BACKGROUND: A good deal of medical information is in circulation with the great advances in communication technology. This study sought to collect and classify a wide variety of data in circulation, to determine the effects of this medical information via PC on people, to see whether people feel that it is useful, and how it can be applied clinically. METHODS: Contents of medical information in circulation were classified and analyzed from domestic PC network including Chollian, Hitel, and Unitel. The survey was conducted with 700 subjects who were given medical counsel through above communicatian networks between August 1 and September 30, 1997. They were given questionnaires for usefulness of medical information via e-mail and among these, cross-sectional study was made with 336 respondents who were feasible for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Users of medical information currently in circulation can be roughly classified into general and professional ones. Information for general user can be grouped by its contents into one for medical common sense, medical consultation, First Aid, self-diagnasis, medical insurance, drug therapy, medical test interpretation, guide information for hospital and clinic visitors. The survey showed the following responsesn: PC communication was useful(70.8%), its education efficacy was higher than other measures(62.3%), it helped for the prevention of diseases(59.8%), it was useful in the reduction of medical fee (71.4%), I'll get the web information even if charged(63.1%), it helped for the correction of mistaken medical common sense(58.8%), it helped for the understanding of medical service in a hospital(63.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Practically, PC communication can provide general users medical information in a convenient and useful way. In addition, this information can be helpful in the reduction of medical fee and prevention of diseases, and more effective in patient education than other measures.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Fees, Medical ; First Aid ; Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services ; Patient Education as Topic

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.
Aged* ; Checklist ; Drug Therapy ; Education ; Humans ; Income ; Insurance, Health ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Japan ; Korea ; Long-Term Care ; Medication Adherence* ; Nursing Homes* ; Nursing* ; Pharmaceutical Services ; Pharmacists ; Pharmacy ; Quality of Life ; Specialization ; United States ; Smartphone

OBJECTIVES: The amount of medical utilization by Medical Aid recipients was 3.7 times that of patients with Korean Medical Insurance. This study aims to describe the surplus medicine and the medication-related utilization, and to determine factors contributing to surplus medicine. METHODS: Among those who used copayment-free Class I Medical Aid in 2005, 146,880 subjects who were > or =19 year-old and received >365 days medical treatment per year were studied with their case managers by conducting face-to-face interviews. The analytic methods were description, chi-square, t-tests, ANCOVA and multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: Most subjects were female (68.6%), the elderly (62.5%), and the separated (61.6%), had an elementary graduation or less (74.8%), and had disabilities (33.2%). The percentage of subjects with surplus medicine was 18.5%. However, the percentage of females, the elderly, those with non-disabilities, the separated, the uneducated, those with a very poor perceived health status and those with an economical burden for medical treatment was 19.3%, 18.9%, 19.0%, 19.3%, 19.0%, 20.2% and 24.3%, respectively. For subjects with surplus medicine, averages for the number of used pharmacies, the pharmacy-visit days and the medication costs were 4.6 drugstores, 34.9 days and approximately 1,124 thousand Won. These values were higher than those without surplus medicine (4.4 drugstores , 33.8 days, and 1,110 thousand won, respectively). The odds ratios of the contributing factors to surplus medicine were female 1.11 (95% CI=1.07-1.14), the elderly 1.06 (95% CI=1.02-1.10), those with non-disabilities 1.08 (95% CI=1.05-1.12), the separated 1.14 (95% CI=1.10-1.18), the unmarried 1.12 (95% CI=1.07-1.18), the uneducated 1.03 (95% CI=1.01-1.08), those with a very poor perceived health status 1.04 (95% CI=1.01-1.08) and experiencing an economical burden for medical treatment 2.33 (95% CI=2.26-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: 18.5% of subjects had surplus medicine with a higher mean of medication cost. Therefore, health education and health promotion programs to prevent surplus medicine and to improve the appropriate usage of medication are necessary.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Analysis of Variance ; Confidence Intervals ; Female ; Health Services/*utilization ; Health Services Misuse/*statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage/*statistics & numerical data ; Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services/*statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prescription Drugs/*economics ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Introduction: Data on asthma remain scarce in our local setting. This study looked at asthma related admissions to RIPAS Hospital, in particular the aetiologies and the differences between short and long-stayers. Material and Methods: Patients admitted over a six months period (January to June 2008) were identified through the ward registries and the case notes were retrospectively reviewed. 2.9% (80/2,762) admissions to the medical wards were registered as asthma related admissions. Of the 80 cases identified, 72 notes were available for review. Results: The mean age was 39.5 ± 17.4 years old and males accounted for 34.7%. 19.4% were current/ex-smokers, 50% had other co-morbid conditions, 80.6% had previous accident and emergency attendances, 54.2% had previous hospital admissions and 6.9% had previous intensive care admissions. The median and mean duration of hospital stay were four days (range, 1 to 15) and 4.9 ± 2.7 days respectively. The aetiologies for admissions consisted of infective (58.3%), non-infective exacerbations (18.1%) or both (23.6%) with hospital stays of 4.5 ± 2.4, 4.1 ± 2.7 and 6.6 ± 3.2 days respectively. Long-stayers (more than four days) were associated with older age, more co-morbid conditions, previous hospital admissions and dual aetiologies for exacerbations. Intensive care unit admission was required in 6.9%. There was no death recorded. Conclusions: Asthma related admissions only accounted for a small proportion of medical admissions with predominantly infective aetiology. Older age, dual aetiologies, more co-morbidities and previous hospital admissions were associated with longer hospital stay.
Asthma ; Medication Therapy Management

