• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to review foreign retrospective Drug Utilization Review(DUR), and so to suggest a development plan suitable for use with domestic situation. Literature review of foreign retrospective DUR program and domestic project such as DUR and prescribing analysis project were reviewed. To improve prescribing quality, developed countries such as US, Canada, UK, France, and Australia have implemented various forms of policy. Based on the review of foreign retrospective DUR program, we suggested to apply practical implementation of retrospective DUR program.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2009

The purpose was to implement drug utilization review (DUR) for whom were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) population using health insurance claim data. This study constructed drug utilization database using Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database and selected contraindicated drugs with kidney based on previously developed drug utilization guide and reviewing other countries' examples. Main outcome measures were the proportion of prescription for 1 or more drugs of concern. The cohort included 115,948 subjects, who were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Inappropriate drugs with CKD patients was some used, and the most commonly prescribed classes were aluminum drugs. However it is difficult to find problems with inappropriate drug because claims data doesn't have laboratory data. Based on the result of retrospective drug utilization review study, more studies should be analysed drug utilization patterns and monitoring system should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2012

This study was to determine the inappropriate drug use in pediatric outpatients who received 2 or more prescriptions on the same day. Retrospective drug utilization reviews (DURs) were implemented to samples obtained from national health insurance claims data during December 2008 to February 2009, using 5 DUR criteria (duplication, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, drug-age contraindication, incorrect dosage) established in the Drug Information Framework (DIF)-$Korea^{TM}$, DUR program. Among 38,451 claims analyzed in the study, 74.7% had more than one conflicts in the 5 DUR modules. Among 16,472 patients analyzed, 49.6% had conflicts with duplication criteria composing of ingredient duplication (23.3%) and therapeutic class duplication (39.6%). Incorrect dosages were found in 73.6% of patients and under-dosage conflicts accounted for 59.9%, which was higher than over-dosage conflicts (38.3%). In this study, inappropriate drug prescriptions such as under-dose, pediatric contraindication and therapeutic duplication were prevalent in pediatric outpatient settings, suggesting much more awareness to the society, to prevent drug related problems in a vulnerable pediatric group.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2011

Objective: To examine the drug use (prescribing) pattern of serious drug-drug interactions (DDIs, contraindicated drug interactions) using real world data. Prescription patterns were examined in terms of dispensing types. Method: Retrospective drug utilization review (DUR) study was performed. One hundred and six datasets of serious DDIs (DDI pairs) were determined among DDI datasets that Ministry of Health & Welfare announced for the DUR system from 2004 to 2005. Electronically transacted ambulatory patients' prescription database to Health Insurance Assessment and Review Services (HIRA) from July, 2005 to June, 2006 was collected with personal information deidentified and analyzed in terms of types of dispensing as a contributing factor. Results: After prescription data analysis per each patient, total number of DDI cases using 95 DDI pairs was 5,511, which accounted for 2.6 cases per patients. DDI cases between two drugs from each of community pharmacy dispensing- type prescription were considerable (63% vs. 24% in those from each of in-institutional dispensing-type prescription and vs. 13% in those from a community pharmacy dispensing-type prescription and an in-institutional dispensingtype prescription). Conclusions: DDI cases from different prescribers were found to be significant. Thus, the concurrent DUR process between prescriptions from different physicians and institutions should be implemented for the safe drug use.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.291-303
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• 2012

As respiratory tract infections (RTI) account for about 60% of all antibiotic prescriptions in outpatient care setting, there are significant concerns about emerging resistance that are largely due to the excessive or inappropriate use of antibacterial agents for viral respiratory infections. This study was aimed to develop retrospective drug utilization review (DUR) program of antibiotics for RTIs using Delphi methods. Retrospective DUR criteria of antibiotics for RTIs were identified based on clinical practice guidelines and opinion of experts. Expert panel members were clinical doctors and pharmacists and Delphi method was applied by survey on 16 members of panels. The claim data from Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment (HIRA) were used to examine trends in outpatient antibiotic prescription between Janunary to December of 2008. As results, Quality index for RTI was assessed for the claim type, antibiotics use of quantity, duration, number and cost. Antibiotic prescription rate for RTIs, Defined Daily Dose (DDD), and duration of antibiotics use were more recognized as significant quality index by experts' opinion. Use of first line agents suggested by guidelines was low and duration of antibiotics use was shorter compared to the recommendations. Antibiotics were over prescribed for RITs. However, dose and duration of antibiotics were under-used.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2011

Drug Utilization Review (DUR) is known to play an important role to improve appropriateness of drug prescriptions. This retrospective, observational study was conducted to compare prescription patterns after installation of Computerized DUR Program (Drug Information Framework-$Korea^{TM}$) (Jan-Mar 2008; After) to before DUR program (Jan-Mar 2007: Before). 8 physicians affiliated in the S University Hospital were enrolled in the study and their 3 months' prescription data were analysed for drug prescription trends and DUR conflict events per 7 DUR screening modules (drugdrug interaction, therapeutic duplication, allergy, dosing, disease contra-indication, geriatric contra-indication, pediatric contra-indication). Average rate of DUR modules usage in 2008 (After) were 0.72. Average number of prescription drug per patient were reduced from 5.6 (Before) to 3.8 (After), and DUR program seemed to effect positively on physician's prescription related decision process. Overall DUR conflict events occurred by 8 physicians for 3 months were 17,923 Before and 20,057 After DUR program, and DUR conflict events per prescription were 2.8 Before and 2.9 After, respectively. Therapeutic duplication (37%), geriatric contra-indication (34%) and dosing (18%) were high ranked DUR conflicts. As the study was not sufficient to show a consistent trend to reduce DUR conflicts After, another study to confirm it's effectiveness would be recommended. This study would be of help to develop awareness of DUR program to healthcare providers.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

