• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2016

Objective: The visually impaired have limited access to health care services and related information, and thus, they can have serious hurdles against properly taking medications. Despite that it is important to improve self-care ability of the visually impaired for correct medication use, there have been few studies investigating their needs for health care services in Korea, particularly focusing on proper medication usage. This study is to explore safety-related issues regarding mediation usage among the visually impaired based on in-depth interview. We particularly focus on any obstacles for safe use of medicines including experience on medication-related adverse effects in order to provide preliminary evidence for policy measures to improve proper medication use among the visually impaired. Methods: Study sample was visually impaired individuals who resided in Seoul area and were registered in the National Association of Visually Impaired. The association helped the process of recruiting the study participants. In-depth interview for each study participants was conducted. Each interview was recorded and later converted into a written script to extract core contents for the analysis. Results: The study participants comprised of three women (42.9%) and four men (57.1%). One was in his 20's, and there were four participants in 30's and two in 40's. Fully impaired participants were majority (5 out of 7). Limitation to physical access to health care providers and health information were the key factors to hamper safe medication utilization among the study participants. Difficulty reading medication information and may take the wrong medication or incorrect doses of medication, resulting in serious consequences, including overdose or inadequate treatment of health problems. Visually impaired patients report increased anxiety related to medication management and must rely on others to obtain necessary drug information. Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to pursue accurate medication adherence in this special population. This article reviews literature illustrating how severe medication mismanagement can occur in the visually impaired elderly and presents resources and solutions for pharmacists to take a larger role in adherence management in this population. Conclusion: The visually impaired had difficulties reading medication information and identifying medicines, and took incorrect doses of medications. Public support for safe medication use and medication management among the visually impaired is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.235-248
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• 2018

Purpose: This qualitative study examined the participation in ICT-based management from the perspectives of patients with chronic diseases. This study was conducted as one of several studies evaluating the effectiveness of chronic disease management in the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Methods: Focus group interviews were used as its guiding methodology. Group interviews with 16 patients were carried out using semi-structured interview questions developed from a literature review and discussion with researchers. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 11 sub-themes were extracted through a comparison of the concepts and semantic analysis, and finally, four themes were derived: "Satisfied with systematic management of health care", "Leading in health care", "Understanding the pattern of blood pressure and blood sugar change" and "Adherence to existing health care habits". Conclusion: This study is meaningful in that it used qualitative analysis through FGI to evaluate the effects of an ICT-based chronic disease management project. Based on this study, a mixed-method design study and an intervention study among patients with metabolic syndrome is proposed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.756-769
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• 2017

Purpose: To identify the effects of a smart program for the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (SP-PCI) on coronary disease-related knowledge, health behaviors, and quality of life. Methods: A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was utilized and 48 participants (experimental=22, control=26) were recruited from a university hospital in Gyeongsang area from May to December, 2016. The 12-week SP-PCI consisted of self-study of health information using smart phone applications (1/week), walking exercise (>5/week) using smart band, feedback using Kakao talk (2/week), and telephone counseling (1/week). Patients in the control group received usual care from their primary health care providers and a brief health education with basic self-management brochure after the PCI. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program through descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, and t-test. Results: After the 12-week SP-PCI, the experimental group showed higher levels of coronary disease-related knowledge (t=2.43, p=.019), heart-related health behaviors (t=5.96, p<.001), regular exercise (Z=-4.47, p<.001), and quality of life-MCS (t=3.04, p=.004) and showed lower levels of stress (Z=-3.53, p<.001) and sodium intake (t=-4.43, p<.001) than those in the control group. There were no significant group differences in medication adherence and food intake in total energy, lipids, and cholesterol. Conclusion: The suggested SP-PCI provided easy access and cost-effective intervention for patients after PCI and improved their knowledge of the disease, performance of health behaviors, and quality of life. Further study with a wider population is needed to evaluate the effects of SP-PCI on disease recurrence and quality of life for patients after PCI.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.204-217
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• 1987

