• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was performed to systematically review the recently published nursing intervention studies. Methods: The literature was identified through the Korean Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), the Korean Information Service System (KISS), and National Assembly Library websites. Key words such as breast cancer, nursing, and intervention were used. The factors analyzed are as follows: 1) the characteristics of studies and study populations, 2) the classification of interventions, 3) outcome indicators and their effects, and 4) effective interventions. Results: Thirty two studies were included. Seventeen studies used a single intervention such as aerobic dance, TaiChi, foot massage, aromatherapy, or a stress-reduction method. Fifteen studies used combined interventions, including education, exercise, counseling, support, yoga or meditation. The data on 47 outcome indicators and their effects were segregated into psycho/spiritual outcomes, stress coping, physical outcomes, cardiorespiratory function, symptom management, arm and shoulder functions, fatigue, and quality of life. Some interventions had positive effects on stress, fatigue, and functions of shoulder. Conclusion: Various interventions are available for breast cancer patients, and some have had positive effects. However, more studies are required to develop evidence-based practice guidelines for nursing interventions.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.116-121
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• 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effects of dose rate on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA). Methods: We performed gamma tests using portal dose image prediction and log files of a multileaf collimator. Thirty treatment plans were randomly selected for the IMRT QA plan, and three verification plans for each treatment plan were generated with different dose rates (200, 400, and 600 monitor units [MU]/min). These verification plans were delivered to an electronic portal imager attached to a Varian medical linear accelerator, which recorded and compared with the planned dose. Root-mean-square (RMS) error values of the log files were also compared. Results: With an increase in dose rate, the 2%/2-mm gamma passing rate decreased from 90.9% to 85.5%, indicating that a higher dose rate was associated with lower radiation delivery accuracy. Accordingly, the average RMS error value increased from 0.0170 to 0.0381 cm as dose rate increased. In contrast, the radiation delivery time reduced from 3.83 to 1.49 minutes as the dose rate increased from 200 to 600 MU/min. Conclusions: Our results indicated that radiation delivery accuracy was lower at higher dose rates; however, the accuracy was still clinically acceptable at dose rates of up to 600 MU/min.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.66-72
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• 2018

The proper position of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) is essential for the quality of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) dose delivery. Task Group (TG) 142 provides a quality assurance (QA) procedure for MLC position. Our study investigated the QA validation of the mechanical leaf gap measurement and the maintenance procedure. Two $VitalBeam^{TM}$ systems were evaluated to validate the acceptance of an MLC position. The dosimetric leaf gaps (DLGs) were measured for 6 MV, 6 MVFFF, 10 MV, and 15 MV photon beams. A solid water phantom was irradiated using $10{\times}10cm^2$ field size at source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 90 cm and depth of 10 cm. The portal dose image prediction (PDIP) calculation was implemented on a treatment planning system (TPS) called $Eclipse^{TM}$. A total of 20 VMAT plans were used to confirm the accuracy of dose distribution measured by an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and those predicted by VMAT plans. The measured leaf gaps were 0.30 mm and 0.35 mm for VitalBeam 1 and 2, respectively. The DLG values decreased by an average of 6.9% and 5.9% after mechanical MLC adjustment. Although the passing rates increased slightly, by 1.5% (relative) and 1.2% (absolute) in arc 1, the average passing rates were still within the good dose delivery level (>95%). Our study shows the existence of a mechanical leaf gap error caused by a degenerated MLC motor. This can be recovered by reinitialization of MLC position on the machine control panel. Consequently, the QA procedure should be performed regularly to protect the MLC system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3313-3317
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between caregiver burden and perceived social support among caregivers of patients with cancer. The research was conducted in a university hospital in ${\dot{I}}zmir$, Turkey. Eighty patient relatives who provided care service to patients with cancer who were admitted at hematology and oncology clinics participated in the study. The findings indicated that the care burden score was mild level. The mean of the perceived social support score was $58.4{\pm}21.0$ supporting the conclusion that there is a weak and negative-direct relation between caregiver and perceived social support and that as the perceived social support increased, conversely, care burden decreased.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2021

Background/Objectives: To analyze changes in the incidence of thyroid cancer for Korean population using big data from the National Health Insurance Service. Materials & Methods: Sample cohort database between January 2004 and December 2013 with 1,000,000 cases for each year was enrolled in this study. Thyroid cancer incidence was analyzed by sex, age and by region. Public health insurance payment was used to reflect socioeconomic status. Results: The incidence of thyroid cancer in Korea increased for 10 years annually. There are 3 times increasing in the incidence rate of thyroid cancer from 2004, 0.03% to 2013, 0.09%. The sex ratio in the incidence rate of thyroid cancer was male : female = 1:7.2 in 2004 and male : female = 1:3.6 in 2013 that suggest decreased gap between the sex ratio. Between 2004 and 2010, the incidence rates of those in their 40s were found to be the highest, whereas the incidence rates for those in their 50s were found to be highest from 2011 and thereafter. Every year the high socioeconomic status group showed a higher incidence of thyroid cancer than low socioeconomic status group. Some specific region showed continuous high incidence of thyroid cancer, not all city and state. Conclusion: The incidence rate of thyroid cancer for 10 years had special feature by sex, age, socioeconomic status and especially by region. This results will be a barometer for further epidemiologic study about the incidence of thyroid cancer for Korean population

