• Title/Summary/Keyword: Hospital Settings

Search Result 516, Processing Time 0.028 seconds

Effects of a Critical Pathway of Posterolateral Fusion in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (측후방융합술을 시행한 요추관협착증 환자의 Critical Pathway 적용효과)

  • Park, Hae-Ok
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
    • /
    • v.7 no.2
    • /
    • pp.265-284
    • /
    • 2001
  • The case management has been applied to improve the quality of care and the cost-effectiveness in the most health care institutions. In a way of case management, the critical pathway(CP) has been executed in many acute care settings, focused on the diagnoses with high cost, high volume, and high risk. This study was conducted to develop a case management program using CP as an intervention of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis for the surgery of posterolateral fusion, and to find out the effects of the critical pathway on the quality of nursing care, patient satisfaction as an outcome of care, length of stay and medical charge, and nurses' job satisfaction. At the same time, patients' functional states were checked with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Index, to show that the CP would not decrease the patients' function compared to the control group. The subjects were 25 control patients with a usual operation of lumbar fusion and 25 experimental patients with CP. They were all female, aged $50s{\sim}70s$, admitted in the Orthopedic surgery ward of a university hospital. Also nurses on the floor using CP were asked to respond to measurement tool of job satisfaction before and after the application of CP, and compared with other nurses on the different wards. Data were analyzed with t-test for continuous variables and chi-square for non-parametric variables in addition to the reliability test of the measurement tools. The results of this study were as followings: 1. Patients' functional states The differences in Oswestry scores of the experimental and control groups assessed at preoperation and at discharge were not statistically significant. The change in scores of the experimental group measured at preoperation and at discharge was larger than that of the control group, however the difference was not statistically significant. The results indicate that the CP did not decrease the patients' functional status. 2. The quality of nursing care The total of quality of nursing care given to the experimental group was better than that of the control group(P=.000). In addition, the experimental group showed better scores of quality of every item of care than the control group(P=.000 -.004). 3. Patient satisfaction Patients of the experimental group were not more satisfied with general care than the control group. But they were more satisfied with discharge care of 'explanation about medication, body posture, and brace application' and 'explanation about the adjustment of daily living and exercise during recovery'(P= .047, P=.028). 4. Nurses' job satisfaction Nurses working with the CP showed more job satisfaction than before the CP introduction(P=.048). But the control group of nurses on a different floor showed no change in job satisfaction at the same period of time. 5. Length of stay and medical charge The mean length of stay of the experimental group was shorter than that of the control group without statistical significance. The charge of medication and treatment of the experimental group were smaller than that of the control group(P=.011, P=.000). The results of the study support that the case management using critical pathway enables to improve the quality of care and job satisfaction, to reduce the medical charge, and consequently to increase satisfaction with care. However, the case management should be instituted focusing on the quality improvement of nursing and the client satisfaction, not just for the purpose of cost-effectiveness of health care facilities.

  • PDF

Needs for clinical dietitian in hospital settings: Importance of doctor's awareness regarding clinical nutrition service as mediating variable (의료기관 임상영양사 요구도에 미치는 영향 : 임상영양서비스의 중요도에 대한 의사의 인식을 매개역할 중심으로)

  • Um, Mi Hyang;Park, Yoo Kyoung;Song, Yoon Mi;Lee, Song Mi;Lyu, Eun Soon
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
    • /
    • v.50 no.5
    • /
    • pp.519-529
    • /
    • 2017
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not there is a relationship between doctor's awareness of clinical nutrition service and needs for a clinical dietitian. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The research was carried out by using questionnaires that had been specifically designed for the study. The research was conducted from September to October, 2013 for 311 doctors at 43 hospitals (with over 400 beds). Frequency analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and bootstrapping analysis were conducted using SPSS 21.0. Results: 'Implementation of clinical nutritional service' (p < 0.001) and 'usefulness on clinical nutrition service' (p < 0.001) were found to be correlated with 'importance of clinical nutrition service' as an independent variable. The correlation between 'importance of clinical nutrition service' as a mediating variable and 'needs for clinical dietitian' as a dependent variable was also confirmed (p < 0.001). The results of the bootstrapping test showed that the mediating effect of 'importance of clinical nutrition service' was significant. The indirect effect value between 'implementation of clinical nutrition service' and 'needs for clinical dietitian' was 0.040, indirect effect value between 'usefulness on clinical nutrition service' and 'needs for clinical dietitian' was 0.095. Conclusion: The frequency of providing clinical nutritional services, the quality of clinical nutritional services, and the degree of implementation of clinical nutritional services were found to be important for positive perception of clinical nutrition services by doctors. Therefore, proper provision of clinical nutrition services and effective therapeutic effects will be continuously highlighted, which will increase the awareness of the physician and ultimately increase the demand for clinical nutrition service.

