• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2018

Background: This study investigates the potential volume and outcome association of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using a large and representative sample. Methods: We used a National Health Insurance Service-Cohort Sample Database from 2002 to 2013 released by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 8,908 subjects were analyzed. The primary analysis was based on Cox proportional hazards models to examine our hypothesis. Results: After adjusting for confounders, the hazard ratio of thirty-day and 1-year mortality in hospitals with a low volume of CHD patients with PCI was 2.8 and 2.2 times higher (p=0.00) compared to hospitals with a high volume of CHD patients with PCI, respectively. Thirty-day and 1-year mortality of CHD patients with PCI in low-volume hospitals admitted through the emergency room were 3.101 (p=0.00) and 2.8 times higher (p=0.01) than those in high-volume hospitals, respectively. Only 30-day mortality in low-volume hospitals of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction patients with PCI was 5.3 and 2.4 times those in high-volume hospitals with PCI, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality was significantly lower when PCI was performed in a high-volume hospital than in a low-volume hospital. Among patients admitted through the emergency room and diagnosed with angina pectoris, total PCI volume (low vs. high) was associated with significantly greater cardiac mortality risk of CHD patients. Thus, There is a need for better strategic approaches from both clinical and health policy standpoints for treatment of CHD patients.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 1994

The aim of this study was to assess the people's need for visiting health services in a rural area. In recent years, the great concern for the visiting health services has aroused in Korea. Stratified cluster sample for a household survey was used to select 1,255(8.4%) Households from Yonchon county. This study was undertaken from July 26 to August 7 in 1993. Medically defined need, usually expressed by the prevalencies or rates of specific disease, was evaluated with the use of criteria established by medical and nursing professors and expressed by the percent of specific objects for the visiting health services. Perceived need represented by the acceptability for the visiting services and willingness to paying for it, also, evaluated. The major results were as follows : 1. Of the 348 patients with hypertension, 201 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 study population was 7.4%. 2. Of the 141 diabetic patients, 73 were the non-compliant patients, the rate of the non-compliant hypertension patients in 4,577 sample population was 2.7%. 3. The number of patients with severe musculo-skeletal disease was 24, the rate was 0.9% above the age 30. 4. Of the 514 elderly, 33 were the elderly without any family member, the rate was 8.4%. Those with severely decreased activity of daily living were 13. 5. Infants with high risks were 12, pregnant women and neonates were 5, patients discharged within 1 week and with special equipments such as peritoneal dialysis, stoma, TPN etc. were 17, and patients with cancer were 5. Total number of the objects needed visiting health services was 752(18.43%) of the 4,577 study population. Perceived need evaluated were as follows; The acceptance rate of visiting health services was 74.9%, The kinds of visiting health services such as family health protection and promotion, early detection of hypertension, physiotherapy, health education and counseling were needed in the order of high rate The price willing to pay for visiting health services per visit was about 3,000-5,000Won. In conclusion, Visiting health services programme to be developed should have priority to the prevention of complications of chronic disease such as hypertension, diabetes milletus, elderly disease and health promotion.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-152
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• 2014

Purpose: At our hospital blood is collected from a patient before an imaging test, with the concern of any effect possible when a nuclear medicine imaging test and an in-vitro test are carried out at the same time. However, occasionally, the blood collection is performed after an imaging test, with the reasons that the patient is not properly guided or the patient doesn't follow the guide correctly. In that case, we prefer to gather blood again after a few days. The purpose of this study is not only to see whether there is any effect of an imaging test on the result of the in-vitro test performed with the blood collected after the imaging test, but also to study how many days waiting after each test is appropriate to take a blood sample, if the effect exists. Materials and Methods: From September to October 2013, blood were collected from 13 patients in our hospital regardless of age and sex each time before and after the injection of the radioactive isotope from the tests : PET-CT, Gated Myocardial SPECT, and DTPA GFR Scan. Considering a half-life, AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, and T3 were carried out right after the blood collection. In case of an iodine therapy, blood were taken each time before and after taking radioactive iodine, and, after AFP, CA19-9, and CEA, the difference between them in consistency and in cpm were compared. Results: With 10 patients after the imaging tests and 3 patients after the iodine therapy, their serum cpm was over 10,000. Over time, the cpm decreased in accordance with the half-life ($^{18}F$ 110minutes, $^{99}mTc$ 6hours, $^{201}Tl$ 72hours, $^{131}I$ 7days). Between the two cases, one before and the other after the injection of the radioactive isotope, the cpm and the results of AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, and T3 from three patients each test, PET-CT, Gated Myocardial SPECT, and DTPA GFR Scan, were very similar. In addition, in case of an iodine therapy, there was also not a meaningful difference in the cpm and the results of AFP, CA19-9, and CEA, from three patients in an iodine therapy, between the two cases, one before and the other after taking the radioactive iodine. Conclusion: In case a blood collection was performed after the imaging test which required a radioactive isotope injection, the cpm increased, differently according to the kind of the radioactive isotope. However, the results of the in-vitro tests like AFP, CA19-9, CEA, TSH, T3, etc were nearly not affected. As the result, it's considered that there will not be any significant effect also from other tests, as the result from the performed seven tests.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.523-527
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• 2012

