• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.155-166
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• 1993

Geukhachukeutang is used to cure blood stasis in Oriental Medicine. In order to investigate medical value on intravascula coagulation and contusion blood stasis, the effect of Platelet number, Fibrinogen quantity, Prothrombin time, FOP density, Paw edema increasing rate after prescribing Geukhachukeutang concentration liquid orally were observed. The obtained results are summerized as follows ; 1. Platelet number and Fibrinogen quantity are significantly increased, and Prothrombin time and FOP density are significantly decreased by Geukhachukeutang after inducing intravascula coagulation. 2. Platelet number and Fibrinogen quantity are not significantly increased, and Prothrombin time is not significantly decreased either, by Geukhachukeutang after inducing contusion blood stasis but Paw edema increasing rate is remarkablely decreased in three or four hours of the groups of prescribing. According to the above results, Geukhachukeutang will be used for contusion blood stasis and Intravascula coagulation effectively owing to being accepted as a favorable operation on Platelet number, Fibrinogen quantity, Prothrombin time, FDP density and Paw edema increasing rate.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.3-13
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• 2013

Chronic noncancer pain is a significant and growing public health challenge in the United States. Lacking effective alternative interventions for effective chronic noncancer pain management, many physicians have turned to opioid pharmacotherapy. Increased opioid prescribing brings not only gains in therapeutic benefit but also a higher incidence of adverse drug events including increased medication misuse and opioid related mortality. Currently the United States must confront the dual problems of widespread undertreated chronic noncancer pain and a prescription opioid abuse crisis. Withholding pain relieving drugs from patients in need is unjustifiable, yet drug diversion, abuse and adverse drug events have become major social as well as medical problems. At the heart of this crisis is the lack of definitive evidence about the risk to benefit ratio of opioid pharmacotherapy for chronic noncancer pain both on an individual case and on a population basis. This article describes the extent and severity of the American chronic noncancer pain problem and the history of opioid pharmacotherapy for chronic noncancer pain in the United States. It then discusses the concept of evidence based practice and reviews current evidence supporting opioid pharmacotherapy for chronic noncancer pain as well as adverse drug events related to opioid pharmacotherapy including misuse and abuse. Finally, it considers the conflict of providing pain relief versus protecting society and reviews steps that governmental agencies, industry and others are taking to contain and ultimately resolve the problems of excessive prescribing and conflicting priorities.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.409-422
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• 2021

The growing use of prescription analgesic opioids has rapidly escalated the treatment of chronic pain since the 1990s; however, it is also highly needed to control opioid-related issues, including opioids misuse, abuse, and addiction. In 2018, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) secretariat administered the survey on opioids use and policies to OECD countries and presented it at the Health Committee meeting of December 2018. This study aimed to review the opioids use in OECD countries and their policies to prevent and reduce associated harms, also seek the available policy lessons from OECD countries. More recently, opioids prescribing rate have been increased 14.7% between 2011-2013 and 2014-2016 and steadily focused on the main substance misused and abused in Korea. In addition, policy efforts have contributed to developing a guideline for prescribing opioids to steer the appropriate use of prescription analgesic opioids since 2000 in Korea, so it is not enough to control opioids compared with other OECD countries. Therefore, taking a people-centered and public health perspective, it will consider the health system policies and interventions at a national level to improve their preparation and approach to control opioid-related issues.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Background: Alzheimer's dementia is the most common dementia. However, recently, choline alfoscerate is prescribed for treating Alzheimer's dementia, although it is not a treatment for this disease. Purpose: To analyze the prescription patterns of choline alfoscerate as a dementia treatment for patients with Alzheimer's disease and to analyze, as well as the factors affecting choline alfoscerate prescription. Method: The 2016 HIRA-NPS data was used in this study. The code of Alzheimer's dementia is F00 in the ICD-10 disease classification code. We analyzed the demographic, clinical, and regional characteristics associated with donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, memantine, and choline alfoscerate prescriptions. All statistical and data analyse were conducted by SAS 9.4 and Excel. Results: For patients with Alzheimer's disease, choline alfoscerate was the second most prescribed after donepezil. Analysis results showed that choline alfoscerate was more likely to be prescribed to men than to women, and more likely to be prescribed by local health centers than by medical institutions. Moreover, choline alfoscerate was highly likely to be prescribed at neurosurgical departments, among medical departments. Conclusions: This study confirmed that choline alfoscerate was prescribed considerably for patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Further studies valuating its clinical validity should be performed to clarify whether choline alfoscerate prescription is appropriate for treating Alzheimer's dementia.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2022

