OBJECTIVES: To suggest direction for improving policies by understanding current management of narcotics or psychotropic drugs and analyzing their distributions and usage. METHOD: We conducted a comparison analysis between health insurance claims and the amount supplied to health care institutions for narcotics or psychotropic drugs through health insurance claims data and drug distribution supply data from 2010 to 2012 collected from Korea Pharmaceutical Information Service Center (KPIS). Furthermore, we carried out literature investigation and online search to comprehend the current management of narcotics drugs in Korea. RESULTS: The amount supplied to medical institutions for all drugs in 2012 was 19.4 trillion won, which increased from 19.5 trillion in 2011 by 0.54%. For narcotic drugs, the amount supplied was 318.4 billion won in 2011 and increased to 335.1 billion won by 5.3% in 2012, which exceeded the rate of increase for the amount supplied for all drugs. The proportion of amount claimed in the total amount supplied to medical institutions for all drugs was 60.5% in 2012, whereas the proportion of amount claimed for narcotic drugs was 55.6%, which showed that narcotic drugs were used relatively less within health insurance. Furthermore, management of the current domestic distribution supply data focuses on manufacturing and medical institution supply stages. CONCLUSION: Hereafter, the management of narcotics or psychotropic drugs needs to be improved by reinforcing active monitoring in optimal prescription and usage in patients by collecting and analyzing information on drug usage of patients.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Information Services ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Narcotics* ; Prescriptions ; Psychotropic Drugs

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the factors related to eating behavior subscales and change of eating behavior subscales among obese patients received weight reduction management. METHODS: Eating behavior subscales (restrained eating, emotional eating, and external eating) were assessed using the Korean version of Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 76 obese female patients at obesity clinic and 83 female visitors at health promotion center. Fifty nine patients received weight reduction management and completed follow-up survey after 2-3 months. Demographics, physical activity, health behaviors, diet experience, BMI, and weight change were assessed. RESULTS: The score of restrained eating was significantly higher in obese patients compared to controls, while scores of other subscales were not different between the two groups. Diet experience, score of emotional eating, and BMI explained 15% of variance of restrained eating score after adjustment for covariates. Likewise, increase of restrained and external eating scores and younger age explained 27% of variance of emotional eating score. External eating score was associated with increase in emotional eating score, higher education, regular exercise, and frequent overeating (R2=30%). Among obese patients, the follow-up score of restrained eating was significantly higher compared to that score at baseline, while the scores of emotional and external eating were not significantly changed. After adjustment for covariates, only irregular eating habit was associated with the change of restrained eating score. CONCLUSION: Restrained eating score was associated with BMI regardless of subjects group, while, among obese patients, the change of restrained eating score was associated with frequent irregular eating habit.
Demography ; Diet ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the factors related to eating behavior subscales and change of eating behavior subscales among obese patients received weight reduction management. METHODS: Eating behavior subscales (restrained eating, emotional eating, and external eating) were assessed using the Korean version of Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 76 obese female patients at obesity clinic and 83 female visitors at health promotion center. Fifty nine patients received weight reduction management and completed follow-up survey after 2-3 months. Demographics, physical activity, health behaviors, diet experience, BMI, and weight change were assessed. RESULTS: The score of restrained eating was significantly higher in obese patients compared to controls, while scores of other subscales were not different between the two groups. Diet experience, score of emotional eating, and BMI explained 15% of variance of restrained eating score after adjustment for covariates. Likewise, increase of restrained and external eating scores and younger age explained 27% of variance of emotional eating score. External eating score was associated with increase in emotional eating score, higher education, regular exercise, and frequent overeating (R2=30%). Among obese patients, the follow-up score of restrained eating was significantly higher compared to that score at baseline, while the scores of emotional and external eating were not significantly changed. After adjustment for covariates, only irregular eating habit was associated with the change of restrained eating score. CONCLUSION: Restrained eating score was associated with BMI regardless of subjects group, while, among obese patients, the change of restrained eating score was associated with frequent irregular eating habit.
Demography ; Diet ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Weight Loss

This study examined the effect of convenience meals purchased at convenience stores on glycemic response and satiety in healthy college students. A total of 9 non-obese volunteers (4 males and 5 females) aged 20 to 24 years participated in this study. On 3 separate days, participants consumed a standard diet (cooked rice and side dishes), type 1 convenience meal (kimbap and instant ramen), and type 2 convenience meal (sweet bread and flavored milk). Capillary blood-glucose response and satiety were measured every 30 minutes for 2 hours after consuming the 3 different test meals. Although mean fasting glucose levels were not different, glucose levels at 30 minutes and 120 minutes after the type 1 convenience meal intake were significantly higher than those in the standard meal (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Total glucose response was higher after consumption of the type 1 convenience meal, followed by the type 2 convenience meal and standard meal (p < 0.05). Though the type 2 convenience meal contained higher calorie than the other meals, satiety of the type 2 convenience meal was lowest at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after consumption (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). This pilot study suggests that convenience meals may increase glycemic response or induce higher calorie intake with low satiety compared with nutritionally balanced Korean style meal.
Bread ; Capillaries ; Diet ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Meals* ; Pilot Projects ; Volunteers