• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to analyze the current status and performance evaluation systems of faculty in Korean medical colleges and professional graduate medical schools (called medical schools). We developed a research tool based on previous studies and distributed it to 40 medical schools from July to October 2017. The response rate was 100%. We calculated the number of faculty members and analyzed the faculty evaluation systems and awareness according to national and private medical schools. As of 2017, the number of medical faculty in Korea was 11,111 (4,973 faculty were employed by their alma mater, which is 44.76% of the total), with non-medical doctor faculty accounting for 754 of the total. The medical schools reflect research achievements as most important for re-appointment and screening to promote faculty, and the area of education is secondary excepting clinical faculty of private medical schools. However, important issues in the faculty evaluation deal with the relevance of research achievement and the need for qualitative assessment. Some medical schools revised or have been revising the faculty evaluation system in areas such as minimum standards of education for promotion and separation of promotion and tenure review. Opening non-tenure track lines for faculty show positive effects such as increasing the number of positions for hire and easing the financial burdens of medical schools. Downfalls include inconsistencies between the responsibilities and actual practices of tenure not being available and the instability of faculty's status. In conclusion, medical schools need to prepare a faculty evaluation system that fits the position of faculty members and attempt to establish a reasonable compensation system.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Objectives The objectives of this study is to investigate the characteristics of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pattern identification based on the survey of frequencies of symptoms and signs according to the pediatricians and psychiatrists in Korean Medicine. Methods Eleven pediatricians and fourteen psychiatrists participated in this study. 38 symptoms and signs of 4 ADHD pattern identifications (Kidney yin deficiency and liver yang ascendant hyperactivity 腎虛肝亢, Dual deficiencies in the heart and spleen 心脾兩虛, Phlegm-fire harassing the heart 痰火擾心, Spleen weakness and liver energy preponderance 脾虛肝旺) were used to evaluate the frequencies of ADHD. The differences in frequencies of symptoms and signs amongst ADHD pattern identifications, and the correlations between them were analyzed. Results There were significant differences in the frequencies of symptoms and signs between each pattern identification. Dual Deficiencies in the Heart and Spleen 心脾兩虛 is negatively related with hyperactivity and impulsivity, and positively related with inattention. Phlegm-fire Harassing the Heart 痰火擾心 is positively related with hyperactivity and impulsivity, and negatively related with inattention. Conclusions The results of the characteristics of ADHD pattern identifications from the survey analysis could be used in the clinical practices of ADHD as well as to improve the ADHD pattern identification questionnaire.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.298-315
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• 2021

Purpose: Peri-implantitis therapy and implant maintenance are fundamental practices to enhance the longevity of zirconia implants. However, the use of physical decontamination methods, including hand instruments, polishing devices, ultrasonic scalers, and laser systems, might damage the implant surfaces. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of physical decontamination methods on zirconia implant surfaces. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using 5 electronic databases: Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane. Hand searching of the OpenGrey database, reference lists, and 6 selected dental journals was also performed to identify relevant studies satisfying the eligibility criteria. Results: Overall, 1049 unique studies were identified, of which 11 studies were deemed suitable for final review. Air-abrasive devices with glycine powder, prophylaxis cups, and ultrasonic scalers with non-metal tips were found to cause minimal to no damage to implantgrade zirconia surfaces. However, hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers with metal tips have the potential to cause major damage to zirconia surfaces. In terms of laser systems, diode lasers appear to be the most promising, as no surface alterations were reported following their use. Conclusion: Air-abrasive devices and prophylaxis cups are safe for zirconia implant decontamination due to preservation of the implant surface integrity. In contrast, hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers with metal tips should be used with caution. Recommendations for the use of laser systems could not be fully established due to significant heterogeneity among included studies, but diode lasers may be the best-suited system. Further research-specifically, randomised controlled trials-would further confirm the effects of physical decontamination methods in a clinical setting.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate functional disability for the elderly in rural Korea and to identify influencing factors of functional disability. Methods : The data were collected for 76 community-dwelling elderly in rural area and above 65 years. We assessed cognitive function, functional disability, depression using LACLS, WHODAS 2.0, SGDS-K. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for general characteristics of subjects, Spearman's correlation among LACLS, SGDS-K, WHODAS 2.0, age, educational levels. And multiple regression was used to find influencing factors of functional disability. Results : As a result of this study, we identified that WHODAS 2.0 total score was 50.59, summary score was 9.94 and functional disability of the elderly in rural area is in the 70^th percentile. The highest level of disability occurred in areas related to 'life activities (household)', 'participation in society' and the lowest level of disability occured in areas of 'self-care', 'getting along with people'. Functional disability was significantly correlated with age (r=.398), cognitive function (r=-.547), depression (r=-.563) but not educational levels (r=-.215). Finally, we confirmed that depression (𝛽=.371), cognitive function (𝛽=-.263), widowed status (𝛽=.303), age (𝛽=.272), non-participation of community program (𝛽=.165) was significantly influencing factors of functional disability and the explanatory power of these factors was 52.80 %. Conclusion : This study revealed important factors of functional disability. Therefore, we need to consider these factors when we developed program related to health for the elderly (aged > 65 years) in rural Korea. Further, we need to standardize WHODAS 2.0 in order to enhance its applicability in clinical practices.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2021

