• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2016

Purpose: Gestational weight gain and prepregnancy body weight are important factors of childbirth outcomes, which further cause obesity, metabolic diseases, or psychological problems later in women's lives. Changes in diet, westernized lifestyle, traditional postpartum care, and childbirth at older age are thought to be threats to proper weight management in Korean women of reproductive age. Public health and antenatal care need to focus on the proper body weight management of women by carefully planning pregnancy to postpartum periods. Purpose: This study explored the body weight changes from pregnancy to postpartum and the related characteristics in women within 12 months after childbirth. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted with 102 Korean women within 12 months after childbirth. Data were collected using an online survey system, and a structured questionnaire available for electronic self-administration was modified to include demographics, obstetrical history, and body weight at 6 time points. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and Eating Habit Measurement instruments were also used in data collection. A professional survey agency recruited the participants, and data were automatically saved and then analyzed. Results: The average age of the participants was 33.8 years, 48% were housewives and were well-educated. Seventy-two percent of the participants were primiparas and 82% had breastfed their babies. The body mass index (BMI) ranged from 17.3 to 27.8, indicating that 21.5% of the participants were overweight or obese. The mean gestational weight gain was 11.8 kg, and weight loss was apparent during the first 3 months postpartum. The mean decline in weight was 3.4 kg at one year after childbirth. Women wanted to lose 5.6 kg (range: 3~20 kg), however 44% of them reported that they had not engaged in any weight control efforts. Further, 72% of them reported having engaged in a low level of physical activity. Body weight was not associated with women's characteristics, physical activity score, and diet. Conclusion: Women's awareness of gestational weight gain, lifestyle modification, and the risk of prolonged weight retention should be promoted through the antenatal and women's healthcare systems. As pregnancy and childbirth are critical events that affect women's health, integrative education to ensure healthy transition to life after delivery is required.

• Journal of KIISE:Databases
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.239-249
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• 2006

Interoperability has been deemphasized from the hospital information system in general, because it is operated independently of other hospital information systems. This study proposes a future-oriented hospital information system through the design and actualization of the HL7 clinical document architecture. A clinical document is generated using the hospital information system by analysis and designing the clinical document architecture, after we defined the item regulations and the templates for the release form and radiation interpretation form. The schema is analyzed based on the HL7 reference information model, and HL7 interface engine ver.2.4 was used as the transmission protocol. This study has the following significance. First, an expansion and redefining process conducted, founded on the HL7 clinical document architecture and reference information model, to apply international standards to Korean contexts. Second, we propose a next-generation web based hospital information system that is based on the clinical document architecture. In conclusion, the study of the clinical document architecture will include an electronic health record (EHR) and a clinical data repository (CDR), and also make possible medical information-sharing among various healthcare institutions.

• Journal of KIISE:Computing Practices and Letters
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.244-254
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• 2009

This paper describes a remote system to monitor the circadian behavioral patterns of elders who live alone. The proposed system was designed and implemented to provide more conveniently and reliably the required functionalities of a remote monitoring system for elders based on the development of first phase prototype[2]. The developed system is composed of an in-house sensing system and a server system. The in-house sensing system is a set of wireless sensor nodes which have pyroelectric infrared (PIR) sensor to detect a motion of elder. Each sensing node sends its detection signal to a home gateway via wireless link. The home gateway stores the received signals into a remote database. The server system is composed of a database server and a web server, which provides web-based monitoring system to caregivers (friends, family and social workers) for more cost effective intelligent care service. The improved second phase system can provide 'automatic diagnosis', 'going out detection', and enhanced user interface functionalities. We have evaluated the first and second phase monitoring systems from real field experiments of 3/4 months continuous operation with installation of 9/15 elders' houses, respectively. The experimental results show the promising possibilities to estimate the behavioral patterns and the current status of elder even though the simplicity of sensing capability.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.349-356
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• 2014

