• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify drug use by elders. Method: There were 304 participants age 65 or older included in this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire about drug use in the past 4 weeks. The questionnaire, a modification of Uhm's (2005), Lee's (2001), and Ellor and Kurz's (1982) tools, consisted of 17 questions on general and health characteristics, 17 on drug usage and 9 on behaviors related to drug misuse. Results: 85.5% of participants reported laking at least one type of prescription or non-prescription drug. 26.0% of participants reported taking only prescription drugs, 3.9% reported taking only non-prescription drugs, and 55.6% reported taking both prescription and non-prescription drugs. 17.1% of participants reported side effects from the drugs. The mean score for behaviors related to drug misuse was 7.53. Elders taking only non-prescription drugs showed more drug misuse than elders taking only prescription drugs or both. Women used more prescription, non-prescription drugs or both than man. Elders in rural areas used more non-prescription drugs than those in urban areas. Conclusion: Even though pharmacies were separated from medical practices in 2000, most older adults continue to use and misuse prescription and non-prescription drugs.

• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.206-214
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to identify the level of polypharmacy use, drug knowledge, and drug misuse behavior in the elderly, and to understand the correlation between them and their effect on drug misuse behavior. The study design was a descriptive survey study, and the participants of the study were 215 elderly people from the local community center. The research tool used drug knowledge, drug misuse behavior, and the data collection period was from February 8 to 19, 2021. The data analysis were descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. As a result of the study, a significant correlation variable for the drug knowledge of the elderly showed a significant correlation with prescription and non-prescription, r=.145 (p<0.05), and r=.-. 136, which showed a negative significant correlation (p<0.05). As for the significant correlation variable in the drug misuse behavior of the elderly, when prescription and non-prescription were combined, there was a significant correlation with r=.256 (p<0.01), and when not using drugs, r=.-.225 was negative. showed a significant correlation (p<0.01). In terms of the effect on drug misuse behavior, chronic disease =.145, prescription and non-prescription use = .233, which had a positive effect, and non-prescription = -.328, indicating a negative and significant effect. The provision of education on the safe use of drugs by the elderly should first be provided in the community. In addition, we need systematic education and social support for the transmission of correct knowledge on multi-drug use by the elderly and for health management.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.130-139
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• 2000

This study is intended to set the criteria for the classification of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and classify hospital pharmacy formulations according to the criteria. 717 hospital pharmacy formulations were collected ken the Center for review and evaluation of health insurance, and national provincial offices. Hospital pharmacy formulations were evaluated based on the 'Guidelines on the Hospital Pharmacy Formulations (Notification No. 2000-46)'by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Drug classification advisory committee was composed of twelve medical and pharmaceutical specialists, and suggested opinions on the drug classification. Among 717 formulations, 651 drugs $(90.8\%)$ satisfied the basic conditions for the hospital pharmacy formulations. 312 formulations $(43.5\%)$ were classified as drugs for the disinfection and tests. For the rest of them, 231 formulations were classified as prescription drugs whereas 108 drugs were as non-prescription drugs. 56 non-prescription drugs were included as hospital formulations, because there were no therapeutic alternatives. Iu sum 599 drugs $(83.5\%)$ were suggested as hospital pharmacy formulations. The study also recommends pharmaceutical companies to produce drugs of limited commercial value, and doctors to change their unique prescribing behavior in order to prevent the abuse of hospital pharmacy formulations.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2014

Unused medication disposal is a problem due to the cost of disposing as well as potential risk of inadvertent dosing. Investigating medication returns is expected to suggest areas for targeting interventions to reduce medication waste. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine types of medications and identify the expiration date of the medications returned to the community pharmacies through "Drug-Take Back" program. Method: From October 10, 2012 to November 14, 2012, the medications returned to the 58 community pharmacies in Korea were examined. Results: A total of 22,160 g of pill medications were collected; 52.8% for prescription drugs and 47.2% for non-prescription drugs, respectively. The weight of the expired pill medications was more than 5 times that of the non-expired pill medications. On the other hand, 6,168 ml of liquid medications were returned; 80.0% for prescription medication and 20.0% for non-prescription medications, respectively. Of the total oral liquid medications, the volume of the expired medications was more than 5 times that of the non-expired medications. Conclusion: The majority of medications returned to the community pharmacies were prescription drugs rather than non-prescription drugs. In addition, most of the drugs were expired when they returned.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate drug classification system in Korea and other developed countries. Laws and regulations of Korea regarding the system were retrieved from sources posted in Ministry of Government Legislation. We also reviewed previous research reports performed as part of government's effort to reform the system The system in the foreign countries was retrieved from the official homepage operated by each country's government. There have been two research funded by Korean government, which strongly suggested that the system should be reformed. However, we found that the system was never reformed and still effective. Drug classification system in US and most western countries consists of two categories, i.e., prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs except UK, which classifies into three categories: Prescription Only Medicines, Pharmacy Medicines, and General Sales List Medicines. Interestingly, in Japan, non-prescription drugs are further classified into three groups: Group 1, 2, and 3. Recently, Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) in Korea proposed a plan to reclassify all the approved drugs according to purportedly rational and scientific criteria. However, the plan does not include reform of the existing laws and regulations, which appears that it is just one-time action rather than a sustainable administration backed up by law. Therefore, it is recommended that Korean MOHW take appropriate action on laws and regulations with regard to the system to meet global harmonization standard.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the status of drug misuse and abuse in community-dwelling elders. Methods: The participants in this study were elders who were 65 years or over, and lived in ChungNam province. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: All of the participants reported taking both prescription and non-prescription drugs, and 78.4% used two or more kinds of drugs. Of the elders, 74.5% reported that they did not receive any education about drug misuse and abuse. The mean score for behaviors related to drug misuse was 8.76. Conclusions: Results indicate that many elders take medicine frequently, but they do not have any knowledge about drugs and possible side effects. This lack of knowledge might mean that they continue to use and misuse prescription and non-prescription drugs. It is important that elders be provided with precise information about medicines.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2000

