• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.59-75
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• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the degree of utilization of outsourcing in large hospitals in Korea. We also investigated the outcome and the level of satisfaction for adopting outsourcing in these hospitals. Types of work areas that were currently operated by outsourcing and were planned to adopt outsourcing in the future were identified. A total of 83 hospitals were eligible for this study, which had more than 500 beds, and were identified from the 2003 National Hospital List published by the Korean Hospital Association. A self-administered Questionnaire survey was conducted between April 25th and May 20th in 2003 with a personnel being charged of arrangement of outsourcing in each hospital. Among the 58 hospitals responding the survey(response rate=69.9%), 49 hospitals(84.5%) utilized outsourcing in at least one work field in their organizations. The largest proportion of the hospitals(85.7%) using outsourcing responded that the biggest outcome after introducing outsourcing were cost reduction(49.0%), followed by improved efficiency in operating the organization or human resources(34.7%) and the improved quality of the work(6.1%). The degree of satisfaction for outsourcing among the hospital managers(3.43) was significantly higher than that among the employees(3.l4) on a S-point Likert-type scale(p<0.05). Among the 7 work areas, the hospitals used outsourcing most frequently in facility management(housekeeping, building maintenance, hospital security and parking management), followed by non-medical profit business(funeral, convenient store, and cafeteria), logistics(provision of patient meal, in-house delivery, and purchasing), and information and computing system(hospital information system, maintenance of personal computers and printers). The work areas that the hospitals planned to adopt or expand the outsourcing in the future most frequently were facility management, non-medical profit business, logistics, and information and computing systems. In conclusion, outsourcing was highly diffused in large Korean hospitals, particularly in the work field of facility management and non-medical profit business. The satisfaction for outsourcing was not high yet in Korean hospitals.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.45-52
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• 2018

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, temperaments, and quality of life between panic disorder (PD) patients with and without major depressive disorder (PD+MDD and PD-MDD patients, respectively). Methods We compared 411 PD-MDD and 219 PD+MDD patients. All patients who were drug-free for at least 1 month were assessed at initial outpatient visits before the administration of medication. The following instruments were used for assessment: the NEO Personality Inventory-Neuroticism (NEO-N) ; the Temperament and Character Inventory-Harm Avoidance (TCI-HA) ; the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) ; the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short (IUS); the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised (ASI-R); the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) ; the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) ; the Generalized Anxiety Disorder for 7 item (GAD-7) ; the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) ; the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) ; the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETISR-SF) ; the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI) ; the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) ; the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) ; and the Short Form health survey (SF-36). Results Compared to the PD-MDD patients, the PD+MDD patients were younger and more likely to be unmarried. They showed higher rates of unemployment, lower levels of education and income, younger age of onset, more previous suicide attempts, a greater incidence of agoraphobia, and more previous treatments. The PD+MDD patients showed significantly higher scores on the NEO-N, the TCI-HA, the STAI, the IUS, the ASI-R, the BDI, the BAI, the PSWQ, the GAD-7, the APPQ, the PDSS, the ETISR-SF, and the SSI. In addition, the PD+MDD patients showed significantly lower quality of life than did the PD-MDD patients. In contrast with previous studies, we observed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender, duration until treatment, and psychiatric comorbidities. Conclusions This study showed that the PD+MDD patients have more early trauma experiences, higher levels of anxiety-related temperaments, more severe panic and depressive symptoms, and lower quality of life than the PD-MDD patients.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.77-84
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• 2017

Purpose: From the early 1990's, use of Tandem mass spectrometry in neonatal screening test, made early stage detection of disorders that was not detectable by the previous methods of inspection. This research aims to evaluate the frequency of positive results in national neonatal screening test by Tandem mass spectrometry and its usefulness. Methods: A designated organization for inherited metabolic disorder executed neonatal screening test on newborns using Tandem mass spectrometry from January 2006 to December 2015, followed by the investigation of these data by the Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK), and this research analyzed those inspected data from the PPFK. Results: Among total childbirth of 4,590,606, from January 2006 to December 2015, 3,445,238 were selected for MS/MS and conduction rate was 75.1%. 261 out of the selected 3,445,238 were confirmed patients and for last decade, detection rate of total metabolic disorder was 1/13,205. In 261 confirmed patients, 120 had an amino acid metabolic disorder and its detection rate was 1/28,710 and 110 had an organic acid metabolic disorder and detection rate was 1/31,320. Also, 31 had a fatty acid metabolic disorder and detection rate was 1/13,205. Conclusion: Inherited metabolic disorder is very rare. Until now, it was difficult to precisely grasp an understanding on the national incidence of inherited metabolic disorder, due to lack of overall data and inconsistent and incomplete long-term result analysis. However, this research attempted to comprehensively approach the domestic incidence, by analyzing previous 10 years of data.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6779-6782
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• 2015

