• Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2018

Recently, in Korea, the importance of preparation and use of injectable drugs has been emphasized due to successive fatal accidents caused by injection infections. Parenteral nutrition (PN) has also been identified as a cause of infection. Cases of infection due to PN have been reported not only in Korea, but also abroad, and contamination occurs mainly during the preparation of PN. Because sterile preparation and compounding of injections are very important for infection control and patient safety, this article reviews the major guidelines outlined thus far. The Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2006 published guidelines and the KSHP (Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists) recently issued guidelines for the aseptic preparation of injections. In addition, as US guidelines, the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) guidelines and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) <797> are also reviewed. The recent guidelines published by the KSHP have significance in that they were adopted in accordance with the domestic reality, even though they conform to foreign guidelines, and are expected to be guidelines for hospital pharmacists performing aseptic preparation work. In addition, the Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare is considering appropriate guidelines for the safe management of medications, training staff for infection prevention and strengthening staff capacity. Furthermore, the gradual expansion of aseptic compounding facilities and human resources, as well as the provision of adequate medical costs are also considered. Based on the establishment and standardization of injectable drugs compounding guidelines for Korean hospitals, it is believed that if human resources and facilities are supported and medical charges are improved, it will be possible to expect the safer preparation and use of injections.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2014

Background: As elderly population has been increasing, pharmacists need to possess special knowledge and skills to provide enhanced pharmaceutical care for senior patients. Purpose: This study aims to systematically review on (1) the certified geriatric pharmacists (CGP) system, (2) the curriculum related to geriatric pharmacy education, and (3) the CGP's performance in terms of clinical, economic and humanistic outcomes in the U.S. Method: The information related to CGP system and curriculum was obtained through the official websites of 'American Society of Consultant Pharmacists', 'Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy' and the selected pharmacy school samples. Articles about on the outcomes of pharmacist-provided cognitive services including Medication Therapy Management were searched through PubMed. Results: To gain the CGP credential, pharmacists need 2-year experience as pharmacist in advance and take the CGP examination. This certification must be renewed every 5 year. Most pharmacy schools provide geriatric-related curriculum through didactic or pharmacy practice classes for pharmacy students and certificate or dual degree in gerontology are given on completion. Most previous outcomes research reported that pharmacists have played a role in yielding favorable results regarding clinical, economic and humanistic outcomes for nursing facilities, hospitals and community pharmacy settings. Conclusion: Considering the organized CGP certification system and concrete educational courses established the basis for pharmacists to exert their ability for senior patients of the U.S., it is suggested to build a geriatric pharmacist credential model for pharmacists to provide the increasing elderly patients with the requisite safe and effective pharmacy care in Korea.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2009

Most of families in Korea keep some medicines that has been expired or not been used for a long time, and these medicines could be causing environmental or social problems. Currently many people concerned about their health and therefore show a tendency to visit many health facilities. It eventually brings to remain more medication in home The aim of this study is to determine the drug waste minimization and drug disposal in Korean home and provide the proper guideline for them. This study were performed by visiting total randomly selected 140 homes at the Seoul area from July 23rd, 2008 to July 31st, 2008 by questionnaire. This survey comprised total 6 parts and total 22 questions. In results, 77 (55.0%) among 140 families answered to this survey. 89.6% of families keep unused medicine in the home. Most were tablet (66.3%) and syrup (19.2%) dosage type. They usually kept the unused medicine in the room (41.6%) or no certain place. 76.6% families reused the medicine and used for themselves. The reason for reuse is similar symptoms by their decision. The reason for medicine was left over is not following the prescription's direction (31.3%). They mostly dispose the unused medications by throwing into a trash can (71.4%). In conclusion, many families keeps unused medication and it could cause health and environmental problems.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.115-122
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, burnout on the attitude towards terminal care among care providers in long-term care facilities. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, data was collected from 126 care providers in long-term care facilities in Chungbuk and Kangwon province. Data were collected with self-administrated questionnaires and analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression. Findings of this study is as follows. Firstly, attitude towards terminal care was positively affected by compassion satisfaction. Secondly, the attitude towards terminal care was negatively affected by compassion fatigue. Thirdly, the attitude towards terminal care was negatively affected by burnout. In conclusion, these findings provide strong empirical evidence for the importance of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout in explaining attitude towards terminal care among care providers in long-term care facilities. Therefore, strategies to decrease compassion fatigue and burnout and improve compassion satisfaction are needed to improve the attitude towards terminal care among care providers in long-term care facilities.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.125-139
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• 2016

Biofilms are considered a complexly structured community of microorganisms derived from their attached growth to abiotic and biotic surfaces. In human life, they mediate serious infections and cause many problems in civil and industrial facilities. While it is of huge interest for scientists to understand biofilms, it has been very hard to directly analyze the various biofilms in nature. A variety of biofilm models have been suggested for laboratory-scale biofilm formation and many methods based on these models are widely used for the biofilm researches. These biofilm models mimic characteristics of environmental biofilms with different advantages and disadvantages. In this review, we will introduce these currently used biofilm model systems and explain their relative merits.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. Method: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. Results: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. Conclusion: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.144-152
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• 1996