Experiences with Emergency Percutaneous Cardiopulmonary Support in In-hospital Cardiac Arrest or Cardiogenic Shock due to the Ischemic Heart Disease (허혈성 심질환으로 인해 병원 내에서 발생한 심정지 혹은 심정지 혹은 심인성 쇼크에 있어서의 경피적 심폐 보조장치의 치료 경험)

  • Rhee Il;Kwon Sung-Uk;Cho Sung Woo;Gwon Hyeon-Cheol;Lee Young Tak;Park Pyo Won;Park Kay-Hyun;Lee Sang Hoon;Sung Kiick
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
    • /
    • v.39 no.3 s.260
    • /
    • pp.201-207
    • /
    • 2006
  • Background: Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) provides passive support of gas exchange and perfusion, allowing the use of other methods of care for organ recovery, and saves lives of patients with severe cardiopulmonary failure in a wide variety of clinical settings with a minimal risk of bleeding and need for chest re~ exploration. We summarized a single center's experiences with PCPS in patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest due to the ischemic heart disease. Material and Method: Among the 20 consecutive patients with cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest from May 1999 to June 2005, Biopump (Medtronic, Inc, Minneapolis, MN) was used in 7 patients and the self-priming, heparin-coated circuit of EBS (Terumo, Japan) was applied to remaining 13 patients. Most of cannulations were performed percutaneously via femoral arteries and veins. The long venous cannulas of DLP (Medtronic inc. Minneapolis, MN) or the RMI (Edwards's lifescience LLC, Irvine, CA) were used with the arterial cannulae from 17 Fr to 21 Fr and the venous cannula from 21 Fr to 28 Fr. Result: The 20 consecutive patients who were severely compromised and received PCPS for the purpose of resuscitation were comprised of 13 cardiac arrests and 7 cardiogenic shocks in which by-pass surgery was performed in 11 patients and 9 ongoing PCls under the cardiopulmonary support. The mean support time on the PCPS was 38$\pm$42 hours. Of the 20 patients implanted with PCPS, 11 patients ($55\%$) have had the PCPS removed successfully; overall, 8 of these patients ($40\%$) were discharged from the hospital in an average surviving time for 27$\pm$17 days after removing the PCPS and survived well with 31$\pm$30 months of follow-up after the procedure. Conclusion: The use of PCPS appears to provide the hemodynamic restoration, allowing the survival of patients in cardiac arrest or cardiogenic shock who would otherwise not survive, and patients receiving PCPS had a relatively long-term survival.

Evaluation of Parameters of Gas Exchange During Partial Liquid Ventilation in Normal Rabbit Lung (토끼의 정상 폐 모델에서 부분액체환기 시 가스교환에 영향을 주는 인자들에 대한 연구)

