• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.61-72
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• 2018

Objectives: This study conducted a survey research to characterize traffic accident(TA) patients seeking Korean medicine treatment and to analyze the symptom improvement and satisfaction scores. Methods: A survey was conducted in 122 outpatients, who visited OO University Korean Hospital due to TA-associated symptoms from November, 2017 to May, 2018. The questionnaire included information on patient demographic characteristics, accident circumstance details, pain levels, reason for treatment selection, treatment methods, treatment purpose, symptom improvement and satisfaction. All statistical analyses were performed using Windows SPSS version 20.0 Results: The characteristics of traffic accident patients using Korean medical institution were usually accidents that occurred while driving slowly, and minor injuries like a sprain. The most important consideration in choosing Korean medical institution was its past experience. The biggest reason for switching treatment from Western medicine to Korean medicine was for diverse treatments. Satisfaction with Korean medicine was measured between very satisfaction and satisfaction. Patients showed the highest satisfaction with acupuncture, followed by pharmacopuncture and chuna manual therapy. Most treatments were measured between very satisfaction and satisfaction. After treatment, 95.90 percent of the patients said they would recommend Korean treatment. Conclusions: Although this study has limitations as research in survey format, we intended to analyze determining factors for the use of Korean medicine treatment through satisfaction, symptom improvement, and Numeric rating scale (NRS) change.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2017

Previous studies have found that firefighters have a tenfold higher prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) compare to the general population. Firefighters are constantly exposed to various occupational hazards including toxic chemicals of fire residue and the toxic chemicals can effects development and progression of PD. Nevertheless, there were no studies about the association between exposure to chemical byproducts of combustion and the development of PD among firefighters. Thus the aim of this study is to look into existing researches regarding the effect of chemical byproducts of combustion on the development of PD. An extensive literature search was conducted to identify harmful chemical components of smoke and fire residue, using the PubMed database during November of 2016. We searched for relevant articles by combining several keywords that contained "Parkinson's disease" and each of the different toxic chemicals, yielding a total of 1401 articles. After applying the selection criteria, 12 articles were chosen. Chemical substances reported to have a harmful effect on PD, in at least one article, were carbon monoxide, toluene, manganese and lead. Carbon monoxide and metal substances including manganese and lead were found to be associated with an increased PD risk in more than two articles. There was a heightened risk of PD in firefighters due to exposure of chemical byproducts of combustion including carbon monoxide, toluene, manganese and lead. However, to the best of our knowledge, to support this result we need more systematic epidemiological studies about these risk factors of PD among firefighters. In addition, further studies for the effects of prolonged exposure to toxic fire residue on the development and progression of PD in firefighters are needed.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.67-81
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• 2011

Background : Complementary and alternative medicine has bee used to cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, many hospitals have tried to integrate complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) with conventional medical approaches for patients with chronic diseases. Recently, the prevalence of the use of traditional Korean medicine(TKM) among patients with chronic diseases, expecially, hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident is increasing in Korea. To date, however, there were only few studies addressing the patients' attitudes, and utilization of TKM, compared to the well-documented escalating use of TKM among consumers in Korea. Objectives : The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence of TKM use among hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident and to determine what factors affect to use CAM among the patients. The study also aims to provide information on TKM and assist therapy selection among various CAM therapies for hemiplegia patients after cerebrovascular accident within health care system in which both practitioners of TKM and practitioners of modern Western medicine coexisted. Methods : The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 32-items questionnaire. The subjects were one hundred fifty nine patients with chronic diseases who visited or admitted to health care facilities in a hospital in Seoul Metropolitan city, Korea. Data were analyzed using 'SPSS Statistics 18.0 Network Version(on release 18.0.1 of PASW Statistics)' program. Various statistical methods were used to obtain a profile for participants and the therapies most frequently used by hemiplegia patients of TKM. Logistic regression analysis was employed in order to determine the predicting variables of TKM use. Results : The prevalence of the use of TKM was 51.6%. The most common TKM therapies used by the patients included acupuncture(93.2%), herbal medicine(64.8%), and cupping(37.5%). Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the variables significantly related with TKM use were gender, marital status, job, No. of visiting health care facilities/week. Conclusions : This study shows that the use of TKM among the hemiplegia patients is relatively high in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach for patients with chronic diseases and an efficient chronic disease management system in Korea.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1590-1596
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• 2007

