• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.258-268
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• 2012

The bathroom is a space where humans fulfil certain daily needs, but for the disabled, it can be the most difficult space to use and may even be a cause of accidents and a source of danger. Previous studies on the bathroom have mostly proposed an ideal model of bathroom, but the majority of disabled people live in small homes of about $50m^2$ in size. As their bathrooms are usually very small, and existing houses have various structural limitations, more research should be conducted on the remodeling of residential bathrooms. This study analyzed a number of remodeling items in bathrooms, all of which were listed in previous studies. Based on 17 cases of residential bathroom remodeling in the homes of disabled people residing in Incheon in 2009, this study analyzed several remodeling items required according to the subject's characteristics, such as a lifestyle, gender, and family composition; and proposed the following remodeling requirements and improvement measures for ambulatory-disabled persons and sedentary-disabled people. First, as ambulatory-disabled people have lower-limb impairments, they required bathroom remodeling designed to improve their mobility in the bathroom. These subjects desired the installation of grab bars, as well as the elimination of floor level differences, the installation of non-slip flooring, a counter-top, a sink stand, and a shower holder whose height can be adjusted. Second, sedentary-disabled people move around in a sitting or crawling position, so many of them asked to eliminate floor level differences and vertically-installed bathroom furnishings. Basically, both people with ambulatory disabilities and people with non-ambulatory impairments requested the elimination of floor level differences and the installation of non-slip flooring and grab bars for the toilet and bathtub. They also asked for the heights of sinks, faucets, mirrors, shower holders, and cabinets to be adjusted to suit their needs.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2004

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find effects of early oral water intake on thirsty feeling, nausea, and vomiting after ambulatory surgery. Method : Sixty patients who received PET(Pressure Equalizing Tube) insertion surgery under general anesthesia were conveniently sampled and divided into two groups. Experimental group was instructed to drink water after two hours and control group was directed to intake water after three hours postoperatively. Data were collected from May 1, 2002 to August 31, 2002 at ambulatory surgery center of Asan Medical Center. The thirsty feeling, nausea and vomiting score between experimental and control group were compared at the time of recovery, recovering consciousness, 2hr, 3hr, right before discharge and/or 24hr(telephone interview) postoperatively. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 8.0 statistic program. Result : Result of this study are as follows. 1) There was a statistically significant difference(t=-10.31, p=0.00) in the occurrence of thirsty feeling at the 3hr postoperatively between experimental and control groups. 2) There was a statistically significant difference($x^2=6.66$, p=0.02) in the incidence of nausea during the 2hr postoperatively between experimental and control groups. 3) There was no difference($x^2=0.35$, p=0.55) between groups in vomiting scores. Conclusion : It was generally known that the delay of oral water intake decreases post operative complications. But, this study shows that early oral water intake decreases discomfort of thirsty and there was no adverse effects on the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of feedback methods and ambulatory assistive aids on accuracy of partial weight bearing in healthy adults. Twenty subjects were recruited and trained to 30% weight bearing of body weight (BW) using 3-point gait crutches and wheeled walker pattern. Dynamic feedback group (n=11) was received dynamic postresponse feedback and static group (n=9) received static feedback. Force plate was used to measure %BW and GAITRite used to measure gait parameters in immediately and after 3 days of training. Immediately after training, there was not significantly at 30%BW target load in dynamic group with crutch gait (p>.05). There were significantly differences in %BW according to feedback methods and ambulatory aids (p<.05). There was not significant difference between immediately and after 3 days of training (p>0.05). There were significantly differences in gait velocity and stance ratio between crutches and wheeled walker gait (p<.05). Thus, it was suggested that if possible, use crutches, training for partial weight bearing via dynamic feedback is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.448-453
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• 2015

Objective : Recently, the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been prolonged with improvements in various diagnostic tools and medical treatment modalities. Consequently, spine metastases from HCC are being diagnosed more frequently. The accurate prediction of prognosis plays a critical role in determining a patient's treatment plan, including surgery for patients with spinal metastases of HCC. We investigated the clinical features, surgical outcomes, and prognostic factors of HCC presenting with spine metastases, in patients who underwent surgery. Methods : A retrospective review was conducted on 33 HCC patients who underwent 36 operations (three patients underwent surgical treatment twice) from February 2006 to December 2013. The median age of the patients was 56 years old (range, 28 to 71; male : female=30 : 3). Results : Overall survival was not correlated with age, sex, level of metastases, preoperative Child-Pugh classification, preoperative ambulatory function, preoperative radiotherapy, type of operation, administration of Sorafenib, or the Tokuhashi scoring system. Only the Tomita scoring system was shown to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Comparing the Child-Pugh classification and ambulatory ability, there were no statistically differences between patients pre- and post-operatively. Conclusion : The Tomita scoring system represents a practicable and highly predictive prognostic tool. Even though surgical intervention may not restore ambulatory function, it should be considered to prevent deterioration of the patient's overall condition. Additionally, aggressive management may be needed if there is any ambulatory ability remaining.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.309-321
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• 2002

