• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2015

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the use of Korean medicine in patients with dizziness or vertigo, since such study has not been performed previously. Methods: In the current study, we included 3 diagnoses i.e., Disorders of vestibular function (H81), Vertiginous syndromes in diseases classified elsewhere (H82), and Dizziness and giddiness (R42) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRAS) database for 4 years. We analyzed the database and compared treatment with Korean vs. Western medicine. Results: 1. Korean medical visits and cost have been increasing for 4 years, except 2011. Western medical visits are 11.9 times higher than Korean medical visits. 2. The number of women who received Korean medicine was 2.6 times higher than that of men. 3. Among all ages, the 70~79 years group were the most frequent users of Korean medicine. The older age was correlated with more patients' visits. 4. The comparative number of visits by patient care type for 4 years indicated that outpatients had more visits than hospitalization. Furthermore, outpatient visits have been increasing for 4 years. 5. The comparative number of visits by hospital type for 4 years indicated that visits to the Korean medical clinic were the highest. In primary care, patients used more Korean medicine than Western medicine. In tertiary care, patients used more Western medicine than Korean medicine. 6. Korean medical cost per patient by patient care type for 4 years was a total 89,000 won, hospitalization 449,000 won and outpatient 83,000 won. Costs of all patient care types have been increasing. 7. Korean medical cost per patient by hospital type for 4 years was 156,000 won for Korean medical hospital, 83,000 won for local clinic and 127,000 won for miscellaneous facilities. Costs of all types have been increasing. Conclusions: This study provided objective information about epidemiologic characteristics of Korean medicine in patients with dizziness or vertigo. Furthermore, it provides an understanding of the recent status and forms the basis for further expansion of demand for Korean medicine among patients with dizziness or vertigo.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3500-3512
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of health behaviors, health status, and health care utilization by the homeland of the internationally married women immigrants living in Korea. The subjects of this study were 171 married women immigrants who are registered at 7 multicultural centers in Chungbuk province. The study was conducted from September 2010 to November 2010 by surveying them with structured questionnaires translated in 7 different languages. In health behaviors the results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in high intensity exercise, walking, weight control, and the number of times having breakfast per week depending on the subject's homeland. In health status, there were statistically significant differences in low back pain incidence and obesity rate by the subject's homeland. In health care utilization, the subjects revealed statistically significant differences in utilizing health screening, in selecting primary medical institutes, and in the reasons for avoiding medical institutes depending on the subject's homeland. Health promotion policies that take the results of this research into account would provide suitable health care services for internationally married migrant women.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2021

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. Regional blocks might provide excellent analgesia and reduce complications in the postoperative period. We aimed to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of the ultrasound-guided transversalis fascia (TF) plane block versus the transmuscular quadratus lumborum (QL) block in patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair. Methods: Fifty patients enrolled in this comparative study and were randomly assigned into two equal groups. One group received an ultrasound-guided QL block. In comparison, the other group received an ultrasound-guided TF plane block. The primary outcome was the patient-assessed resting, and movement-induced pain on the numeric pain rating scale (NRS) measured at 30 minutes postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of patients receiving rescue analgesia in the first postoperative day, ease of performance of the technique, and incidence of adverse effects. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in NRS at rest and with movement between the groups over the first 24 hours postoperatively. The proportion of patients that received postoperative rescue analgesics during the first 30 minutes postoperatively was 4% (n = 1) in the QL group compared to 12% (n = 3) in the TF group. However, the mean performance time of the TF block was shorter than that of the QL block, and the performance of the TF block appeared easier technically. Conclusions: The ultrasound-guided TF plane block could be as effective as the QL block in lowering pain scores and decreasing opioid consumption following non-recurrent inguinal herniorrhaphy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare birth outcomes between Korean women and immigrant women. Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively from 201 immigrant women and 201 Korean women who delivered babies at K women's hospital in U city from January 2006 to December 2009. Maternal outcomes related factors included nationality, age, obstetric history, delivery type, indications of cesarean section, and complications of pregnancy and delivery. Principal neonatal outcomes were birth weight, Apgar scores, and complications of newborns. Results: Immigrant women were younger and had fewer pregnancies, abortions, and surviving children than Korean women. The rate of primary cesarean section and its indication in immigrant women were not significantly different from Korean women. However, immigrant women's newborn were more likely to have low birth weight and meconium staining. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate less equity of immigrant women in women's health care, although immigrant women's babies had lower Apgar score and more meconium staining. Nurses should help immigrant women cope with labor process effectively to prevent adverse health outcomes for their newborns.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.275-277
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• 2012

