• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.176-189
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• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the subjective ideas about the determinants of quality in ambulatory care unit among outpatients and medical staff of a university hospital, and to compare the differences of the ideas, between patients themselves and hospital staff. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted covering 799 outpatients and 190 hospital staff in March, 1998. The questionnaire included general characteristics and 26 determinants of ambulatory care quality. The following are summaries of the findings: 1. Both of outpatients and hospital staff perceived, "Physician's knowledge" as the most important determinant of medical care quality. 2. In respect of 7 determinants related to physician's knowledge and skill, both outpatients and hospital staff perceived "physician's knowledge and skill" as important determinants. The scores of determinants such as, "Not doing unnecessary examinations", and "Assignment of adequate number of patients and duty schedule for the physician" were significantly different between outpatients and hospital staff. 3. In respect of 4 determinants related to doctor-patient relationship, both outpatients and hospital staff perceived "attention to patient's complaints" as the most important determinant. The scores related to the determinants such as "kindness of physician" and "explanation of treatment outcome" were significantly different between outpatients and hospital staff. 4. Among the amenities related determinants, "Modern facilities and equipments" were perceived as the most important determinant in both group. 5. In respect of 8 determinants related to non-financial accommodation, outpatients perceived, "Waiting hours for treatment" as the most important determinant, and hospital staff perceived, "Kindness of hospital staff". 6. In respect of 4 determinants related to financial accommodation, outpatients perceived, "Fare account of medical cost" as the most important determinant, and hospital staff perceived, "Increasing reimbursements". Further comprehensive research should be made on the evaluation of perceptions of medical care quality, both of outpatient and inpatient care, among patients and hospital staff. So good quality in medical care will be achieved based on clients' needs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.4275-4279
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• 2016

Background: Cancer is a major health problem due to the aging population with increasing deaths. Family functioning is affected by cancer diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to comparative analysis of the perception of family functioning by heads of families with and without cancer members during illness, focusing on changes or probable changes. Materials and Methods: This comparative study was conducted on two groups (families with a member of the cancer and controls without a family member with cancer). The families were of patients referred to the clinics and hospitals of Imam Khomeini, Taleghani and Omid of Urmia city, the number of samples being 148 for cases and 176for the control group. To collect the data, valid and reliable family functioning (FAD) was applied, a 60-item questionnaire with seven dimensions, with heads of families. To analyze the data SPSS- 23 Software was used for descriptive and analytical statistics. Significance level was defined p <0.05. Results: Among the seven items : problem solving, communication, roles, emotional response, emotional involvement, behavior control and overall functioning, only differences for average scores of problem-solving were statistically significant. Discussion: Contrary to common perception of severe damage for family functioning in families with cancer members, results of this study indicate that functioning in terms of family caregivers is more or less similar to that of the families with other diseases. Only in problem-solving item do these families experience more difficulty. Conclusion: According to the research findings, in nursing from families with cancer patient, it is recommended to focus more on the problem-solving item of the families.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권11호
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• pp.434-439
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• 2015

Purpose: Kawasaki disease involves acute febrile systemic vasculitis that can cause a variety of symptoms by affecting various organs. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, causes, and prognosis of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) occurring in children with Kawasaki disease. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and received inpatient treatment in the Pediatrics Department at one of three university hospitals in Daegu city from February 2012 to September 2012 were enrolled in the study. The clinical features, hematological results, echocardiography results, audiometry results, and aspirin and salicylic acid serum levels of the patients were evaluated. Results: Of the 59 children enrolled in the study, three showed mild bilateral SNHL on audiometry tests conducted after 48 hours of defervescence; these patients demonstrated normal patterns of recovery on follow-up tests 8 weeks later. Aspirin serum levels were significantly higher in the SNHL group after 48 hours of afebrile condition with high dose aspirin intake (P=0.034). However, no significant differences were found in other laboratory tests or for fever duration (P>0.05). Upon echocardiography, coronary artery abnormality was observed in 9 cases, but none of these patients showed hearing loss. Conclusion: The results indicate that SNHL in children with Kawasaki disease might occur during treatment of the acute phase; this SNHL usually involves mild bilateral hearing loss and recovers naturally. However, this study suggests that determination of the causes and clinical implications of hearing loss in Kawasaki disease requires long-term follow-up studies with more cases.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.54-90
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• 2006