Purpose: A cost analysis for nursing services in operative nursing unit, emergency nursing unit, and ambulatory nursing unit was performed using patient classification system by nursing intensity in order to determine an appropriate nursing fee schedule. Method: The data were collected from 4 secondary hospitals and 5 tertiary hospitals from November 14th 2000 to January 15th 2001. The study was conducted through four phases as follows: 1) Nursing hours of each nursing service in special nursing units were measured using three kinds of patient classification systems by nursing intensity. 2) The nursing cost of nursing services in operative nursing unit, emergency nursing unit, and ambulatory nursing units was estimated based on patient classification system by nursing intensity. Results: As a result, nursing hours by nursing intensity of each special nursing unit were measured, and every nursing cost by nursing intensity in operation room and emergency room was estimated, meanwhile, the cost of nursing services in ambulatory care units was estimated only per visit as shown in chapter 4. Conclusion: Future research on nursing cost should be extended to other special nursing units such as various intensive nursing care units, delivery room, and so on. In addition, the patient classification system should be refined for its appropriateness to apply all levels of medical institutions.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.238-244
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• 2016

Background: Mupirocin, a topical antimicrobial agent has been used for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and recently mupirocin resistance was issued in some studies. The objective of this study was to analyze prescription patterns of topical mupirocin, to evaluate appropriateness of prescriptions in the ambulatory setting, and to compare frequency of mupirocin usage in South Korea with that in United States. Methods: Topical mupirocin prescription patterns (the number of prescription and a prescription period), and appropriateness of prescription (including a prescription rate over 10 days, a repeat prescription rate within 30 days and a prescription rate within labeled indications) were analyzed using the 2012 Health Insurance and Review and Assessment service-National Patient Sample dataset of South Korea. The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey dataset was used to quantify topical mupirocin prescription in United States for comparison. Results: In South Korea, the prescriptions rate for use over 10 days was 3%, the repeat prescription rate within 30 days was 8.87% and the prescription proportion within labeled indications was 33.84%. The most frequent diagnostic code was nonbacterial infection. The prescription rate per 1000 population of topical mupirocin in South Korea was calculated to be 46.07, whereas in United States was calculated to be 13.10. Conclusion: Topical mupirocin has been used frequently and inappropriately, so further studies are required to investigate the rationale behind such prescribing mupirocin patterns.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.128-143
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• 2010

Objectives : This study aims to estimate the oral antihyperglycemic medications adherence among ambulatory care with adult type 2 diabetes patients and to identify factors affecting the medication adherence in Korea. Methods : This study used the Korean National Health Insurance Database. Study population was 40,082 patients who were 20 years of age or older and first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (ICD-10: E11) in 2004. The patients were followed up for two years in order to measure adherence with oral antihyperglycemic medications. The level of medication adherence was measured by the medication possession ratio (MPR). Results : The average MPR in the study population was 49.5%. The appropriate adherence rate (MPR$\geq$80%) was 29.4% and showed variation according to the characteristics of individual patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of appropriate adherence increased with female (OR:1.21, CI:1.14-1.27), older age, increasing ambulatory care visits, health insurance (OR:1.53, CI:1.33-1.76), decreasing ambulatory care providers, using a specialized general hospital as their main attending medical institution (OR:10.08, CI:8.96-11.33), having co-morbidity, using polytherapy (OR:1.07, CI:1.01-1.13). Conclusions : The medications adherence for patient with type 2 diabetes is low in Korea, and shows variation according to the characteristics of patients. For proper management of diabetes, health care policy is expected to be enacted to improve medications adherence continuously. In particular, more intensive management is needed for patients with low medications adherence. Also, health care policy makers need to develop the program to induce health care utilization by a patient to be more concentrated with the same provider.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.60-66
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• 2010

