,465 members of Korean oriental medical doctors from 19th August 2008 to 11th September 2008. One thousand sixty three(11.24% of 9,465) members completed answer and the computerized data were analyzed by SAS statistical program Results : Fifty-one percent of Korean oriental medical doctors has experienced hypertension treatment. The most common medical diagnosis method was pattern diagnosis(64.2%). Saam and five element acupuncture were as frequent as 32.3% of acupuncture prescription principle. The most common acupuncture points were region of shoulder and back acupoints inclued $GB_{21}$, $GV_{14}$(25%). The most common herbs prescription principle were 'constitution prescription'(35.4%), 'pattern prescription'(12.6%). The most common opinion for the revitalization of oriental medical service were 'medical insurance system of herbal medicine'(28.8%) and 'research of oriental medical treatments in hypertensive patients'(26.8%). Conclusions : This survey provides unique insight into the perception, treatment method of the Korea medical doctor at oriental medical service for hypertension patient. This study provides a wealth of information and a fresh raft of questions which will inform future research and policy-making.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.185-189
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• 2023

Purpose: Limited research has been conducted on the prevalence of non-medical opioid use (NMOU) in Korean cancer patients who have received prescription opioids (PO). This study aimed to identify the potential proportion of NMOU in cancer patients who had been prescribed opioids in Korea. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 14,728 patients who underwent cancer-related treatment between January 2009 and December 2019, using electronically collected data from a tertiary hospital in Korea. Information regarding the type and duration of opioid use was gathered. A detailed review of medical charts was carried out, focusing on patients who had been prescribed opioids for over 60 days beyond a 12-month period following the completion of their cancer treatment (long-term PO users). Results: Out of the 5,587 patients who were prescribed PO and followed up for at least 12 months, 13 cases of NMOU were identified, representing 0.23% of the patient population. Among the 204 long-term PO users, the rate was 6.37% (13/204). The most commonly misused opioids were oxycodone and fentanyl. For the group confirmed to have NMOU, the median duration of prescription was 1,327 days in total. Of the 13 patients diagnosed with NMOU, 9 reported withdrawal symptoms, 3 exhibited craving behavior for opioids, and 1 experienced both symptoms. Conclusion: This study found that 0.23% of cancer patients who had been prescribed opioids in Korea demonstrated NMOU. Despite this relatively low rate, careful monitoring is necessary to minimize the risk of NMOU in this population, especially among long-term PO users.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.427-433
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• 2013

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting adherence in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus before and after a clinic based patient incentive program in Incheon. Methods: An observational follow-up study was done for 28,355 patients in one registered group and 245,598 patients in a non-registered group from March 16th 2009 to December 31th 2010 in Incheon. The registration, mandatory laboratory tests and number of clinic visits were collected by merging the Incheon Chronic Disease Management System data and the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) data. As a measure of patient adherence, we used a variable of prescription days from the NHIC and defined above 80% of average prescription days as an appropriate patient adherence. Repeated measures analysis of variance and logistic regression were used to analyze the differences in patient adherence and factors affecting adherence. Results: The changes in prescription days for the registered group are larger than for the non-registered group. In the logistic regression model, including the variables with sex, age, income status and number of clinic visits, the registered group exhibited a higher Odds ratio in the patient adherence. Conclusion: This study revealed the association between registration and appropriate patient adherence in patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Objectives : Korean national health insurance data is a useful real-world data representing whole medical bills submitted to Health Insurance Review Agency. This study aims to understand recent benefit trend of insurance herbal preparations for treating bronchiectasis(disease code J47) utilizing insurance data. Methods : We reviewed national health insurance claims data from 2013 to 2017 which have main diagnosis or sub diagnosis code of J47 and with the record of prescribing insurance herbal medication. Frequency analysis was performed to analyze the most frequently prescribed prescription. Results & Conclusions : Both the number of claims statement(770 to 1,746cases) and patients(266 to 484) of insurance herbal preparations increased considerably from 2013 to 2017. Top 10 preparations based on the number of claims statement were 'Samso-eum', 'Yeonkyopaedok-san', 'Socheongryong-tang', 'Bojungikgi-tang', 'Hyangsapyungwi-san', 'Yijin-tang', 'Saengmaek-san', 'Jaeumganghwa-tang', 'Ojeok-san' and 'Gungha-tang'. Top 10 preparations based on the number of patients were 'Samso-eum', 'Socheongryong-Tang', 'Saengmaek-san', 'Yeonkyopaedok-san', 'Haengso-tang', 'Hyangsapyungwi-san', Yijin-tang', 'Jaeumganghwa-tang', 'Bojungikgi-tang' and 'Hyeonggaeyeongyo-tang' in respectiv order. Claims of top 10 frequent preparations occupied more than 60% of total claims. We hope this finding to be utilized as basic data for future research of evidence-based bronchiectasis treatment utilizing Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.528-531
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• 2002

