• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.622-628
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• 2007

Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 1998

An analysis of 87 stroke Patients who were enrolled in 7 hospitals in cities of Pusan, Taegu, Kumi, and Andong from January 1 to May 31, 1998 was conducted using the modified Barthel Index(BI) and the adapted PULSES profile index(PS) to evaluate their function. Patients were examined at the following intervals : Initial assessment, one month after initial, at discharge, and ore month after discharge. The mean BI score of patients initial assessment was 26.32. and that of PS was 17.34. There were statistically significant between initial score and one month after initial (16.61 : p<0.001), at discharge(33.51 : p<0,001), one month after discharge(43,56 : p<0.001). PS scores were also improved significantly(-2.1, -3. 94, and -5.52(p<0.001), and BI score between discharge and one month after discharge wag significant improvement(10.06 : p <0.001) and in PS score(-1,57 : p<0.001). Age and BI scone were significantly associated with the improved in BI score between initial and discharge (T3-T1)(p<0.05). Below age forty and the lower initial BI score showed significantly higher improvement(T3-T1) after physical therapy(p<0.05). Initial BI score, BI score at discharge, and religion were significantly associated with the improvement of BI score between initial and one month after discharge(T4-T1)(p<0.05). The lower initial BI score, the high. BI score at discharge, and the religious showed significantly higher improvement(T4-T1)(p<0.05). BI score at discharge and religion were significantly associated with the improvement of BI score between at discharge and one month after discharge(T4-T3)(p<0.05). The lower BI score at discharge, the religious showed significantly higher improvement(T4-T3)(p<0.05) Initial PS score were significantly associated with the improved in PS score between initial and discharge(T3-T1)(p<0.05). The higher initial PS score showed significantly hier improvement(T3-T1)(p<0.05). Initial PS score, Bi score at discharge, and patient's attitude for physical therapy after discharge were significantly associated with the improvement of PS score between initial and one month after discharge(T4- T1)(p <0.05). The higher initial PS scorer the lower PS score at discharge, patient's positive attitude for physical therapy after discharge showed significantly higher improvement(T4-T1)(p<0.05). PS score at discharge, Patient's attitude for Physical therapy after discharge were significantly associated with the improvement of PS score between discharge and one month after discharge(T4-T3)(p<0.05). The higher PS score at discharge, patient's positive attitude for physical therapy after discharge showed significantly higher improvement(T4-T3)(p<0.05). In conclusion, Initial BI score, BI score at discharge, age, and religion were significantly associated with BI score improvement. initial PS score, BI score discharge, and patient's attitude for physical therapy after discharge were significantly associated with PS score improvement in stroke patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 1999

Purpose : To measure the basic structural characteristics of radiation oncology facilities in Korea during 1997 and to compare personnel, equipments and patient loads between Korea and developed countries. Methods and Materials : Mail serveys we conducted in 1998 and data on treatment machines, personnel and peformed new patients were collected. Responses were obtained from the 100 percent of facilities. The consensus data of the whole country were summarized using Microsoft Excel program. Results: In Korea during 1997, 42 facilities delivered megavoltage radiation theraphy with 71 treatment machines, 100 radiation oncologists, 26 medical physicist, 205 technologists and 19,773 new patients. Eighty nine percent of facilities in Korea had linear accelators at least 6 MeV maximum photon energy. Ninety five percent of facilities had simulators while five percent of facilities had no simulator, Ninety one percent of facilities had computer planning systems and eighty three percent of facilities reported that they had a written quality assurance program. Thirty six percent of facilities had only one radiation oncologist and thirty eight percent of facilities had no medical physicists. The median of the distribution of annual patients load of a facility, patients load per a machine, patients load per a radiation oncologist, patients load per a therapist and therapists per a machine in Korea were 348 patients per a year, 263 patients per a machine, 171 patients per a radiation oncologist, 81 patients per a therapist, and 3 therapists per a machine respectively. Conclusions : The whole scale of the radiation oncology departments in Korea was smaller than Japan and USA in population ratio regard. In case of hardware level like linear accelerators, simulators and computer planning systems, there was no big differences between Korea and USA. The patients loads of radiation oncologists and therapists had no significant differences as compared with USA. However, it was desirable to consider the part time system in USA because there were a lot of hospitals which did not employ medical physicists.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.335-373
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• 2014

