ABSTRACT
Background@#This study aimed to examine the relationship between patient experience and medication compliance of patients with dyslipidemia. @*Methods@#Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015, the study examined 764 patients treated with dyslipidemia medication. Subjects who responded to the question “Do you currently take medication to lower your blood cholesterol?” with “daily taking” were categorized as the compliant group, and the remaining subjects were classified under the non-compliant group. The patient experience survey included four indicators, in which subjects were divided into groups with a positive and negative patient experience. Data on sociodemographic factors, health-related behaviors, and self-reported comorbid conditions were also collected. @*Results@#After adjusting the variables, the group with a positive response for the patient experience indicator “doctor spends enough time with the patient during consultation” was 1.89 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–3.48; P=0.04). For the indicator “doctor provides easy-to-understand explanations,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.74 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.39–5.39; P=0.004). For the indicator “doctor involves patients in decisions about care or treatment,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.07 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.02–4.22; P=0.04). However, for the indicator “doctor provides the patient a chance to ask questions about treatment,” positive patient experience had no significant association with medication compliance (95% CI, 0.77–2.36; P=0.30). @*Conclusion@#Building a good doctor-patient relationship with positive patient experiences can result in better outcomes for patient care through high medication compliance.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Many studies have reported that dog ownership is effective in encouraging physical activity. However, the association between living with a dog and enhanced physical activity has not been clearly verified. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dog ownership on the amount of physical activity in a representative sample of Korean adults. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to 1,299 individuals who visited the international healthcare center of one hospital in Seoul, Korea, between August and December in 2018. Based on responses to the IPAQ survey, the amount and duration of physical activity was calculated to analyze relationships with dog ownership. @*Results@#The total amount (P=0.02) and duration of physical activity (P=0.02) and the duration of vigorous-intensity physical activity (P=0.04) were significantly higher among dog owners than non-dog owners. The duration of daily physical activity increased with dog ownership by 18.6 minutes (P=0.01). A comparison of dog owners according to whether they walked with their dogs revealed that dog walking had no significant effect on the amount and duration of physical activity, inactivity, or health-enhancing physical activity status. There was a sex-specific association between dog ownership and total duration of physical activity in females. @*Conclusion@#The duration of physical activity increased by dog ownership. However, the higher levels of physical activity among dog owners may not necessarily be explained by dog ownership or walking with dogs. This outcome suggests that raising a dog can help promote physical activity.
ABSTRACT
Background@#This study aimed to examine the relationship between patient experience and medication compliance of patients with dyslipidemia. @*Methods@#Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015, the study examined 764 patients treated with dyslipidemia medication. Subjects who responded to the question “Do you currently take medication to lower your blood cholesterol?” with “daily taking” were categorized as the compliant group, and the remaining subjects were classified under the non-compliant group. The patient experience survey included four indicators, in which subjects were divided into groups with a positive and negative patient experience. Data on sociodemographic factors, health-related behaviors, and self-reported comorbid conditions were also collected. @*Results@#After adjusting the variables, the group with a positive response for the patient experience indicator “doctor spends enough time with the patient during consultation” was 1.89 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–3.48; P=0.04). For the indicator “doctor provides easy-to-understand explanations,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.74 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.39–5.39; P=0.004). For the indicator “doctor involves patients in decisions about care or treatment,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.07 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.02–4.22; P=0.04). However, for the indicator “doctor provides the patient a chance to ask questions about treatment,” positive patient experience had no significant association with medication compliance (95% CI, 0.77–2.36; P=0.30). @*Conclusion@#Building a good doctor-patient relationship with positive patient experiences can result in better outcomes for patient care through high medication compliance.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Many studies have reported that dog ownership is effective in encouraging physical activity. However, the association between living with a dog and enhanced physical activity has not been clearly verified. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of dog ownership on the amount of physical activity in a representative sample of Korean adults. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study administered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to 1,299 individuals who visited the international healthcare center of one hospital in Seoul, Korea, between August and December in 2018. Based on responses to the IPAQ survey, the amount and duration of physical activity was calculated to analyze relationships with dog ownership. @*Results@#The total amount (P=0.02) and duration of physical activity (P=0.02) and the duration of vigorous-intensity physical activity (P=0.04) were significantly higher among dog owners than non-dog owners. The duration of daily physical activity increased with dog ownership by 18.6 minutes (P=0.01). A comparison of dog owners according to whether they walked with their dogs revealed that dog walking had no significant effect on the amount and duration of physical activity, inactivity, or health-enhancing physical activity status. There was a sex-specific association between dog ownership and total duration of physical activity in females. @*Conclusion@#The duration of physical activity increased by dog ownership. However, the higher levels of physical activity among dog owners may not necessarily be explained by dog ownership or walking with dogs. This outcome suggests that raising a dog can help promote physical activity.