Background: Chemoradiotherapy is an important treatment modality for lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in, as well as the interrelationship between, lung function and quality of life of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy due to locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) limited to the thorax. Materials and Methods: The study included patients receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy for lung carcinoma. The respiratory function of the patients was assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s per unit (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in 1s per unit of vital capacity (FEV1/VC) before, in the middle of and after treatment. During the study, EORTC QLQ C30 and LC13 questionnaires developed by the Committee of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) were employed to evaluate the quality of life on the same day as respiratory function tests (RFT). Findings: The study included 23 patients in total: 19 (82.6%) diagnosed with NSCLC and 4 (17.4%) with SCLC. The average percentage FEV1 was $55.6{\pm}21.8%$ in the pre-treatment period, $56.2{\pm}19.2%$ in the middle of treatment and $60.4{\pm}22%$ at the end of treatment. The improvement in functional scores, symptom scores and general health scores during treatment was not statistically significant (P= 0.568, P= 0.734, P= 0.680, P=0.757 respectively). Conclusions: Although this study showed an improvement in respiratory function and quality of life of patients during treatment with thoracic chemoradiotherapy, no statistically significant results were obtained. While evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for lung carcinoma, the effects of treatment on respiratory function and quality of life should be considered.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3017-3021
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• 2013

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is an important aspect in identifying cancer patients' perceptions of being diagnosed with cancer and the assessment of treatment outcomes. The present study aimedto assess the profile and predicators of HRQoL of Malaysian oncology patients. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study adopting the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was conducted. All cancer patients attending Penang General Hospital between August-November 2011 were approached. Descriptive statistics were used to assess demographic and disease related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 16.0. Results: Three hundred and ninety three cancer patients met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 53.9 ($SD{\pm}13$) years. The cohort was dominated by females (n=260, 66.2%). Nearly half (n=190, 48.3%) of the participants were of Malay ethnicity, practicing Islam as their religion (n=194, 494%). Two hundred and ninety six (n=296, 75.3%) had beene diagnosed with cancer within six months to 3 years previously. The most common primary cancer site was breast (n=143, 36.4%). The mean Global Health Status (GHS) score was 60.7 (SD=21.3). Females (mean GHS score of 62.3, p=0.035) with Malay ethnicity (mean GHS score of 63.8, p=0.047), practicing Islam as their religion (mean GHS score of 63.0, p=0.011) had better GHS scores. Patients having medical insurance had good scores (mean 65.6, p-0.021). Marital status was significantly associated with GHS scores (p=0.022). Bone cancer patientshad the lowest mean GHS score of 49.2 (p=0.044). Patients at very advanced stages of cancer featured a low GHS mean score of 52.2 (p<0.001). Conclusions: The present study identified many demographic and disease related factors which may contribute to the HRQoL of cancer patients, pointing to the necessity for improved management of disease symptoms and provision of psychological and financial support.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.8
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• pp.211-220
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• 2011

The study conducted a survey on the perception level for radiological technologists with 321 nurses and auxiliary nurses working at university hospitals in Busan in order to supply preliminary data to enhance the status as well as professional images of radiological technologists. The result shows the perception level of $3.02{\pm}0.42$ with the highest score for the professional image and the lowest score for the business image. By question, 'they are professional' gets the highest score while 'they understand problems of patients well' gets the lowest. Among respondents, those who are well aware of education courses as well as leading organization of examination and who answer as a health care provider or a medical technician under the medical law show a high level of perception while those who answer as technician show a low perception level. Those who agree with radiologists as a career and consider their status as high in medical institutions have a high level of perception. In order to improve the perception level, individuals as well as associations' promotion and strategies are required to fix the title and enhance the negative images through active interests and kind attitudes toward patients. Also, efforts to escape from previous images limited to technical colleges, to vitalize academic conference and remedial education, and to frame the law of professional radiological technologists system are asked to heighten the qualification and status of radiological technologists. More than that, advertising and monitoring via mass media are needed to develop the image as professional career men as well.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.24-40
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• 2001

