The Survey for the Actual Condition of Drug Medication and Development of
Health Care Cost Associated with Toxic Liver Injury in Korean;
A Multicenter Study for the Detection and the Development of
Nationwide Reporting System of Toxic Liver Injury |
Tae Woo Yoo, M.D., Byung Ik Kim, M.D., Jin Bong Kim, M.D.1, Dong Joon Kim, M.D.1,
Jae Woo Kim, MD.2, Soon Koo Baik, MD.2, Kwang Seok Kim, M.D.3, Gab Jin Cheon, M.D.3 |
Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan Univ., Seoul; Hallym Univ.1, Chunchon; Yonsei Univ.2, Wonju; Ulsan univ.3, Gangneung, Korea |
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ABSTRACT |
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Backgrounds /Aims: In Korea, interests in health and health care costs have been increased along with the
increase of mean survival rate and income level. The aim of this study is to investigate the actual condition
of drug medication and burden of health care cost. Methods: A total of 1,434 subjects in four tertiary medical
centers were enrolled in this study. The questionnaires were obtained between March 2005 and September
2005. Based on this information, the actual condition of drug medication and health care cost were analyzed.
Results The mean age of the subjects was 55.0±11.4 years (16-87 years). The male and female ratio was
1.74:1. The subjects with drug medication except for doctor’s prescription are presently 26.6% and were 40.9%
in the past. Traditional medicine (39.6%) and health food (29.9%) are more frequently used than herbal
medicine (5.8%) and medical supplies (4.2%) now. In the past, herbal medicine (14.6%) was more frequently
used compared with the present. The side effects of drug medication were developed in 90 subjects (7.5%). The
total mean health care costs were 895,000 won/year, the herbal medicine, 834,000 won/year, the health food,
950,000 won/year, and the traditional medicine, 324,000 won/year. Conclusions: In this study, the subjects with
other drug medications without doctor’s prescription were as high as ever. The frequency of the use of the
herbal medicine was decreased. However, the frequency for the use of the health food and traditional medicine
have relatively increased. The side effects and additional large amounts of health care costs were occurred.
(Korean J Hepatol 2007;13:34-43) |
KeyWords:
Hepatitis, toxic; Medicine, herbal; Medicine, traditional; Health food; Health care cost; Questionnaires |
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