Objective : The incidence of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare. Patients with SSEH, however, present disabling neurologic deficits. Clinical outcomes are variable among patients. To evaluate the adequate treatment method according to initial patients' neurological status and clinical outcome with comparison of variables affecting the clinical outcome. Methods : We included 15 patients suffered from SSEH. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment method. Initial neurological status and clinical outcomes were assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Also sagittal hematoma location and length of involved segment was analyzed with magnetic resonance images. Other factors such as age, sex, premorbid medication and duration of hospital stay were reviewed with medical records. Nonparametric statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to overcome small sample size. Results : Among fifteen patients, ten patients underwent decompressive surgery, and remaining five were treated with conservative therapy. Patients showed no different initial neurologic status between treatment groups. Initial neurologic status was strongly associated with neurological recovery (p=0.030). Factors that did not seem to affect clinical outcomes included : age, sex, length of the involved spinal segment, sagittal location of hematoma, premorbid medication of antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and treatment methods. Conclusion : For the management of SSEH, early decompressive surgery is usually recommended. However, conservative management can also be feasible in selective patients who present neurologic status as ASIA scale E or in whom early recovery of function has initiated with ASIA scale C or D.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was conducted in order to describe prescribing practices in treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder in a Korean inpatient sample. Methods : We performed a retrospective chart review of 66 youths who had been hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria. Demographics, clinical characteristics, medications used, doses, and related adverse events were examined. Results : Mood stabilizers and/or atypical antipsychotic medications were the primary treatment. Risperidone, valproate, and lithium were the most commonly used. Thirty seven patients (58.1%) were treated with combination therapy of an atypical antipsychotic and mood stabilizer for improvement of manic/mixed symptoms. Conclusion : Combination pharmacotherapy was necessary for most patients in this admission sample group. Conduct of further studies will be needed for evaluation of treatment response according to the clinical characteristics, and the safety and efficacy of treatment for child and adolescent bipolar disorder.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.21 no.1 s.33
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• pp.113-130
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• 1991

This study was undertaken to investigate soft tissue profile changes by orthodontic treatment in female patients. Traditional cephalometric appraisal yields data of dubious scientific value, the soft tissue profile forms were evaluated by finite element method. The subject was divided into three groups according to Angle's classification and each group was composed of 25 female patients averaged aged 12-14 years at the start of treatment. The changes in soft tissue form were evaluated by computing the degree of distortion in each triangle after treatment compared with the triangle before treatment. The conclusions were as follows; 1. The soft tissue profile forms were evaluated by finite element method and independent evaluation of each element by local changes was possible. 2. Maximum and minimum principal strains showed marked variability depending on the particular finite element and each group and Class II, III sample was greater than Class I sample. 3. Soft tissue size changes as a result of orthodontic treatment was not related to those of shape. 4. Soft tissue changes by orthodontic treatment were variable in individual patient, and were not related to Angle's classification.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.190-199
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the factors contributing to sleep disorders in patients on hemodialysis. Methods: A descriptive correlational study design was used. The participants were 135 patients on hemodialysis in hemodialysis clinics. Data were collected from March to May 2007 using structured questionnaires and hematologic sample. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify factors influencing sleep disorders among the demographic-clinical factors, depression and fatigue. Results: About 69% of the patients had a sleep disorders. There were significant differences in sleep disorders according to marital status, caregiver, religion, economic level, insurance, erythropoietin, somnifacient, and antihypertensive agents. But there were no differences according to age, gender, dialysis period, or antidepressants. Their sleep disorders had significant correlations with depression, and fatigue, and a significant negative correlation with Protein, Albumin, Phosphate and BUN. But there were no correlations with hematocrit, hemoglobin, creatinine, sodium, potassium, or calcium. Depression and fatigue were factors influencing sleep disorders. They accounted for 43.8% of the variance in sleep disorders in these patients. Conclusion: Findings provide an understanding of sleep disorders and the factors that are an influence in patients on hemodialysis. To promote sleep in these patients, nursing interventions to manage depression and fatigue are needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2021

