• 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.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2016

Background: South Korea is rapidly being an aging-society and the demand of long-term care insurance services for elderly patients is rising. In addition, because the elderly taking multiple medicines, the adherence is lowered and the adverse events are easily occurred. Therefore, many are interested in introducing the geriatric pharmacy specialist to manage this situation. Purpose: By applying a similar program such as the geriatric pharmacy specialist working in nursing home, we conducted this study to evaluate the potential contribution to both the health insurance services and financial savings for the elderly patients. Methods: We conducted a trial in an elderly nursing home to collaborate between doctor and pharmacist making a checklist for improving medication adherence and establish a consultation system. Also we applied a smart phone application in the pharmaceutical care processes. Results: Thereby completing the drug therapy related checklist apply to nursing facilities in South Korea. And we got a performance that improves medication adherence when used in the clinical practice settings. Conclusion: By introducing a training program of pharmacy care managers and geriatric professionals such as the United States and Japan, we revealed the elderly nursing home residents and vulnerable elderly people living alone were improved the medication adherence and it will contributed to the health and quality of life of the patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2020

Background: Reducing the total anticholinergic burden (AB) in older adults is recommended owing to the several peripheral and central adverse effects. This study aimed to identify the AB status of patients admitted to geriatric centers for assessing the influence of the pharmacist-involved multidisciplinary geriatric team care on reducing the AB. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 328 older patients hospitalized in geriatric centers from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019, who received comprehensive geriatric assessment and pharmaceutical interventions from a multidisciplinary geriatric team. We measured the total AB scores for the medications at the time of admission and upon hospital discharge using the Korean Anticholinergic Burden Scale (KABS). The pre-admission factors associated with high AB (KABS score ≥3) at the time of admission were identified. Results: The proportion of patients with high AB significantly decreased from 41.8% (136/328) at the time of admission to 25.0% (82/328) on discharge (p<0.001). The pre-admission AB of patients transferred from skilled nursing facilities (odds ratio[OR]: 2.85, 95% CI: 1.26-3.75), taking more than 10 medications (OR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.55-8.82), suffering from delirium (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.04-7.50), or depression (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.04-7.41) were significantly high. Antipsychotics were the most frequent classes of drugs that contributed to the total KABS score at the time of admission, followed by antihistamines. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the multidisciplinary teams for geriatric care are effective at reducing AB in older adults. The factors associated with high AB should be considered when targeting pharmaceutical care in geriatric individuals.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.303-315
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• 2019

In 2018, 14.3 percent of South Korea's elderly population aged 65 or older entered an aged society and is expected to enter a super-aged society with more than 20 percent of the elderly population around 2025. Older adults often visit different medical institutions to take medicine, which requires medication management, such as interaction between each drug. In this study, we wanted to analyze the U.S. system, which specializes in drug management for the elderly, and Korea's system, which is about to enter a super-aged society, to find a systematic way to manage drugs for the elderly. The method of study was a systematic literature study on elderly drug management in Korea and the United States. Studies have shown that the United States has enacted the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) for the elderly and has been running the Senior Drug Enforcement Program. In Korea, a community care business is underway to manage drugs for senior citizens, but it is analyzed that the elderly need to have a special medicine system for senior citizens to use them more safely.