• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.122-140
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• 2019

Providing free primary care to everyone is an important goal pursued by many countries under universal health care programs. Countries like India need to efficiently utilize their limited capacities towards this purpose. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, patients incur substantial travel and out-of-pocket expenses for getting primary care from publicly-funded facilities. We propose a set-covering optimization model to assist health policy-makers in managing existing capacity in a better way. Decision-making should consider upgrading centers with better potential to reduce patient expenses and reallocating capacities from less preferred facilities. A multinomial logit choice model is used to predict the preferences. In this article, a brief background and literature survey along with the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model are presented. The working of the model is illustrated with the help of numerical experiments.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 1980

The increasing utilization of radioactive isotopes in industry, medicine and research has raised the question, 'How should hospitals deal with radiation injuries when they occur?' A system for initial management of radiation injuries has been developed by Radiation Management Corporation. Radiation injuries are classified and a treatment plan outlined for each at the emergency and short term medical care phase. This system includes clinical prognosis as well as a detailed plan for quick set up or a Radiation Emergency Area in any hospital. Procedures for patient admission, preparation of the facility, general decontamination, sample taking, and wound decontamination are included.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-152
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• 2020

Objectives To explore the traffic injury patients' experience on health care utilization of Korean Medicine (KM) practice and perception of health care system for developing a Korean medicine clinical practice guideline (CPG) of traffic injuries by survey method. Methods Two hundred ten patients in suffering from traffic injuries were surveyed from September 1st, 2019 to January 31th, 2020 at 2 University Hospitals (Pusan National Korean Medicine Hospital and Kyung Hee Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong) and 1 Spine Specialty Hospital (Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine). A structured questionnaire of experience on health care utilization of KM practice and perception of health care system of was distributed to responders by visits and all data were statistically analysed. Results Survey results showed high satisfaction of patients with the experience of KM treatments in order of daoyin exercise (7.8±2.3), chuna manual therapy (7.7±4.0), pharmacoacupuncture (7.4±3.0) etc. Safety concerns were reported in 9.1% subjects and 205 (97.6%) patients answered that collaboration with KM and western medicine is necessary for patients with traffic injuries. For the patients' requirement for extending insurance coverage, the most required therapy was chuna manual therapy (57.5%) and pharmacoacupuncture (42.0%). Conclusions This study presented the realistic patient-centered perception of KM practice and health care system in Korea. These results will provide basic data to be reflected in the process of adaptation for the revision of Korean Medicine CPG for traffic injuries.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.774-789
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• 1995

Due to the rapid socioeconomic development and the introduction of the national health insurance system the general population's need for health care and utilization of health care services have increased dramatically. As a result of this change. Korea is experiencing a shortage of health care facilities and health manpower, and this leads long wailing line at doctor's offices. One of the solutions of this problem could be home health care system for those who have minor health related problems. With this background, this study was conducted to look at the feasibility of a home-based prenatal care system using information superhighway and nursing informatics specialists. With the home-based prenatal care system, the pregnant woman checks her blood pressure, tests her urine for sugar and protein, and measures her body weight at home and sends the information to a hospital computer via the information networks such as public telephone line and information superhighway. Nursing informatics specialist at the hospital will go through each patient record and screen those who have abnormal values and notify them to see a doctor as soon as possible. Besides telemonitoring features, the proposed system will include tole-education capabilities for the patients so that patient can learn whatever they need to know ragarding the prenatal care via information networks. If this system develops and operates, patient can save time in terms of travel to and from the hospital and waiting time in the hospital. And the health care institute can utilize its resource more efficiently.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.11-14
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• 2010

Human tumors, including those of the hepatobiliary system, express a number of specific antigens that can be recognized by T cells, and may provide potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DCs) are rare leucocytes that are uniquely potent in their ability to capture, process and present antigens to T cells. The ability to culture sufficient numbers of DCs from human bone marrow or blood progenitors has attracted a great deal of interest in their potential utilization in human tumor vaccination. $CD34^+$ peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were obtained from a patient with a hepatocellular carcinoma. The PBSCs were cultured in the X-VIVO 20 medium supplemented with the Flt-3 Ligand (FL), GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-$\alpha$ for 12 days. The morphology and functions of the cells were examined. The generated cells had the typical morphology of DCs. When the DCs were reinjected into the same patient, an augmentation of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity was observed. Concomitantly, an increase in the natural killer (NK) cell activity was also detected in the patient. These results suggest that DCs-based cancer immunotherapy may become an important treatment option for cancer patients in the future.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.336-348
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• 2011

Purpose: This methodological study was done to develop a telephone consultation algorithms and practice guidelines for patient discharged with ophthalmic diseases. Methods: The ophthalmic problems of the patients were identified and expert knowledge on managing the problems was acquired. Algorithms and practice guidelines were developed based on the expert knowledge. The content validity of algorithms and practice guidelines was evaluated by the experts. Results: The preliminary algorithms and practice guidelines were developed from 60 detailed signs and symptoms and 45 nursing interventions. The experts agreed that 57 detailed signs and symptoms linked with nursing interventions were valid, with the content validity index over 80%. Meeting with nurse experts and ophthalmologists was convened to review the rest of the 3 detailed signs and symptoms linked with nursing interventions. Finally, 60 detailed signs and symptoms and 46 nursing interventions were confirmed. Conclusion: This study suggests that the algorithms and practice guidelines are effective decision-making tools and utilization of these algorithms and practice guidelines is expected to improve the quality of clinical nursing and patient satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.67-69
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• 2018