  • An, Chang-Hyeok;Koh, Young-Min;Park, Chong-Wung;Suh, Gee-Young;Koh, Won-Jung;Lim, Sung-Yong;Kim, Cheol-Hong;Ahn, Young-Mee;Chung, Man-Pyo;Kim, Ho-Joong;Kwon, O-Jung
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.52 no.1
    • /
    • pp.14-23
    • /
    • 2002
  • Background: The opitmal ventilator setting during partial liquid ventilation(PLV) is controversial. This study investigated the effects of various gas exchange parameters during PLV in normal rabbit lungs in order to aid in the development of an optimal ventilator setting during PLV. Methods: Seven New-Zealand white rabbits were ventilated in pressure-controlled mode with the following settings; tidal volume($V_T$) 8 mL/kg, positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) 4 $cmH_2O$, inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio(I:E ratio) 1:2, fraction of inspired oxygen($F_TO_2$) 1.0. The respiration rate(RR) was adjusted to keep $PaCO_2$ between 35~45 mmHg. The ventilator settings were changed every 30 min in the following sequence : (1) Baseline, as the basal ventilator setting, (2) Inverse ratio, I:E ratio 2:1, (3) high PEEP, adjust PEEP to achieve the same mean inspiratory pressure (MIP) as in the inverse ratio, (4) High $V_T$, $V_T$ 15 mL/kg, (5) high RR, the same minute ventilation (MV) as in the High $V_T$. Subsequently, the same protocol was repeated after instilling 18 mL/kg of perfluorodecalin for PLV. The parameters of gas exchange, lung mechanics, and hemodynamics were examined. Results: (1) The gas ventilation(GV) group showed no significant changes in the $PaO_2$ at all phases. The $PaCO_2$ was lower and the pH was higher at the high $V_T$ and high RR phases(p<0.05). No significant changes in the lung mechanics and hemodynamics parameters were observed. (2) The baseline $PaO_2$ for the PLV was $312{\pm}$ mmHg. This was significantly lower when decreased compared to the baseline $PaO_2$ for GV which was $504{\pm}81$ mmHg(p=0.001). During PLV, the $PaO_2$, was significantly higher at the high PEEP($452{\pm}38$ mmHg) and high $V_T$ ($461{\pm}53$ mmHg) phases compared with the baseline phase. However, it did not change significantly during the inverse I:E ratio or the high RR phases. (3) The $PaCO_2$ was significantly lower at high $V_T$ and RR phases for both the GV and PLV. During the PLV, $PaCO_2$ were significantly higher compared to the GV (p<0.05). (4) There were no important or significant changes in of baseline and high RR phases lung mechanics and hemodynamics parameters during the PLV. Conclusion: During PLV in the normal lung, adequate $V_T$ and PEEP are important for optimal oxygenation.

A Study on the Effects of the Early Use of Nasal CPAP in the Weaning of Mechanical Ventilators (인공호흡기 이탈시 비강내 CPAP 조기 사용 효과에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Yeoung Ju;Jung, Byun Kyung;Lee, Sang Geel
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
    • /
    • v.46 no.12
    • /
    • pp.1200-1206
    • /
    • 2003
  • Purpose : This study was conducted for the use of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), by comparing the early use of non-invasive nasal CPAP with low intermittent mandatory ventilation(low IMV) and endotracheal CPAP in weaning a mechanical ventilator from infants with moderate respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Methods : Thirty infants in the study group, with moderate RDS from November 2001 to June 2002, were administered surfactants and treated with the mechanical ventilator, and applied the nasal CPAP in weaning. Thirty infants of the control group, from January 1999 to September 2001, were applied low IMV and endoctracheal CPAP in weaning. Results : There were no significant differences in the characteristics, the severity of clinical symptoms, the initial laboratory findings and settings of the mechanical ventilator. After weaning, the study group showed no significant changes in $PaCO_2$. However, the control group showed a slight $CO_2$ retension after one and 12 hours. Twenty eight infants(93.3%) of the study group and 24 infants(80%) of the control group were successfully extubated. The primary cause of failure was apnea. There were no significant differences in the duration of weaning and the mechanical ventilator treatment between the groups. Complications in weaning were related to the fixation of nasal CPAP and the mechanical problems caused by endotracheal tube. Conclusion : Aggressive weaning is possible for moderate RDS, in which the nasal CPAP was used without the low IMV and the endotracheal CPAP process. It had no difficulties. In conclusion, the nasal CPAP is an adequate weaning method for moderate RDS.

Evaluation of the Usefulness of MapPHAN for the Verification of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Planning (용적세기조절회전치료 치료계획 확인에 사용되는 MapPHAN의 유용성 평가)

