• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the counseling status of overseas Koreans using emergency medical counseling services, identify frequently occurring types of diseases, explore approaches to emergency treatment guidance, and protect overseas Koreans from medical blind spots, thereby enhancing the quality of emergency medical counseling services. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kongju National University (KNU_IRB_2023-31), and data were collected and analyzed from 10,951 cases of emergency medical counseling services utilized by overseas Koreans from the National Fire Agency from 2018 to 2022. Results: Emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans included a majority of non-trauma patients, with medical consultations being predominant. Terrestrial patients commonly seek advice for internal medical symptoms, whereas maritime patients frequently present with trauma-related symptoms, with a higher incidence of cardiac arrest and altered consciousness cases at sea. The development of self-diagnostic tests based on internal medicine symptoms is necessary for terrestrial patients, whereas stakeholder education is required for maritime patients. Conclusion: Due to the different types of diseases occurring in terrestrial and maritime patients, emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans should be implemented according to the specific characteristics of each patient. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and disseminate response manuals that are tailored to medical and trauma-related symptoms.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.99-106
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• 2024

The author thought about how to explain visual functions in an easy-to-understand way to customers visiting the optical shops and provide easy customer consultation, and attempted to evaluate the usability and value of the educational webtoon for patient consultation by applying it to the optical shops's visitors. Survey study was conducted targeting 152 customers who visited optical shops A in Incheon from January to December 2023. In this study, consultation was conducted using educational webtoons to help the general public understand concepts that are difficult to understand, such as binocular vision function, the concept of heterophoria, prism lenses, and binocular balance. The areas of 'understanding', 'interest', 'usability', 'necessity', and 'expression of expertise' felt by the visitors who received counseling were scored and evaluated, and differences according to counseling method were evaluated using an independent sample t-test. Statistical verification was performed. When the optometrist only explained verbally, the score distribution was relatively low: 1.96 points for understanding, 2.06 points for interest, 2.96 points for usability, 4.20 points for necessity, and 3.19 points for expertise. When the optometrist provided explanations along with the book, understanding was 4.14 points, interest was 3.28 points, usability was 3.60 points, necessity was 4.17 points, and expertise was 3.55 points. When the optometrist explained with a webtoon, understanding was 4.57 points, interest was 4.96 points, usability was 4.18 points, necessity was 4.65 points, and expertise was 3.15 points. When explanations were given only verbally, all items showed the lowest scores, whereas consultations using webtoons showed 4 points or more (excellent) in all items except the 'expression of expertise' item. It is evaluated that actively using webtoons in various consultation situations that occur in optical shops will help increase customer interest and concentration.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2019

Objectives : When a patient who attempts suicide visits the emergency room, it is important that the departments of emergency medicine, internal medicine, and psychiatry communicate with each other and prioritize treatment. This study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary emergency consultation system (ECS) for drug intoxicated patients. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the data from medical records prior to the ECS, from July 2017 to May 2018, and after the ECS, from July 2018 to May 2019, to verify the effectiveness of the system. Results : After the ECS, admission to open wards was significantly higher than to the intensive care units (χ²=8.567, p=0.014). In addition, the proportion of consultations to the department of psychiatry among patients admitted to other departments tended to increase (χ²=4.202, p=0.053), and the time required for consultation response decreased (Z=-2.031, p=0.042). As a result of the consultation, the proportion of the patients who had been transferred to the department of psychiatry was increased (χ²=4.692, p=0.043), and the time spent to transfer tended to decrease (Z=-1.941, p=0.052). Conclusions : After implementing the ECS for drug intoxicated patients, unnecessary intensive care unit admissions, consultation response time, and the time spent to transfer were reduced, and the rate of consultation referrals and transfer rates increased. This means that the multidisciplinary consultation system rapidly provided essential medical services to patients at lower medical costs.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2011