In Traditional Oriental Medicine, there has been a growing needs for computerized diagnosis expert system, which can implement pre-diagnosis and correct the errors of practitioners. Therefore, we developed the expert system (KHU-PIPE : Kyung Hee University - Pattern Identification and Prescription Expert) for diagnosis and treatment. It has three characteristics as following. First. this system has the knowledge base which modified the standardized data designed by Chinese government during 1980s. Second, it provides the objective and standardized diagnosis as the results of pattern identification and their appropriate prescriptions for treatment. Third, it is applied to both LAN system and internet. Furthermore, it can be used as an educational methods for the practices of pattern identification and prescription, and provide the objective criteria for clinical studies and promote the Traditional Oriental Medicine as an evidence-based medicine.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the program for the control of acute respiratory infections(ARI) in children in a Korean rural area(Yonchon county). Evaluating the program, we focused on the pattern of prescription and appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by the health personnel who had participated in the ARI Control Program. It was implemented at the primary health care setting in rural area, such as district hospital, health subcenters, and health posts. During six-months programme monitoring period, medical records were reviewed and collected data were analysed by the pediatrician, research coordinator of this study. The baseline data were collected from medical records of the same period(six months) of one year before the implementation of the ARI programme. The study results were as follow : 1. Common cold was the most prevalent disease(78.7%. 594 cases) among the all ARI cases (755 cases). The less frequent cases were bronchitis(11.9%), acute pharyngitis(5.2%), and pneumonia(1.8%). 2. Significant reduction in the use of antibiotics was observed after the programme implementation. Ninety three(15.7%) of 594 common cold cases were received antibiotics compared with 282(35.2%) of 802 in the baseline period. In the cases of bronchitis and acute pharyngitis, the reduction rates were 15.1% and 23.2% respectively compared to the baseline period. 3. Mean duration of antibiotics prescription was 1.81-1.75 days, similar to the baseline data. 4. The appropriateness rate of antibiotics prescriptions were 84.3%(common cold), 35.6% (bronchitis) and 28.2%(acute pharyngitis). In the case of pneumonia, the antibiotics prescription was compatible to the criteria developed. 5. Pediatrician prescribed antibiotics more appropriately for all cases than general practitioners in health sub-center, and nurse practitioners in health posts. 6. Antibiotics therapy was shown to be of no effect in the treatment of the all ARI cases. At the 5 and 10 days check-up of common cold cases after visits, proportion of improved patients were 58.3% in the antibiotics-used group and 51.4% in the control group. In the other cases of ARI, the patterns of response were similar to common cold. None of the differences in outcome between the antibiotics-used and control group was statistically significant. This ARI programme may have substantial a substantial impact on antibiotics use at the public health institutions(district hospital, health subcenters, health posts) which are of major domain for primary health care in Korean rural areas.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 2017

As social interest in acne treatment has grown, various external preparations have been developed and studied. So, we investigated the external prescription which can treat acne in medical classics, then reviewed and divided it by dynasty. The data for analysis of Herbal formula was taken from 'medicine Dictionary of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions(中醫方劑大辭典)'. 31 external medicines were searched, 3 were before song(宋) dynasty, 11 were Song(宋) dynasty, 11 were Yuan(元) dynasty, 7 were Ming(明) dynasty and 7 were Qing(淸) dynasty. The recipe and usage were only making them pill(丸) and paste(膏) using grinded medicinal herbs, then rubbing to face. As the age developed, unique manufacturing process(i.e fermentation method), and usage(i.e time-based usage, herbal medicine extracts for wash) were proposed. The external application with oriental medicine for acne used with Angelicae Gahuricae Radix(n=12), Bletillae Rhizoma(n=8), Syzygii Flos, Saposhnikoviae Radix(n=7) and so on. In particular, Bletillae Rhizoma was searched with high frequency in this study, but it was not included or studied in patent composition. The results of this study will provide basic data for future experiments and clinical studies.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.70-86
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• 2022

