BACKGROUND: Pharmacists could dispense medicines without doctors' prescription in Korea before July 2000. The aim of this study was to compare the prescription behaviors of practicing doctors and pharmacists to common cold by the simulated patients. We selected the common cold as a subject of simulation because it was the most frequent health problem to visit doctors and pharmacists and the abuse of antibiotics might be prevalent in management of it. METHODS: Seventy five private clinics and drug stores were selected in Seoul, Korea. The simulated patients were selected and trained standardized symptoms of common cold. The simulated patients recorded the prescription behaviors of doctors and pharmacists. RESULTS: Average number of prescribed medicines were 5.0 and 5.6 in clinic and drug store respectively. 54.7% of the clinics and 61.3% of the drug stores prescribed antibiotics respectively with no significant difference between them. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were penicillines. About 7% of the doctors and 11% of the pharmacist prescribed glucocorticoid to simulated patients respectively. About 20% of the pharmacists performed some kinds of physical examination to the simulated patients. Both doctors and pharmacist gave little information or advice on use of medicines, possible side effects and past side effects of medicines. CONCLUSION: There were frequent abuse of antibiotics and occasional use of glucocorticoid in private clinics and drug stores. Both doctors and pharmacists did not give enough information on use of medicines to the simulated patients.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Common Cold* ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Simulation ; Penicillins ; Pharmacists* ; Physical Examination ; Prescriptions* ; Seoul

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists could dispense medicines without doctors' prescription in Korea before July 2000. The aim of this study was to compare the prescription behaviors of practicing doctors and pharmacists to arthritis by the simulated patients. We selected the arthritis as a subject of simulation because the arthritis was one of the major health problem and the abuse of corticosteroids might be prevalent in management of arthritis patients. METHODS: Seventy five private clinics and drug stores were selected in Seoul, Korea. The simulated patients were selected and trained standardized symptoms of arthritis. The simulated patients recorded the prescription behaviors of doctors and pharmacists. RESULTS: Mean number of prescribed medicines were 3.6 and 4.4 in clinic and drug store respectively. 16.2% of the clinics and 25.3% of the drug stores prescribed corticosteroids respectively with no significant difference. 45.3% of the pharmacists prescribed more than two kinds of anti inflammatory or analgesics and it was significantly higher than those of doctors. 65.3% of doctors intended to prescribe parenteral injection and 40% of the pharmacists performed some kinds of physical examination to the simulated patients. Both doctors and pharmacist gave little information or advice on use of medicines, possible side effects and past side effects of medicines. CONCLUSION: There were frequent abuse of corticosteroids and analgesics in private clinics and drug stores. Both doctors and pharmacists did not give enough information on use of medicines to the simulated patients.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Analgesics ; Arthritis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Patient Simulation ; Pharmacists* ; Physical Examination ; Prescriptions* ; Seoul

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of mucinous borderline tumor associated with mature cystic teratoma and the origin of its cell type. METHODS: Five patients who were diagnosed as mucinous borderline tumor associated with mature cystic teratoma and treated in Samsung Cheil Hospital from January 1996 to September 2004 were analyzed. In addition MEDLINE, other data bases in English as well as in Korean revealed two more cases. We analyzed the result with patient's characteristics, preoperative symptoms, mass sizes, serum CA-125, operative procedure, stages, recurrence and survival period. Histological slides of the specimens were analysed for expression of cytokeratin (CK)-7 and cytokeratin (CK)-20 by immunohistochemical staining to know the origin of the cell. RESULTS: The mean age was 45 years (25-61 years). Preoperative symptoms were palpable abdominal mass, abdominal pain and urinary frequency. The mean level of CA-125 was 46.05 U/mL and the mean tumor size was 16.75 cm (8.8-22.0 cm). Post surgical FIGO staging was; stage Ia in 6 cases, stage Ic in 1 case. Four cases were CK7(-)/CK20(+), reflecting gastrointestinal origin, and also showed pattern of pseudomyxoma peritoneii. Mean survival period was 32.7 months (6-67 months) without evidence of recurrence, except one case. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that mucinous borderline tumor associated with mature cystic teratoma, is diagnosed at relatively young age and early stage, associated with good prognosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mucins* ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Teratoma*