In chronic ambulatory hemiplegic patients, structural changes might be developed at both ankles possibly due to unequal and repetitive weight bearing on tendons and ligaments. We examined ankles by sonography to find out structural changes of tendons and ligaments of both ankles in ambulatory hemiplegic patients. Nineteen ambulatory hemiplegic patients over 1 year were included as study subjects. All subjects had no previous trauma or disease history in their ankle joints and they were able to walk independently or with supervision but had spastic ankles with equinovarus tendency. We examined both ankle joints by sonography to see joint effusion and measure width, thickness, and area of tendons of the tibialis anterior, tibialis posterior, and Achilles, and also ligaments of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular. We compared sonographic features of the hemi-side ankle with the sound-side ankle. There were no significant differences between hemi-side and sound-side ankles in almost all measured parameters of tendons and ligaments. However, the width of the hemi-side tibialis posterior tendon ($7.24{\pm}1.52$ mm) was narrower than the sound-side tendon ($8.61{\pm}1.37$ mm). With the amount of active joint motion and weight bearing possibly preventing ligament and tendon atrophy even though marked weakness, spasticity occurred during the chronic hemiplegic phase.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2005

Purpose: To determine the extent and rate of prescription drug therapy, especially polypharmacy and the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in Korean elderly ambulatory patients based on an explicit criterion. Methods: Performed a retrospective study of 65 years or older ambulatory patients visiting a university hospital based clinic from January 2002 to April 2004. Study determined the patterns of drug prescription per Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification and the potentially inappropriate medication usage based on explicit Beers criteria. Results: Of the 4,042 elderly patients the mean number of prescription was $2.2{\pm}2.0$, which was similar between genders and all age groups within the elderly. 10.7% of patients were prescribed with more than 5 medications concurrently. The most frequently prescribed medication was the drugs used for treating nervous system diseases (44.3%), followed by alimentary tract/metabolism disorders (27.6%), cardiovascular disease (10.7%), blood/blood forming disorders (4.3%), respiratory disorders (6.5%), and musculoskeletal diseases (3.2%). A total of 511 elderly (13%) was prescribed with medication that met the criteria for=1 potentially inappropriate drugs for the elderly. This proportion was similar between genders and all age groups within the elderly. Among these 511 elderly patients the mean number of potentially inappropriate drugs prescribed was $5.1{\pm}3.3$ drugs. Potentially inappropriately prescribed drugs included amitriptyline (76 cases), diazepam (69 cases), ketorolac (57 cases), short acting nifedipine (44 cases), triazolam (38 cases), and hydroxyzine (38 cases). Conclusion: Potentially inappropriate drug prescribing in Korean ambulatory elderly patients are common. Education programs and interventions aimed at optimizing the prescribing and dispensing of the most appropriate drugs are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.434-440
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• 2011

Objective : The goals of surgical intervention for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) are prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Non-ambulatory paraplegic patients, either at presentation or after treatment, have a much shorter life expectancy than ambulatory patients. We therefore analyzed prognostic factors for survival and postoperative ambulation in patients surgically treated for MSCC. Methods : We assessed 103 patients with surgically treated MSCC who presented with lower extremity weakness between January 2001 and December 2008. Factors prognostic for overall survival (OS) and postoperative ambulation, including surgical method, age, sex, primary tumor site, metastatic spinal site, surgical levels, Tokuhashi score, and treatment with chemo- or radiation therapy, were analyzed retrospectively. Results : Median OS was significantly longer in the postoperatively ambulatory group [11.0 months; 95% confidence interval (CI), 9.29-12.71 months] than in the non-ambulatory group (5.0 months; 95% CI, 1.80-8.20 months) ($p$=0.035). When we compared median OS in patients with high (9-11) and low (0-8) Tokuhashi scores, they were significantly longer in the former (15.0 months; 95% CI, 9.29-20.71 months vs. 9.0 months; 95% CI, 7.48-10.52 months; $p$=0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative ambulation with or without aid [odds ratio (OR) 5.35; 95% CI 1.57-18.17; $p$=0.007] and hip flexion power greater than grade III (OR 6.23; 95% CI, 1.29-7.35; $p$=0.038) were prognostic of postoperative ambulation. Conclusion : We found that postoperative ambulation and preoperative high Tokuhashi score were significantly associated with longer patient survival. In addition, preoperative hip flexion power greater than grade III was critical for postoperative ambulation.