  • Woo, Heon;Park, Jang Pil;Min, Jae Soon;Lee, Jae Hee;Yoo, Suk Hyun
    • The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
    • /
    • v.25 no.2
    • /
    • pp.115-121
    • /
    • 2013
  • Purpose: Latest linear accelerator and the introduction of new measurement equipment to the agency that the introduction of this equipment in the future, by analyzing the process of confirming the usefulness of the preparation process for applying it in the clinical causes some problems, should be helpful. Materials and Methods: All measurements TrueBEAM STX (Varian, USA) was used, and a file specific to each energy, irradiation conditions, the dose distribution was calculated using a computerized treatment planning equipment (Eclipse ver 10.0.39, Varian, USA). Measuring performance and cause errors in MapCHECK 2 were analyzed and measured against. In order to verify the performance of the MapCHECK 2, 6X, 6X-FFF, 10X, 10X-FFF, 15X field size $10{\times}10$ cm, gantry $0^{\circ}$, $180^{\circ}$ direction was measured by the energy. IGRT couch of the CT values affect the measurements in order to confirm, CT number values : -800 (Carbon) & -950 (COUCH in the air), -100 & 6X-950 in the state for FFF, 15X of the energy field sizes $10{\times}10$, gantry $180^{\circ}$, $135^{\circ}$, $275^{\circ}$ directionwas measured at, MapPHAN allocated to confirm the value of HU were compared, using the treatment planning computer for, Measurement error problem by the sharp edges MapPHAN Learn gantry direction MapPHAN of dependence was measured in three ways. GANTRY $90^{\circ}$, $270^{\circ}$ in the direction of the vertically erected settings 6X-FFF, 15X respectively, and Setting the state established as a horizontal field sizes $10{\times}10$, $90^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $315^{\circ}$, $270^{\circ}$ of in the direction of the energy-6X-FFF, 15X, respectively, were measured. Without intensity modulated beam of the third open arc were investigated. Results: Of basic performance MapCHECK confirm the attenuation measured by Couch, measured from the measured HU values that are assigned to the MAP-PHAN, check for calculation accuracy for the angled edge of the MapPHAN all come in a range of valid measurement errors do not affect the could see. three ways for the Gantry direction dependence, the first of the meter built into the value of the Gantry $270^{\circ}$ (relative $0^{\circ}$), $90^{\circ}$ (relative $180^{\circ}$), 6X-FFF, 15X from each -1.51, 0.83% and -0.63, -0.22% was not affected by the AP/PA direction represented. Setting the meter horizontally Gantry $90^{\circ}$, $270^{\circ}$ from the couch, Energy 6X-FFF 4.37, 2.84%, 15X, -9.63, -13.32% the difference. By-side direction measurements MapPHAN in value is not within the valid range can not, because that could be confirmed as gamma pass rate 3% of the value is greater than the value shown. You can check the Open Arc 6X-FFF, 15X energy, field size $10{\times}10$ cm $360^{\circ}$ rotation of the dose distribution in the state to look at nearly 90% pass rate to emerge. Conclusion: Based on the above results, the MapPHAN gantry direction dependence by side in the direction of the beam relative dose distribution suitable for measuring the gamma value, but accurate measurement of the absolute dose can not be considered is. this paper, a more accurate treatment plan in order to confirm, Reduce the tolerance for VMAT, such as lateral rotation investigation in order to measure accurate absolute isodose using a combination of IMF (Isocentric Mounting Fixture) MapCHEK 2, will be able to minimize the impact due to the angular dependence.

  • PDF

A Study on the Risk Factors for Maternal and Child Health Care Program with Emphasis on Developing the Risk Score System (모자건강관리를 위한 위험요인별 감별평점분류기준 개발에 관한 연구)

