• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.272-280
• /
• 2017

Background: The high cost of intrathecal morphine pump (ITMP) implantation may be the main obstacle to its use. Since July 2014, the Korean national health insurance (NHI) program began paying 50% of the ITMP implantation cost in select refractory chronic pain patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the financial break-even point and patients' satisfaction in patients with ITMP treatment after the initiation of the NHI reimbursement. Methods: We collected data retrospectively or via direct phone calls to patients who underwent ITMP implantation at a single university-based tertiary hospital between July 2014 and May 2016. Pain severity, changes in the morphine equivalent daily dosage (MEDD), any adverse events, and patients' satisfaction were determined. We calculated the financial break-even point of ITMP implantation via investigating the patient's actual medical costs and insurance information. Results: During the studied period, 23 patients received ITMP implantation, and 20 patients were included in our study. Scores on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain were significantly reduced compared to the baseline value (P < 0.001). The MEDD before ITMP implantation was 0.59 [IQR: 0.55-0.82]. The total MEDD increased steadily to 0.77 [IQR: 0.53-1.08] at 1 year, which was 126% of the baseline (P < 0.001). More than a half (60%) responded that the ITMP therapy was somewhat satisfying. The financial break-even point was 28 months for ITMP treatment after the NHI reimbursement policy. Conclusions: ITMP provided effective chronic pain management with improved satisfaction and reasonable financial break-even point of 28 months with 50% financial coverage by NHI program.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.1706-1713
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze the need for child hospice care in families of children with cancer for outpatient. The participants were 83 parents of children with cancer. This survey was conducted from January 2011 to March 2011 at four hospitals in Daegu. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires and analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA using the SPSS/WIN Program. Needs for hospice care for the participants were high. The need for "emotional care of children" showed the highest, "control of secondary physical problems", "acceptance of the family's difficulty", "management for terminal physical symptoms", "spiritual care for preparing for death". With respect on the demographic characteristics of the participants, there were statistically significant differences in hospice care needs, among to the religion, sibling, relatives, whether of the cancer. The above findings indicate that needs for hospice care for the participants were high about emotional care, especially as it is related to children's anxiety. Therefore hospice care, based on emotional part, should be provided systematic hospice care with specialized multidisciplinary child hospice care team, child hospice center.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.148-159
• /
• 2004

Background : This study was conducted to evaluate the survival benefit of the bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) for patients presenting with non-traumatic hemoptysis. Methods : The clinical data were retrospectively collected from the medical records and the Order Communicating Systems (OCS). The information dealing with death was collected from national death certificates. After enrolled patients were divided with two group such as BAE group (patients who were managed with BAE) and non-BAE group (patients who were managed with conservative modality), the survival benefit of BAE was estimated during the observational period of 24 months through using the Kaplan-Meier survival graph and the Cox-proportional hazard regression analysis. Results : The number of total cases was 272. Of these, BAE group involved 63 and non-BAE group involved 209. 69 cases had the malignant pulmonary lesions, 149 cases had non-malignant chronic lung lesion such as the mycobacteria infection, fungus ball, or bronchiectasis (BE), and 54 cases had the other pathologic conditions. For each sub-groups such as 'malignant lung lesion' group, 'non-malignant chronic lung lesion' group as well as about all cases, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of BAE for death was not significantly different compared to the conservative management. But the adjusted HRs as to underlying causes such as 'malignant lung lesion' group and 'the other conditions' group increased significantly compared to 'non-malignant chronic lung lesion' group. Conclusion : There was no significant survival benefit by BAE procedure on survival in patients presenting with non-traumatic hemoptysis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.35-47
• /
• 1999