According to one Medicare report, in the US, total federal spending on health care expends almost 18 percent of the nation's GDP, about double what most industrialized nations spend on health care. And in 2011, Medicare spending reached close to $554 billion, which amounted to 21 percent of the total spent on U.S. health care in that year. Of that $554 billion, Medicare spent 28 percent, or about $170 billion, on patients' last six months of life. So what are the reasons of this high cost in EOL care and its possible solutions? Much spendings of Medicare on End-of-Life care for the terminally ill/chronically ill in the US has led health economics experts to assess the characteristics of the care. Decades of study shows that EOL care is usually supply-sensitive and poor in cost-effectiveness. The volume of care is sensitively depending on the supply of resources, rather than the severity of illness or preferences of patients. This means at the End-of-Life care, the medical resources are being overused. On the other hand, opposed to the common assumption, "The more care the better utility", the study shows that the outcome is very poor. Actually the patient preference and concerns are quite the opposite from what intense EOL care would bring about. This study analyzes the reasons for the supply-sensitiveness of EOL care. It can be resulted from the common misconception about the intense care and the outcome, physicians' mission for patients, lack of End-of-Life Care Decision which helps the patients choose their own preferred treatment intensity. It also could be resulted from physicians' fear of legal liabilities, and the management strategy since the hospitals are also seeking for financial benefits. This study suggests the possible solutions for over-treatment at the End-of-Life resulting from supply-sensitiveness. Solutions can be sought in two aspects, legal implementation and management strategy. In order to implement advance directive properly, active ethics education for physicians to change their attitude toward EOL care and more conversations about end-of-life care between physicians and patients is crucial, and incentive system for the physicians who actively have the conversations with patients will also help. Also, the general education towards the public is also important in the long run, and easy and official advance directive registry system-such as online registry-has to be built and utilized more widely. Alternative strategies in management are also needed. For example, the new strategic cost management and management education, such as cutting unnecessary costs and resetting values as medical providers have to be considered. In order to effectively resolve the problem in EOL care for the terminally ill/chronically ill and provide better experience to the patients, first of all, the misconception and the wrong conventional wisdom among doctors, patients, and the government have to be overcome. And then there should be improvements in systems and cultures of the EOL care.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 1998

Purpose : Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis. The epidemics of aseptic meningitis in 1993 and 1996 were mostly caused by echovirus type 9. Identification of the causative virus of aseptic meningitis in epidemics, is very important not only for diagnosis but also for epidemiologic purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative virus and investigate the relationship between aseptic meningitis, prevailed in Masan and surrounding areas in Kyoungsangnamdo in 1997, and its clinical manifestations. Methods : One hundred twenty eight cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and 239 stool specimens were obtained from 239 patients(213 children and 26 adult patients) with aseptic meningitis were admitted to Masan Fatima Hospitals from March to October 1997. Viral isolation and serotype identification was performed by cell culture and immunofluorescent test. Enteroviruses not typed by immunofluorescent test was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : 1) The peak incidence was noted in June. 2) The age of 239 patients(pediatrics-213 cases, internal medicine-26 cases) that were diagnosed ranged from neonate to 35 years, the age of the patients of pediatrics ranged from neonate to 15years(mean 4.9 years), the age of the patients of internal medicine (above 16 years) ranged from 16 years to 35 years(mean 24.2 years). 3) Fifty-three(41.4%) of 128 CSF specimens were positive for enteroviruses, and 163(68.2%) of 239 stool specimens were positive for enteroviruses respectively. 4) Serotypes of 53 enteroviruses isolated from CSF were 16(30.2%) of echovirus type 30, 6(11.3%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 4 of untyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, and 24 isolates of untyped enteroviruses. Of 163 enterovirus isolated from stool were 72(44.2%) of echovirus type 30, 21(12.9%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 17(10.4%) of undetermined subtyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, 2 of A24, 3 of undetermined subtyped coxsackievirus type B, and 46 isolates of untyped enterovirus. Conclusion : There were epidemics of aseptic meningitis in the central areas of Kyoungsangnamdo from March to October 1997. The main causative organism was thought to be the echovirus type 30, and echovirus type 4, 6, coxsackievirus B5 and A24 were also thought to contribute to the epidemics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.4 s.59
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• pp.697-707
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• 1997