Medical clinics are core institutes that cover the primary medical care in Korea. Financial viability of the clinics is essential for them to conduct their roles and functions, and can be improved by increasing their operating profitability. On this ground, this study aimed at finding important factors that affect the operating profitability, and thereby at suggesting strategic alternatives that can contribute to the improvement of the profitability. Operating margin was set as a dependent variable, and such factors as general management conditions, number of visits, medical revenue, marketing activities, input resources, medical cost as independent variables. Nineteen hypotheses related to the variables were established and tested using data collected from 138 sample clinics for the year 2003. The results of the study are as follows : Firstly, such variables as percent ratio of the depreciation plus rent costs to total administration costs, type of clinical department manifested whether medical, surgical, or quasi-surgical, percent ratio of the interior facility investment to total fixed assets, and total number of outpatient visit are important factors that affect, positively or negatively, the medical profitability of the clinics. Secondly, following measures are needed to be established and implemented to improve the medical profitability. (1) Administration costs share 53.2% of the total medical costs, and depreciation plus rent costs 16.3% of the total administration costs. This implies that such measures as reinforcement of marketing activities, establishment of the cooperative utilizing system of the facility and equipment, or group practice are needed to increase cost-effectiveness. (2) Occupancy rate of the clinics with inpatient bed is as low as 45.5%, causing high fixed costs and low medical profitability. For its improvement, the resource input structure should be reorganized. Thirdly, in the future, a study that can increase sample representativeness of the study and explanation power of the variables should be performed for each type of clinical department to find more specific determinant factors and to contribute to the improvement of the medical profitability of the clinics.

• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.98-116
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• 2011

In this study, we examined the effects of guardians' service quality perception(G-SQP) on patients' service quality perception(P-SQP) leading to patients' behavioral intention(P-BI) and the effects of G-SQP on guardians' behavioral intention(G-BI). To investigate the causalities of the variables, we collected national wide samples of 144 hospitals, 1456 patients and 1455 guardians of the patients and analyzed 1146 guardian-patient coupled cases refined with prerequisites such as missing value, outliers, normality and covariance conditions. Followed were contributions of the present study. First, G-SQP was a predictor of P-SQP. Second, in the first contribution statement, there was no statistically significant difference between inpatient and outpatient group. Third, proven was that G-SQP was a predictor of G-BI. Fourth, verified was that P-SQP was a predictor of P-BI. Fifth, G-SQP was a predictor of P-SQP being led to P-BI that meant P-SQP had a mediating role between G-SQP and P-BI. Since the guardians' perception affected patients' buying decision, the present study implied service managers of hospital settings should pay attention to guardians' perception of service quality as well as patients'. With such strategy, hospitals could improve financial performance in long-term.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.181-185
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• 2007

Background: The first pain clinic opened in korea in 1973 at Yonsei University Hospital, however, since then the number of pain clinics has gradually increased, as has the number of patients visiting them. This increase in patient has caused concerns about the way in which pain is managed, therefore, we conducted a retrospective review of data according to the sex, age and disease in an attept to aid us in planning for the future of our pain clinic. Methods: We analyzed 1,282 new patients who had visited our pain clinic and 828 inpatients who were admitted to our pain clinic between March 2006 and February 2007. Results: The most frequent age group was in the sixties in outpatient and in the seventies in inpatient. In addition, the incidence of disease in new patients and inpatients was as follows: in new patients, lumbar herniated intervertebral disc 16.5%, hyperhidrosis 12.3%, cervical disc disorder 10.5%, acute herpes zoster 8.2%, postherpetic neuralgia 7.9%, and trigeminal neuralgia 7.0%; in admitted patients, acute herpes zoster 17.6%, trigeminal neuralgia 15.6%, lumbar herniated intervertebral disc 13.0%, postherpetic neuralgia 11.2%, hyperhidrosis 9.8%, and complex regional pain syndrome 7.0%. Conclusions: The patients visiting our pain clinic have presented with a wide variety of diseases. This improved care reflects an effort to expand our fields not only to the management of outpatients but also inpatients, as well as to the treatment of new fields of disease. In the future, We need to manage various pain patients not only in outpatients but also in inpatients to expand our field even through pain clinic is rapidly growing in Korea.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.244-251
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• 2017