Objective: The objective of our present study was to assess the efficacy of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) for differentiating and diagnosis of pancreatic and liver diseases in Pokhara valley. Materials and methods: A hospital based retrospective study was carried out using data retrieved from the register maintained in the Department of Biochemistry of the Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal between 1st January, 2011 and 31st October, 2011. Estimation of CEA was performed by ELISA reader for all cases. Approval for the study was obtained from the institutional research ethical committee. Results: Of the 771 subjects, 208 (27%), 60(7.8%), 240(31.1%), 54(7.0%), 75(9.7%), 59(7.7%), 75(9.7%) cases were of active chronic hepatitis, cryptogenic cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, hepatoma, acute or chronic pancreatitis, carcinoma of pancreas respectively. The majority of cases (104) of active chronic hepatitis had CEA levels <5ng/ml(50%). CEA levels were found to be increased in cases of alcoholic cirrhosis with maximum number of cases (106) in range of 10 to 20 ng/ml (44%). There were no cases having more than 20ng/ml of CEA in primary biliary cirrhosis and acute or chronic pancreatitis. In cases of pancreatic cancer, maximum number of cases (35) were having CEA >20ng/ml(47%). Conclusion: High levels of CEA are associated with advanced stage of disease. CEA can thus provide an important improvement in the diagnosis by differentiating pancreatic cancer especially from chronic pancreatitis when there is a high suspicion of malignancy. Increased CEA levels may also signify progression from benign to malignant transformation in the liver.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify policy implications for the construction of public health facilities in the field of international cooperation, by examining the case of establishing a health care delivery system using a public health center in a rural area of Paraguay. Methods: Firstly, to map the capacity of the 20 public health centers that were studied, we used the WHO Capacity Mapping tool to select and analyze relevant items. Secondly, to assess the utilization of public health centers, we conducted a direct visit survey and analyzed the results using the M-survey tool. Results: The floor plan of each public health center, the structure of the health center, the size of the population served by each health center, the number of monthly visitors, medical human resources, and the budget were classified by health center for comparative analysis. In addition, by utilizing the M-survey tool, we analyzed the general characteristics of the respondents, their perceptions of the purpose and accessibility of public health centers, their satisfaction with using public health centers, and the level of demand for public health centers to play a role in promoting community health. Implications: The results of this study suggest that access to public health facilities for residents in the research area was improved. By classifying public health centers into two types, these centers can perform the functions and roles of primary health facilities. A patient request and evacuation system was established in the research area. Finally, a network, such as a social prescribing program, is needed so that public health centers can function as a "setting" for community members to live together.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1979

A study was carried out from October 1977 to September 1978 in order to develope health care delively system which will meet to rural area in Korea. For the study objective a model of health care delivery system of Myun (township) area was developed which is adopted the net-work of village health voluntary worker who will play the role of bridge for communication related with health and illness between families or village people and health subcenter, and :he model health care delivery system net-work was set in the area of Soodong Myun, Yangju Gun. which is the rural health demonstration area of Ewha Womans University since 1972. The activities and attitude of 22 village health voluntary workers were observed and analized. during the study period. The results are as follows; 1. For the field activities of village health voluntary workers. a guide line which is described with specific behavioral objectives was developed and used for not only training of the workers but also evaluation of their field activities. 2. During the study period, the number of 971 village people were served primary health care service by village health voluntary worker and the service was classified largely into symptomatic medications (92%) and preventive measures (8%). 3. Comparative percentage of the number of 894 symptomatic cases cared by village health voluntary workers to 5,695 cases of patient treated by Soodong Health Subcenter during the same period was 15.7%. 4. Annual utility rate of village health voluntary worker by Myun total people was 16.1% but utility rate by Rie was varied from 38.2% to 2.8% which shown there were considerable differences in each Rie. In order to settle the village health care service, the obstructive factors of utility should be detected and their counter measure must be taken. 5. As the health need of village people increases, it is expected that the supplement of drug excluding present sit basic drugs is inevitable, but considering the ability of village health voluntary worker, the selection of additional drugs and education, plan should be carefully studied. 6. It is desirable that a financial resource for supplementary purchase of first aid kit, drugs and materials whould be alloted from village public fund like Saemaeul Women's Club fund, which has already practiced in a few villages in the study area. 7. As pointed out by village health voluntary workers, in order to improve the village health, village leaders should be in the center of it and the cooperation of whole village people is a core of healthful village development, and it is reasonable that the health subcenter backs up these voluntary health activities by village people in techniques. 8. It seems effective that a supplementary education for village health voluntary worker be accomplished by a planned education through regular meetings like worker's monthly meeting and irregular post guide when Myun Health Workers can handle the problems found during the round trip of villages. 9. It is desirable that village health voluntary workers, who are recommended by a civil voluntary organization like Saemael Woman's Club, are charged by natural villagc unit, are given a function of village health care service and used through basic education at health subcenter. 10. It is advisable that the village health voluntary worker's service is compensated not by a form of money, but by other way such as an exemption of medical fee of worker herself or her families in health subcenter can be one method. 11. Daily health activities of each village health voluntary worker should be reported to health subcenter by biweekly or monthly in order to get not only for basic data of the program but also for evaluation the program. It is recomandable that the report form should be simple and clear enough for village health voluntary worker to fill it effectively. 12. Village health care service should be developed into a Saemaeul Movement in which village people actively participate. For this, the appointed function of village health voluntary worker should be absorbed into those of living Environment Betterment Section or Family Planning Section of Saemaeul Women's Club or it is desirable that establish a new section, Village Health Promoting Section and make it involve the appointed functions of those sections mentioned above.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.6
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• pp.3-40
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• 2002