Objectives: This study attempted to provide prescriptions that can be used according to the classification of menopausal disorders in order to increase the clinical utilization of CaPSPI (Diagnostic System for Climacteric and Postmenopausal Syndrome Pattern Identification). Methods: Delphi method survey was conducted for expert consensus on the Pattern Identification that could be used for each prescription by selecting frequent prescriptions based on the literature researched on the prescription of Korean medicine used for women with menopausal disorders. 11 experts participated in the questionnaire for posterity and 7 experts for sasang constitution. The survey was divided into the main prescription that can be mainly used for the patterns and the minor prescription that can be used although the suitability is somewhat low. Expert consensus was obtained through the second survey, and the pattern classification of prescriptions that were not confirmed here was confirmed through a face-to-face meeting. Results: There were 56 prescriptions mainly used for treatment for menopause, 45 for posterity and 11 for Sasang constitution. There were 69 identifications of 45 posterity prescriptions and 17 classifications of 11 Sasang constitutional prescriptions including major and minor patterns. By pattern identifications, the number of major/minor prescriptions was as follows. 肝鬱 14/5, 腎陰虛 8/2, 腎陽虛 4/1, 肝腎陰虛 2/7, 腎陰陽兩虛 3/1, 心腎不交 6/3, 心脾兩虛 15/2, 心火 7/6. Conclusions: In the future, by accumulating and analyzing the data on the diagnosis and treatment using CaPSPI, the clinical status of Korean medicine for menopausal disorders can be reviewed, and it can be used as the basis for the clinical practice guidelines for menopausal disorders. In addition, it is thought that analyzing the results of the diagnosis of pattern identifications and the prescription of Sasang constitution can be helpful in research on the posterity and Sasang constitution.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Background: Recognizing the seriousness of the misuse and abuse of medical narcotics, the South Korean government introduced the world's first narcotic management system, the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS). This study aimed to explore the recent one-year opioid prescribing patterns in South Korea using the NIMS database. Methods: This study analyzed opioid prescription records in South Korea for the year 2022, utilizing the dispensing/administration dataset provided by NIMS. Public data from the Korean Statistical Information Service were also utilized to explore prescription trends over the past four years. The examination covered 16 different opioid analgesics, assessed by the total number of units prescribed based on routes of administration, type of institutions, and patients' sex and age group. Additionally, the disposal rate for each ingredient was computed. Results: In total, 206,941 records of 87,792,968 opioid analgesic units were analyzed. Recently, the overall quantity of prescribed opioid analgesic units has remained relatively stable. The most prescribed ingredient was oral oxycodone, followed by tapentadol and sublingual fentanyl. Tertiary hospitals had the highest number of dispensed units (49.4%), followed by community pharmacies (40.2%). The highest number of prescribed units was attributed to male patients in their 60s. The disposal rates of the oral and transdermal formulations were less than 0.1%. Conclusions: Opioid prescription in South Korea features a high proportion of oral formulations, tertiary hospital administration, pharmacy dispensing, and elderly patients. Sustained education and surveillance of patients and healthcare providers is required.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2017

Background: South Korea has experienced problems with excessive pharmaceutical expenditures. In 2010, the South Korean government introduced an outpatient prescription incentive program to effectively manage pharmaceutical expenditures. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the outpatient prescription incentive program and pharmaceutical expenditures. Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database, which included medical claims filed for 22,732 clinics from 2011-2014 to evaluate associated pharmaceutical expenditures. We performed multiple regression analysis and Poisson regression analysis using generalized estimating equation models to examine the associations between outpatient prescription incentives and the outcome variables. Results: The data used in this study consisted of 123,392 cases from 22,372 clinics (average 5.4 periods follow-up). Clinics that had received outpatient prescription incentives in the last period had better cost saving and Outpatient Prescribing Costliness Index (OPCI) (received: proportion of cost saving, ${\beta}=6.8179$; p-value < 0.0001; OPCI, ${\beta}=-0.0227$; p-value < 0.0001; reference = non-received). Moreover, these clinics had higher risk in the provision of outpatient prescription incentive (relative risk, 2.772; 95% confidence interval, 2.720 to 2.824). The associations were higher in clinics that had separate prescribing and dispensing programs, or had professional staff. Conclusion: The introduction of an outpatient prescription incentive program for clinics effectively managed problems with rapid increases of pharmaceutical expenditures in South Korea. However, the pharmaceutical expenditures still increased in spite of the positive impact of the outpatient prescription incentive program. Therefore, healthcare professionals and health policy makers should develop more effective alternatives (i.e., for clinics without separate prescribing and dispensing programs) based on our results.