It is generally accepted that the delivery of health care is undergoing many changes specially those related to acute, contagious disease care and to the increase of chronic illnesses which can not be cured but are controlable. The health care practitioner can not be soley responsible for the control of their clients' care. Because the clients will play a vital role in controlling their illnesses, long term participation by both the health care provider and the client is necessary. Since most individuals with hypertension do not experience signs or symptoms, the disease is difficult to detect and even when diagnosed, clients do not comply well with their hypertension regimens. The noncompliant client is at increased risk for compliants involving the heart, brain, kidney and other organs. In an effort to explore methods of increasing patient participation in and adherence to treatment programs for hypertension, the researcher used health contracting to promote self care. The research questions are; 1) Will the health contracting increase compliance in health behavior and reduce the blood pressure\ulcorner 2) If clients comply with their regimens will this reduce their blood pressure\ulcorner The research design utilized in this study was a quasi-experimental design. A purposive sample, was abtained from two churches in the 1. area, consisting of 64 clients with hypertension. The data was collected from the middle of January to the 1st of September 1985. Randomization was only of the two church groups into experimental and control groups. Compliance with health behavior related to the hypertensive regimen, blood pressure and body weight were measured, compared and analyzed. In the experimental group measurements were made 6 times; one month before the education program after education program when health contracting was done and 4 more times once a month for 4 months. In the control group measurements were made 3 times; one month before the education program after the education program, and once 4 months later. There was no health contracting. The data were analyzed by t-test, Pearson correlation and ANOVA according to purpose of the study. The result of this study may be summarized as follows: The result related to the hypothesis on the effect of health contracting are as follows: H$_1$; “The hypothesis that the experimental group, with a health contractual agreement will demonstrate increased compliance levels for health behavior than the control group” was supported(t＝-5.29, df＝62, p＝.000). H$_2$; “The hypothesis that the experimental group, with a health contractual agreement, will demonstrate a greater reduction in blood pressure than the control group” was supported (for systolic blood pressure t＝2.72, df＝62, p＝.009, for diastolic blood pressure t＝1.95, df＝62, p＝.050). H$_3$; The hypothesis that the greater the compliance of the client with health behavior the lower the client's blood pressure will be was partially supported (for systolic pressure r＝-.2981, p＝.008, for diastolic pressure r＝-.1720, p＝.087). From the examination of the results of this study it can be concluded that the interaction between the nurse and the client, contracting to define goals and reinforcing compliant behavior, leads to improved compliance with health care behaviors and thus to an increase in the effectiveness of nursing care. Further consideration need to be given to the inclusion of the concept of health contracting in primary nursing and to further research in this area.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.443-453
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to define the concept for psychological insulin resistance in the Korean population with diabetes. Methods: The Hybrid model was used to perform the concept analysis of psychological insulin resistance. Results from both the theoretical review with 26 studies and a field study including 19 participants with diabetes were included in final process. Results: The preceding factors of psychological insulin resistance were uncontrolled blood glucose and change in daily life. The concept of psychological insulin resistance was found to have three categories with 8 attributes such as emotional factors (negative feeling), cognitive factors (low awareness and knowledge, low confidence for self-injection) and supportive factors (economic burden, dependency life, embarrassing, feeling about supporters, feeling of trust in, vs mistrust of health care providers). The 8 attributes included 30 indicators. Conclusion: The psychological insulin resistance of population with diabetes in Korea was defined as a complex phenomenon associated with insulin therapy that can be affected by emotional factors, cognitive factors, and supportive relational factors. Based on the results, a tool for measuring psychological insulin resistance of Koreans with diabetes and effective programs for enhancing insulin adherence should be developed in future studies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.822-830
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze effects of a community-based case management program for clients with hypertension living in the community. Methods: The research design was a one group pre and post-test design with 30 participants with hypertension who agreed to participate in the 8-12 week case management program provided by case managers from the National Health Insurance Corporation in 2002. Data were collected three times, before and after the case management services, and 6 months later. Outcomes included changes in blood pressure, knowledge of hypertension and daily life practices, including alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise, and medication adherence. Results: Repeated-measures ANOVA and post-hoc tests of means revealed significant differences before and after service for systolic blood pressure, daily life practices (monitoring body weight and BP, low salt and cholesterol and high vegetable diet, and stress-relief practices), and exercise. The goal for medication adherence was attained after service. Significant improvements from baseline to 6 months after service were observed in measures of salt and vegetables in diet. There were no significant differences on hypertension knowledge, alcohol consumption or smoking behavior between before service and after, and at 6 months. Conclusion: The findings provide preliminary evidence that case management intervention can have positive outcomes on BP control, daily life practices, exercise, and medication adherence for clients with hypertension. However, additional interventions are needed to sustain long-term effects.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.178-185
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• 2017