Purpose: Recently, social interest in an organized trauma system for the treatment of patients has been increasing in government and academia and the establishment of trauma center is being considered across the country. However, establishing such a system has not been easy in Korea, because enormous experiences and resources are necessary. The objectives of this study were (1) to estimate a trauma patient's demands during the course of treatment and (2) to provide appropriate direction for trauma centers to be established in Korea. Methods: The records of 207 patients who were admitted to the Department of Trauma Surgery in Ajou University Medical Center due to trauma were retrospectively reviewed for a 1 year period from March 2010 to February 2011. Patients were reviewed for general characteristics, number of hospital days, numbers and kinds of surgeries, numbers and kinds of consultations, ISS (Injury Severity Score) and number of patients with ISS more than 15. Results: All 207 patients were enrolled. The average number of hospital days was 36.7 days. The ICU stay was 15.9 days, and the general ward stay was 20.8 days. Admitted patients occupied 9.02 beds in ICU and 11.80 beds in the general ward per day. The average number of surgeries per patient was 1.4, and surgery at the Department of Trauma Surgery was most common. Number of consultations per patient was 14.23, and consultations with orthopedic surgeons were most common. The average ISS was 18.6. The number of patients with ISS more than 15 was 141 (61.8%) and the average number of patients treated per trauma surgeon as a major trauma patient was 94.3. The number of mortalities was 20, and the mortality rate was 9.7%. Conclusion: To reduce mortality and to provide proper treatment of patients with major trauma, hospitals need some number of beds, especially in the ICU, to treat patients and to prepare them for emergent surgery. An appropriate number of trauma surgeons and various specialists for consultation are also needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.89-92
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• 2014

Myiasis is usually caused by flies of the Calliphoridae family, and Cochliomyia hominivorax is the etiological agent most frequently found in myiasis. The first case of myiasis in a diabetic foot of a 54-year-old male patient in Argentina is reported. The patient attended the hospital of the capital city of Tucum$\acute{a} $n Province for a consultation concerning an ulcer in his right foot, where the larval specimens were found. The identification of the immature larvae was based on their morphological characters, such as the cylindrical, segmented, white yellow-coloured body and tracheas with strong pigmentation. The larvae were removed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics. The larvae were reared until the adults were obtained. The adults were identified by the setose basal vein in the upper surface of the wing, denuded lower surface of the wing, short and reduced palps, and parafrontalia with black hairs outside the front row of setae. The main factor that favoured the development of myiasis is due to diabetes, which caused a loss of sensibility in the limb that resulted in late consultation. Moreover, the poor personal hygiene attracted the flies, and the foul-smelling discharge from the wound favoured the female's oviposition. There is a need to implement a program for prevention of myiasis, in which the population is made aware not only of the importance of good personal hygiene and home sanitation but also of the degree of implication of flies in the occurrence and development of this disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.131-133
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• 1997

Number of elderly patients requiring nerve blocks have been increasing in recent years. We had two elderly patients who suffered stroke one day and three days after lumbar facet joint block and lumbar single epidural block respectively. Both patients due to their advanced age had potential risk factor to suffer one or more of the following; stroke, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Due to our experience with these patients, we suggested the following: (1) Nerve blocks should be reconsidered for elderly patient who posesses a potential risk factor to suffer a stroke. (2) Prior to invasive block administration of mild sedatives or analgesics may provide beneficial effects for patients with hypertension. (3) Adequately informed consent must be fully discussed time of consultation with patient scheduled for nerve block especially for elderly and risky patient.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2022

