• Title/Summary/Keyword: Individual Differences

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Characteristics of Fracture System in Precambrian Metamorphic Rocks and Mesozoic Granites from Seokmo-do, Ganghwa-gun (강화군 석모도 일대의 선캠브리아기 변성암류 및 중생대 화강암류에서 발달하는 단열계의 분포특성)

  • Park, Deok-Won;Lee, Chang-Bum
    • The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.123-139
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    • 2010
  • The properties of fracture system in Precambrian Jangbong schist and Mesozoic granites from Seokmo-do, Ganghwa-gun were investigated and analyzed. Most of the fractures measured at outcrops are nearly vertical or steeply dipping. Orientations of fracture sets in terms of frequency order are as follows: Set $1:N2^{\circ}E/77^{\circ}SE$, Set $2:N17^{\circ}E/84^{\circ}NW$, Set $3:N26^{\circ}E/64^{\circ}SE$, Set $4:N86^{\circ}W/82^{\circ}SW$, Set $5:N80^{\circ}W/77^{\circ}NE$, Set $6:N60^{\circ}W/85^{\circ}SW$, Set $7:N73^{\circ}E/87^{\circ}NW$, Set $8:N82^{\circ}W/53^{\circ}NE$, Set $9:N23^{\circ}W/86^{\circ}SW$, Set 10: $N39^{\circ}W/61^{\circ}NE$. Especially, the rose diagram of fracture strikes(N:240) indicates that there are two dorminant directions of N-S~NNE and WNW. These distribution pattern of fractures from Seokmo-do correponds with those of major lineaments from South Korea suggested in previous study. Meanwhile, the scaling properties on the length distribution of fracture populations have been investigated. First, fracture sets from Precambrian Jangbong schist and Mesozoic granites(north and south rock body) has been classified into five groups(group I~V) based on strike and frequency. Then, the distribution chart generalized the individual length-cumulative frequency diagram for above five groups were made. From the related chart, five subpopulations(group I~V) that closely follow a power-law length distribution show a wide range in exponents(-0.79~-1.53). These relative differences in exponent among five groups emphasizes the importance of orientation effect. From the related chart, the diagram of group III occupies an upper region among five groups. Finally, the distribution chart showing the chracteristics of the length frequency distribution for each rock body were made. From the related chart, the diagram of each rock body shows an order of porphyritic biotite granite < hornblende granodiorite < medium-grained biotite granite(south rock body) < medium-grained biotite granite(north rock body) < Precambrian Jangbong schist. From the related chart, the diagram of more older rock body in the formation age tends to occupy an upper region. Especially, the diagram of Precambrian Jangbong schist occupies an upper region compared with the diagrams of Mesozoic granites. These distributional chracteristics suggests that coexistence of new fracture initiation and growing of existing fractures corresponding with stress field acted since the formation of rock body.

Difference of the Heart Rate Variability According to the Social Support Level in a County (일 군 주민에서 사회적 지지의 수준에 따른 심박변이도의 차이)

  • Shin, Yoo-Shup;Byun, Ji-Sang;Kim, Seok-Hyeon;Shin, Jin-Ho;Choi, Bo-Youl;Nam, Jung-Hyun;Oh, Dong-Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.59-65
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    • 2012
  • Objectives : The present study takes part of the agricultural district cohort study of a certain county located in Gyeonggido and aims to investigate the difference of the heart rate variability(HRV) according to the social support level. Methods : We used data from 1727 participants of a health promotion program who are older than 40 years old. A physical examination, as well as a one-to-one interview to obtain sociodemographic characteristics, was performed with each participant. In addition, the participants completed the Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey(MOS-SSS) for their the social support level to be assessed, and their HRV were measured to evaluate their autonomic function. The entire group was divided in two groups according to its MOS-SSS points to facilitate the research. Those who were evaluated as the high 25%(432 persons) were denominated as high social support (HSS) group and those who were evaluated as the low 25%(425 persons) were denominated as poor social support(PSS) group. Results : The two groups showed significant differences on the sociodemographic factor such as mean age and gender composition(p<0.05). Comparing the indices related to the HRV, the HSS group had the following values higher than the PSS group : SDNN(F=4.938, p=0.027), TP(F=8.088, p=0.005), VLF(F=6.220, p=0.013) LF (F=3.873, p=0.049). Conclusion : According to the research, the PSS group showed dysfunction on their autonomic nervous system comparing to the HSS group. The social support helps an individual overcome difficulties, helps the adaptation during the changes of circumstances and in stressful situations it serves like a buffer. Based on that, it's possible to define that a low social support level gave an impact on the autonomic function. Also, using the fact that the HRV can evaluate the autonomic function in an objective view, it was possible to visualize that it has a potential to be used as an assistant factor to evaluate the social support.