Currently, hospitals and medical practices have a large amount of unstructured information, gathered in time at each ward or practice by physicians in a wide range of medical branches. The data requires processing in order to be able to extract relevant information, which can be used to improve the medical system. It is useful for a physician to have access to a patient's entire medical history when he or she is in an emergency situation, as relevant information can be found about the patient's problems such as: allergies to various medications, personal history, or hereditary collateral conditions etc. If the information exists in a structured form, the detection of diseases based on specific symptoms is much easier, faster and with a higher degree of accuracy. Thus, physicians may investigate certain pathological profiles and conduct cohort clinical trials, including comparing the profile of a particular patient with other similar profiles that already have a confirmed diagnosis. Involving information technology in this field will change so the time which the physicians should spend in front of the computer into a much more beneficial one, providing them with the possibility for more interaction with the patient while listening to the patient's needs. The expert system, described in the paper, is an application for medical diagnostic of the most frequently met conditions, based on logical programming and on the theory of probabilities. The system rationale is a search item in the field basic knowledge on the condition. The web application described in the paper is implemented for the ward of pathological anatomy of a hospital in Romania. It aims to ease the healthcare staff's work, to create a connection of communication at one click between the necessary wards and to reduce the time lost with bureaucratic proceedings. The software (made in PHP programming language, by writing directly in the source code) is developed in order to ease the healthcare staff's activity, being created in a simpler and as elegant way as possible.

• Infection and chemotherapy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2018

Background: Lancet-related needlestick injuries (NSIs) occur steadily in clinical practices. Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) can systematically reduce NSIs. However, the use of SEDs is not active and no study to guide the implementation of SEDs was known in South Korea. The lancet-related NSIs may be eliminated to zero incidence using a SED lancet with effective sharp injury protection and reuse prevention features. Materials and Methods: We implemented a SED lancet by replacing a conventional prick lancet in a tertiary hospital in a sequential approach. A spot test of the new SED was conducted for 1 month to check the acceptability in practice and a questionnaire survey was obtained from the healthcare workers (HCWs). A pilot implementation of the SED lancet in 2 wards was made for 1 year. Based on these preliminary interventions, a hospital-wide full implementation of the SED lancet was launched. The incidence of NSIs and cost expenditure before and after the intervention were compared. Results: There were 29 cases of conventional prick lancet-related NSIs for 3 years before the full implementation of SED lancet. The proportion of prick lancet-related NSIs among yearly all kinds of NSIs during two years before the pilot study was average 11.7% (22/188). Pre-interventional baseline incidence of all kinds of NSIs was 7.01 per 100 HCW-years. After the full implementation of SED lancet, the lancet-related NSIs became zero in the 2nd year (P = 0.001). The average direct cost of 18,393 US dollars (USD) per year from device and post-exposure medical care before the intervention rose to 20,701 USD in the 2nd year of the intervention. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 210 USD per injury avoided. Conclusion: The implementation of a SED lancet could eliminate the lancet-related NSIs to zero incidence. The cost increase incurred by the use of SED lancet was tolerable.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2020

