• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.237-244
• /
• 2020

Sensory impairment is common following a stroke. Tactile afferent inputs from the plantar foot provide important information to the central nervous system to generate balance. The present study, which recruited 50 stroke patients, aims to determine the relationship between plantar tactile sensory threshold (PTST) and balance in patients with stroke. The PTST was evaluated at two sites (hallux and heel) using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. The balance abilities were measured by the degree of weight distribution in quiet standing (QS) and sitting-to-standing position (STS) using a MTD system and Berg balance scale (BBS). The hallux and heel sensory thresholds (ST) in the affected side were higher than the non-affected side (P < 0.05). The degree of weight distribution in the affected side was lower than the non-affected side. QS and STS showed P < 0.05, with BBS score of 36.00 ± 1.53. The hallux ST in the affected side correlated with BBS (r = -0.444, P < 0.05), QS (r = -0.332, P < 0.05), and STS (r = -0.390, P < 0.05), whereas the heel ST in the affected side correlated with BBS (r = -0.467, P < 0.05), QS (r = -0.532, P < 0.05), and STS (r = - 0.516, P < 0.05), suggesting that higher detected PTST might have an influence on the decreasing balance abilities. The study of sensory threshold in patients with stroke will help their rehabilitation and sensory evaluation.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2022

This study is a descriptive research study to understand the level of communication awareness between doctors and nurses, who are professional medical professionals, and the detailed areas and satisfaction of communication. Data were collected from 372 doctors and nurses at general hospitals located in C city from March to May 2021. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, and correlation analysis, using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. As a result, there was a difference in the awareness level of communication between doctor and nurse groups. Specifically, out of the detailed areas of communication recognized by doctors and nurses, there were statistically significant differences in openness(t=9.91), mutual understanding between occupations(t=5.25), and satisfaction(t=8.13) between the two groups. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the detailed areas and the communication satisfaction in both groups, showing that nurses have higher communication satisfaction with the higher openness(r=.72, p<.001), mutual understanding between occupations(r=.71, p<.001) and similarly, doctors also have higher communication satisfaction with the higher mutual understanding between occupations(r=.79, p<.001), timeliness(r=.73, p<.001). Therefore, these result suggest that it is necessary to develop a communication program that can effectively improve the weak areas such as mutual understanding between occupations and openness in nurses and doctors in order to ensure patient safety and provide quality medical care.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Asthma is a chronic disease, and the demand for herbal medicines in this field has increased in recent years. The new findings highlight the role of the gut-lung axis in the pathophysiology of asthma. Hence, this study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Glasthma syrup, an herbal formula based on Persian medicine, in improving asthma and regulating intestinal permeability. The formula consists of five herbal ingredients that have anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory tract, also known as gut tonics. Methods: The study will be conducted as a placebo-controlled, triple-blind, randomized trial. It will consist of a 4-week intervention followed by a 4-week follow-up period. The target sample size is 20 patients with moderate asthma aged 18 to 60 years. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group in equal numbers. Patients in the experimental group will take Glasthma syrup (7.5 mL, twice a day), while patients in the control group will take a matching placebo. Both groups will receive a 4-week combination of a long-acting beta2 agonist and a leukotriene modulator as standard of care. Inhaled corticosteroids can be used as rescue medication as needed. Results: The primary outcomes are asthma symptom scale, lung function, and intestinal permeability. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, symptom recurrence rates, and blood tests. A safety assessment will also be conducted during the trial. Conclusion: In this trial, the effects of Glasthma syrup in patients with moderate asthma will be examined. The study will also assess the effects of the formulation on the gut-lung axis by simultaneously monitoring the gut permeability index, asthma symptoms, and lung function.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.4-14
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to discuss mental health services for children and adolescents that are being implemented as initiatives of the Korean government and to review the functions and roles of these projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three government departments are in charge of providing mental health services for children and adolescents: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Ministry of Education has implemented several policies to facilitate the early detection of mental health issues among school students (from preventive interventions to selective interventions for high-risk students). The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family additionally serves out-of-school children and adolescents by facilitating early identification of adolescents in crises and providing temporary protection or emergency assistance (as required) through the Community Youth Safety-Net Project. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Welfare operates relevant mental health agencies for individuals of all ages including children and adolescents. Any high-risk students who have been screened through the projects of the Ministry of Education are supported through referrals to the following institutions for appropriate treatment of their symptoms: specialized hospitals, the Youth Counseling and Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the National Youth Healing Center, the Mental Health Welfare Center operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Suicide Prevention Center, and the Child Welfare Center. To assist students who are facing any psychological difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education has established a psychiatric support group for providing emergency mental health care; furthermore, schools are promoting psychological surveillance (e.g., provision of non-face-to-face counseling services that are centered around the Wee Center). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and Ministry of Health and Welfare have provided varied mental health support services in order to address the challenges faced by children and adolescents during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the mental health services operated by each ministry do show some limitations because their service provision system is insufficiently collaborative. The present study discussed the positive effects of each initiative as well as its limitations; furthermore, it suggested improvements for facilitating the healthy development of children and adolescents' mental health.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.239-248
• /
• 2022