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a medication management program on oral chemotherapy patients. METHODS: A nonequivalent control group ppretest-posttest design was used. Participants were 60 cancer patients (intervention group: 30, control group: 30). The medication management program was provided for 6 weeks. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. RESULTS: Although there were no statistically significant differences, scores of self-efficacy (t=−0.12, p=.902), knowledge (t=0.62, p=.537), medication adherence (t=0.51, p=.610), and staff satisfaction (t=1.44, p=.156) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in self-efficacy, knowledge, symptom experience, medication adherence and staff satisfaction. This can be explained by both groups having already received initial instruction concerning basic care when they started to receive chemotherapy. Considering the positive outcome of the medication management program, a specialist nursing effort is needed to improve symptoms and medication adherence. Furthermore, a medication counseling hotline is needed to support the medical staff.
Counseling ; Drug Therapy* ; Hotlines ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Medication Adherence ; Medication Therapy Management ; Mouth ; Nursing ; Specialization

PURPOSE: This study investigated medication status by examining the effects of a medication management education program on the knowledge of medications and medication misuse behaviors in the elderly in a local community. METHODS: This study used a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. For the study, 116 subjects were assigned to the control group and another 116 subjects were assigned to the experimental group. The medication management education program consisted of 1:1 education, practice in medication management, consultation, and discussion. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 21.0 program. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in terms of their knowledge of medications and medication misuse behaviors. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the medical management education program is effective in improving the knowledge of medications and decreasing medication misuse behaviors. Therefore, this education program can be used as an intervention to improve the medication behaviors of the elderly in local communities.
Aged* ; Education* ; Humans ; Medication Therapy Management ; Prescription Drug Misuse

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate nurses' perceived importance of, and performance of intravenous fluid therapy. METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 234 nurses (return rate: 93%) working in 3 small-medium general hospitals. RESULTS: The score for perceived importance of intravenous fluid therapy (3.65+/-0.37) was higher than that of performance (3.45+/-0.39). There were positive correlations between perceived importance and performance (r=.576, p<.001). There were 180 (80.8%) errors in intravenous fluid therapy. Perceived importance and performance scores were higher in nurses who had not experienced medication errors in intravenous fluid therapy. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to develop appropriate strategies to improve perceived importance and performance and enhance safety management during intravenous fluid therapy for nurses in small-medium general hospitals.
Fluid Therapy* ; Hospitals, General* ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Medication Errors ; Safety Management

Decisions about stopping or continuing medications perioperatively should be based on withdrawal potential, the potential for disease progression if therapy is interrupted, and the potential for drug interactions with anesthesia. In general, most medications are tolerated well through surgery and do not interfere with anesthetic administration. Therefore, most drugs should be continued through the morning of surgery. However, some medications are known to influence surgical risk or surgical decisions (e.g., antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, some hormonal therapies, and herbal remedies), so it is important to obtain a complete medication list from the patient and to advise adjusting doses or discontinuing certain potentially complicating medications in advance of surgery. This article reviews general recommendations for perioperative management of a number of common medication classes.
Anesthesia* ; Anticoagulants ; Disease Progression ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Medication Therapy Management ; Perioperative Care ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Preanesthetic Medication

OBJECTIVEDiscussion on assessment and intervention models to promote the rational use of medicines of Chinese medicine injection effect.

METHODUsing systematic prescription assessment and intervention work mode, formed expert group guide established assessment standard, developed the prescription audit specification, and extracted all Chinese medicine injection prescription of outpatient 2010 first quarter (in front of intervention) and 2011 first quarter (behind intervention), respectively for 2 543 and 3 122.

RESULTThe percent of the non-indication of medication in front of intervention outpatient fell from 3.44% to behind intervention of 2.66% (P<0.05), the percent of contraindicated medication in front of intervention outpatient fell from 2. 14% to behind intervention of 1.33% (P<0.05), the incidence of adverse reactions in front of intervention outpatient fell from 1.01% to behind intervention of 0.29% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe modes of prescription assessment and intervention have obvious results for the promotion of rational use of traditional Chinese medicine injections.

Thoracic aortic enlargement is a silent, but deadly, disease that is often diagnosed on imaging studies performed for unrelated indications and result in life threatening event such as aortic rupture and dissection. The etiologies underlying thoracic aortic enlargement are diverse and can range from degenerative or hypertensive aortic enlargement to more rare genetic disorders including Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome. Therefore, the diagnosis and management of this disease can be complex. This review focuses on the periodic surveillance using imaging modality before surgical intervention and medical management of asymptomatic patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic* ; Aortic Rupture ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Loeys-Dietz Syndrome ; Marfan Syndrome ; Medication Therapy Management