• Title/Summary/Keyword: Methodological improvement

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Effectiveness of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Post-Disaster Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review (재난 후 근골격계 통증에 침치료의 유효성: 체계적 문헌고찰)

  • Ka-Hyun Kim;Sung-Won Choi;Hae-Won Hong;Ju-Young Yoon;Yong-Jun Kim;Jung-Hyun Kim
    • Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.135-148
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    • 2023
  • Objectives To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of post-disaster musculoskeletal pain by reviewing relevant clinical studies. Methods A systematic search was conducted across 10 electronic databases to identify relevant clinical studies on acupuncture treatment for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain until May 2023. The methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized studies tools. Results Six articles were analyzed, including two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), two before-after studies, one qualitative research, and one case series. Overall, acupuncture therapy showed some improvement in pain scale among musculoskeletal pain survivors. However, no significant improvement was observed in the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2). Subgroup analysis of participants who completed at least four acupuncture sessions revealed a significant effect on the SFMPQ-2. Additionally, a significant improvement in 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF36P) was observed after 6 months of treatment, but the 2-month treatment period did not show statistically significant effects on SF-36P improvement. The evaluation of the methodological quality of the RCTs identified some concerns of bias. Conclusions The results suggest that acupuncture is effective in alleviating post-disaster musculoskeletal pain. However, considering the limited number of selected studies and the inclusion of subjective evaluation measures, caution should be exercised in interpreting the results. Further large-scale follow-up studies are needed to determine the optimal frequency and duration of acupuncture treatment. Well-designed controlled trials should be conducted to provide more robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for post-disaster musculoskeletal pain.

Development of QI Activity Evaluation Framework Based on PDCA and Case Study on Quality Improvement Activities (PDCA 모형에 기초한 QI활동 평가틀 개발 및 사례분석)

  • Park, Yeon-Hwa;Lee, Myung-Ha;Jeong, Seok-Hee
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.222-233
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    • 2012
  • Purpose: This study was conducted to develop an evaluation framework for QI activity in medical institutions and to analyze QI activity cases by applying the developed evaluation framework. Method: A four-phase process was employed to develop the evaluation framework, and a descriptive survey was used for the QI case study. Data were collected in April, 2010 by examining 157 QI activity cases presented at conferences and published in Journal of Korean Society of Quality Assurance in Health Care over the past three years. Developed QI activity evaluation instruments were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 for Windows program. Result: A QI Activity Evaluation Framework was developed. This framework consisted of 45 items. The department with the highest level of QI participation was the nursing department. The most frequent QI activity theme was patient safety. QI activity levels in Korean medical institutions are relatively equalized without significant differences according to institution characteristics. Conclusions: From the quality aspect of QI activity, more systematic and scientific approaches are required to upgrade QI activity. This study could provide methodological guidelines for QI activity and be useful in setting goals and directions for QI activity in medical institutions in Korea.

Improving the Professional Competence of a Specialist in Poland by Implementing Multimedia Technologies

  • Kravchenko, Tetiana;Varga, Lesia;Lypchanko-Kovachyk, Oksana;Chinchoy, Alexander;Yevtushenko, Nataliia;Syladii, Ivan;Kuchai, Oleksandr
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.22 no.9
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    • pp.51-58
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    • 2022
  • The article emphasizes the features of the modern education system in Poland, reveals the peculiarities of improving the professional competence of a specialist in Poland through the implementation of multimedia technologies. Various forms of innovations implemented in improving the professional competence of a specialist are listed: improvement (rationalization), modernization, innovation. The forms of professional improvement through the introduction of computer technologies in general and multimedia technologies, in particular, primarily include various professional courses, qualification, preparatory, methodological conferences, seminars, postgraduate studies, foreign and state internships. At the same time, the main direction is self-education. The subject of professional improvement in the application of computer technologies by specialists is the updating of existing knowledge, exchange of professional experience, planning, as well as discussion of innovative works in which specialists participate. Professional growth of specialists can occur both during work and in higher education institutions during their studies. Modernization of computer technologies, especially multimedia ones, is a necessary condition for the functioning of specialists in modern society, since specialists are at the center of the educational process, during the improvement of professional competence. The main functions of the educational process necessary for improving the professional competence of specialists through the implementation of multimedia technologies are revealed. These functions not only contribute to the professional improvement of specialists, but also affect their solutions and optimize the maintenance of contacts between specialists. The importance of creating conditions that are consistent with the modern needs of innovative education is emphasized.