This study was performed to estimate the quantity of the effects of tobacco price raise on the smoking rate, and the smoking attributable deaths in Korea. The data were collected by questionnaire survey from 538 male of male workers. The questionnaire contained items on age, sex, living place, status of education, smoking history, the intention to quit smoking when the tobacco price be raised. The questionnaire, were distributed to the offices of enterprises, hospitals, research centers, and public agencies and then collected. Data were analyzed by using the age specific smoking rate, relative risks of eight major smoking related diseases, vital statistics, and the population attributable risk of deaths of smoking males. On the other hand, the impact of the tobacco price raise on the population attributable risk of death due to smoking in Korea was estimated by applying the presumed smoking rate after the price raise. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The smoking rate of male white color workers in large cities was 59.5%. 2. The proportion of male smokers who has the intention to quit smoking when the tobacco price be raised was 61.5%. 3. The proportion of male smokers who has the intention to quit smoking if the price of tobacco be raised was proportional to the degree of increasing tobacco price. It is estimated that if the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now, the presumed smoking rate goes down as low as 26.7%. If the tobacco price be raised 20% each year, presumed smoking rate is 46.2%. 4. The number of attributable male death of smoking estimated by using 8 major smoking related diseases(lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) was 25,863 death each year. That is 20.1% of total age over 20 male deaths. 5. f the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now and all smokers who has intention to quit smoking quits smoking, 12,336 lives, or 47.7% of smoking related deaths could be saved. 6. IF the actual practice rate of quitting smoking among male smokers with intention to stop smoking when the price of tobacco be raised is 10%, 25%, or 50%, then the expected decrease of death numbers when the tobacco price were raised more than four times as now can be 1,112, 3,483, 5,796 respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.1 s.45
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• pp.117-134
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• 1994

The effects of regional medical insurance on utilization of medical care in urban population was examined in this study. The data was collected in a 2-year follow-up household survey conducted at Taegu city before and after implementation of the regional medical insurance. The study population was divided into 2 groups. Cohort I was the uninsured in 1989 and cohort II was the insured in 1989. After the coverage of medical insurance, physician visit rate per 1,000 population, use-disability ratio and use-restricted activity ratio in cohort I were increased compared to cohort II in both of acute and chronically ill people. The use-disability ratio and use-restricted activity ratio of the insured poor were lower than those of the insured nonpoor in both of cohort I and cohort II. The major reasons for pharmacy use were accessibility and affordability before the coverage of medical insurance in cohort I, however, after the coverage of medical insurance, the important reason was accessibility rather than affordability. In logistic regression analysis of physician visit, the significant independent variables were acute illness episode (+), chronic illness episode (+) and income (+) in both of cohort I and cohort II. In cohort I, after the coverage of medical insurance, more people replied that the medical cost of hospital and clinic was reasonable. The people who covered by the regional medical insurance were more dissatisfied with the imposed premium than those who covered by other types of medical insurance in both of cohort I and cohort II. More people in cohort II than cohort I were dissatisfied with the services from hospitals and clinics after implementation of the regional medical insurance. In conclusion. after the coverage of medical insurance, the gap between the poor and the nonpoor still exists in terms of medical care utilization.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2000

Purpose : We analyzed the demogaphic data md clinical course of Korean children with chronic renal failure (CRF) observed between 1990 and 1999. Patients and Methods : Questionnaires were mailed to all children's hospitals ail through the country. We asked for primary renal disease age and serum creatinine levels at first presentation with CRF and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and modes of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Results : 401 children (254 boys, 147 girls) with CRF, defined as a permanent increase of serum creatinine above 1.2 mg/dl for at least 3 months or until death, were identified. This represents an incidence of 3.68 per million child population per year. Of these patients, 22$\%$ on younger than 5 years, 28$\%$ 5 to 10 years and 50$\%$ 10 to 15 year. Eight five $\%$ of the patients could be classified with a primary renal disease. The most frequent cause is glomerulonephritis (36$\%$), followed by chronic pyelonephritis (21$\%$), renal hrpo/dylplasia (9$\%$), and hereditary nephropathies (7$\%$). Reflux nephropathy (16$\%$) was the most common single cause of CRF. ESRD was reached in 70$\%$ of all patient. 99.3$\%$ of these started RRT. Hemodialysis (HD, 42$\%$), peritoneal dialysis (PD, 35$\%$) and transplantation (TP, 23$\%$) were performed as the initial mode of RRT. A total of 161 TPs were performed (159 first grafts, 2 second grafts). A total of 32 patients died. The main causes of death were dialysis related complication in HD patients and infections in PD patients. Survival rate on any form of RRT was 88.7$\%$ during the mean follow-up period of 37 months. Conclusion Major efforts should be directed toward earlier diagnosis and treatment of reflux nephropathy to prevent occurrence of Of. Dialysis and TP have now become well accepted forms of treatment in Korean children with ESRD.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-148
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• 1998