With the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), the perceptions of HIV therapy have changed from treating acute and terminal diseases to managing complex chronic diseases. Due to needs for specialists with professional knowledge on anti-retroviral therapies, pharmacists have been recognized as established and integral members in HIV multi-disciplinary care teams. Nevertheless, the roles of Korean pharmacists for HIV/AIDS therapy were highly limited. According to the transition of '2+4'-year pharmacy school curricula in Korea, it is necessary for pharmacy students to possess improved knowledge about and proper attitudes toward HIV/AIDS as future pharmacists. However, there have been little studies regarding the assessment of HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of pharmacy students in Korea. Thus, this study was to examine Korean pharmacy students' knowledge levels, attitudes, and risk perceptions about HIV/AIDS and compare them according to pharmacy educational systems. The self-reported questionnaire was utilized to collect data. Total 238 students responded to the survey questionnaires. Most pharmacy students who participated in this study knew that the main transmission routes of HIV were unprotected sex, unscreened blood, occupational exposure, and intravenous drug use. However, they did not properly know post exposure prophylaxis for HIV. The pharmacy students under '2+4'-year curricula were more competent with treatment, care, counseling for HIV patients than those under 4-year curricula. Most pharmacy students thought that all healthcare students and professionals should receive mandatory HIV testings. The results from this study may contribute to developing new educational programs about HIV/AIDS. Additionally, further studies regarding the changes of Korean pharmacy students' attitudes and risk perceptions will need to be performed after they participate in these kinds of the programs.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.73-81
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to propose a success model for hospital information system(HIS) based on the information system success model proposed by DeLone and McLearn. This study was conducted to examine the relationships among hospital information system quality such as information quality, system quality, and service quality, user satisfaction, individual performance, and hospital performance. The information quality was examined as accuracy and timeliness, the system quality as security and reliability, and the service quality as convenience and playfulness. We collected 209 questionnaires from hospital employees from October to December 2020, analyzed the structural equation model using AMOS 25. According to the analysis results, The information accuracy in the hospital information system had an effect on user satisfaction, but the timeliness did not. System security and reliability affected user satisfaction, but convenience did not. On the other hand, enjoyment had a positive effect on user satisfaction, and user satisfaction was found to have a positive effect on individual and hospital performance. The results of this study will be able to provide meaningful guidelines for researchers and practitioners in healthcare as well as hospital information systems.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations, including (1) prioritizing the most critical dental services and provide care in a way that minimizes harm to patients due to delayed care, or harm to personnel from potential exposure to persons infected with the COVID-19 disease, and (2) proactively communicate to both personnel and patients the need for them to stay at home if sick. For health care, an interim infection prevention and control recommendation (COVID-19) is recommended for patients suspected of having coronavirus or those whose status has been confirmed. SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, is thought to be spread primarily between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely. However, COVID-19 is a new disease, and there remain uncertainties about its mode of spreads and the severity of illness it causes. The virus has been shown to persist in aerosols for several hours, and on some surfaces for days under laboratory conditions. COVID-19 may also be spread by people who are asymptomatic. The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary dental and surgical instruments, such as handpieces or ultrasonic scalers, and air-water syringes. These instruments create a visible spray that can contain particle droplets of water, saliva, blood, microorganisms, and other debris. While KF 94 masks protect the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose from droplet spatter, they do not provide complete protection against the inhalation of airborne infectious agents. If the patient is afebrile (temperature <100.4°F)* and otherwise without symptoms consistent with COVID-19, then dental care may be provided using appropriate engineering and administrative controls, work practices, and infection control considerations. It is necessary to provide supplies for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, including alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with 60%~95% alcohol, tissues, and no-touch receptacles for disposal, at healthcare facility entrances, waiting rooms, and patient check-ins. There is also the need to install physical barriers (e.g., glass or plastic windows) in reception areas to limit close contact between triage personnel and potentially infectious patients. Ideally, dental treatment should be provided in individual rooms whenever possible, with a spacing of at least 6 feet between the patient chairs. Further, the use of easy-to-clean floor-to-ceiling barriers will enhance the effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration systems. Before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing personal protective equipment, including gloves, hand hygiene after removal is particularly important to remove any pathogens that may have been transferred to the bare hands during the removal process. ABHR with 60~95% alcohol is to be used, or hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 s.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