  • 이광옥
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
    • /
    • v.13 no.1
    • /
    • pp.7-21
    • /
    • 1983
  • For the flexible and rational distribution of limited existing health resources based on measurements of individual risk, the socalled Risk Approach is being proposed by the World Health Organization as a managerial tool in maternal and child health care program. This approach, in principle, puts us under the necessity of developing a technique by which we will be able to measure the degree of risk or to discriminate the future outcomes of pregnancy on the basis of prior information obtainable at prenatal care delivery settings. Numerous recent studies have focussed on the identification of relevant risk factors as the Prior infer mation and on defining the adverse outcomes of pregnancy to be dicriminated, and also have tried on how to develope scoring system of risk factors for the quantitative assessment of the factors as the determinant of pregnancy outcomes. Once the scoring system is established the technique of classifying the patients into with normal and with adverse outcomes will be easily de veloped. The scoring system should be developed to meet the following four basic requirements. 1) Easy to construct 2) Easy to use 3) To be theoretically sound 4) To be valid In searching for a feasible methodology which will meet these requirements, the author has attempted to apply the“Likelihood Method”, one of the well known principles in statistical analysis, to develop such scoring system according to the process as follows. Step 1. Classify the patients into four groups: Group $A_1$: With adverse outcomes on fetal (neonatal) side only. Group $A_2$: With adverse outcomes on maternal side only. Group $A_3$: With adverse outcome on both maternal and fetal (neonatal) sides. Group B: With normal outcomes. Step 2. Construct the marginal tabulation on the distribution of risk factors for each group. Step 3. For the calculation of risk score, take logarithmic transformation of relative proport-ions of the distribution and round them off to integers. Step 4. Test the validity of the score chart. h total of 2, 282 maternity records registered during the period of January 1, 1982-December 31, 1982 at Ewha Womans University Hospital were used for this study and the“Questionnaire for Maternity Record for Prenatal and Intrapartum High Risk Screening”developed by the Korean Institute for Population and Health was used to rearrange the information on the records into an easy analytic form. The findings of the study are summarized as follows. 1) The risk score chart constructed on the basis of“Likelihood Method”ispresented in Table 4 in the main text. 2) From the analysis of the risk score chart it was observed that a total of 24 risk factors could be identified as having significant predicting power for the discrimination of pregnancy outcomes into four groups as defined above. They are: (1) age (2) marital status (3) age at first pregnancy (4) medical insurance (5) number of pregnancies (6) history of Cesarean sections (7). number of living child (8) history of premature infants (9) history of over weighted new born (10) history of congenital anomalies (11) history of multiple pregnancies (12) history of abnormal presentation (13) history of obstetric abnormalities (14) past illness (15) hemoglobin level (16) blood pressure (17) heart status (18) general appearance (19) edema status (20) result of abdominal examination (21) cervix status (22) pelvis status (23) chief complaints (24) Reasons for examination 3) The validity of the score chart turned out to be as follows: a) Sensitivity: Group $A_1$: 0.75 Group $A_2$: 0.78 Group $A_3$: 0.92 All combined : 0.85 b) Specificity : 0.68 4) The diagnosabilities of the“score chart”for a set of hypothetical prevalence of adverse outcomes were calculated as follows (the sensitivity“for all combined”was used). Hypothetidal Prevalence : 5% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Diagnosability : 12% 23% 40% 53% 64% 75% 80%.

  • PDF

A Study on the Simplification of Questionnaire for Sasang Constitution Classification(QSCC II) (사상체질진단검사(QSCC II) 설문지 간소화 연구)

  • Park, Jee-Won;Kim, Jeong-Ah;Wang, Myung-Ja
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
    • /
    • v.14 no.2
    • /
    • pp.334-350
    • /
    • 2003
  • The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the clinical validity of QSCCII (Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification), whose high accuracy as a constitutional diagnostic tool has been recognized by medical professionals. The subjects of this study were 568 clients from an A university hospital in Suwon. Of the subjects, 259 were health center visitors and 292 were ambulatory clinic visitors. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire and were analyzed by $X^2$-test and one-way ANOVA. The results of this study as follows: 1. In 4 types of constitution, Soeumin type was found in 41.5% of the subjects. Taeumin type in 39.2%.,and Soyangin type in 19.2%, respectively. There was no Tayangin type found in this study. There were no significant differences on types of constitution by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education, religion, and economic status. 2. As for 15 item-selective questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of the 12 items, except items such as A4, A11 and A14, by the types of constitution. When the subjects' own criteria on their constitution were compared to the given constitutional criteria on each item, 4 items such as A6, A11, A13 and A14 were advisable to be excluded from the questionnaire or to be reunited to the other criteria. In the meanwhile, 3 items such as A7, A18 and A15 were desirable to be re-categorized to the other constitutional types and reconstructed to the QSCC II questionnaire. 3. In terms of 106 true-false questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of 46 items by the types of constitution. The 46 items include 15 items (32.6%) of the domain of 'handling something/strength and weakness', 4 items (8.7%) of the domain of 'interpersonal relationship', 9 items (19.6%) of the domain of 'state of mind at ordinary times', 2 items (4.3%) of the domain of 'distinctive emotional characteristics' area, 11 items (23.9%) of the domain of 'specific behavioral trait' and 5 items (10.9%) of the domain of 'physical characteristics'. Therefore, the areas of 'handling something/strength and weakness' and' specific behavioral trait' mainly contributed to the classification of constitutional type. 4. When the 106 true-false items were simplified to the 46 items, statistically significant differences were found on the rate of items allocated to the 3 types of constitution. The rate of selection assigned to the 3 constitutional types of the simplified 46-item questionnaire was higher than that of the original 106-item questionnaire. Conclusions; It was concluded that the rate of selection of each lay person about his own constitutional type would be still higher even though the simplified items of QSCC II questionnaire were applied. If more replicated studies are conducted on the diverse population using the simplifying QSCC II questionnaire in the future, a more simplified standardized Sasang Constitution Questionnaire that is available to the public rather than to medical staffs in the clinical settings could be developed. Moreover, the simplified scale will help nurses deliver more efficient nursing care by providing a more rapid way of health assessment.