Development and Application of a Performance Prediction Model for Home Care Nursing Based on a Balanced Scorecard using the Bayesian Belief Network (Bayesian Belief Network 활용한 균형성과표 기반 가정간호사업 성과예측모델 구축 및 적용)

  • Noh, Wonjung;Seomun, GyeongAe
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.429-438
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: This study was conducted to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for home care nursing (HCN) based on a balanced scorecard, and to construct a performance prediction model of strategic objectives using the Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). Methods: This methodological study included four steps: establishment of KPIs, performance prediction modeling, development of a performance prediction model using BBN, and simulation of a suggested nursing management strategy. An HCN expert group and a staff group participated. The content validity index was analyzed using STATA 13.0, and BBN was analyzed using HUGIN 8.0. Results: We generated a list of KPIs composed of 4 perspectives, 10 strategic objectives, and 31 KPIs. In the validity test of the performance prediction model, the factor with the greatest variance for increasing profit was maximum cost reduction of HCN services. The factor with the smallest variance for increasing profit was a minimum image improvement for HCN. During sensitivity analysis, the probability of the expert group did not affect the sensitivity. Furthermore, simulation of a 10% image improvement predicted the most effective way to increase profit. Conclusion: KPIs of HCN can estimate financial and non-financial performance. The performance prediction model for HCN will be useful to improve performance.

The Effects of a Self-esteem and Smoking Cessation Self-efficiency Improvement Program on Smoking High School Students (자아존중감 및 금연 자기효능감 증진 프로그램이 흡연 고등학생에게 미치는 효과)

  • Kim, Young-Sook
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.121-130
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    • 2011
  • Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the effects of a program to improve self-esteem and smoking cessation self-efficiency on smoking high school students' self-esteem, smoking cessation self-efficiency, amount of smoking, cotinine in urine, and carbon monoxide while exhalation. Methods: This research was conducted as a quasi-experimental pretest and posttest control and experimental group methodological comparison study. The subjects were 45 smoking high school students (Exp.=22, Cont.=23) in U City. Data were collected from October 19 to December 7, 2010, and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program by frequency, Mann-Whitney test, means, standard deviations, and Willcoxon signed rank test. Results: After the treatment, those belonging to the experimental group showed significantly increased self-esteem and smoking cessation self-efficacy and also showed decreased amount of smoking, cotinine in urine, and carbon monoxide while exhalation compared to the control group. Conclusion: The self-esteem and smoking cessation self-efficacy improvement program was effective in improving self-esteem and smoking cessation self-efficacy and in diminishing the amount of smoking, cotinine in urine and carbon monoxide while exhalation. Therefore, this program is recommended as a smoking cessation strategy for smoking adolescents.

Evaluation and Functionality Stems Extraction for App Categorization on Apple iTunes Store by Using Mixed Methods : Data Mining for Categorization Improvement

  • Zhang, Chao;Wan, Lili
    • Journal of Information Technology Services
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.111-128
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    • 2018
  • About 3.9 million apps and 24 primary categories can be approved on Apple iTunes Store. Making accurate categorization can potentially receive many benefits for developers, app stores, and users, such as improving discoverability and receiving long-term revenue. However, current categorization problems may cause usage inefficiency and confusion, especially for cross-attribution, etc. This study focused on evaluating the reliability of app categorization on Apple iTunes Store by using several rounds of inter-rater reliability statistics, locating categorization problems based on Machine Learning, and making more accurate suggestions about representative functionality stems for each primary category. A mixed methods research was performed and total 4905 popular apps were observed. The original categorization was proved to be substantial reliable but need further improvement. The representative functionality stems for each category were identified. This paper may provide some fusion research experience and methodological suggestions in categorization research field and improve app store's categorization in discoverability.