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of combined oral and enema therapy using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 with electrolyte solution for disimpaction in hospitalized children. Methods: We retrospectively studied 28 children having functional constipation who received inpatient treatment between 2008 and 2016. The amount of oral PEG 3350 electrolyte solution administered was 50-70 mL/kg/d (PEG 3350, 3-4.1 g/kg/d), and an enema solution was administered 1-2 times a day as a single dose of 15-25 mL/kg (PEG 3350, 0.975-1.625 g/kg/d). A colon transit time (CTT) test based on the Metcalf protocol was performed in some patients. Results: Administration of oral and enema doses of PEG 3350 electrolyte solution showed $2.1{\pm}0.3$ times and $2.9{\pm}0.4$ times, respectively. After disimpaction, the frequency of defecation increased from $2.2{\pm}0.3$ per week to once a day ($1.1{\pm}0.1$ per day). The number of patients who complained of abdominal pain was reduced from 15 (53.6%) to 4 (14.3%). Before hospitalization, nine patients underwent a CTT test, and 5 of 9 patients (55.6%) were classified as belonging to a group showing abnormalities. And in some patients, mild adverse effects were noted. We examined electrolytes and osmolality before and after disimpaction in 16 of 28 patients, and no abnormalities were noted. Conclusion: In terms of therapeutic efficacy and safety, combined oral and enema therapy using high-dose PEG 3350 with electrolytes is considered superior to conventional oral monotherapy or combined oral and enema therapy on an outpatient basis.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.352-359
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to propose an analysis of trends and characteristics of high-cost patients who take over 40% of total national health insurance medical expenses. Methods: It has been analyzed the tendency of high-cost patients by open data based on the medical history information of 1 million people among national health insurance subscriber from 2002 to 2015. To conduct detailed study of characteristics of high-cost patients, multiple regression has been performed by sex, age, residence, main provider, and admission status based on the top 5% group. Results: The amount of medical expenses and the number of high-cost patients have gradually increased in decades. The number of high-cost patients for Korean won (KRW) 5,000,000 category has increased by 7.6 times, KRW 10,000,000 category has increased by 14.1 times in comparing of year 2002 and 2015. Top 5% medical expenses have increased by 4.6 times. In consideration of the characteristics of patients, the incidence of high medical expenses has been higher in female patients than male ones, the older patients than in the younger. Patients residence in Gyeonsang or Jeonla province have had a high incidence of medical expenses than other area. The disease including dementia, cerebral infarction, and cerebrovascular disease for high-cost patients has been also increased. Conclusion: The major increase factor for high medical expenses is the aging of population. The elderly population receiving inpatient care residing in the province that increases high medical costs have to management. There is an urgent need to develop a mechanism for predicting and managing the cost of high-cost medical expenses for patients who have a heavy financial burden.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권1호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2022