  • PDF

Extubation Time by Birth Weight and the Predictors for Success/Failure at the First Extubation in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants (초극소저출생체중아에서 출생체중별 발관시기 및 첫 발관 시의 성공/실패 예측인자)

  • Choi, Chang Won;Park, Sung Eun;Jeon, Ga Won;Yoo, Eun Jung;Hwang, Jong Hee;Chang, Yun Sil;Park, Won Soon
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
    • /
    • v.48 no.5
    • /
    • pp.488-494
    • /
    • 2005
  • Purpose : To outline the aspects of extubation by birth weight and find the predictors for success/failure at the first extubation in extremely low birth weight infants. Methods : One hundred thirteen extremely low birth weight infants(<1,000 g) who were admitted to NICU at Samsung Seoul Hospital between Jan. 2000 and Jun. 2004 were enrolled. Clinical characteristics that are thought to be related with extubation success or failure were compared with the success and the failure of the first extubation. Results : As the birth weight decreased, extubation success day was significantly delayed : $16{\pm}3day(d)$ in 900-999 g; $20{\pm}3d$ in 800-899 g; $35{\pm}4d$ in 700-799 g; $37{\pm}9d$ in 600-699 g; $49{\pm}12d$ in ${\leq}599g$. 25 out of 113 infants(22%) failed the first extubation. Preterm premature rupture of membrane was associated with extubation success, and air leak was associated with extubation failure, with a borderline significance. Postnatal and corrected age and body weight at the first extubation, nutritional status, and ventilator settings were not associated with extubation success or failure. Extubation success day was significantly delayed, and the incidence of late-onset sepsis and mortality was significant higher in the failure of the first extubation. Conclusion : We could not find significant predictors for success/failure at the first extubation. The failure of the first extubation had an increased risk of late-onset sepsis and death. Further studies are needed to find the predictors for extubation success/failure.

The Etiologic Diseases and Diagnostic Usefulness of Color Doppler Ultrasonography in Children with Chronic Coughs (소아 만성 기침의 원인 질환과 컬러 도플러 초음파 검사의 진단적 유용성)

  • Park, Sun Young;Lee, Joon Sung
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
    • /
    • v.45 no.4
    • /
    • pp.489-497
    • /
    • 2002
  • Purpose : The objectives of this study were to investigate the causes of chronic cough and to establish the appropriate diagnostic approach to chronic cough in children. Methods : One hundred and thirty two cases of chronic cough were prospectively evaluated. They visitors to pediatric chronic cough clinics at Kang-nam saint Mary's Hospital of Catholic University from August 2000 to July 2001 for 12 months. Careful history taking by questionnaire, physical examination, radiologic studies of chest and sinus, hematologic and immunologic studies, allergic skin tests, and methacholine challenge tests were performed. Color doppler(CD) ultrasonography were performed and compared with simultaneous 24 Hr. esophageal pH monitoring to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). Results : Age distributions were demonstrated that nine in infants, 82 in early childhood, 38 in late childhood, and three in adolescence. Common causes of chronic cough were bronchial asthma in 40 cases, chronic sinusitis in 22 cases, GERD in seven cases, bronchial asthma combined with sinusitis in 28 cases, bronchial asthma combined with GERD in 14 cases, psychogenic cough in two. cases, foreign body in one case, chronic bronchitis in one case, and bronchiolitis in one case. Comparing with 24 Hr. pH monitoring, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of CD ultrasonography were 88%, 69%, 85 %, and 73% respectively. Conclusion : The most common causes of chronic cough in children were bronchial asthma, sinusitis and GERD in order. We suggest that CD ultrasonography can be used as a good, convenient screening method for patients with suspected GERD in outpatient settings.