Purpose: The practical examination portion of the National Dental Licensing Examination (NDLE) is slated to be administered in the latter half of 2021 in the form of a clinical performance examination that comprehensively evaluates the patient-dentist interaction using standardized patients (SPs). The SPs should be equipped with the basic qualities and capacity as evaluators for a fair and reliable administration of the test. Materials and Methods: In this study, we analyzed the existing training materials for SPs who participated in domestic and overseas practical tests for the development of training materials for SPs through seminars and surveys of 11 dentistry schools and colleges. Result: First, SPs should be selected according to the basic quality criteria and capacity, which they must possess, and the preliminary basic training about the details which they must have knowledge of and be provided through videorecorded cases before the implementation of the preliminary field training. Second, the roles of SPs and the calibration process of the evaluation result forms are needed when conducting the preliminary field training for SPs. After watching video-recorded scenario cases, the SPs participate in discussions about the watched videos before proceeding to calibration practices of evaluation result forms. Third, because the Type A questionnaire of the practical examination of the NDLE is dependent on the SPs' capacity and training, the fairness of the practical test is largely dependent on the SPs. Therefore, practicing the roles as evaluators and evaluation training should be provided using practical test items that can improve the reliability of the test and show a high level of reproducibility about the same case. Conclusion: The findings of this study will be utilized for the development of training materials for SPs, so they can participate in the administration of a fair and reliable practical examination of the NDLE.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1303-1318
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• 2021

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the debate on the use of medical devices between Western Medicine and Korean Medicine, as this is one of the greatest conflicts in Korea's medical profession. Judicial precedents and interpretations of authority serve as regulations because medical affairs law states that Korean Medicine practices are ambiguous. Method: We conducted a search in the Korean RISS, OASIS, and DBPIA databases using several keywords associated with medical devices, Korean Medicine, and Korean Medicine Doctors. The search period was until November 5 2021. The retrieved papers were classified according to the selection and exclusion criteria by checking the title, abstract, and text. For precedents, searches were done regarding comprehensive legal information, etc., and in the case of non-disclosure precedents, we requested access to the precedents by web-court requests. Results: A total of 80 documents were found as a result of the search, and 13 publications were included in the study. The selected publications were classified and analyzed by this research team into Korean medicine, Western medicine, and legal or state agency research. In the existing literature and judgments, the arguments that played a major role changed depending on the time the judgment was made. "Social conventions", "curriculum", "academic principles", and "health and hygiene dangers" were the key arguments. Conclusions: Further studies will be needed that can comprehensively arrange the existing literature and clinical results, and continuous study will be needed to verify that the use of medical devices by Korean medicine doctors is helpful for prognosis and accurate treatment of their patients.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-55
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• 2022

Background: This study compared the effects of trunk stabilization exercise and hip joint exercises on the range of motion of the lumbar spine, pain severity, and severity of disability in patients with chronic lower back pain. Methods: A total of 30 participants were enrolled and divided into group 1 (n=10), group 2 (n=10), and group 3 (n=10) were performed by each group thrice a week for a total of 8 weeks. Group 1 performed warm-up exercise (15 min), trunk stabilization exercise (25 min), finish-up exercise (15mins). Group 2 performed warm-up exercise (15 min), hip exercise (25 mins, finish-up exercise (15mins). Group 3 warm-up exercise (15 min), trunk stabilization and hip exercise (25 min), Finish-up exercise (15 min). Participants were assessed for the range of motion of the lumbar spine, pain severity (visual analog scale score; VAS), and severity of disability (Oswestry disability index score; ODI) before and after the interventions. Results: All three groups showed a significant increase in the range of motion of the lumbar spine, but there was no significant difference among the groups. Moreover, the severity of pain and ODI were significantly decreased in all groups; however, the intergroup differences were non-significant. Conclusion: The results from this study confirmed the effectiveness of trunk stabilization and hip joint exercise in improving the lumbar range of motion, pain severity, and chronic lower back pain in patients. Thus, trunk and pelvic stabilization exercises and hip joint exercise can be used as clinical practices to treat and prevent chronic lower back pain.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.247-260
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and competencies of practice experienced by public health center nurses(PHNs) during the early response phase of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: PHNs were recruited from public health centers(PHC) in ten cities in Korea, using purposive sampling. They participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews from December 21, 2020, to February 18, 2021. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Three themes and nine categories were drawn from the findings. The three themes that emerged from the data analysis were as follows: 'Handling expanding work scope and overwhelming workload beyond prepared competencies, willing to go anywhere.', 'Performing tasks of cooperation and communication required in the disaster management administrative system.', 'Demonstrated proficiency in clinical nursing practices, but recognized the need for further development of leadership and administrative capabilities.' Conclusions: The experiences of the subjects' have implications for the development of content for community nursing education that cultivates basic competencies to respond to real pandemic situations during undergraduate education. It is proposed that it would be necessary to establish a support system for developing specialized competencies in public health nursing.