Appraisal is a basic archival function that analyzes values of records and determines the eventual disposal of records based upon their archival values. In Korea, this appraisal concept introduces in earnest through Public Records and Archives Act(PRA, 공공기관의 기록물관리에관한법률) with which Korean record management systems settle inflexibly. In theoreical and methodological area, therefore, it is necessary to analyze appraisal system in this Act with it in archival science. In PRA Act, appraisal system is founded on the Tables of Transaction for Records Scheduling(TRS, 기록물분류기준표) through which disposal activities of all records are definited in a concrete form. In this system, selection of archival materials which has been recognized as a important function of record center is carried out by record creators and archival institutions; Primary value between semi-currenty and non-currenty are reflected at the same time. In view of values, this appraisal system intends to separate reasonably consideration for continuing utility of achives from current use of records throughout agencies duration. Ultimately, appraisal based upon TRS makes up not separated management course but organic courses reflecting the Continuum of Care. Of course, this appraisal system makes up the deficiency partially. TRS regarded as 'mainboard' of current appraisal system will have to be enacted elaborately. And appraisal strategies of electronic records must set up in detail in PRA Act and TRS. Lastly, arrangement and description concepts immanent in TRS will have to supplement in archival institutions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2022

Background: Although respiratory tract infection is one of the most important factors triggering acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD), limited data are available to suggest an epidemiologic pattern of microbiology in South Korea. Methods: A multicenter observational study was conducted between January 2015 and December 2018 across 28 hospitals in South Korea. Adult patients with moderate-to-severe acute exacerbations of COPD were eligible to participate in the present study. The participants underwent all conventional tests to identify etiology of microbial pathogenesis. The primary outcome was the percentage of different microbiological pathogens causing AE-COPD. A comparative microbiological analysis of the patients with overlapping asthma-COPD (ACO) and pure COPD was performed. Results: We included 1,186 patients with AE-COPD. Patients with pure COPD constituted 87.9% and those with ACO accounted for 12.1%. Nearly half of the patients used an inhaled corticosteroid-containing regimen and one-fifth used systemic corticosteroids. Respiratory pathogens were found in 55.3% of all such patients. Bacteria and viruses were detected in 33% and 33.2%, respectively. Bacterial and viral coinfections were found in 10.9%. The most frequently detected bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9.8%), and the most frequently detected virus was influenza A (10.4%). Multiple bacterial infections were more likely to appear in ACO than in pure COPD (8.3% vs. 3.6%, p=0.016). Conclusion: Distinct microbiological patterns were identified in patients with moderate-to-severe AE-COPD in South Korea. These findings may improve evidence-based management of patients with AE-COPD and represent the basis for further studies investigating infectious pathogens in patients with COPD.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3385-3390
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• 2016

Background: Sequential use of circulating prostate cell (CPC) detection has been reported to potentially decrease the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in men suspected of prostate cancer. In order to determine the real world effectiveness of the test, we present a prospective study of men referred to two hospitals from primary care physicians, one using CPC detection to determine the necessity of prostate biopsy the other not doing so. Materials and Methods: Men with a suspicion of prostate cancer because of elevated PSA >4.0ng/ml or abnormal DRE were referred to Hospitals A or B. In Hospital A all underwent 12 core TRUS biopsy, in Hospital B only men CPC (+), with mononuclear cells obtained by differential gel centrifugation identified using double immunomarking with anti-PSA and anti-P504S, were recommended to undergo TRUS biopsy. Biopsies were classifed as cancer or no-cancer. Diagnostic yields were calculated, including the number of posible biopsies that could be avoided and the number of clinically significant cancers that would be missed. Results: Totals of 649 men attended Hospital A, and 552 men attended Hospital B; there were no significant differences in age or serum PSA levels. In Hospital A, 228 (35.1%) men had prostate cancer detected, CPC detection had a sensitivity of 80.7%, a specificity of 88.6%, and a negative predictive value of 89.5%. Some 39/44 men CPC negative with a positive biopsy had low grade small volume tumors. In Hospital B, 316 (57.2%) underwent biopsy. There were no significant differences between populations in terms of CPC and biopsy results. The reduction in the number of biopsies was 40%. Conclusions: The use of sequential CPC testing in the real world gives a clear decision structure for patient management and can reduce the number of biopsies considerably.