Comment on "Estimation of Net Radiation in Three Different Plant Functional Types in Korea" (한국의 세 개의 다른 식생기능형태에서의 순복사 추정 논문에 대한 의견)

  • Kang, Min-Seok;Kim, Joon
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.11 no.3
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    • pp.118-122
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    • 2009
  • Net Radiation ($R_N$) is the major driving force for biophysical and biogeochemical processes in the terrestrial ecosystems, which is one of the most critical variables in both measurement and modeling. Despite its importance, there are only 10 weather stations conducting $R_N$ measurements among the 544 stations operated by Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA; KMA, 2008). The measurement of incoming shortwave radiation ($R_S{\downarrow}$) is, however, conducted at 22 stations while that of sunshine duration is conducted at all the manned stations. In this context, the recent research for estimating $R_N$ using $R_S{\downarrow}$ in Korean peninsula by Kwon (2009) is of great worth. The author used a linear regression and the radiation balance methods. We generally agree with the author that, in terms of simplicity and practicality, both methods show reliable applicability for estimating $R_N$. We noted, however, that the author's experimental method and analysis need some clarification and improvement, that are addressed in the following perspectives: (1) the use of daily integrated data for regression, (2) the use of measured albedo, (3) the use of linear coefficients for whole year data, (4) methodological improvement, (5) the use of sunshine duration, and (6) the error assessment.

A Study on the Improvement of Standards of Traffic Information Service and Provide Services Based on the Detailed Traffic Information (교통정보서비스 표출기준 개선 및 상세교통정보 기반 서비스 제공방안 연구)

  • Bae, Kwangsoo;Lee, Seungcheol
    • Journal of Information Technology Services
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.85-100
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    • 2018
  • In this study, we formulated rational criteria to efficiently provide traffic information services via a crafted approach. By utilizing this, we presented a detailed traffic information service providing method that can overcome the limitations of existing link unit information provision system. Three methodologies such as user survey, data mining, and KHCM (Korea Highway Capacity Manual) utilization method were applied to formulate a rational expression standard for traffic information service. Each method was designed to establish a quantitative criterion for various traffic conditions and to enable user-oriented traffic information service in consideration of the traffic principal/compatibility. Considering the results of each methodological analysis in a comprehensive manner, the basic expression standards for traffic information service was formulated. Then we presented improvements such as traffic condition step by road, speed range of traffic condition, expression term of traffic condition and so on. In order to complement the problems of the information provision system of the existing link unit based on the derived improvement criterion, we presented the detailed traffic information service provision method by using the traffic speed data of the second order. And we applied this to the two links of Daegu city. The method presented in this research can improve the quality of traffic information service. Not only it can be used for various fields such as optimal route search, traffic safety service and so on.

Digitization Of Education: Current Challenges Of Education

  • Osaula, Vadym;Parfeniuk, Ihor;Lysyniuk, Maryna;Haludzina-Horobets, Viktoriia;Shyber, Oksana;Levchenko, Oksana
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.21 no.11
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    • pp.368-372
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    • 2021
  • The article identifies the features of the digital culture of modern society in the dynamics of its impact on the education sector, identifies the main directions of digitalization education, an objective analysis is presented, the possibilities of examination as a scientific assessment are determined "Digital reforms" of education, the role of traditional values of educational culture in expertise and improvement digital innovations in the education system, identified the main contradictions in the development of digital culture, to determine the directions of its improvement. The article describes the three main components of information technology as a complex of hardware, software and a system of organizational and methodological support; the description of analog and digital information technologies is presented. The authors list the most common multifunctional office applications and IT tools; the advantages of using IT in the educational process are highlighted.