• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliable factors influencing the surgical outcome of the patients with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) and to improve the functional outcome of these patients. Methods : A total of 256 consecutive patients who underwent surgical intervention for traumatic ASDH between March 1998 and March 2008 were reviewed. We evaluated the influence of perioperative variables on functional recovery and mortality using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results : Functional recovery was achieved in 42.2% of patients and the overall mortality was 39.8%. Age (OR=4.91, p=0.002), mechanism of injury (OR=3.66, p=0.003), pupillary abnormality (OR=3.73, p=0.003), GCS score on admission (OR=5.64, p=0.000), and intraoperative acute brain swelling (ABS) (OR=3.71, p=0.009) were independent predictors for functional recovery. And preoperative pupillary abnormality (OR=2.60, p=0.023), GCS score (OR=4.66, p=0.000), and intraoperative ABS (OR=4.16, p=0.001) were independent predictors for mortality. Midline shift, thickness and volume of hematoma, type of surgery, and time to surgery showed no independent association with functional recovery, although these variables were correlated with functional recovery in univariate analyses. Conclusion : Functional recovery was more likely to be achieved in patients who were under 40 years of age, victims of motor vehicle collision and having preoperative reactive pupils, higher GCS score and the absence of ABS during surgery. These results would be helpful for neurosurgeon to improve outcomes from traumatic acute subdural hematomas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.3219-3221
• /
• 2013

Background: This study used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to screen Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) skin melanoma data to identify and quantify the effects of socioeconomic factors on cause specific survival. Methods: 'SEER cause-specific death classification' used as the outcome variable. The area under the ROC curve was to select best pretreatment predictors for further multivariate analysis with socioeconomic factors. Race and other socioeconomic factors including rural-urban residence, county level % college graduate and county level family income were used as predictors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify and quantify the independent socioeconomic predictors. Results: This study included 49,999 parients. The mean follow up time (SD) was 59.4 (17.1) months. SEER staging (ROC area of 0.08) was the most predictive foctor. Race, lower county family income, rural residence, and lower county education attainment were significant univariates, but rural residence was not significant under multivariate analysis. Living in poor neighborhoods was associated with a 2-4% disadvantage in actuarial cause specific survival. Conclusions: Racial and socioeconomic factors have a significant impact on the survival of melanoma patients. This generates the hypothesis that ensuring access to cancer care may eliminate these outcome disparities.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.571-583
• /
• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of burnout experienced by Korean hospital nurses (N=198), and to identify predictors of their nursing outcomes such as job performance, work satisfaction, and productivity. Method: Hierarchical multiple regression was used to identify predictors of each nursing outcomes. Included predictors were nurses' general characteristics, work- related characteristics (role stress and perceived control), and burnout. Results: Korean nurses experienced higher levels of burnout compared to the cutoffs suggested by Maslach and Jackson (1986) and to those in the USA. For each nursing outcome, predictor variables explained 39% of the variance in role performance, 30% of the variance in work satisfaction, and 38% of variance in productivity. Higher personal accomplishment, lower role ambiguity, being staff nurses, and lower emotional exhaustion were related to higher job performance, and higher productivity. Lower role conflict and role ambiguity were also related to higher work satisfaction. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, managemental interventions for nurses to reduce their burnout experience are needed. Further study in this area is warranted.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.249-259
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the patient characteristics significantly affecting nursing outcomes and their predictability in gastrointestinal surgery patients. Method: The subjects were 149 abdominal surgery patients from 3 general surgical nursing units of 3 general hospitals. Two instruments were used to measure nursing outcomes and acuity of the subjects. The nursing outcomes were measured at post-operation 4 and 7days using review of patients' records, observation of patients, and interviews with patients by a trained nurse. For data analysis, T-test or ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression were done. Result: Age, severity score, diagnosis, cancer or not, operation site were the subjects' characteristics that were significantly related to the nursing outcomes in both post-operation 4 and 7days. Cancer or not, age, diagnosis and severity score were the significant predictors for the scores of nursing outcome in post-operation 4days and the predictability was 34.9%. The predictability of cancer or not was highest, 22.6%. Age, diagnosis and cancer or not were the significant predictors for the scores of nursing outcome in post-operation 7days and the predictability was 27.8%. The predictability of age was highest, 17.3%. Conclusions: The patient characteristics affecting nursing outcomes should be considered when nursing care is planned and provided. Especially, careful attention should be given to the patients with cancer and older age. And, these patient characteristics should be adjusted for correct estimation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions on nursing outcomes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.5043-5047
• /
• 2013

Background: This is a part of a larger effort to characterize the effects on socio-economic factors (SEFs) on cancer outcome. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) bone and joint sarcoma (BJS) data were used to identify potential disparities in cause specific survival (CSS). Materials and Methods: This study analyzed SEFs in conjunction with biologic and treatment factors. Absolute BJS specific risks were calculated and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were computed for predictors. Actuarial survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier method. Kolmogorov-Smirnov's 2-sample test was used to for comparing two survival curves. Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis. Results: There were 13501 patients diagnosed BJS from 1973 to 2009. The mean follow up time (SD) was 75.6 (90.1) months. Staging was the highest predictive factor of outcome (ROC area of 0.68). SEER stage, histology, primary site and sex were highly significant pre-treatment predictors of CSS. Under multivariate analysis, patients living in low income neighborhoods and rural areas had a 2% and 5% disadvantage in cause specific survival respectively. Conclusions: This study has found 2-5% decrement of CSS of BJS due to SEFs. These data may be used to generate testable hypothesis for future clinical trials to eliminate BJS outcome disparities.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2010

