• 의료법학
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.265-291
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• 2011

Changes in a drug's availability from prescription only to over-the-counter (OTC) status is of concern to physicians from both public health and individual patient perspectives. Government has generally been supportive of changes in medications from prescription(Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) status in Korea, however, recognizing that there are both benefits and risks to any health care intervention, health care professionals are conservative in implementing changes to either the process or structure of health care. Changes in status of a drug from Rx to OTC can represent a change in both structure and process. Cost and convenience seem to be major factors in determining whether, given the choice, patients purchase a medicine over the counter or obtain it on prescription. With current arrangements, exemption from prescription charges provides an incentive to continue to obtain products on NHS prescription even when they are available over the counter. There is therefore no simple relation between the availability of over the counter medicines and the level of prescribing of deregulated products. The appropriate use of over the counter medicines-particularly those that have only recently been deregulated-places a burden of care on community pharmacists and calls for closer working relationships with general practitioners. In particular, systems for referral and for recording details of both prescribed and over the counter medicines need to be developed, and a direct route needs to be established for community pharmacists to report adverse drug reactions to over the counter products. Reclassification of prescription medicines-by making them available through pharmacies without a prescription-provides the opportunity for consumers to purchase a wider range of medicinal products without making a demand on NHS resources. There is, however, no simple relation between availability of over the counter medicines and demand for NHS prescriptions. In the late 1980s the UK government fuelled the over the counter market by making it easier to reclassify certain medicines from prescription only status to allow over the counter sale in pharmacies. To explore the influence of deregulation of medicines on NHS prescribing, this article presents analyses of consumer behaviour in using medicines and prescribers' attitudes to over the counter medication and collates findings from research. Policy makers should be aware that patients' expectations in relation to OTC medicines may be in conflict with evidence-based practice.

• 유통과학연구
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Purpose: The primary purpose of this research is to understand the potential influence of various factors, namely, pharmacies' recommendations, families' and friend recommendations, price, country of origin, and past experience, on the purchasing decision of nonprescription medicines in the Jordanian context. Research design, data, and methodology: A survey was conducted among 220 Jordanian consumers through a self-administered questionnaire. Further, the authors utilized the mall intercept method as a convenience sampling technique to recruit the respondents who shop at different pharmacies. The data were analyzed using various statistical techniques, such as frequency and percentage for describing the demographics of the sample, Cronbach's alpha for testing the reliability of the data, skewness and kurtosis to check the normality of data, and further, multiple regression using SPSS version 25 was performed for examining the hypotheses. Results: The findings revealed that pharmacists' recommendation, recommendations from friends and family, and price positively influenced consumers' purchase decisions of OTC medicines in Jordan, whereas consumers' past experience and country of origin had no influence on consumers' purchasing decisions of OTC medicines. Conclusions: The paper examines the influence of various factors on customers' purchase decisions of OTC medicines, draws conclusions, and makes recommendations. Also, research limitations are mentioned.

• 한국인터넷방송통신학회논문지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2023

시각장애인은 의료 서비스나 의약품 정보에 대한 접근이 어려워 올바른 의약품 복용이 쉽지 않다. 그에 대한 보건법이 마련되어 있지만, 방안이 통일되어 있지 않으며, 모든 일반의약품에 적용되어 있지 않다. 따라서 일반의약품 복용 방법의 사각지대에 놓인 시각장애인을 위해 이미지 인식 기술과 바코드, QR 인식 기술을 이용한 일반의약품 복용 방법 제공애플리케이션을 계획했다. 본 연구에서는 시각장애인의 이미지 인식을 위한 카메라 촬영 환경 기준과 UI 및 UX 화면을 최적화하여 시각장애인의 접근성이 편리하도록 개선한다. 연구를 통해 얻은 결과를 애플리케이션에 적용하여 제공한다면 시각장애인의 올바른 일반의약품 복용법 습득에 도움을 줄 것이다.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