Objectives: Several practice guidelines recommended both medication and behavior modification to control hypertension. The objective of this study was to analyze ambulatory care utilization pattern and related factors. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 45,267 new users who initiated treatment with hypertensive drugs in 2003. Korean National Health Insurance Claims Data was used to study the medical care utilization behavior and related factors after treatment initiation for up to four years. Taking prescription was considered as medical care utilization. Results: More than 20% of patients discontinued visiting physicians for prescription after initiating antihypertensive drug therapy. The average number of institutions visited by patients was about 1.3 annually. Clinic was the most frequently visited institution by patients. In GEE analysis, probability of continuous visit one institution after initiating antihypertensive drug treatment increased in patients who were women, old, have comorbidity, visited clinic or hospital mainly in previous year. Conclusions: Young hypertensive male patients who have no major comorbidity showed high possibility to discontinue medical service utilization. It is necessary to educate these targeted patients about importance of hypertension management in early stage after treatment initiation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-112
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• 2006

This study reviewed published studies on interventions used by hospitals, health insurance programs, or governments to improve use of medicines in foreign countries. Interventions to improve use of medicines are classified into two categories: 1) information strategies-dissemination of educational materials, group education, one-to-one educational outreach, drug utilization review, and feedback; 2) managerial strategies- formularies, prior authorization, and financial incentives. Dissemination of educational materials, which is a common intervention, was unsuccessful in changing physicians' prescribing behaviors. Problem-based small group education was more likely to change behaviors than didactic large group education. One-to-one educational outreach(academic detailing) was among the most effective strategies used to change prescribing behaviors. Prospective drug utilization review (DUR) program was more successful in improving use of medicines than retrospective DUR program. Feedback intervention has been reported to be ineffective to change behaviors. Formularies are frequently used to control medication use by most health insurance programs. Financial incentives provide physicians economic incentives according to appropriateness of prescribing. However, few published studies have assessed the efficacy of formularies or financial incentives. Prior authorization requires physicians to get authorization from health insurers before prescribing a certain group of drugs which is usually of high costs or risk. There is no magic bullet for quality use of medicines. Multifaceted interventions that help to predispose, enable, and reinforce desired behaviors are more likely to be successful.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2010

The present study was aimed to examine the occurrence and influencing factors therapeutic duplication (TD) of medications for anxiety disorders by analyzing the relevant prescription data. In this study, the prescription data issued on March 19, 2008 in domestic medical institutes were utilized. TD was defined as more than two medications under the same therapeutic classification per prescription based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Classification (ATC) code. The assessment of TD was performed based on the number of cases and on the ratio determined. To identify the influencing factor of TD, the variables related to the differences in the TD ratio were analyzed based on the results of the Chi-Square test conducted with the variables; patients, medical institutes, diseases, and treatments. The number and ratio of TD were determined to be 1,333 out of the total of 19,219 anxiety disorder cases, and 6.94%, most cases involving benzodiazepine derivatives, respectively. The TD ratio was found to be higher in relation to males than to females. Patients with national health insurance benefits have a higher TD ratio compared to the medical-aid beneficiaries. The TD ratios were highest in clinics, psychiatry divisions, and Gyeongsang district. The TD ratio of the cases with more than two anxiety disorders was found to be higher than that of the cases with only one anxiety disorder. As the number of medications per prescription increased, the TD ratio was shown to have become gradually higher. In conclusion, in order to prevent TD, the concurrent DUR system should be implemented. The prescribers and pharmacists must be educated regarding duplicated medications to promote the safe and effective use of medicines, without unnecessary TD.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 1999

Over the last 50 years, a number of antibiotic agents have been developed and clinically used in the area of infectious diseases. Due to antimicrobial resistance problems and increasing health care costs, the rational use of antibiotics has been required. As a drug of choice to treat infections caused by MRSA, vancomycin has been extensively prescribed since the late 1970's. Recently, reports of vancomycin-resistant organisms such as VRE and VRSA have been increased to draw medical concerns. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the rational use of vancomycin and the appropriateness of the Restrictional Program of Antibiotic Utilization (RPAU) which has been operated at Samsung Medical Center. A retrospective chart review was performed in 132 hospitalized patients treated with vancomycin in the surgery departments from. January to June 1998. The guidelines of ASHP and HICPAC for vancomycin were modified and used as our criteria to determine the vancomycin DUE. In one hundred out of the patients, uses of vancomycin were approved by the Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) based on the RPAU. Vancomycin was appropriately used in $62.5\%$ of the 100 patients according to the criteria of justification of use, while $60.0\%,\;60.0\%,\;79.0\%,\;and\;51.0\%$ of the patients showed appropriate according to those of lab reports such as applicable culture obtained, pretreatment SCr, WBC and serum drug concentration monitoring, respectively. Although the rest 32 patients were not approved to receive vancomycin by the DID, twenty two percent continued receiving vancomycin treatment. This might result from the fact that the RPAU was started not before the use of antibiotics but in the middle of antimicrobial therapy. Continual education should be provide to the related health professionals and the RPAU should be simultaneously modified in order to increase the rate of appropriate uses of antibiotics.