Background: Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening disease if not appropriately treated. This study aimed to investigate the prescription status of contraindicated drug combinations that cause serotonin syndrome and identify the related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationwide claims data. Adult patients taking serotonergic drugs with Parkinson's disease or mental disorders were selected. Based on international medical databases (MDBs) and the Korean Drug Utilization Review (DUR), the status of prescribing contraindicated drug combinations that induce serotonin syndrome, the related factors, and the difference between international MDBs and the Korean DUR were analyzed. Results: Of the 49,773 study subjects, 163 (0.3%) were prescribed contraindicated serotonergic drug combinations based on international MDBs, and among them, only 105 (64.4%) were contraindicated by the Korean DUR. Positive influencing factors for prescribing contraindicated drug combinations include patient age between 65 and 74 and physician's specialties (neurologists, and orthopedists). Negative influencing factors were physician's specialty (internists) and medical institution (primary institutions). Conclusion: Despite the implementation of DUR, 3 out of 1,000 study subjects received contraindicated drug combinations that caused serotonin syndrome. Hence, it is necessary to comply with the DUR and improve it in accordance with international MDBs.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

Objectives: Clozapine is the drug of choice in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. However, its use is often delayed and a significant proportion of clozapine treated patients fails to respond and experience potentially dangerous side-effects. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients started on clozapine and the rate and reason of discontinuation of clozapine. Methods: Medical records of 83 patients started on clozapine during the period of 2012-2016 were reviewed. Results: Clozapine started on patients in chronic phase; the mean age of start was 38.1 years old and the mean number of psychiatric admission was 6.5. A majority (80.7%) of the patients had been subjected to antipsychotic polypharmacy prior to clozapine and most (61.5%) of them were being treated with polypharmacy including clozapine. Overall, 39 (47.0%) subjects had continued clozapine whereas 15 (18.1%) discontinued it; 29 (34.9%) were lost to follow-up. The most common reason for discontinuation was side-effects (n=13) including six life-threatening cases, most of which occurred within 6 months of its start. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that there is some evidence of delays to clozapine use, high rates of polypharmacy and significant rate of discontinuation during the early phase of clozapine treatment.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated palliative care physicians' attitudes regarding social issues related to opioid use. Methods: An email survey was sent to 674 physicians who were members of the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (KSHPC). Results: Data from 66 physicians were analyzed (response rate, 9.8%). About 70% of participants stated that their prescribing patterns were not influenced by social issues related to opioid use, and 90% of participants thought that additional regulations should be limited to non-cancer pain. Under the current circumstances, pain education for physicians is urgently needed, as well as increased awareness among the public. Half of the respondents identified the KSHPC as the primary organization responsible for providing pain education. Conclusion: Palliative care physicians' prescribing patterns were not influenced by social issues related to opioid use, and these issues also should not affect cancer pain control.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.398-411
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• 2001

The separation system of pharmacy and clinic has begun on the purpose of preventing drug misuse and abuse since July 1st of 2000. The system revealed some conflicts between doctors. pharmacists and consumers. Consequently pharmaceutical law and related policies undergone some change. Now in an early period of the implementation of the system, the necessity to examine relevance of those policies and law enforcement to medical doctors' prescriptions pattern evolves. This study tries to verify the pattern through a field study. For the purpose, 930 prescriptions collected in May of 2001, from a pharmacy located in Gangnam-gu in Seoul, were analysed. The prescriptions were issued from several clinics: 459 prescriptions from otorhinolaryngological clinic(ENT), 177 from internal medicine clinic(IM), 130 from ophthalmic clinic(Opt), 52 from obstetric and gynecologic clinic(OB & GY), and 112 from miscellaneous clinics. ENT, IM, Opt. OB & GY are situated in a clinic building of 40m distance. The general findings are following: 1) $88.8\%$ of the total patients came from 5clinics in nearby single clinic building. 2) Average prescribing days were 6.2 days and the average number of used drugs were 4.0 drugs, i.e. 2-4 times of WHO criteria 1-2 drugs. 3) Use of antibiotics in the oral administration drugs rated $71.8\%(WHO: \;22.7\%)$ 4) Use of injection rated $31.3\%(WHO:\;17.2\%)$ 5) $96.2\%$ of the patients use multiple antibiotics in the injection and oral administration together. 6) The patients had multiple disease : ENT patients 1.7 disease and 1M patients has 2.7 disease in average and several regular prescribing types evolved particularly in the ENT prescription. With this result we found that drugs. especially antibiotics are still abused a lot, and there were significant differences in the number of used drugs and prescrbing days between the clinics. It implies somes differences of the preparation work and time for pharmacists. And preparation can be done in advance by pharmacists' own efforts through noticing regular prescribing types. The study suggests the followings: 1) Patient counseling should be done to minimize the incidence of adverse events. 2) The enforcement of the standardized differential preparation price system should be reconsidered. 3) Preparation of typical regularly appeared prescription in advance. which is regarded as 'a prearranged work between doctors and pharmacists' and has been prohibited should be reconsidered. 4) Drug utilization review program should be established to prevent drugs abuse. especially antibiotics abuse.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.41-77
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• 2000