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has gained in popularity among cancer patients in recent years. The use of CAM in cancer patients is common with about one third of patients using some form of CAM in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to analyze the use of CAM and determine what factors affect to use CAM among cancer patients to provide CAM therapy information and assist therapy selection among various CAM therapies to cancer patients. The design of the study was descriptive cross-sectional, and data were collected using a 16-item questionnaire. This study was conducted in subjects with confirmed diagnosis of stomach, colon, liver, or pancreas cancer, in both out-patients clinics and inpatients setting in a tertiary hospital in Seoul Korea. As a result, among the participants, past or current CAM use was reported by 75%, which shows a statistically significant difference in income groups(P<0.05), but no difference in age and religion groups. The most common therapies use by cancer patients included traditional Korean medicine (32.1%), folk remedies (26.6%), exercise (14%), dietary supplements (11.6%), physical therapy (9.9%), diet therapy (5%), and meditation (4%). 77.8% of patients show satisfaction and 64.4% shows perceived effectiveness of CAM. Male patients with higher income, and previous treatment were more likely to use CAM. The main benefits from CAM reported by cancer patients were psychological improvement and symptom improvement. Of the cancer patients used CAM, 30.9% were dissatisfied, 25.8% did not have benefits from the use, and 7.6% experience side effects. Cancer patients who prefer CAM (more than 3 kinds) used it to cure cancer, on the contrary, the one who do not prefer CAM used to improve symptoms and psychological stability. The main sources of information about CAM were family and friends(54.4%), and media(24.5%), doctor and nurse(18.3%), and religion group(2.6%). Findings suggest that due to the relatively high use of CAM among cancer patients in Korea, this topic should be taken into account in the development of a holistic approach to cancer patients and efficient cancer patients management system and proactive and consistent management of CAM is necessary in the health care system in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2022

Background: According to the eighth TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) staging system, the presence of separate tumor nodules in the same lobe is designated as a T3 descriptor. However, it remains unclear whether adjuvant chemotherapy confers survival advantages in this setting. Methods: We retrospectively identified 142 pathologic T3N0M0 patients with additional pulmonary nodules in the same lobe from a single-institutional database from 2004 to 2019. The main outcomes were overall survival and recurrence-free survival. Multivariable Cox regression was used to identify the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy while adjusting for other variables. Results: Sixty-one patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (adjuvant group) and 81 patients did not receive adjuvant therapy after surgery (surgery-only group). There were no demonstrable differences between the 2 groups regarding hospital mortality and postoperative complications, indicating that treatment selection had not significantly occurred. However, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved 5-year overall survival (70% vs. 59%, p=0.006) and disease-free survival (60% vs. 46%, p=0.040). A multivariable Cox model demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a survival advantage (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.54; p<0.001). In exploratory analyses of subgroups, the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy seemed to be insufficient in those with small main tumors (<4 cm). Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with better survival in T3 cancers with an additional tumor nodule in the same lobe. However, the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in patient subgroups with small tumors or those without risk factors should be determined via large studies.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.7-18
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to confirm the research characteristics by analyzing the literature that applied the school readiness programs for children with disabilities. Methods : Studies were collected from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Research Information Sharing Service databases. The key terms were "School readiness" AND ("Occupational Therapy" OR "Rehabilitation") in English and Korean. Total eight articles were selected through the selection and exclusion criteria. Results : The programs included multi-type training, motor skill training, parent training, and mobile application training. The providers were psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists, community workers, educators, and the psychologists who conducted most of the research. The program factors can be classified into academic function, motor function, social function, parental training, and others. Academic and social functions accounted for the largest proportion of the respondents. The intervention improved multiple skills, literacy, parenting skills, and gross fine motor function. Conclusion : This study aimed to provide basic data for school-based occupational therapy by analyzing school readiness programs for children with disabilities. Recently, interest in and research on school readiness has increased. Occupational therapists should also establish their roles in the field of school-related rehabilitation and provide various school-based occupational therapies.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2003

This paper addresses the minor differences in the description of pain in Korean language in order to develop a standarized cancer pain aneument tool for Korean adults, Korean Cancer Pain Assessement Tool. The subtle differences in the meaning of expressions used cannot be translated into English and therefore we omiltted the English abstract.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2008