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A Study of Temporomandibular Disorders and Food Intake Ability among Dental Clinic Outpatients (일부 치과 외래환자의 측두하악장애 실태와 음식섭취능력에 관한 연구)

  • Han, Se-Young;Yu, Ji-Su
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.285-292
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    • 2011
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze and investigate temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and dental clinic outpatients by food intake ability to improve the quality of life. A survey of questionnaires with 208 subjects visiting a dental clinics located in Daejeon city from January to September in 2010 was performed. Analysis were performed with survey results, in which a symptoms of TMD, parafunctional habits and abnormal functions, food intake ability : 1. The main symptoms of TMD showed pain on TMJ(45.7%), pain on joint sound(45.2%), pain during chewing(41.3%), pain during mouth opening(38.0%), pain during non chewing(19.7%) and pain on joint dislocation(13.0%) in turn. 2. The symptoms of TMD by gender showed joint dislocation of 18.0% for male and 8.3% for female(p=0.038); pain on chewing of 49.0% for male and 34.3% for female(p=0.031), which were statistically significant. 3. The parafunctional habits and abnormal functions by gender showed clenching habit of 35.0% for male and 22.0% for female; bruxism of 21.0% for male and 9.3% for female, which were statistically significant. 4. The symptoms of TMD by age showed 52.8% of 27.8% for often and 25.0% for sometimes of 21-30 age in pain on TMJ, which were statistically significant(p=0.001). 5. The parafunctional habits and abnormal functions by age showed over 31 age of 48.3%, which were statistically significant(p=0.003). 6. The food intake ability by symptoms of TMD showed no joint sound(p=0.000), no pain on chewing(p=0.000) and without pain on TMJ(p=0.000), which were statistically significant. 7. The food intake ability by parafunctional habits and abnormal functions showed no clenching habit(p=0.000), no bruxism(p=0.000) and no headache, which were statistically significant. 8. The distribution type of operation by symptoms of TMD showed 30.8% of rest, 24.0% of physical medicine and 16.4% of pharmacotherapy. The pain on chewing showed 36.0% of pharmacotherapy; 52.4% of pain on TMJ for often and 40.5% for sometimes, in which pharmacotherapy and physical medicine were statistically significant(p=0.000). These results showed that management run parallel with survey for multiple factors in TMD we consider aspect of physical, social, physiology to enhance quality of life to increase food intake, construction of program for treatment and prevention because the individual differences need to be multifaceted, further research is suggested to continue.

Relationship Between Nutrient Intakes and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Korean Female Subjects Classified by Eight Constitution Medicine (8체질로 분류한 한국 여성의 영양소 섭취 수준과 혈중 지질 농도와의 관계)

  • Cho, B.J.;Kim, M.J.;Kim, M.J.;Song, Y.O.
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine
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    • v.34 no.3
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    • pp.143-152
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: To investigate the relationship between nutrient intakes and blood biochemical parameters of Korean women classified by the Eight Constitutions. Methods: The constitutions of female subjects were determined by the methods of eight constitutional pulse formation. Anthropometric characteristics and blood biochemical parameters including fasting blood glucose (FSB), serum lipid profiles, homocysteine, and insulin were determined. Food frequency questionnaires were used to evaluate the nutrient intake of the subjects. Results: Subjects were classified as Hepatonia 16.8%, Cholecystonia 2.8%, Pancreotonia 58.9%, Pulmotonia 5.1%, Colonotonia 16.4%, respectively. Gastrotonia, Renotonia, and Vesicotonia individuals were not present in this study. BMI, total calorie and fat intakes of the Mok constitutions (Hepatonia and Cholecystonia) were higher than those of the Gum constitutions (Pulmotonia and Colonotonia) (p<0.05). Triglyceride, total cholesterol, and LDL-C concentrations for the Cholecystonia were the highest while those for the Pulmotonia (p<0.05) were lowest, which is in line with the results from nutrient intakes. Conclusions: Total calorie and fat intake among subjects with different constitutions were different. BMI and serum lipid profiles positively associated with calorie and nutrients intakes were significantly higher in Mok constitutions than Gum constitutions. Personalized diet plans seem to be needed for subjects on a special diet due to the individual constitutional differences.