Background : Because of introduction of nationwide health care system in 1989 and the improvement of socioeconomic status of population the number of outpatient visiting university hospital has good facilities and manpower has increased. So the waiting time for medical service at university hospital are lengthened. Particularly outpatients complain that waiting for prescribed drugs at pharmacy depart are long. Reducing waiting time at pharmacy depart door-to-door delivery system that the patients applying for door-to-door delivery receive prescribed drug at home without waiting at pharmacy depart were studied. The objective of this study is to analysis the opinion of outpatients for door-to-door delivery system, to study the appropriateness of adopting the system and to produce ideal model for the system. Method : Outpatients waiting drug at pharmacy depart were questioned about door-to-door delivery system. to find the factors affect utilizing the system the logistic regression was used. Result : 83.3% of the patients want to utilize the system without charging, and 72.9% of the patients want to utilized system with charging. 68.3% of patients with charging want to use this system because of long waiting time at pharmacy depart. 50% of patients who do not want to use door-to-door do not use this system because of incorrect delivery. The affecting factors to utilize the system were sex, waiting time, fee. Conclusion : The model for door to door delivery system. 1. door-to-door personnel reside in hospital and the patient want to utilize the system apply for the delivery with charging. 2. The applied drugs dispense at spare time. 3. Delivery company gathers drug at appointed time and delivers. 4. The delivery fee is 2,000-3,000 won. 5. To prevent from loss and changing the drug the name of patient on packet are printed and drug packet are sealed. 6. The company submit the confirm sheet which are written that the patient received drug correctly to hospital. 7. The delivery time of drug is reserved for the convenience of receiving.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.116-135
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• 1991

Few studies have been conducted on the detailed routes of medical care utilization under the National Health Insurance. This study was undertaken to identify the utilization patte군 of health care facilities among industrial workers and their dependents. One of the largest health insurance association was purposively chosen for this objective. The association had 345, 757 members as of 31 December, 1990. The study sample of 297, 948 subjects have been drawn from the membership pool on the basis of their continuous membership status during 1 January through 31 December 1990. This study has tried to identify differential utilization patterns between acute and chronic conditions, and among standard income classes. All the diagnoses were recoded in a manner to achieve the objective of this study. As for acute diseases, most age group had used one medical facility as much as by 60% except the age group of 1-4, This young age group had used over three different health facilities as much as by 10.9-15.8%. The finding suggests that some policy measures by sought for remedying the excessive/inappropriate use of services. In addition, mid-income classes(between 17 and 48) were more likely to use multiple sources of care than lower income classes(between 1 and 16) and upper income classes(above 49). This study has revealed that chronic cases are more likely to pursue multiple sources of care, however those with chronic conditions tend to use single health facility more than those with acute conditions(67.9% versus 52.4%). As many as 12.2% have visited more than three health facilities in chronic conditions, but 5.9% for acute conditions. The most likely source of care was primary clinics for both acute and chronic conditions. Compared with the role of general hospital, small-size hospitals found to play a minimal role in the care and referral of patients. This indicates the need of strengthening the function of small-size hospitals. While a minor cross utilization of western medicine and pharmacy was noted, no significant boundary crossing was identified between western medicine and oriental medicine, or between pharmacy and oriental medicine. It is too early to confirm that whether there is substitutability or cross utilization among these alternative sources of care. A further study is needed to identify these relationship.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2023

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the workload of healthcare workers (HCWs), impacting their health. This study aimed to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and identify factors associated with poor sleep among HCWs in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1000 frontline HCWs were recruited from various healthcare facilities in Vietnam between October 2021 and November 2021. Data were collected using a 3-part self-administered questionnaire, which covered demographics, sleep quality, and factors related to poor sleep. Poor sleep quality was defined as a total PSQI score of 5 or higher. Results: Participants' mean age was 33.20±6.81 years (range, 20.0-61.0), and 63.0% were women. The median work experience was 8.54±6.30 years. Approximately 6.3% had chronic comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. About 59.5% were directly responsible for patient care and treatment, while 7.1% worked in tracing and sampling. A total of 73.8% reported poor sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant associations between poor sleep quality and the presence of chronic comorbidities (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 5.24), being a frontline HCW directly involved in patient care and treatment (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.16), increased working hours (OR, 1.84; 95% CI,1.37 to 2.48), and a higher frequency of encountering critically ill and dying patients (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.95). Conclusions: The high prevalence of poor sleep among HCWs in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic was similar to that in other countries. Working conditions should be adjusted to improve sleep quality among this population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with heart failure, and to evaluate factors that influence PIM use. Method: Korean National Health Insurance claims database between January 2009 and December 2009 was used. Using 2012 updated Beers criteria, PIM use in heart failure patients aged 65 years or older was examined. Result: The incidence of PIM use in elderly heart failure patients was higher than in overall elderly patients. Among the 12,759 elderly patients with heart failure, 46.2% of study subjects were prescribed PIM(s) at least once. The number of PIM per 10 medications that patients received per patient was 1.53. The most commonly used PIMs in elderly heart failure patients were benzodiazepines (30.9%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including COX-2 inhibitors (16.3%), digoxin (9.9%), and spironolactone (9.0%). Women (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.17-1.24), medical aid (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.08-1.13), and long-term facilities (odds ratio, 2.69; 95% CI, 2.44-2.96) were revealed to be important factors associated with PIM use. In addition, patient's age also seems to influence PIM use. Conclusion: Elderly heart failure patients are at a greater risk for adverse drug events attributed by inappropriate medication use. Efforts to increase awareness of PIM use in elderly heart failure patients are needed. In addition, various comprehensive strategies and policies to identify and prevent PIM use should be established nationwide.