Korean Journal of Veterinary Research  2014;54(2):101-105

A survey of the use of veterinary anesthetics in Korea.

Jae Won LEE 1 ; Jeong Ik LEE ; Yoon Ju CHO ; Young Ah LEE ; Jong In KIM ; Bo Ram HWANG ; Hyung Joon KIM ; Hyunjhung JHUN ; Jin Soo HAN

Affiliations

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Keywords

anesthetic; drug abuse; prescription drug misuse; researchers; veterinarians

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate actual conditions associated with veterinary anesthetic drug use in Korea, and to obtain responses from Korean veterinarians and researchers pertaining to the use of anesthetic drugs. To accomplish this, a nationwide survey was issued to veterinarians working at animal hospitals and to researchers in the Korean Association for Laboratory Animal Science (KALAS). A self-administered questionnaire-based survey was then conducted in which respondents were asked questions about actual conditions associated with the use of animal anesthetic drugs. The survey revealed that the distribution and management of animal medicines in Korea was quite vulnerable to misuse or abuse due to a variety of factors. Therefore, a relevant regulatory system should be strictly enforced to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse or misuse.