A Preliminary Study for Evaluating on Demonstration Project of Community-based Home Health Care Nursing Services by the Seoul Nurses Association (지역사회중심 가정간호 시범사업 성과평가를 위한 기초연구- 서울시 간호사회 주관 -)

  • 유호신;이소우;문희자;황나미;박성애;박정숙;최행지;정기순;한상애
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.30 no.6
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    • pp.1488-1502
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    • 2000
  • This study, based on current home nursing services, aims at promoting measures for establishing a community-based home nursing system derived from the pilot home nursing demonstration project conducted by the Seoul Nurses Association. The study was based on an analysis of home nursing records from march 1993 to December 1999. The following is a summary analysis, based on individual characteristics of the patients, the organization, which recommended the service for their patients and personnel services. 1. The service has been used by many elderly people 60years of age or older(66.4%). and married people(60.9%). The average number of visits by service personnel for patients of city government was 23.5. This is 2.5 times as many visits by general patients. General patients(20.2%) had only one visit from service personnel, while 65.5% of patients of city government had 10 or more visits. Particularly, for government recommended patients, 72.7% of the patients were recommended by nurses, while only 21.9% where referred to the services by doctors. The main focus of a home nursing service was to maintain present health status (53.4%), and hospice(11.6%). Also to increase hospital-based home nursing services focused on recovery(55.9%) and maintain present health conditions (19.0%). 2. For general patients, 42.0% of patients were suffering from problems related to CVA, 11.3% from high blood pressure, and for patients referred from city, 21.2% from skeletal muscular disease. Results of home nursing services 29.4% of patients were able to recover or maintain their health status, but 48.9% of the patients died. Another main point of community-based home nursing services is medication(6.7%), other basic nursing services(6.1%), special treatment, instructions on how to use medical devices(5.9%), change of physical posture(4.6%), and training on changing physical positions(4.7%). As mentioned above there were some differences between the characteristics of patients who used the pilot home nursing service conducted by the Seoul Nurses Association and those hospital-based service users. The results are believed to be useful to support a community-based home nursing service model. Particularly, patients under medical supervision and patients recommended by government-run health clinics show a higher frequency and longer use of home nursing services compared to general patients or hospital-based home nursing service users. According to the study, nurses accounted for a large number of recommendations for home nursing services. Many patients with CVA, high blood pressure, skeletal muscular disease and bedsores used community-based home nursing services, while others used the service for minor treatments or maintaining their current health status. Based on the study, the researchers make several suggestions to establish a community- based home nursing service system. First, different ways of setting up a community-based home nursing system have to be mapped out based on the evaluation of the pilot home nursing service conducted by the Seoul Nurses Association. Secondly, a new, community-based, home health care nursing service model, and reimbursement payment system have to be developed. This is based on the outcome of the analysis, and implemented policy. Accordingly, efforts are needed to develop a community- based home nursing system with an intermediary role to promote the visiting nursing services of government-run health centers.

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A Study on the labial & buccal surface contour in Korean permanent teeth using three-dimensional laser scanning (3차원 레이저 스캐너를 이용한 한국인 영구치의 순, 협측 치관 굴곡도에 관한 연구)