Mortality rates from stroke have been declining. Because of this, more people are living with residual disability. Rehabilitation plays an important role in functional recovery of stroke survivors. In stroke rehabilitation, early prediction of the obtainable level of functional recovery is desirable to deliver efficient care, set realistic goals, and provide appropriate discharge planning. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of functional outcome after stroke using inpatient rehabilitation as measured by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) total scores. Correlation and stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed on data collected retrospectively from two-hundred thirty-five patients. More than moderate correlation was found between FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission and FIM total scores at the time of discharge from the hospital. Significant predictors of FIM at the time of discharge were FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission, age, and onset-admission interval. The equation was as follows: expected discharge FIM total score = $76.12+.62{\times}$(admission FIM total score)-$.38{\times}(age)-.15{\times}$(onset-admission interval). These findings suggest that FIM total scores at the time of hospital admission, age, and onset-admission interval are important determinants of functional outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.6
• /
• pp.747-756
• /
• 2020

Objective : To evaluate the effectiveness and long-term outcome predictors of percutaneous sacroplasty (PSP). Methods : This single-center study assessed 40 patients with sacral insufficiency fractures using the short-axis technique under C-arm flat-panel detector computed tomography (CT). Two radiologists reviewed the patients' magnetic resonance and CT images to obtain imaging findings before PSP and determine technical success, respectively. The short-term outcomes were visual analog scale score changes and opioid usage reductions. Long-term outcomes were determined using telephone interviews and the North American Spine Society (NASS) patient-satisfaction index at least one year after PSP. Results : Technical success was achieved without any significant complications in 39 patients (97.5%). Telephone interviews were possible with 12 patients and failed in 10 patients; death was confirmed in 18 patients. Fifteen patients (50%) re-visited the hospital and received conservative treatment, including spinal injections. Nine patients reported positive satisfaction (NASS patient-satisfaction index 1 or 2), while the negative satisfaction group (NASS patient-satisfaction index 3 or 4, n=3) showed a higher incidence of compression fractures at the thoracolumbar spine level (66.7% vs. 22.2%) and previous spinal injection history (66.7% vs. 33.3%). The poor response group also showed higher incidences of facet joint arthrosis (100% vs. 55.6%), central canal stenosis (100% vs. 22.2%), neural foraminal stenosis (33.3% vs. 22.2%), scoliosis (100% vs. 33.3%), and sagittal malalignment (100% vs. 44.4%). Conclusion : PSP was effective for sacral insufficiency fractures and showed good long-term outcomes. Combined compression fractures in the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative lumbar pathologies could be possible poor outcome predictors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Definitive radiotherapy remains a primary treatment option for early stage glottic cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has emerged as the standard treatment technique for advanced head and neck cancers, whereas three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) has remained standard for early glottic cancers. We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify predictors of IMRT use and effect on outcome in these patients. Materials and Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2004-2015 for squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx staged Tis-T2N0 treated with radiation alone. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IMRT. Cox regression was used to identify factors predictive of overall survival. Propensity matching was conducted to account for indication bias. Results: We identified 15,627 patients, of which 11% received IMRT. IMRT use rose from 2% in 2004 to 16% in 2015. Predictors of IMRT include: increased comorbidity, T2 stage, urban location, chemotherapy, treatment at an academic center, and later treatment year. Predictors of improved survival were female gender, higher income, lower stage, no chemotherapy, academic facility, and more remote year. There was no difference in survival between 3D-CRT and IMRT across all stages. Conclusions: The rate of IMRT use for early stage glottic laryngeal cancer has increased over time. There was no difference in outcome in patients receiving IMRT versus 3D-CRT across the cohort.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.45-54
• /
• 2007

Purpose: This study was to identify the significant acute physiological predictors of mortality and of functional and cognitive recovery in hemorrhagic stroke patients. Methods: The subjects were 108 hemorrhagic stroke patients admitted to Neurological Intensive Care Unit of a university hospital. Results: The significant physiological predictors of mortality and of functional and cognitive recovery were quite different upon admission Glasgow Coma Scale scores: respiratory rate, hematocrit, serum pH, osmolality, and $PaCO_2$ were the predictors in the subjects with a high Glasgow Coma Scale scores while blood pressure, $PaO_2$, respiratory rate, and hematocrit in the subjects with a low Glasgow coma scale scores. Conclusion: The physiological derangements induced by acute stroke are undoubtedly influence clinical outcome. More study is required to determine their diverse impacts on clinical outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2001

It is known that the personality is the crucial factor in the treatment outcome of depression. The authors tried to identify the results of such studies and various components which determine the treatment outcome of depression. Nearly 60 papers published between the year 1990 and 2000 about the treatment of depression and personality were reviewed. Among them about 30 papers were selected to compare the research methods, results and discussions. The arguments and critics of the papers were discussed. In the many debates, the authors admitted the fact that premorbid personality trait influences the treatment outcome of depression negatively regardless of treatment method. Subtyping of depression is feasible along the presence of good or bad predictors of treatment outcome for depression. Differentiation of depression and personality seems to have no problem, however test of personality state before the development of psychiatric disorder such as depression is not amenable. For example, cluster A personality trait is often misunderstood as depression in clinical setting. In some cases cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of depression accompanying personality disorder. The authors insist that the analysis of personality in the dimensional aspect rather than in the categorical aspect gives more information in the research of personality influencing the treatment outcome of depression. In addition, the reason why we understand the relationship between depression and personality were discussed.