Medication non-compliance among the elderly results in medical problems and substantial cost to the health care system. This study investigate predicted variable related to the medication task ability among elderly. This study was done in the selected 4 villages in Kimchun County of Kyungbuk Province from July to August, 1996. The subject was the resident that 202 adults above 60 years of age. The questionnaire of interview included medication task ability, socio-demographic data, COOP/WONCA chart, family ABGAR score. BDI(Beck depression inventory), ADL(activities of daily living), IADL(instrumental activities of daily living), and MMSE-K(minimental state examination-Korean version). The results were as followed : 1. Approximately 49% of study population was taking drug medication currently. We found that 93% of study population was successful at the medication task all alone, 6% was failure at the medication task all alone, so need help partly or completely. 2. Significant variables between group of medication task ability were age, educational attainment, IADL, and MMSE-K in univariate analysis. And significant correlated variables with medication task ability were ADL, IADL, MMSE-K, and BDI in correlation analysis. 3. Major predictors to medication task ability on multiple logistic regression were IADL and sex finally. Findings suggest that IADL is related to medication task ability than other test battery of health status, so IADL could be used to necessary for medication management and add information to conventional methods of assessing mental status.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea CI
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.64-72
• /
• 2008

Researchers nowadays are trying to implement u-Healthcare (ubiquitous Healthcare) systems for real-time monitoring and analysis of patients' status through a low-cost and low-power wireless sensor network. u-Healthcare system has an aim to provide reliable and fast medical services for patients regardless of time and space by transmitting to doctors a large quantity of vital signs collected from sensor networks. Existing u-Healthcare systems can merely monitor patients' health status. However, it is not easy to derive physiologically meaningful results by analyzing rapidly vital signs through the existing u-Healthcare systems. We introduce a Grid computing technology for deriving the results by analyzing rapidly the vital signs collected from the sensor network. Since both sensor network and Grid computing use different protocols, a gateway is needed. In addition, we also need to construct a gateway which includes the functions such as an efficient management and control of the sensor network, real-time monitoring of the vital signs and communication services related to the Grid network for providing u-Healthcare services effectively. In this paper, to build an advanced u-Healthcare system by using these two technologies most efficiently, we design and present the results to implement a SensorGrid gateway which connects transparently the sensor network and the grid network.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.337-342
• /
• 2009

Background : Many previous studies have shown that elevated homocysteine in the serum is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and this is associated with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but any Korean data on this is limited. Objectives : This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and to analyze the relation between elevated homocysteine and the lifestyle factors of Korean adults. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 650 men and 743 women (age range, 20 to 79 years) who were residents of Gwangju City in Gyeonggi-do. These subjects participated in the health interview and examination survey from November to December 2005. The total homocysteine, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride in the serum were measured. All the participants had their body composition measured such as height and weight, and we obtained health-related behavioral information through the self-entry questionnaire. Results : Very right-handed skewed distributions of homocysteine were shown in men and women. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia was 22.6% in men and 13.7% in women in Gwangju city. On the multiple logistic regression analysis, hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with age (OR=1.02, 95% CI=1.01-1.04), male gender (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.02-2.52), severe general physical activity (OR=0.32, 95% CI=0.15-0.69) and nutrient consumption (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.31-0.76). Conclusions : There is a great prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in adults of Gwangju City, Korea and it was associated with both genetic factors and lifestyle risk factors. This study can suggest that comprehensive lifestyle modification is needed in order to diminish the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and to prevent CVD.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.773-798
• /
• 2012

The study present the findings divide into brand naming, image, positioning. The farms built trust by consumer relationship with the farm brand. The results of the study provide insights for agricultural marketers who intend to design brand stories that align with their produce. This study is a regional case study of the factor analysis which explain residents' satisfaction of the efficient rural development projects under the Block Grants System in Buyeo. This study attempted to proceed the empirical survey of 353 residents who live in one 'town(eup)' and 13 'village(meon)' in Buyeo-gun and analyzed through SPSSWIN. The results of the satisfaction analysis in the local development projects satisfied with the overall average 3.16 and then empirically verified the important factors of the 'cultural and leisure activities', 'learning environment', 'jobs and working conditions', 'transportation'. The factor analysis of 12 variables united into three factors, the first Factors are 'transportation', 'learning environment', 'social welfare', 'cultural and leisure activities', 'Information and Communication', 'Health and Medical Services'. The second factors are 'crimes and accidents', 'environmental management', 'neighbor relations and social participation', and the third factors united into 'income and consumption activities', 'job creation' which imply the economic variables, and 'residential environment' as the common category.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.395-404
• /
• 2015