This study was designed to figure out current situation of use of non prescription drugs and psychological factors of high school girl students on drug use, and conducted from Nov. 1 through Nov. 20. 1998. 536 girl students were randomly selected for this study. Symptom Check list-90-Revision questionnaires used for interview. The data obtained were analyzed by SAS program. The results are as follows: 1. 94.8% of students had experiences of using more than one kind of drug; lenitive(57.8%), digestant(74.1%), remedy for colds(84.9%), antibiotic(9.3%), stimulant(3.2%) remedy for constipation(22.4%). 2. Students had experiences of using non prescription drug, lenitive(88.1%), digestant(91.7%), remedy for colds(57.4%), antibiotic(58.0%), stimulant(88.2%) remedy for constipation(88.3%) 3. 19.4% of students had experiences using drugs more than one time a week and 23.5% of students experienced tolerance, prescription group(11.1%) and non prescription group(88.9%) and 21.4% of students were keeping some medicine who experienced tolerance. 4. The scores of Symptom Check list-90-Revision of students' were higher than Kim's standard group and the psychological states were worse than Kim's standard group. 5. There were significant differences among groups(no use of drug, use of less than three kinds of drugs, use of more than three kinds of drugs) in Symptom Dimension without Paranoid Ideation and Phobic Anxiety and between using group and non using group of drug in Psychological factors on Drug use by lenitive, antibiotic, and stimulant.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs and their interactions with prescription drugs in adults visiting a community pharmacy. Method: The subjects were 151 adults aged over 20 years visiting a community pharmacy in Asan-si from December 16th 2011 to February 1st 2012. We used a survey questionnaire. The survey inquired about the prevalence and the details of any OTC drug use and the characteristics of the study subjects. The drug interaction classification system from Lexicomp's Lexi-interact data fields was used to identify OTC drugs likely to have clinically significant interactions with prescription drugs. Results: The patterns of OTC drug use were related to thirties (from 30 to 40 years old), female gender, higher education, non-smoking, sometimes use of alcohol, and self-perceived normal health status. The most commonly used OTC drug category was antipyretic-analgesics (n=104, 53.3%), and the most commonly used ingredient was acetaminophen (n=67, 64.4%). The biggest motivation for taking OTC drugs was suggestion by pharmacists, reported by 55.6%. After reviewing each patient's prescription drugs and OTC drugs, 14 patients (36.8%) of 38 patients using prescription drugs were taking drug combinations with potential for clinically significant interactions. The concomitant use of OTC drugs with prescription drugs may lead to increased potentially harmful interactions. Conclusion: It is suggested that health-care professionals should be more aware of the potential and possible interactions and take into better account their patients' OTC drug use.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.187-197
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• 1972

In spite of the fact that the system of oriental medicine still remains in the realm of 'unproven-method of treatment', no one can deny that the oriental medicine is a rich source of idea and motivation for the discovery of new drug from natural sources. However, non-scientific, mystic hypothetical system of oriental medicine refuses to be revealed scientifically. For the purpose of drawing useful parameters for inductive reasoning of the system, a new approach which comprises statistical analyses of prescription was attempted in this study. One hundred and thirty two ginseng-compounds prescription in 'Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyon', one of the most popular formularies of oriental medicine in Korea, were analysed by multivariate analysis technique. The results revealed ginseng from many points of view, e.g., therapeutic indications, dose, and compatibility, etc. Among these, the most striking coincidence with scientific achievements of modern pharmacology, is the fact that the oriental medicine has characterized ginseng already from remote ancient times as neither a specific curative nor an aphrodisiac, but a non-specific adaptogenic drug for general infirmity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-212
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• 2010

The prescription sheets for outpatients from July 2008 to June 2009 from 7 community pharmacies in Ulsan City were surveyed for the anti-inflammatory drug (AID) prescription pattern. The AID prescription rate of pediatricians and ENT physicians were 30.0% and 34.8%, respectively. The oral steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) were prescribed as much as 3.9% by pediatricians and 10.3% by ENT physicians. The chiefly prescribed oral SAID was prednisolone in pediatric clinics and methylprednisolone in ENT clinics. Meanwhile the prescription rate of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was 22.5% by pediatricians and 21.4% in ENT physicians. The most favorable NSAIDs were propionate derivatives in both clinics. In case of externally-applied SAIDs, the prescription rate of pediatricians was 3.6% and that of ENT physicians was 2.8%. Among them, nasal spray, inhalant and gargle formulations for upper respiratory infection (URI) treatment occupied 35.8% of externally-applied SAIDs in pediatric clinics and 59.7% in ENT clinics. Further, it was observed that ENT physicians favored much stronger SAIDs in Group III of ATC classification (75.4% of externally-applied SAIDs) than pediatricians (49.2%). In the survey of AID combination rate, pediatric clinics showed much lower rate (1.4% of total AID prescriptions) than ENT clinics (7.5%). Among them, the combination rate of oral SAID and oral NSAID by ENT physicians (52.2% of total AID combinations) was much higher than pediatricians (36.6%), which might be over-prescription of AID agents. In conclusion, the AID prescription rate as well as AID combination rate, especially in SAID prescriptions, was much higher in ENT than pediatric clinics, which implies the higher confidency on AID drugs of ENT physicians even though the severity of patient's symptom could be considered.