Objective : To study the factors relating to operative treatment for spinal metastasis in Thailand during 2005-2014 and to determine the hospital costs, mortality rate, and incidence of perioperative complication. Methods : Inpatient reimbursement data from 2005 to 2014 was reviewed from three national healthcare organizations, including the National Health Security Office, the Social Security Office, and the Comptroller General's Department. The search criteria were secondary malignant neoplasm of bone and bone marrow patients (International Classification of Diseases 10th revision, Thai modification codes [ICD 10-TM], C79.5 and C79.8) who underwent spinal surgical treatment (ICD 9th revision, clinical modification procedure with extension codes [ICD 9-CM], 03.0, 03.4, 03.09, and 81.0) during 2005-2014. Epidemiology, comorbidity, and perioperative complication were analyzed. Results : During the study period, the number of spinal metastasis patients who underwent operative treatment was significantly increased from 0.30 to 0.59 per 100000 (p<0.001). More males (56.14%) underwent surgical treatment for spinal metastasis than females. The most common age group was 45-64 (55.1%). The most common primary tumor sites were the unknown origin, lung, breast, prostate, and hepatocellular/bile duct. Interestingly, the proportion of hepatocellular/bile duct, breast, and lung cancer was significantly increased (p<0.001). The number of patients who had comorbidity or in-hospital complication significantly increased over time (p<0.01); however, the in-hospital mortality rate decreased. Conclusion : During the last decade, operative treatment for spinal metastasis increased in Thailand. The overall in-hospital complication rate increased; however, the in-hospital mortality rate decreased.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제35권10호
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• pp.1491-1497
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• 2006

본 연구에서는 병원급식에 대한 입원환자들의 견해를 조사하고 그 자료를 근거로 군집화를 실시한 후 급식서비스의 질, 만족도, 재방문 의사에 대한 집단별 차이 분석을 실시함으로써 병원 급식서비스에 대한 환자의 인식과 만족도 재방문 의사의 관련성을 분석하였다. 병원급식에 대한 고객의 견해를 조사한 결과, 전체 의료서비스 중 급식서비스의 중요성은 4.25점, 제공받은 급식서비스의 전반적인 질 3.57점, 지불한 식대에 대한 급식서비스의 질 3.08점이었다. 급식 서비스의 만족도를 표현하는 항목으로는 급식서비스가 질병 치료에 도움이 되는 정도, 식사가 고객에게 행복을 주는 정도, 전반적인 급식서비스 만족도가 각각 3.48점, 3.18점, 3.66점이었으며, 입원 전 기대에 대한 만족도는 3.53점, 병원 명성에 맞는 급식서비스 제공은 3.40점으로 조사되었다. 만약 향후 다시 병원에 입원할 기회가 생긴다면 S병원을 다시 찾겠다는 재이용 의사에 대한 질문에 대해서는 전반적인 치료서비스를 고려할 때와 급식서비스 수준을 고려할 때로 분리해서 분석 한 결과, 각각 4.04점, 3.84점으로 재입원 의사는 높은 것으로 나타났다. 급식서비스의 중요성, 질, 가치, 만족에 대한 고객의 견해 8문항을 독립변수로 하여 군집분석을 실시한 결과, 2개의 군집으로 분류되었고 각 군집의 의미에 따라 군집 1을 '긍정적 평가군', 군집 2를 '부정적 평가관'이라고 명명하였다. 군집별 급식서비스 요인에 대한 기대, 인식 및 만족도 차이를 분석한 결과, 두 군집간 기대도에는 유의적 차이가 없었으나, 인식도에서는 식사의 질(p<0.001), 고객 응대(p<0.001), 정확한 서비스(p<0.001), 배선원의 태도(p<0.01)의 4개요인 모두에서 긍정적 평가군이 부정적 평가군에 비해 유의적으로 수행수준을 높게 인식하고 있었다. 만족도의 경우 긍정적 평가군에서는 만족을, 부정적 평가군에서는 배선원의 태도를 제외한 3가지 요인에서 불만족을 보였으며 4개요인 모두에서 두 군간 유의적인 차이를 보였다. 의료서비스를 고려하거나 혹은 급식서비스를 고려하거나 간에 모두 긍정적 평가군이 부정적 평가군에 비해 유의적(p<0.001)으로 선택가능성이 높게 나타났다.