This study is exploring objective awareness of literary therapy by consideration of popular perception about literary therapy through analysis of big data. The purpose of this study is the deduction of meaning information through analysis in the viewpoint of big data at online social network service(SNS) about 'literary therapy'. Accordingly, the main way of research became content analysis of keyword linked to literary therapy by utilizing opinion mining method related to text mining. The study mainly grasped 'literary therapy' and analyzed 'bibliotherapy' comparatively. The period of study was from Oct. 10th to Nov. 10th, 2014(during 30 days), and SNS such as blog or twitter became the subject of search. Through the result of study analysis, the conclusion that the spread of literary therapeutic prospect, structural harmony of literary therapeutic field, and the solidity of perceptional axis about literary therapy are needed can be drawn. This study is worthwhile because it can investigate popular awareness about literary therapy and can suggest alternative for invigoration of literary therapy.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: The data were collected from 21 terminal cancer patients and families through the in-depth interview. Data analysis were performed by the Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1976). Results: The reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminal cancer patients and families was then categorized with 4 elements; Awareness of limitations in contemporary medical treatments, Belief in effectiveness of the CAM, Satisfaction with emotional needs of family members, and Disbelief due to negative attitudes of physicians. The result indicated the following 9 themes expectation for a complete cure, uncertainty in hospital treatments, complementary method for management of side effect of chemotherapy, alleviation of symptoms and life-sustaining, fear for side effects of cancer treatments, belief in earned information, referrals by other, responsibility of family, and dissatisfaction with negatine attitudes of physicians. Conclusion: Physicians should provide a sufficient explanation and try to effectively communicate with clients about hospice and palliative service and the CAM. We strongly realized that concerns about patients' best care and satisfactions with family's needs should be understood.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.743-754
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the homecare needs of patients with cancer and to provide a basis of interventions. One hundred and two patients at one general hospital in Gyeongnam responded to a questionnaire developed on the basis of care needs perceived by nurses caring for hospitalized patients with cancer. The questionnaire was a Likert type 5 point scale with 56 items on five need categories ; 1) informational 2) physical care : 3) emotional care 4) socioeconomic care and 5) special care needs. Internal consistency of this questionnaire was Cronbach's $\alpha$＝.9101 for total items. The data was collected from March 1st to May 31th, 1998, by two graduate nurses. In the data analysis, mean & standard deviation were calculated to identify the degree of care need of each item, and the t-test & ANOVA were done to determine the effects of patients' demographic background on their care needs. The findings are summarized as follows ; 1) The mean score of total of need items was 3.048. Of the four need categories the highest score was informational at 3.4, followed by emotional care, 3.063, physical care, 2.623, and socioeconomic care, 2.599. 2) In the informational need category there were four subcategories with 19 items. Medication and pain control had the highest score, 3.755 ; second was diet and exercise, 3.613 ; third was disease and treatment process, 3.337 ; and last was personal hygiene and infection prevention at 2.687. 3) In the physical care need category there was nine items, IV infusion for nutrition and management of treatment complication was above 3.2 points and the remaining items were in the 2.847-2.070 score ranges. 4) In the emotional care need category there were seven items. The highest need was in support for relationships with health personnel, 3.673. The need for support of religions beliefs and support for having a religion were low at about 2 points. 5) In the socioeconomic care need category there were six items. Support for medical insurance expansion and financial support were above 3 points. Legal support and support for caring of children were low in the care needs. 6) In the special care need category the there were 15 items. Informational need about immunization and informational need about effects of disease on growth and development were high, above 4.1 points. Need for decubitus care and prevention, sitz bath and incontinence care were low, below 2 points. 7) There were significant differences in degree of care need according to admission rate, education level, marital status, religion and caregiver's religion. In conclusion, homecare needs perceived by hospitalized patient's with cancer was moderate, but informational need was higher than direct care need, leading to the conclusion that the provision of sufficient information to patients with cancer at discharge is needed. Nursing interventions should be developed considering the patient's background.