The taxonomy of bacteria in the field of clinical microbiology is in a state of constant flux. A large-scale revamping of the classification and nomenclature of anaerobic bacteria has taken place over the past few decades, mainly due to advances in molecular techniques such as 16S rRNA and whole genome sequencing (WGS). New genera and species have been added, and existing genera and species have been reclassified or renamed. A major role of the clinical microbiological laboratories (CMLs) is the accurate identification (ID) and appropriate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for clinically important bacteria, and rapid reporting and communication of the same to the clinician. Taxonomic changes in anaerobic bacteria could potentially affect the choice of appropriate antimicrobial agents and the antimicrobial breakpoints to use. Furthermore, current taxonomy is important to prevent treatment failures of emerging pathogenic anaerobes with antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, CMLs should periodically update themselves on the changes in the taxonomy of anaerobic bacteria and suitably inform clinicians of these changes for optimum patient care. This article presents an update on the taxonomy of clinically important anaerobic bacteria, together with the previous names or synonyms. This taxonomy update can help guide antimicrobial therapy for anaerobic bacterial infections and prevent treatment failure and can be a useful tool for both CMLs and clinicians.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.207-215
• /
• 2019

This study examines the effect of the height of cane that hemiplegic patients due to stroke use on their plantar pressure in standing position, gait speed. The study suggests a new standard for appropriate cane height that considers the change of average height of population. Research subjects included 12 patients hospitalized in S Medical Care Hospital located in Gwangju Metropolitan City in South Korea who were diagnosed with stroke. Group A uses a cane of the height of the greater trochanter of femur, group B uses a cane of 5cm above the height of the greater trochanter of femur, and group C is a cane of 10cm above the height of the greater trochanter of femur. In the study result, non-affected side plantar pressure and affected side plantar pressure showed a significant difference among the cases where the cane height was the same as the A group, B group, C group. In the post-hoc analysis result, a significant difference was observed between the case of A group and C group. Gait speed showed no significant difference among the case of the A group, B group, C group. The asymmetry of the stroke affects not only the posture but also the walking that is related to daily life. Changes in the height of the cane did not affect walking speed. The change in the height of the cane showed a change in the weight support ratio, which is thought to have a positive effect on the asymmetry. In future clinical setting, this study result will be able to provide fundamental data regarding the cane height in the standing or walking therapy for hemiplegic patients due to stroke with cane application.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2023