Herbal medicines are widely used for centuries to treat illness and improve health in Asia and the use of these remedies has become a worldwide form of alternative therapy. However, there is very limited evidence from randomized controlled trials to support the efficacy of the vast majority of herbal products. Of the commonly used herbal medicines, systemic clinical experiences and promising experiments in animals have found potential evidence of efficacy for six herbal medicines (Unkei-to, Hachimijio-gan, Keishi-bukuryo-gan, Toki-shakuyaku-san, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to, Sairei-to) in the treatment for female reproductive dysfunction. Because herbs may contain potent bioactive substances, the physician should have an opportunity to outline more stringent regulation, similar to over-the counter drug.

• 한국의사학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.99-112
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• 2020

In this study, we examine the changes to Korean medicine that occurred when 'proprietary medicines' (賣藥) swept through the pharmaceutical market during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945 C.E.). Proprietary medicine during the Japanese colonial period took various forms including ready-made, over-the-counter, patent, and nostrum type pharmaceuticals. This paper examines how Korean medicine, which was the dominant form of medicine during the Joseon Dynasty, was forced to adapt to the rise of proprietary medicines. We found that the prescription of Korean medicine herbal decoctions became more like proprietary medicine in the way that they were formulated. In addition, prescriptions in Korean medicine books were reformulated with prescriptions and medicines from outside the tradition. Proprietary medicines, many of which were made with secret recipes handed down in a family, also attracted attention. Such prescriptions were made famous through advertisements and further influenced future Korean medicine doctors. New prescriptions took advantage of the trust and authority existing in traditional Korean medicine by introducing ginseng and traditional medicinal herbs such as deer antler velvet (鹿茸, Cervi Parvum Cornu). This paper argues that proprietary medicine of the Japanese colonial period distorted the concept of traditional herbal medicine.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.146-154
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• 2011

어린이용 시럽제의 우식유발능에 관해 알아보기 위하여 국내에서 시판 중인 일반의약품 어린이용 시럽제 8종에 대한 생체 외 연구를 사행하였다. 어린이용 시럽제 8종을 실험군으로 10% 자당을 양성 대조군, 인공 타액을 음성 대조군으로 하였다. 실험군 및 대조군의 pH를 측정하고 시료용액 20 ml의 pH를 7로 맞추는데 필요한 2 N NaOH의 부피로 완충능을 측정하였다. Ostwald 파이햇을 시료용액 2 ml가 통과하는데 걸린 시간을 측정하여 비점조도를 계산하였다. Streptococcus mutans의 배양액을 접종 후 48시간 배양하여 pH의 변화를 측정해서 산생성능을 살펴보았다. 하루에 3번 시료용액에 유치 법랑질 시편을 20분간 넣은 후 인공타액에 보관하는 pH 순환모텔을 5일간 적용하였고 표면미세정도의 변화를 측정하여 유치 법랑질 침식능을 검사하였다. 본 연구 결과로부터 어린이용 시럽제는 자체 산도 및 완충능, 점조도, 유치 법랑질 침식능에서 모두 우식유발 가능성이 높음을 알 수 있으며 산생성능에서도 3종를 제외한 어린이용 시럽제가 양성대조군보다 높게 나타남으로써 우식 유발가능성이 높음을보여준다.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.226-233
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• 2020

Background: Currently, the over-the-counter (OTC) drug market is flooded with series OTC products. The pharmacist must follow the OTC product's indication, given that the most critical role of a pharmacist is the right selection and recommendation of an OTC drug for a patient's symptoms in a dynamic pharmacy environment. Therefore, pharmacists must know each OTC product information precisely to avoid any ambiguity due to several OTC series brand names. Objective: We evaluated the risk and effectiveness of OTC series medicines. Methods: From December 5 to December 18, 2019, an online survey was conducted among 145 community pharmacists. Results: A total of 51.0% of pharmacists knew the difference between products named in a series and could explain it spontaneously. Only 0.7% of the pharmacists admitted to not knowing the difference between products named in a series. While 42.9% of pharmacists who owned a pharmacy opined that the OTC medicines named in a series have health benefits for patients, 50.0% of employee pharmacists admitted that they were rather confused because there are several OTC series medicines. In contrast, 69.2% of pharmacists who owned pharmacies and 72.2% of employee pharmacists admitted that OTC series drugs with names similar to popular OTC drugs sell better. Conclusion: While pharmacists had different opinions regarding OTC series drugs per employment status, they opined that OTC series are more helpful in pharmacy management than completely new brand names. Further studies in this regard are needed.