Objective: Because of communication difficulties, the hearing-impaired face many disadvantages throughout their lives. One of those is limited access to health care services, particularly medication service. Though they suffer from problems related to taking medication properly, there have been few studies on their actual condition of medication use in Korea. This study is to investigate any obstacles to properly taking medications and, therefore, to suggest preliminary evidence for policy measures to improve safe medication use among the hearing-impaired. Methods: Study participants consisted of hearing-impaired individuals living in Seoul. We also interviewed two sign language interpreters in order to illuminate health care state of the hearing-impaired. In-depth interview for each study participant was recorded and was translated into a written script for analysis. Results: Study participants were comprised of four women (66.6%) and two men (33.3%). There were one participants in 20's, two participants in 30's, one 40's, and two 50's. Sign language interpreters were all women. One was in her 30's and the other was in her 40's. Communication difficulties have been found to be key barrier to use medication safely. A negative image of pharmacists also hinders safe medication usage, lowering access to local pharmacy and leading discretional self-medication. This article provides pharmacists with solutions to promote adherence in this population. Conclusion: The hearing-impaired had limited access to medication-related information as well as using services in a hospital and local pharmacy due to their disability. Institutional improvement for safe medication usage among the hearing-impaired is necessary.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2021

Background: The objective was to assess the knowledge level, attitude, and practice of health care workers towards standard precautions, and to identify the related factors. Furthermore, it was attempted to identify the proportion of having the experience of needle stick injuries (NSIs) and associated factors among participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a teaching hospital among 233 health workers using a self-administrated questionnaire. The questionnaire included eight knowledge items, seven practice items, and five attitude items. Based on the mean score of each category, responses were grouped into "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory". Univariate, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Results: The mean age of the participants 32.95 (SD ± 9.70) and 62.2% of them were women. 57.5% of the staff had a satisfactory level of correct knowledge (>5 correct answers), 37.3% had a satisfactory positive attitude (>3 correct answers), and 30.9% had a satisfactory practice (>3 correct answers) towards standard precautions. The occupation was one of the predictors as doctors were less likely to have satisfactory knowledge and practice compared to nurses (OR = 0.269, 95% CI: 0.10-0.70 and OR = 0.248, 95% CI: 0.08-0.77, respectively). Out of 174 participants, 31.6% of them reported experiencing NSIs and support staff were 71% less likely to experience NSIs compared to nurses & paramedics. Conclusion: The findings revealed a substandard adherence of standard precautions among participants, which highlighted the necessity of the provision of a periodic, tailored training program based on the occupation and risk exposure.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.631-643
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting the life satisfaction of patients with hemodialysis in order to improve the quality of life for patients with hemodialysis. The subjects of this study are 168 patients who have undergone hemodialysis treatment in the hemodialysis rooms in D-city and C-providence. The data are collected between August 20th to September 5th, 2015. By using SAS 9.3 statistics program for data analysis, frequency, ${\chi}^2$-test, variance analysis and multiple regression analysis are conducted. Based on the analysis, it is found that family support(t=5.33, p<.001) and self-efficacy(t=3.52, p<.001) are statistically significant to the quality of life for male patients. Family support(t=2.58, p<.012) and adherence to self-care(t=4.08, p<.001) are statistically significant to the quality of life for female patients. With the study results, it suggests that nurses can help improve the affective and psychological stability of patients with hemodialysis by recognizing the factors affecting the life satisfaction of patients with hemodialysis by gender, developing and utilizing a nursing intervention.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.270-277
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• 2015

There is a lack of evidence on the impact of pharmacist interventions in diabetes care in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pharmacist counseling on clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. An uncontrolled before-and-after study was conducted at the outpatient diabetes clinic in a teaching hospital in Gyeongnam, South Korea between January 2 and November 30, 2014. A total of 37 patients were enrolled. During the study periods, the participants and pharmacists met every 2 weeks via follow-up telephone calls in addition to face-to-face meetings upon returning for care visit. At each meeting, a structured patient counseling was performed and the average duration of each meeting was 15~30 minutes. The participants were requested to record daily self-care activities. At the end of this study, patients' satisfaction on pharmacist care was evaluated using the questionnaire developed by us. Compared to baseline, significant reductions (mean${\pm}$standard deviation, p<0.05) in HbA1c were observed at each follow-up period: $-0.32{\pm}0.72%$ from baseline to 3 months; $-0.52{\pm}0.76%$ from baseline to 6 months; $-0.72{\pm}0.76%$ from baseline to 9 months. Over the same follow-up period, the proportions of patients achieving target HbA1c (defined as HbA1c<6.5%) were 3.1%, 10.3%, and 20%, respectively. The proportions of patients who never missed a dose during the same follow-up period were 43.8%, 31.0%, and 20.0%, respectively. The results from the patient satisfaction survey indicated that pharmacist counseling improved patients' knowledge about diabetes and possible drug interactions. Especially, the information on a healthy diet and lifestyle was the most satisfying. To conclude, follow-up telephone calls combined with face-to-face meetings improved clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.