Background: Dentists make various efforts to reduce patients' anxiety and fear associated with dental treatment. Dental sedation is an advanced method that dentists can perform to reduce patients' anxiety and fear and provide effective dental treatment. However, dental sedation is different from general dental treatment and requires separate learning, and if done incorrectly, can lead to serious complications. Therefore, sedation is performed by a limited number of dentists who have received specific training. This study aimed to investigate the proportion of dentists who practice sedation and the main sedatives they use in the context of the Republic of Korea. Methods: We used the customized health information data provided by the Korean National Health Insurance. We investigated the number of dental hospitals or clinics that claimed insurance for eight main sedatives commonly used in dental sedation from January, 2007 to September, 2019 at the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. We also identified the changes in the number of dental medical institutions by region and year and analyzed the number and proportion of dental medical institutions prescribing each sedative. Results: In 2007, 302 dental hospitals prescribed sedatives, and the number increased to 613 in 2019. In 2007, approximately 2.18% of the total 13,796 dental institutions prescribed sedatives, increasing to 3.31% in 2019. In 2007, 168 institutions (55.6%) prescribed N₂O alone, and in 2019, 510 institutions (83.1%) made claims for it. In 2007, 76 (25.1%) hospitals made claims for chloral hydrate, but the number gradually decreased, with only 29 hospitals (4.7%) prescribing it in 2019. Hospitals that prescribed a combination of N₂O, chloral hydrate, and hydroxyzine increased from 27 (8.9%) in 2007 to 51 (9%) in 2017 but decreased to 38 (6.1%) in 2019. The use of a combination of N₂O and midazolam increased from 20 hospitals (6.6%) in 2007 to 51 hospitals (8.3%) in 2019. Conclusion: While there is a critical limitation to the investigation of dental hospitals performing sedation using insurance claims data, namely exclusion of dental clinics providing non-insured treatments, we found that in 2019, approximately 3.31% of the dental clinics were practicing sedation and that N₂O was the most commonly prescribed sedative.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.13-31
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study conducted a job analysis of visiting nurses in the process of change. Methods: Participants were the visiting nurses working for the Seoul Metropolitan city. On the basis of the Public Health Intervention Wheel model, two times of the focus group interview (FGI) with seven visiting nurses and one time of the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) with 34 visiting nurses were performed. A questionnaire survey of 380 visiting nurses was conducted to examine the frequency, importance and difficulty levels of the tasks created by using the FGI and DACUM. Results: Visiting nurses' job was derived as the theme of present versus transitional roles. The present role was categorized as 'providing individual- and group-focused services' and 'conducting organization management', while the transitional role was categorized as 'providing district-focused services' and 'responding to new health issues'. The job generated 13 duties, 28 tasks, and 73task elements. The tasks showed the levels of frequency (3.65 scores), importance (4.27 scores), and difficulty (3.81 scores). All the tasks were determined as important, exceeding the average 4.00 scores. The group- and district-focused services of the tasks were recognized as more difficult but less frequent tasks. Conclusion: The visiting nurses exert both present and transitional roles. The transitional roles identified in the present study should be recognized as an extended role of visiting nurses in accordance with the current changing healthcare needs in South Korea. Finally, the educational curriculum for visiting nurses that reflects the transitional roles from the present study is needed.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.174-183
• /
• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the active exercise program using sling on the pain and balance of total knee replacement patients. Subjects were 20 patients who received total knee replacement and are hospitalized, 10 patients in each group were randomly assigned to a group (CPM group) that applied only CPM (Continuous passive motion) and a group (CSG) that combined CPM with a active exercise program using sling. CG was performed CPM 5 days a week, CSG performed CPM 2 days a week and a active exercise program using sling 3 days a week, and each intervention was performed for 40 minutes a day for a total of 4 weeks. Pain was evaluated using VAS (Visual analog scale), and balance was measured using BT4 (Balance training 4) to measure C90 area, trace length, and Sway average velocity with eyes open and closed. As a result, there was a significant decrease in pain in both groups, and there was also a significant difference in the amount of change between groups. In balance, all variables except C90 of CG showed significant changes after intervention, and there was a significant difference between C90 and Vel with eyes closed in the amount of change between groups. Therefore, we believe that CPM and active exercise program using sling are effective interventions to reduce pain and improve balance in total knee replacement patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.48 no.2
• /
• pp.118-131
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to provide essential data for the development of a prenatal healthcare intervention program tailored to Vietnamese migrant women. This study assessed the knowledge and the practice of prenatal health management, and the levels of depression among Vietnamese women of childbearing age residing in Korea and Vietnam. Methods: Using a descriptive research design, a structured questionnaire was administered to Vietnamese women of childbearing age, with 113 participants residing in Korea and 196 participants residing in Vietnam. Data was collected from Februay to April 2021. Data was analyzed using t-test and chi-square test. Result: The analysis of knowledge regarding prenatal health management revealed significant differences between married women in both locations, with higher knowledge scores. Regarding prenatal health management practices, no significant differences were found based on marital status or place of residence. Particularly in the item "Will receive regular prenatal check-ups at the hospital." married Vietnamese women in Vietnam had lower scores than unmarried women, and rural women had lower scores than urban women. The lowest score was observed among Korean-residing women in the item "Will seek pregnancy and childbirth information." Regarding depression, married women in Vietnam and women living in rural areas demonstrated significantly higher depression scores. Conclusion: When designing perinatal management interventions for Vietnamese immigrant women, special attention should be given to those originating from rural areas in Vietnam. It is recommended to incorporate the importance of perinatal healthcare and factors related to mental well-being into the intervention program.