  • Ko, Sang-Duck;Cha, Kyung-Suk
    • The korean journal of orthodontics
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    • v.32 no.4 s.93
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    • pp.275-291
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    • 2002
  • Of various factors indicated for effective use of straight wire appliances, there was a great lack of studies both domestic and international about the curvatures of tooth crowns. This study was performed to investigate the labio/buccal clinical crown curvatures of Korean permanent teeth. For this study, three-dimensional laser scanning was performed on 36 dental casts with normal anatomic structures. Andrews plane and Facial axis of clinical crown (FACC) were designated as horizontal and vertical reference planes respectively. 2 or 3 lines, 1mm apart, were drawn superior, inferior, left and right of these reference planes. A three-dimensional coordinate table was made for points formed by crossing these lines, and averages of each coordinate point on the 36 dental casts were obtained. The curvature equation was made using three-dimensional coordinate points (x,y,z) and by this curvature equation, the curve ratio of each tooth was obtained. Curve ratio changes of each section of teeth were calculated by curve ratios of simplified curves. These two dimensional curves were simplified horizontally and vertically Conclusions for this study are as follows. 1. The basic data of labial and buccal clinical crown curvatures were obtained about Korean permanent teeth. 2. No significant difference was found between male and females. 3. Individual tooth characteristics 1) In maxillary central incisors, the difference in the curve ratio between the gingival and incisal sides was greater than for the other teeth. And the gingival side showed a greater curve ratio. 2) Maxillary canines showed more curvatures in the mesio-occlusal surface than the other surfaces. 3) In maxillary $1^{st}$ premolars, more curvatures were found in mesio-occlusal and disto-gingival surface, thus showing a twisted crown surface, but in maxillary $2^{nd}$ premolars, the crown curvatures of mesial and distal ends became parallel to each other. 4) No significant difference in crown curvatures was found between mandibular central and lateral incisors. 5) Occluso-gingival curvatures of mandibular$2^{nd}$ premolar turned out to be more rounded than mandibular $1^{st}$ premolars or maxillary $2^{nd}$ premolars. From the above conclusions, it can be deduced that the same bracket bases can be used for mandibular central and lateral incisors. But for maxillary $1^{st}\;and\;2^{nd}$ premolars and for mandibular $1^{st}\;and\;2^{nd}$ premolars, because crown curvatures showed significant differences, when making bracket bases there is ample reason to make bracket base curves differently for each type of tooth.

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA:RESILIENCE AND RISK FACTORS ON DEVELOPMENTAL TRAJECTORY (소아기 외상 : 발달경로에 따른 보호 및 위험인자)

  • Kim, Young-Shin
    • Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.15-23
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    • 2002
  • Knowledge regarding the resilience factors and risk factors of the childhood trauma on the developental trajectory is in its infancy due to the lack of prospective follow-up studies in the childhood trauma and limited understanding of the complex reciprocal interactions between childhood trauma, develop-ent and various aspects of children's environment. These difficulties in the conceptual framework and research methods in the childhood trauma are partly reflected in the inconsistencies, even controversies, of the results in the childhood trauma researches. Despite these difficulties, common aspects of the risk factors and resilience of the childhood trauma on the development can be identified from the previous studies. The resilience to the negative outcome on the development by childhood trauma includes:sex female before puberty, male after puberty or infancy), high socioeconomic status, no organic problem, easy temperament, no previous experience with early loss or separation, younger age at the trauma, better problem solving capacity, high self-esteem, internal locus of control, high coping skills, ability to identify interpersonal relationships, ability to play, sense of humor, having capable parents, having a warm relaionship with at least one of the parents, high education and participating in the organized religious activities. These commonalities of the results suggest that risk and resilient factors of the childhood trauma are interdependent, each factor has multiplicity in the impacts on the children's development according to the developmental stage of the child, family and children's other environment, trauma and stressor have diverse effects according to their intensity and risk and resilience factors could have synergistic or antagonistic effects to each other. To develop comprehensive understanding on the relationship between childhood trauma and developmental psychopathology, risk and resilience factors and to develop effective and efficient prevention and intervention, research on the effect of the stress on the neurodevelopment, on the individual differences of the response to the trauma including genetic factors and constitution, and on the brain plasticity should be accompanied in the future.