Background: In Japan, new regulations that revise the dose limit for the lens of the eye (hereafter the lens), operational quantities, and measurement positions for the lens dose were enforced in April 2021. Based on the international safety standards, national guidelines, the results of the Radiation Safety Research Promotion Fund of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, and other studies, the Working Group of Radiation Protection Standardization Committee, the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS) developed a guideline for radiation dose monitoring for the lens. Materials and Methods: The Working Group of the JHPS discussed the criteria of non-uniform exposure and the management criteria set not to exceed the dose limit for the lens. Results and Discussion: In July 2020, the JHPS guideline was published. The guideline consists of three parts: main text, explanations, and 26 examples. In the questions, the corresponding answers were prepared, and specific examples were provided to enable similar cases to be addressed. Conclusion: With the development of the guideline on radiation dose monitoring of the lens, radiation managers and workers will be able to smoothly comply with revised regulations and optimize radiation protection.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.256-270
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• 2020

The collapse of the medical and healthcare system in the pandemic is resulting in the voluntary participation of civil society and a new way of responding. Some of new countermeasure can be immediately utilized at the forefront of the health crisis. Appropriate technology is no longer an intermediate technology, demonstrating its role as a technology capable of overcoming the crisis of not only developing countries but also any countries where the health system has collapsed. In this Part 2, examples of health fields such medical devices as negative pressure chambers and ventilators, diagnostic chips, and diagnostic techniques, are being discussed as a quick response to the collapse of health systems under COVID-19, within the framework of appropriate technologies. Finally, the important role of scientists and engineers is discussed for the prevention of severe impacts on the vulnerable people in terms of socioeconomic status.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.238-255
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• 2020

As COVID-19, which occurred at the end of 2019, has become a global pandemic, it has emerged as an unprecedented event that quickly destroys a nation's medical and healthcare system in both developed and developing countries. In the 21st century, most of the civil society that aimed for hyperconnected society is facing a new crisis that has not been experienced so far. Indeed, lack of personal protective equipment, isolation of clustered communities, disruption of medical systems necessary for diagnosis and treatment, and disruption of educational and economic activities due to social isolation are emerging. Since the COVID-19 has occurred, many of the difficulties that have occurred in the past six months indicate the basic infrastructure a society should have particularly in a pandemic. These include personal protective equipment (PPE), decontamination and quarantine tools essential for effective response, rapid and precise large-scale diagnosis, medical devices required for patient care, and identification and fast and wide on-line networks that can be used in social isolation. In this first part, we would like to introduce some representative examples of 1) personal protective equipment, 2) prevention of personal and community health, 3) social response through big data and networks within the framework of appropriate technology.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2022

Purpose: The study aims to identify the theme list and priority criteria of patient safety theme reports in South Korea. Methods: The survey was conducted twice, and the importance of each criterion and theme was measured on a nine-point scale using the Delphi technique by a panel of 19 patient safety experts. The criteria included severity, universality, preventability, and organizational-social impact. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, median, and interval quartile range were used to analyze the data. Results: The parameters were assigned a weighted average of 35% for severity, 20% for universality, 30% for preventability, and 15% for organizational-social impact, respectively. The final top three rankings were surgery safety, blood transfusion safety, and medication safety. In addition to expert opinion, for the theme that is selected based on the priority ranking, one to five sub-topics can be derived from the theme based on the priority ranking, societal demands, or the yearly priority list of patient safety incidents. Conclusion: It is recommended that the official patient safety center distribute the report in the form of a summary that can be utilized nationwide at medical institutions, government institutions, and other places. Updates, as well as accumulated theme reports, will serve as the baseline data for the proposal of the system and for the policy designed to implement and improve institutions' safety practices as a standard of domestic patient safety practice guidelines.