Objectives: Patients with excessive tooth wear should first be diagnosed for the etiology of the tooth wear. Causes of tooth wear include bruxism, clenching, and taking medications for systemic diseases. After identifying the cause of tooth attrition, the final prosthesis should be restored with an appropriate vertical dimension. Methods: A 79-year-old man with worn out teeth desired a whole dental treatment. He was on medications for high blood pressure and asthma. The treatment proceeded with a consultation with a medical doctor. The medications for asthma evoked multiple teeth wear and a loss of the vertical dimension. After recovery of 3 mm of vertical dimension, 2 months of evaluation was followed by an interim prosthesis. Results: The increased vertical dimension caused no problem in function and esthetics, and the final restoration was performed with a full monolithic zirconia crown. Group function, adequate anterior guidance, and the occlusal plane were determined. Conclusions: After the final restoration, the patient was both esthetically and functionally satisfied, and a night guard splint was delivered to prevent prosthesis fracture. The patient was informed about the potential tooth wear associated with asthma drugs and educated to visit the clinic regularly.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2011

Dental extraction is potentially stress-inducing in many disabled patient. The body's response to dental stress involves the cardiovascular system(an increase in cardiovascular workload), the respiratory organ and the endocrine system(change in metabolism). To minimize the stress, the stress reduction method was established. The obtained contents were as follows: (1) Recognize the patient's degree of medical risk, (2) Complete medical consultation before dental therapy, (3) Schedule the patient's appointment in the morning, (4) Monitor and record preoperative and postoperative vital signs, (5) Use psychosedation during therapy, (6) Use adequate pain control during therapy, (7) Short length of appointment : do not exceed the patient's limits of tolerance, (8) Follow up with postoperative pain/anxiety control, (9) Telephone the risk patient later on the same day that treatment was given. Though the stress reduction method above was applied to the dental extraction in disabled patients with the advanced infected teeth, the complications(syncope, shock, bleeding & infection, etc.) may be occurred. For prevention of complications associated with the extraction, the authors treated the advanced infected teeth with endodontic drainage and incision & drainage before extraction. The final extraction and wound closure were then done after about 3 weeks.

• Journal of The Korean Dental Society of Anesthesiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Common dental procedures (local anesthesia and dental treatment) are potentially stress-inducing in many patients, especially medically compromised patients. The body response to dental stress involves the cardiovascular system (an increase in cardiovascular workload), the respiratory organ and the endocrine system (change in metabolism). To minimize the stress to the medical risk patient, the stress reduction protocol was established. The obtained contents were as follows: (1) Recognize the patient's degree of medical risk (2) Complete medical consultation before dental therapy (3) Schedule the patient's appointment in the morning (4) Monitor and record preoperative, perioperative and postoperative vital signs (5) Use psychosedation during therapy (6) Use adequate pain control during therapy (7) Short length of appointment: do not exceed the patient's limits of tolerance (8) Follow up with postoperative pain/anxiety control (9) Telephone the higher medical risk patient later on the same day that treatment was given. This protocol is predicated on the belief that the prevention of or reduction of stress ought to begin before the start of an appointment, continue throughout treatment, and, if indicated, into the postoperative period. The authors used the stress reduction protocol in the care of local anesthesia infected teeth in medically compromised patients. The final prognosis was comfortable without any complications.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.8
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• pp.428-436
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• 2019

In cases of a patient referral, the general dentist should communicate the patient's dental information as clearly as possible to the specialist to whom he/she is referring his/her patient. For this reason, it is necessary to write a referral letter in an accurate and complete manner. The purpose of this study is to analyze the referral letters of patients who are referred to the department of conservative dentistry in a dental university hospital. From January, 2017 to December, 2018, we gathered the information of the patients who were referred to the department of conservative dentistry in a dental university hospital with referral letter. We evaluated the fidelity of a total of 750 referral letters and recorded the information of the referral dentist and the dental clinic. The relationship between each item and fidelity was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. The analysis of the contents of the referral letters yielded the following results: The fidelity of the referral letter was higher when the patient was referred during the root canal treatment, or when there was a root canal filling or when there was pain during chewing. The fidelity of referral letter was low in cases where the referring clinic is close to and has cooperative relationship with dental university hospital. Among the factors affecting the fidelity, the year of graduation of the referral dentist was the most influential. This study confirmed the fact that the clinical practice of writing patient referral letters still leaves much to be desired. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to create more clear and standardized guidelines for writing referral letters.