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Effects of Various Light Sources on the Carotenoid and Glucosinolate Contents in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) (다양한 광원이 배추 내 Carotenoid와 Glucosinolate 함량에 미치는 영향)

  • Sung, Ho-Young;Jo, Lee-Kyeong;Chun, Jin-Hyuk;Woo, Hyun-Nyung;Kim, Sun-Ju
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.79-86
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    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage biosynthesizes various phytochemicals including carotenoids and glucosinolates. Environmental stress has a major effect on the growth and yields of vegetables, and can significantly affect nutritionally important phytochemicals. Phytochemicals of plants are influenced by light, temperature, carbon dioxide, and growing conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of various light sources on carotenoid and glucosinolate contents in Chinese cabbage. METHODS AND RESULTS: [Experiment I] Set the control (field control, FC) on the ground. Using acrylic sunlight, experiments were set up transparency box (field transparency, FT), red box (field red, FR) and blue box (field blue, FB). [Experiment II] Set the control (chamber control, CC) in the greenhouse. Using plant growth chamber with artificial light, experiments were set up LED red (chamber red, CR), LED blue (chamber blue, CB), LED mixed red+blue (chamber red+blue, CRB) and fluorescent (chamber fluorescent, CF). After plant growth, Chinese cabbage was harvested at 110 days after sowing (DAS). The status of plants growth (leaf length, width, fresh weight etc.) was immediately investigated. Carotenoid and GSL contents were analyzed by HPLC. [Experiment I] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 25.39 ~ 58.80 mg/kg dry wt for lutein, 0.84~ 4.22 mg/kg dry wt for zeaxanthin, and 3.85~18.71 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. Lutein was the highest for the content and the largest for the variation as well. [Experiment II] Results documented that the ranges of total carotenoid contents were 24.66~137.96 for lutein, 2.51~20.65 for zeaxanthin, and 8.40~49.80 mg/kg dry wt for ${\beta}$-carotene. The total carotenoid contents of CR (156.62) and CB (115.90) were 1.6~2.3 times larger than the other treatments, and ${\beta}$-carotene content was about twice as high as that of the other treatments on the CR (38.74 mg/kg dry wt.). [Experiment I] Total GSL content was the highest in FT (19.76) that was higher 1.7 times than the lowest treatment ($11.39{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). [Experiment II] The total content of GSL was highest in CRB (4.19) and lowest in CF ($2.88{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.). In the CRB, total GSL contents ($4.19{\mu}mol/g\;dry\;wt$.) was the highest. CONCLUSION: Total and individual carotenoid and GSL contents in Chinese cabbage show significant differences under different light sources. Red and blue lights contribute to significant carotenoids expression and antioxidant activity for nutrition and health benefits. These results concluded that the introduction of varying lights affected the synthesis of important nutrient compounds in Chinese cabbage. It is predicted that the application of good light source enhances the accumulation of functional compounds.

Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 after Administration of Endotoxin in Diabetic Rats (내독소로 자극된 당뇨 쥐에서 단백분해효소와 그 억제제 발현)

  • Seo, Ki Hyun;Choi, Jae Sung;Na, Joo Ok;Uh, Soo Taek;Kim, Yong Hoon;Park, Choon Sik
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.61 no.3
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    • pp.256-264
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    • 2006
  • Background: An acute lung injury(ALI) is characterized by the recruitment, activation, and apoptosis of inflammatory cells, numerous products released by inflammatory cells such as reactive oxygen species, inflammatory mediators, and a variety of proteolytic enzymes. It was reported that bacterial infections in diabetics showed impaired PMN functions such as reduced PMN respiratory burst and decreased microbicidal activity in inflamed tissue. However, the effect of the proteinase - inhibitor (MMP-9 vs TIMP-1) in ALI in diabetics is unclear. This study evaluated the differences in the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 after the stimulation of endotoxin in a rat model. Methods: Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into normal, DM, LPS and DM+LPS groups. The peripheral blood, BAL fluids, and lung tissues were obtained from individual rats. The MMP-9 activity was measured by gelatin zymography and the TIMP-1 level was measured by Western blotting. Results: The total BAL cells of the DM-LPS groups were significantly lower than the LPS groups (p < 0.01). The MMP-9 activities in the serum were higher in the DM+LPS groups than in the other groups. The MMP-9 activities in the BAL fluids were significantly higher in the DM+LPS group than in the normal and diabetic rats (p < 0.05). TIMP-1 expressions in the BAL fluids were significantly lower in the DM+LPS group than other groups (p < 0.05). The ratio between MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the BAL fluids was significantly higher in the DM+LPS groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In ALI in diabetics the higher MMP-9 activity and lower TIMP-1 level are believed to prolonged and intensify the course of inflammation.