This study aimed at the analysis, from the perspective of rationality, of policy making process in the separation of prescribing and dispensing. This study is to identify the characteristics and problems of the policy process to introduce the new durg-prescription system, and make policy recommendations. In terms of separation of prescribing and dispensing, the development of policy making process can be divided into two periods; periods before and after the inauguration of the govemment of people. In the period before the govermment of poeple, one of the major characteristics of policy decision on the new system was the poweful influence of interset groups. At that time, the ministry lacked the problem-solving ability and commitment on the policy. Consequently, during the former period, the policy making process had been driven by interest groups. Therefore, the original purpose of the policy to secure the pulic health was lost. During the latter period, there was also the strong influence of interst groups, complexity of interest, the ministry's inability of problem solving. However, in this period, it is notable that this has drawn nation-wide attention, severl civic grouos have participated in the policy making process, and that the number and voice of these groups have remarkably increased. With regards to rationality, incrementalish model is highly sutable to explain the policy making process in the former period. But in the latter period when the new drugperscripition system became a national issue and civic groups began to participte in this matter more actively, rational model is more explanatory that incrementalism to understand the process. During the latter period, the original goal of this policy was not distored by a few interest groups thanks to the rapid development of civil movement and therebly a big influence of civic groups on the policy making. For that reson, a jigh level of rationality is found in the policy-making process of the latter period. Some suggestions to achieve the rationality in the policy making process based on the results of this study are as follows; Frist, the public's participation should be enered in the policy making process. Second, the govermment should make contiuns efforts to enhance its ability of long-term planning and policy implementation, and increase rationality of policy making process. Third, balance among interset groups should take place in the process of policy making. Forth, sound, constructive, and logical activity of interest groups is necessary to express and promote their interests.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.207-223
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• 1995

A new medical delivery system which regulated outpatient department(OPD) use from tertiary care hospitals was adopted in 1989. Under the new system, patients using tertiary care hospital OPD without referral slip from clinics or hospitals could not get any insurance benefit for the services received from the tertiary care hospital. This study was conducted to evaluate the Patient Referral System(PRS) with respect to health care expenditures and utilization. Two data sets were used in this study. One was monthly data set(from January 1986 to December 1992) from the Annual Report of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The other was monthly joint data set composed of personal data of which 10% were selected randomly with their utilization data of KMIC from January 1988 to December 1992. The data were analyzed by time-series intervention model of SAS-ETS. The results of this study were as follows: 1. There was no statistically significant changes in per capita expenditures following PRS. 2. Utilization episodes per capita was increased statistically significantly after implementation of PRS. The use of clinics and hospitals increased significantly, whereas in tertiary care hospitals the use decreased significantly immediately after implementation of PRS and increased afterwards. 3. Follow-up visits per episode were decreased statistically significantly after implementation of PRS. The decrease of follow-up visits per episode were remarkable in clinics and hospitals, whereas in tertiary care hospitals it was increased significantly after implementation of PRS. 4. There was no statistically significant changes in prescribing days per episode following PRS. Futhermore, clinics and hospitals showed a statistically significant decrease in prescribing days per episode, whereas in tertiary care hospital it showed statistically significant increase after implementation of PRS. 5. Except high income class, the use of tertiary care hospitals showed statistically significant decrease after implementation of PRS. The degree of decrease in the use of tertiary care hospitals was inversely proportional to income. These results suggest that the PRS policy was not efficient because per capita expenditures did not decrease, and was not effective because utilization episodes per capita, follow-up visits per episode. and prescribing days per episode were not predictable and failed to show proper utilization. It was somewhat positive that utilization episodes per capita were decreased temporarily in tertiary care hospitals. And PRS policy was not appropriate because utilization episodes per capita was different among income groups. In conclusion, the PRS should be revised for initial goal attainment of cost containment and proper health care utilization.