Background: With increasing economic evaluation studies on the treatment of or screening tools for liver diseases that cause hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), interest in the analysis of the medical utilization and costs of HCC treatment is increasing. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the medical utilization and costs of HCC patients, and calculate the cost of main procedures for HCC treatment, including liver transplant (LT), hepatic resection (HR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: We analyzed claim data from January to December 2018 from the Health Insurance and Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS-2018) dataset, including data of patients diagnosed with HCC (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code C22.0) who had at least one inpatient claim for HCC. Results: A total of 715 HCC patients were identified. In 2018, the yearly average medical cost per HCC patient was ₩18,460K (thousand), of which ₩14,870K was attributed to HCC. Among the total medical costs of HCC patients, the inpatient cost accounted for the largest portion of both the total medical and HCC-related costs. The major procedures of HCC treatment occurred most frequently in the order of TACE, RFA, HR, and LT. The average medical cost per treatment episode was the highest for LT (₩87,280K), followed by HR (₩10,026K), TACE (₩4,047K), and RFA (₩2,927K). Conclusion: By identifying the medical costs of HCC patients and the costs of the main procedures of HCC treatment, our results provide basic information that could be utilized for cost estimation in liver disease-related economic evaluation studies.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

Purpose: Despite poor cognitive function in heart failure (HF), few studies have examined cognition and its probable implication in self-care among Korean HF patients. The purposes of this study were (1) to describe cognition in the domains of global, memory, and executive functions, (2) to explore the relationship between cognition and self-care, and (3) to determine the amount of dietary sodium intake among Korean HF patients. Methods: A pilot study was conducted: 7 HF patients (3 men, mean age 68 years) completed face-to-face interviews for neuropsychological tests of cognition and self-care including dietary sodium intake. Results: More than half of the patients had impaired global cognition, memory, or executive function; patients with more severe HF were at higher risk of poor cognitive function. Korean HF patients exhibited poor self-care, with a high dietary sodium intake (5.6 g/day), approximately twice more than the suggested guideline of 2~3 g/day for patients with stable HF. Conclusion: Cognitive dysfunction and inadequate self-care with noncompliance with dietary sodium restriction were evident in Korean HF patients. More studies are warranted that examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment and areas of deficit using neuropsychological tests in a larger sample and that examine how cognition affects self-care and compliance in salt-intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.1418-1426
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• 2008

This study aims to develop the functional pants for the hospitalized bed-ridden patient. The procedure of this study consisted of three parts. First, the interview survey of nursing care givers was conducted to inquire into the conditions of bed-ridden patients' clothing. Second, the bed-ridden patients' pants design and sample making were accompanied. Then, the wearing tests and design development were completed. The results are as follows; The conditions of bed-ridden patients' clothing were the convenience of clothing change, the partial opening for diaper change and medical treatment and the ventilation for bedsore prevention. The design development of the bed ridden patients' pants was accomplished which had the side seams with two way opening zippers, the wraparound pattern of abdomen and the opening under crotch applied the advantage of korean traditional underwear sokkot. The samples' wearing tests were performed three times and those subjects were the hospitalized bed-ridden patients. Consequently, we suggested the appropriate hospitalized patients' pants for bed-ridden patient.