Variation of Hospital Costs and Product Heterogeneity

  • Shin, Young-Soo
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.123-127
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    • 1978
  • The major objective of this research is to identify those hospital characteristics that best explain cost variation among hospitals and to formulate linear models that can predict hospital costs. Specific emphasis is placed on hospital output, that is, the identification of diagnosis related patient groups (DRGs) which are medically meaningful and demonstrate similar patterns of hospital resource consumption. A casemix index is developed based on the DRGs identified. Considering the common problems encountered in previous hospital cost research, the following study requirements are estab-lished for fulfilling the objectives of this research: 1. Selection of hospitals that exercise similar medical and fiscal practices. 2. Identification of an appropriate data collection mechanism in which demographic and medical characteristics of individual patients as well as accurate and comparable cost information can be derived. 3. Development of a patient classification system in which all the patients treated in hospitals are able to be split into mutually exclusive categories with consistent and stable patterns of resource consumption. 4. Development of a cost finding mechanism through which patient groups' costs can be made comparable across hospitals. A data set of Medicare patients prepared by the Social Security Administration was selected for the study analysis. The data set contained 27,229 record abstracts of Medicare patients discharged from all but one short-term general hospital in Connecticut during the period from January 1, 1971, to December 31, 1972. Each record abstract contained demographic and diagnostic information, as well as charges for specific medical services received. The 'AUT-OGRP System' was used to generate 198 DRGs in which the entire range of Medicare patients were split into mutually exclusive categories, each of which shows a consistent and stable pattern of resource consumption. The 'Departmental Method' was used to generate cost information for the groups of Medicare patients that would be comparable across hospitals. To fulfill the study objectives, an extensive analysis was conducted in the following areas: 1. Analysis of DRGs: in which the level of resource use of each DRG was determined, the length of stay or death rate of each DRG in relation to resource use was characterized, and underlying patterns of the relationships among DRG costs were explained. 2. Exploration of resource use profiles of hospitals; in which the magnitude of differences in the resource uses or death rates incurred in the treatment of Medicare patients among the study hospitals was explored. 3. Casemix analysis; in which four types of casemix-related indices were generated, and the significance of these indices in the explanation of hospital costs was examined. 4. Formulation of linear models to predict hospital costs of Medicare patients; in which nine independent variables (i. e., casemix index, hospital size, complexity of service, teaching activity, location, casemix-adjusted death. rate index, occupancy rate, and casemix-adjusted length of stay index) were used for determining factors in hospital costs. Results from the study analysis indicated that: 1. The system of 198 DRGs for Medicare patient classification was demonstrated not only as a strong tool for determining the pattern of hospital resource utilization of Medicare patients, but also for categorizing patients by their severity of illness. 2. The wei틴fed mean total case cost (TOTC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the study years was $11,27.02 with a standard deviation of $117.20. The hospital with the highest average TOTC ($1538.15) was 2.08 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average TOTC ($743.45). The weighted mean per diem total cost (DTOC) of the study hospitals for Medicare patients during the sutdy years was $107.98 with a standard deviation of $15.18. The hospital with the highest average DTOC ($147.23) was 1.87 times more expensive than the hospital with the lowest average DTOC ($78.49). 3. The linear models for each of the six types of hospital costs were formulated using the casemix index and the eight other hospital variables as the determinants. These models explained variance to the extent of 68.7 percent of total case cost (TOTC), 63.5 percent of room and board cost (RMC), 66.2 percent of total ancillary service cost (TANC), 66.3 percent of per diem total cost (DTOC), 56.9 percent of per diem room and board cost (DRMC), and 65.5 percent of per diem ancillary service cost (DTANC). The casemix index alone explained approximately one half of interhospital cost variation: 59.1 percent for TOTC and 44.3 percent for DTOC. Thsee results demonstrate that the casemix index is the most importand determinant of interhospital cost variation Future research and policy implications in regard to the results of this study is envisioned in the following three areas: 1. Utilization of casemix related indices in the Medicare data systems. 2. Refinement of data for hospital cost evaluation. 3. Development of a system for reimbursement and cost control in hospitals.

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