Accurate vital statistics are essential for a national health planning and evaluation. Among various vital statistics, birth and death rates, and infant and matemal mortality rates together with the causes of death are the very basic ones for above purposes as well as for the maternal and child health management. These statistics are based on the birth and death reports. It is required by law to report every birth and death within one month after its occurrence. However, in case of a neonatal death occurring prior to the birth report, most of the birth and death are not reported. Thus accurate infant and maternal mortality rates are not available yet in Korea. The main objective of this study is to develop a birth and infant death reporting system via computer network. We designed a new birth report form based on the current form and data from the analysis of medical record forms of 14 hospitals. A new form is basically addition of essential medical information to the current birth report form. Since a revision of the rules and regulations related wtih the birth report is necessary to use a new form, we kept the current from intact to make it acceptable to the government office for a field trial. We also developed computer programs for data input for birth and death reports at a medical faciltiy, data processing for production of maternal and child health indices at a health center, and management of maternal and child health services including immunization and postantal care at health center. The birth certificate and birth report can be printed out at a medical facility. The computer packages were programmed by Borland Delphi 3.0 and can be run under Windows 95 system. We proposed a new birth and death reporting system via computer network after a field trial for data input, transmission, and processing. The medical and demographic data o birth and death at medical facilities will be sent to health centers directly via computer network. The health center will retain the medical data for analysis and forward only the data for birth and death reports required by current regulations to the Dong, Up, or Myun Office. Once the birth or death is reported via computer network to the Dong Office, then the Dong Office will notify the baby's mother of the birth report and request to submit the baby's name by mail. When the baby's name its submitted. the Dong Office will forward the birth reports to the Common Court and Statistics Agency in the same way as the current system, Upon the completion of birth registration of the Common Court, the court will issue the birth certificate to mother which will be used in lieu of the family record. The advantages of proposed birth and death reporting system via computer network ar as follows ; I) The accuracy, timing, and completeness of reporting will be improved and more accurate maternal and child health indices can be obtained, ii) The maternal and child health services of health center will be obtained, iii) Epidemiologic data for pregnancy and birth can be obtained, iv) Manpower for birth and death reporting will be saved.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was performed to characterize the epidemiologic and clinical features of acute adenoviral lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs). Methods : Virological analysis was done from respiratory specimens obtained from patients with LRTIs hospitalized to other hospitals and referred to the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital(SNUCH) from June 1998 to July 2000. Viral diagnosis was made by isolation of viruses employing HEp-2 cell culture and indirect immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. Serotypes of adenoviruses were determined by neutralization test using antiserum for types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11. Medical records of children admitted to the SNUCH were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Adenovirus was isolated from 118(9.0%) of 1,305 children with LRTIs. Serotypes were 3(39.0%), 7(16.9%), 1(11.0%), 2(7.6%), 4(7.6%), 6(5.9%), 11(2.5%), and 5(0.8%) and 10 strains(8.5%) were not neutralized by antisera included in the study. Infections by type 3 and type 7 occurred in outbreaks. Male to female ratio was 1.0:0.9 and mean age was 1.95 years. The clinical diagnoses were pneumonia(83%), acute tracheobronchitis(12%) and bronchiolitis(5%). Associated symptoms, signs and abnormal laboratory findings included cough(100%), sputum(73.5%), fever(54.2%), rale(59.3%), wheezing(34%), anemia(35%) and leukopenia(15.8%). Mortality was in 13.5%. Residual radiologic sequelae was identified in 32.6% of the patients followed. Conclusion : These data confirms that adenovirus may cause severe lower respiratory tract diseases, and infections by type 3 and 7 may occured in outbreaks.