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the actual care costs paid to Korean Oncology Advanced Practice Nurses (KOAPN). Methods: We collected data using a group discussion and questionnaire identified 115 tasks from job descriptions developed by the Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing. Forty-two KOAPN working at three university hospitals in Seoul were asked to evaluate each task as to type and whether the cost is paid or not. They were also asked to indicate the tasks in urgent need of development of a care cost with high priority. Results: Only five tasks (4.3%) related to treatment and complication related interventions or education were paid, and they were paid only once during the entire treatment period and were not covered by national health insurance. It was approved as a medical fee by health insurance review & assessment service. Furthermore, the names of the authority (doctor) and the actual provider (nurse) of the prescriptions were different for three of those tasks. Most of the suggested tasks needing development of care costs were actions specifically performed by nurses (physical-psychosocial-spiritual assessment, independent nursing interventions). Conclusion: KOAPN are currently paid for few tasks. To maximize the utilization of KOAPN, the establishment of a clear rational payment system directly related to their actual activities is needed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2003

This system Will allow primary and secondary treatment institutions poorly equipped with medical equipment to use Internet and book their patients' medical checkups with tertiary hospitals equipped with remote medical information system. This research aims to make theoretical studies on the remote medical service information sharing system and discuss its utility and factors to be considered for spreading the system. To efficiently push ahead with the remote medical service information sharing system, we need to be open-minded in sharing medical service information, establish comprehensive pursuit system, introduce incentive aimed at activating the information system, have close coordination with the central government, flexibly respond to changing technologies, and offer publicity and education.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.260-272
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• 2011

Objectives: The promotion of health and safety (H&S) awareness among hospital staff can be applied through various methods. The aim of this study was to assess the risk level of physical hazards in the hospital sector by combining workers' perception, experts' evaluation and objective measurements. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed using multiple triangulation. Hospital staff (n = 447) filled in an H&S questionnaire in a general hospital in Athens and an oncology one in Thessaloniki. Experts observed and filled in a checklist on H&S in the various departments of the two hospitals. Lighting, noise and microclimate measurements were performed. Results: The staff's perception of risk was higher than that of the experts in many cases. The measured risk levels were low to medium. In cases of high-risk noise and lighting, staff and experts agreed. Staff's perception of risk was influenced by hospital's department, hospital's service, years of working experience and level of education. Therefore, these factors should be taken into account in future studies aimed at increasing the participation of hospital workers. Conclusion: This study confirmed the usefulness of staff participation in the risk assessment process, despite the tendency for staff to overestimate the risk level of physical hazards. The combination of combining staff perception, experts' evaluation and objective measures in the risk assessment process increases the efficiency of risk management in the hospital environment and the enforcement of relevant legislation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.92-106
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• 1999

Background : In many university hospitals, intravenous(IV) therapies and samplings had been one of the most important works of doctors who are in training. However, recently as patient oriented care is becoming more weighted for qualified health service IV therapies should be the works of specialized personnels. This study was conducted to investigate the medical staff's perception on IV team, to survey patient or parent's expectation on IV team, and to assess the frequency of IV therapy related complications and the characteristics of phlebitis among the hospitalized children. Methods : We collected data prospectively before the start of IV team from February 22 to February 29. 1999 and from September 27 to October 3, 1999, 6 months after beginning of IV team at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. IV team started their activities from March 1, 1999. General pediatric wards were not included for the IV and sampling team and oncology ward and surgical units were all included for the IV and sampling team's work. IV specialist was the well trained nurse who had been working in the field of pediatrics especially for the oncology patients. The subjects of this study were medical staffs who were working in children's hospital as doctors in training and patients who were treated with IV therapies in children's hospital during the same period. Results : Doctors responded that IV team need to be organized for IV care and expected IV team could reduce their work load. Parents of patients also responded IV team was very improtant to perform high quality IV care. They had willingness to pay extra charge for IV team care. In the wards where IV team did not work, they used various kinds and sizes of catheters, but in the wards where IV team worked, they needed just one or two types of catheters. As the exact role of IV team is not still established, job description is needed between the IV team and medical doctors. In the aspects of medical costs. it could save the materials for the IV also. Conclusion : This study showed that IV team could increase patient's satisfaction with decrease of medical doctors work load and concomitantly could save the costs of IV materials. And for the expansion of the IV team, job description is needed and for the total care of the children IV specialist and sampling team should expand their roles.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2010

For treatment of Total Skin Electron beam Therapy (TSET), measurement of dose at various conditions is need on the contrary to usual radiotherapy. When treating TSET with modified Stanford technique based on linear accelerator, the energy of treatment electron beam, the spatial dose distribution and the actual doses deposited on the surface of the patient were measured by using EBT2. The measured energy of the electron beam was agreed with the value that measured by ionization chamber, and the spatial dose distribution at the patient position and the doses at several point on the patient's skin could be easily measured by EBT2 film. The dose on the patient that was measured by EBT2 film showed good agreement with the data measured simultaneously by TLD. With the results of this study, it was proven that the EBT2 film can be one of the useful dosimeter for TSET.