This study is to observe the effectiveness of the applied model and to present the improvement plan and directions for development for the case management practical model suitable for the actual condition of Korea Labor Welfare Co. and needs of the industrial injury patients. The concrete purpose of this study is: First, observe the difference of stressor experience and experience degree between the experimental group and the comparative group. Second, observe the difference of stress of the experimental group and the comparative group. Third, find out how the stress affects the support degree and satisfaction degree. Fourth, present the improvement plan of case management model, which can promote the psychosocial rehabilitation of the industrial injury patient based on the research results. The outline of the main research results identified in this study is as follows. The stressors the industrial injury patients perceived are health problems, family matters, the problems concerning hospital recuperation (hospital staff and environmental problems), economical problems, problems of coming back to society, problems with companies, problems with Korea labour Welfare Co. and other problems. And the experience of stressor was prominently lower in experimental group than comparative group in the whole problem, health problem, problems with Korea Labour-Welfare Co. and other problems. The stressor experience degree was conspicuously lower in experimental group in the whole problem experience degree, health problem experience degree, problem with Korea Labour Co. experience degree and other problem experience degree. Besides whether or not the case management is applied is having a prominent affect on the primary factor affecting the stressor experience degree, therefore the patients applied with case management has less stressor than the patient who didn't. The difference of degree of tension experienced by the stressor in both groups, the degree of stress, was not conspicuous in statistics so it shows that the application of case management in this research has not affected the degree of tension. The field which had been the most help was emotional support in help level the experimental group perceived through applying case management about industrial accident patients and recuperation, compensation problem, medical treatment problem, family matters has been helpful in this order. The help level of the whole problem was in higher level than the middle value. The stress factor which affects the case management problem settlement is the whole body of stress. The satisfaction level of help through applying case management was highest in emotional support and family matters, recuperation problem, company problem, compensation problem, and medical treatment problem was the next highest. The satisfaction level of the whole problem was higher than the middle value. The stress factor affecting the satisfaction level of help is the whole body of stress. Therefore to reduce the stress level of industrial accident patients and for them to come back to local societies, we need to reinforce the continuance and responsibility of case management model, increase staff, reinforce the role of counsel and medical treatment, intervene in the patient's plan of leaving the hospital, develop social support system and the need to establish After Care Center.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of activity status, anxiety, depression, social support, symptom experience, and functional status in patients with lung cancer based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms. Methods: The participants for this study were 101 lung cancer patients who visited the out-patient department for treatment or follow-up at one hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from January 1 to February 8, 2013 using self-reported questionnaires and clinical records. To measure variables, the functional scale and symptom scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, EORTC QLQ-Lung Cancer 13, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used in this study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0 software for Windows. Results: The symptom experience showed more severity in patients with lower activity status, higher anxiety and depression. With lower activity status and social support, functional status was lower. When anxiety, depression, and symptom experience were higher, functional status was also lower. The significant factors predicting symptom experience were depression, anxiety, activity status, and social support, which explained 57.8% of the variance. Conclusion: These results suggest that psychological factors such as anxiety and depression had a negative influence on the symptom experience of lung cancer patients. Therefore, providing emotional support based on the patients' needs prior to providing symptom management could be a useful strategy for improving symptom experience and functional status.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the relationship between friendship level within a hospital organization and job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job stress. Focusing on the hierarchy and occupation of a hospital, different from previous introductory studies. As a study tool, structured questionnaire were devised and used. The subjects were nurses, administrators and medical technicians who worked at 17 tertiary hospitals in Seoul and Kyongin area. To analyze the data, we conducted frequency analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis.The main results of our study can be summarized as followings:Firstly, seen from the viewpoint of social demographic characteristics, on the whole friendship level with fellows is the highest, and then that with subordinates and that with bosses the lowest. Secondly, the friendship level with bosses, subordinates and fellows had a significant relationship with job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job stress, though there were some differences among them. In case of junior managers, the friendship level with fellows had a significant relationship with job satisfaction and organizational commitment; in case of middle managers, the friendship level with fellows had significant relationship with job satisfaction. We found that the friendship level with the bosses had a deeper relationship with job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job stress as we went down the hierarchy. Thirdly, analyzing the differences between occupation, administrators and medical technicians had relatively higher significant relationship with the friendship level with bosses than nurses in job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job stress. High friendship level with the bosses influenced job satisfaction significantly for the nurse; yet, in case of administrators and medical technicians, the friendship level with bosses influenced all of job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job stress. Based on our study, we recommend facilitating friendly relationship between the bosses and the subordinates in order to enhance job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job related stress reduction.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was aimed to find out the characteristics of ordinary symptoms between the control and patient groups, diagnosed as overweight or obesity, in Soyang, Taeeum, and Soeum Constitutions and among those 3 groups. Methods: As a prospective cross-sectional study based on medical records, 9213 patients, who visited Kyung Hee University Medical Center from May in 2007 to June in 2010, were included. To diagnose the constitution, Revised Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification II and examinations by oriental medical doctors who majored in Sasang Constitution Medicine were performed. Based on the World Health Organization criteria for Asian obesity assessment, body mass index (BMI) was classified into 3 groups; more than 25 as obesity, 23 to 25 as overweight, and less than 23 as normal. Ordinary symptoms questionnaire, which consists of 46 questions in 8 categories, were given to the subjects. One-way ANOVA test in continuous variables and chi-square test in categorical variables were carried out to analyze statistical significance. Results and Conclusions: 1) In general characteristics, we could find out the significant differences in age, sex, height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and hemoglobin A1c among the 3 Constitutional groups. 2) Soyang Constitution of overweight and obesity has tendency to have higher appetite, like cool or cold water, defecate more, swear more, dislike heat, and have warmer or hotter extremities in the ordinary symptoms, compared with the control group. 3) Taeeum Constitution of overweight and obesity has tendency to have higher appetite, like cool or cold water, defecate more, swear more, dislike heat, and have warmer or hotter extremities in the ordinary symptoms, compared with the control group. 4) Soeum Constitution of overweight and obesity has tendency to have higher appetite and less fatigue in the ordinary symptoms, compared with the control group. 5) Soeum Constitution showed the slightest increase in appetite, preference about room temperature water, less number of feces, and feeling of chill and warmer extremities in ordinary symptoms, compared with Soyang and Taeeum Constitutions. Taeeum Constitution showed the distinct increase in appetite and sweating in ordinary symptoms, compared with Soyang and Soeum Constitutions.