The development of office-based, unsedated transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) has proven to be a major technological advance and with time and experience the application of this technology is becoming more widespread. TNE has allowed otolaryngologists to perform a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in the office setting. Studies consistently demonstrate that the image quality and diagnostic capability of TNE is equivalent to conventional esophagoscopy. The modern TNE endoscopes offer high quality optics, air-insufflation, and irrigation capability through a 2-mm working channel, and the ability to perform biopsies and select procedures. In general, the role of TNE in the head and neck patient is three-fold : to screen for synchronous and metachronous esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) ; to differentiate post-treatment changes/symptoms from malignancy ; and to perform certain office-based procedures. TNE offers many specific advantages to the head and neck patient that are not afforded by conventional esophagoscopy. Because of surgical and postirradiation changes, many HNSCC patients have trismus or neck stiffness preventing completion of conventional transoral esophagoscopy. Perhaps most importantly, TNE provides enhanced patient safety, increased tolerability, better practice efficiency, and cost savings. For these reasons, TNE has become a particularly useful tool in the otolaryngologist's armamentarium.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.108-122
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• 1986

Changing concepts of health care, are stimulating the demand for health care, thereby orienting society to health care rights to such an extent that they are deemed as fundamental ones inalienable to man. Concomitantly, qualitative as well as quantative improvement is being sought in the nursing service field. Today, efforts are being made in various areas, especially to qualitatively improve nursing services. A second issue concerns proper staffing. It is important to study staffing, in as much as it continues to be the most persistent and critical problem facing hospital nursing administrators today. It involves quantity, quality, and utilization of nursing personnel. A great deal of attention has been focused on this problem since mid 1930's when nursing services began to be felt as an important segment of hospital operation representing the largest single item of hospital budgets. Traditionally, the determination and allocation of nursing personnel resources has relied heavily on gloval approaches which make use of fixed staff-to-patient ratios. It has long been recognized that these ratios are insensitive to variations between institutions and among individual patients. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to point to the urgent need for the development of methodology and criteria suited to the reality of Korea. The present research selected one place, the W Christian Hospital, and was conducted over a period 10 days from January, and nurses who were them on duty in their unit. The total num-her of patients surveyed was 1,426 and that of 354. The research represents many variables affecting the direct patient care time using the result from the direct observation method, then using a calculation method to estimate the relationship between the patients care time and selected variables in the hospital setting. The amount of direct patient care time varies with many factors, such 89 the patients age. diagnosis and time in hospital. Differences are also found from hospital, clinic to clinic, ward to ward, and even shift to shift. In this research, the calculation method of estimating the required member of nursing staff is obtained by dividing the time of productive patient care activity(with the time of patient care observed), by the sum of the productive time that each the staff can supply, i.e., 360 minutes, which is obtained by deducting the time for personal activities. The results indicate a substantial difference between the time of productive patient care observed directing and the time of the productive patient care estimated using calculating method. If we know accurately the time of the direct patient care on a shift, there required number of staff members calculated if the proper method can be determinded should be able the time of the direct patient care be estimated by the patient classification system, but this research has shown this system to be in accurate in Korea. There are differences in the recommended time of productive patient care and the required number of nursing staff depending upon which method is used. The calculated result is not very accurate, so more research is needed on the patient classification system.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2014

Background: Since December 2010, online computerized prospective drug utilization review (pDUR) has been implemented in Korea. pDUR involves the review of each prescription before the medication is dispensed to the individual patient. The pDUR is performed electronically by Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), which is a Korean governmental agency, and then HIRA provides medical institutions and pharmacies with information that can be helpful to them in preventing potential drug problems such as drug/drug interactions or ingredient duplication. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the Korean pDUR implementation on the proportion of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) using claims data from HIRA. Methods: A before-after comparison of the prevalence of DDIs between prescription was conducted, using HIRA administrative claims data of medical institution from January 2010 to December 2011. The analysis unit was the prescription issued and pairs before and after. The main outcome measures were the proportion of DDIs within- (control group) or between- physician encounters. To examine the difference, a paired t-test was applied. Results: We found that DDIs proportion between prescription decreased significantly (t=3.04, p=0.0026) after the implementation of pDUR, whereas there is no significant reduction within prescription (t=1.15, p=0.2518). With respect to the prevalence of DDIs between drug groups, the most dramatic reduction was occurred between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and anti-fungal agents. Conclusion: It seems effective that giving a direct feedback to prescribers by a prospective DUR. Further research is needed to assess the impact of DUR to final outcomes such as hospitalization.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2017

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile, systemic vasculitis as a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) and aspirin are the standard initial therapy in the treatment of acute KD. The purpose of this study was to investigate drug utilization in children with KD, and to compare "IVIG + high-dose aspirin" and "IVIG + moderate-dose aspirin" in preventing cardiac complications. Methods: We analyzed pediatric patient sample data compiled by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service from 2010 to 2015. We identified patients with KD using the KCD-6 code of M30.3. We excluded patients in chronic phase or ${\geq}1$0 years. We also excluded patients who were diagnosed KD in November or December. Drug utilization pattern were assessed in acute KD patients and 30-day and 60-day cardiac complications were investigated between "IVIG + high-dose aspirin" group and "IVIG + moderate-dose aspirin" group. Results: In acute phase, IVIG was administered to 95.8% patients, and 57.1% patients were prescribed moderate-dose aspirin and 25% patients were with high-dose aspirin. Steroid use was rapidly increased from 4.0% in 2010 to 11.3% in 2015. Both 30-day and 60-day cardiac complications occurred less in "IVIG + high-dose aspirin" group compared to "IVIG + moderate-dose aspirin" group, but not statistically significant (0.9% vs 1.8%, p=0.252 for 30-day complication rate; 1.5% vs 2.7%. p=0.073 for 60-day complication rate). Conclusion: We were not able to demonstrate which aspirin therapy is superior for preventing cardiac complications in acute KD patients and further research is warranted.