• Journal of Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.29-34
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• 2008

Good Laboratory Practice(GLP) is becoming more and more important in the research and development of Oriental Pharmacy(OP) and its globalization. If a OP product is to be registered as Over-the-Counter(OTC) drug and enter international markets, the safety and efficacy studies conducted according to GLP requirements is necessary. The article introduces the content of GLP requirements and the recent development of GLP. The safety and efficacy assessment for OP or herbal medicines under GLP are also covered. This paper also briefly describes the areas that should be covered by GLP regulation and the areas that do not need to follow GLP requirements.

• 약학회지
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.146-153
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• 2016

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs refer to medicines that are generally safe when used according to the product label. We aimed to assess and reflect upon changes in perception of health and health-related demands by decades in Korea according to the consumption and sales trends of OTC drugs. This study was conducted by literature search on the production and sale rankings of OTC drug market in Korea. Changes in the OTC drug market were analyzed and organized by decades to evaluate changes in drug demands and the influence of national and societal factors. There was a specific trend in the most popular drugs by decades. In the 1950s, drugs of top necessity were antibiotics and helminthics. In the 1960s, the pharmaceutical industry quickly grew and invigorators, such as Bacchus$^{(R)}$, Alps$^{(R)}$, Aronamin$^{(R)}$, were top manufactured drugs. Popularity of these invigorating drinks and vitamin products continued until the 1990s. In 1990s, sales of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ketotop Plaster$^{(R)}$, Trast Patch$^{(R)}$), and in 2000s, gum disease medicine (Insadol$^{(R)}$) and liver and intestine supplement (Ursa$^{(R)}$) were prominent. However, after the separation of prescribing and dispensing in 2000, the sales of OTC drugs decreased dramatically from 58.7% of the total market share in 1990s to 39.6% in 2000 and this trend has continued. In 2012, thirteen OTC drugs were allowed to be sold in convenience stores, and as the sales of health functional foods have been expanding beyond pharmacies, sales of invigorators and nutritional supplements in pharmacies have continued to decrease. As government's drug expenditure will continue to grow, reclassification of OTC drugs based on established safety information and deliberate team efforts on continued development of OTC drugs to meet the health demands of Koreans are required by the healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical industries, and the government.

• 약학회지
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.333-345
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• 2012

A product labelling is one of key tools in ensuring that a patient uses drugs safely and effectively in self-care without professional support. This study aimed to explore the readability and comprehensibility of the information contained on two package inserts of medicines. Two package inserts were tested with first year college students. Fifty-one potential consumers underlined words they could not understand and answered 10 scenario questions. Any differences among groups with different characteristics were statistically tested. Secondly, the readability of two package inserts was assessed with comparison to the level of the 6th grade Korean textbooks. As results, more than 80% of participants properly replied to straightforward questions concerning indication, dosage, duplication, use in pregnancy and contraindication, and 73% about formulation. Less than half answered correctly in multiple choice questions about pediatric use (41%) and side effects (35%). Little discrepancy was observed in the comprehensibility between participants' characteristics. Drug inserts contained about 20% more professional-level words than 6th grade textbooks. In conclusion, Korean consumers may face challenges to understand drug information due to professional terminology and outdated expressions in the current package inserts. To secure safe and effective use of over-the-counter agents, greater efforts should be made to develop more consumer friendly labels. In the other hand, educational supports are required to prepare consumers in a proper level of knowledge for the safe use of drugs.