There was a research to make it sure that among the contributing factors, the cognitive factor affects on TMD(temporomandibular disorders) or not, we used a questionnaire on new TMD patients who visited the Department of Oral Medicine at Pusan National University of Hospital(PNUH). Research was to identify the patients' understanding of the TMD. 120 patients who visited PNUH from 2007 June to August were tested and following are the results. 1. Those who were in Jr. college or had higher scholarship showed higher understanding than those with final graduation of high school or had lower scholarship(p=0.129). 2. Percentage of high scorers(score of $16{\sim}20$) were in Jr. college or had higher scholarship than those with final graduation of high school or had lower scholarship(p=0.098). 3. Both in those who scored higher than average and in those scored lower than average, there was no difference in the rate of previsit to local dental clinic, selection of special treatment(by professor), and attendance to next visit after their conservative treatment. 4. Patients who claimed that their symptom did not change after conservative treatment showed higher rate of pre-visit to local dentist(p=0.107) and selection of special treatment(by professor)(p=0.101) and many of them were in Jr. college or had higher scholarship(p=0.005). 5. The fact the patients who claimed their symptoms did not changed or got worsen had a tendency of higher scholarship showed that understanding of the TMD has little to do with the improvement of symptom and that TMD is a very complicated disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.564-575
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• 2015

A self-administered survey was conducted in dental hygiene students at colleges or universities in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province to provide basic data necessary to suggest standards for the direction of career for dental hygiene students and construct desirable image of dental hygienists. The data were collected from February to May 2013; with the exception of 46 questionnaires containing insincere responses, 1,679 were finally analyzed using SPSS/Win 18.0, drawing the following conclusion: The freshmen showed higher levels of regret for selection and enrollment recommendation than the sophomores, juniors, or seniors and the sophomores, juniors, and seniors showed higher levels of willingness to change courses than the freshmen; thus, those in lower grades showed higher environment satisfaction. As for desired career, regardless of grades, they showed higher preference for being employed as a dental hygienist; as for desired paths to get a job, the freshmen were more likely to get professors' recommendations and the sophomores, juniors, and seniors showed higher preference for open recruitment. They showed higher preference for getting a job in a large city because of greater possibility of improvement. As for the desired period of employment, regardless of grades, they showed higher preference for employment before getting married and for reemployment after their children grew up; as for desired workplace, the freshmen showed higher preference for a dental clinic in a hospital, whereas the sophomores, juniors, and seniors showed higher preference for a dental hospital. As for the differences in image of dental hygienists by grades, the freshmen and sophomores showed higher levels of attitudes than the juniors; the freshmen and sophomores showed higher levels of beliefs than the juniors or seniors; and the seniors showed higher levels of values than the freshmen, sophomores, or juniors, and the sophomores and juniors showed higher levels of values than the freshmen; thus, students in lower grades showed higher levels of attitudes and beliefs and those in higher grades showed higher levels of values. Such factors of enrollment satisfaction as willingness to change courses and persuasion to make enrollment had significant effects on image of dental hygienists. Dental hygiene students need to make efforts to establish a job identity and get desirable image of dental hygienists and to make constant efforts to promote more accurate and positive image of dental hygienists through systematic and positive public relations.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2004

Purpose : The serial clinical findings, biochemical results, and serological hepatitis B virus(HBV) markers in Korean children with chronic HBV infection were analyzed to determine the relationships among these factors. Methods : Ninety children have been chosen from those who have visited to the Department of Pediatrics at St. Vincent's Hospital in The Catholic University of Korea from July 1st, 1995 to June 30th, 2000. The sample patients were followed up for over six months. HBV markers and liver function tests were all performed. Results : All children were asymptomatic at presentation. Eighty-three percent of the children had a history of chronic HBV infection in their families. Eighty-one percent were HBeAg positive, 16% were anti-HBe positive, while 3% were all HBeAg and anti-HBe negative. The prevalence of HBeAg among three age groups : 0~5; 6~10; and 11~15 year-old was 90%, 96% and 61% respectively. The prevalence of HBeAg in less than 10 year-old group was significantly higher than 11~15 year-old group(P=0.001). Serum ALT levels were within 40 IU/L in 64% children, 41~80 IU/L in 17%, 81~200 IU/L in 10%, and beyond 201 IU/L in 9%. The percentage of abnormality of ALT levels in HBeAg positive patients was significantly higher than that of HBeAg negative(P=0.036). Eleven of the 73 HBeAg positive children lost their HBeAg and seroconverted to anti-HBe. In these cases, all had transient elevations in ALT levels before HBeAg seroconversions. The annual rates of spontaneous seroconversion of HBeAg and HBsAg were 9.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Conclusion : Recognition of the dynamics of these changes in viral markers and biochemical findings is needed in the selection and evaluation of therapeutic regimens, establishment of treatment, and calling for controlled trials with adequate follow-up. The hepatitis B carrier state may be asymptomatic in children however, continued surveillance of carriers is important to determine the individual adverse prognostic factors of chronic HBV infections.