• 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.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2024

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by increased intracranial pressure without detectable causes. Its main symptoms include headache, vision problems, and pulsatile tinnitus. Obesity is a major risk factor for IIH; therefore, weight reduction is required to ameliorate these symptoms in patients with obesity and IIH. We present four cases of obesity-related IIH whose symptoms improved through weight reduction. In three patients, the dose of IIH medications, such as acetazolamide, decreased. Based on these cases, we report that weight reduction contributes to the improvement of symptoms in patients with IIH as the main part of treatment. Further clinical research is necessary to evaluate the effects of weight reduction on IIH treatment in Korean patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-42
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• 1999

In Oriental medicine, the subjective process of diagnosis often makes it difficult to explain the indications objectively, in spite of its excellent therapeutic value. The authors' objective Was to present more objective indications of Chongpesagan-tang(淸肺瀉肝湯), a prescription predominantly used to treat stroke in Oriental Medicine, We analyzed clinical symptoms of 105 patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Circulatory Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine. Kyung Hee University, Seoul, who were given Chongpesagan-tang and improved without side effects, The symptoms analyzed included general symptoms which are usually checked in the process of Oriental Medicine Diagnosis: the so called Four Diagnosis(四診). We rearranged and selected symptoms which were predominantly found among other symptoms. We found some symptoms of which the patients frequently complained: sweating 84%, red tongue 74%, white tongue coat 65%, constipation 35%, tight pulse 21%, headache 20%, thirst 20%, chest discomport 17%, etc, We believe that these suggest an objective indication of Chongpesagantang.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7107-7110
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• 2013

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), an occasional complication in patients with advanced urological cancer, causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting leading to suffering which severely impairs quality of life (QOL). Drug therapy, especially octreotide, a synthetic analog of somatostatin, is reportedly effective in controlling the symptoms of MBO. In the present study, we administered octreotide to urological cancer patients with MBO and evaluated the improvement of subjective symptoms, oral intake, and nasogastric intubation. Fourteen terminally ill urological cancer patients suffering with MBO were included (age range 55-92, 10 male, 4 female). Octreotide was administered at $300{\mu}g/day$ to those patients subcutaneously as a continuous injection. Significant improvements in subjective symptoms were observed in thirteen patients (92.8%), and ten patients (71.4%) were able to resume oral intake. Four patients required nasogastric drainage before the administration of octreotide, but nasogastric intubation was discontinued in all these cases after the use of octreotide. Early initiation of octreotide resulted in better improvement of MBO symptoms, and no adverse event was observed in any of the patients. These results revealed that $300{\mu}g/day$ dose of octreotide is safe and effective for managing gastrointestinal symptoms of terminally ill urological cancer patients with MBO. We also recommend starting the treatment with ocreotide as soon as MBO is diagnosed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.908-919
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to get some basic data for health care for working women, especially or hospital nurses. The number of subjects was 796 nurses from one general hospital and four private educational hospitals. The data were collected from February to April, 1988 using the questionnaire "Symptom Table on Fatigue Perception" designed by the Research Committee of Industrial Fatigue in Hygienic Association of Japan Industry. The collected data were analyzed using means and standard deviations for the subjective symptoms of fatigue and each item as an independent variable was analyzed by T-test and ANOVA test. The results are as follows 1) The mean score for degree of fatigue was 1.89 and the degree of fatigue for physical symptoms had highest score of 2.04, the next was psychological symptoms at 1.89, and neuro -sensory symptoms were the lowest at 1.74. Among the fatigue symptoms, the item scored most frequently was "Legs feel heavy" with a mean score of 2.40 and the least frequent item was "My hand and foot trembled" with a mean score of 1.40. 2) With the respect to the general characteristics of subjects, there were statistically significant difference according to age (F=17.039, p=.000), state of marriage(t=5.381, p=.000) presence of children(t=5.134, p=.000), clinical experience (F=16.663, p= .000), present position(F=18.204, p=.000), working place(F=12.598, p=.000), duty time(F=9.068, p=.000), monthly wages(F=7.361, p=.000). satisfaction about the pay and treatment at work(t=-5.511, p=.000), relation the doctors(t=-4.593, p=.000) the doctors(t=-4.593, p=.000)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4373-4377
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• 2013

Background: The majority of cervical cancers, the most prevalent cancer among Nepali women, are diagnosed in advanced stage leading to high mortality in Nepal. The present study explored factors associated with late diagnosis. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two specialized cancer hospitals of Nepal from August 12 to October 12, 2012. Randomly selected 110 cervical cancer patients were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to predict associations. Results: Mean age of patients was 52.7years (SD=10.6), 66% were illiterate and 77% were rural inhabitants. Medical shops (33.6%) and private hospitals (31%) were major first contact points of patients with health care providers (HCP). There was no cervical/per-speculum examination (78.2%) and symptoms misinterpretation (90%) of patients occurred in initial consultation with HCP. Four in every five cases (80.9%) of cervical cancer had late diagnosis. Literate women (adjusted OR=0.121, CI: 0.030-0.482) and women having abnormal vaginal bleeding as early symptom (adjusted OR=0.160, CI: 0.035-0.741) were less likely to suffer late diagnosis. Women who shared their symptoms late (adjusted OR=4.272, CI: 1.110-16.440) and did so with people other than their husband (adjusted OR=12.701, CI: 1.132-142.55) were more likely for late diagnosis. Conclusions: High level of illiteracy among women and their problematic health seeking behavior for gynecological symptoms are responsible for late diagnosis of cervical cancer in Nepal. In the absence of a routine screening program, prevention interventions should be focused on raising awareness of gynecological symptoms and improving health seeking behavior of women for such symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2009

Ovjectives: As the attention devoted to children's mental health increases, medical costs and burdens mount as well. In the present study, we evaluated the association between socioeconomic status(SES) and major child psychiatric symptoms. Methods: The subjects of this study were children of recruited from a mental health screening program in the Seoul Sungbuk mental health center over the course of 3 months. To establish the SES of each child, we collected data about each child's medical insurance, years of parental education, household income, family structure and housing. 149 children & parents completed questionnaires including the Childhood Depression Inventory(CDI) and the Korean Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale(K-ARS). Results: The mean K-ARS-P score was $12.1{\pm}11.1$ and the suspected prevalence of ADHD was 20.8%(n=31). The mean cm score was $12.9{\pm}7.9$, and the prevalence of suspected depression was 16.8%(25). Depressive symptoms and ADHD symptoms were both more severe than those observed in a previous epidemiologic study in Korea. Depressive symptoms were more closely associated with family SES status. Conclusion: SES status is one of the most important risk factors in the development of major child psychiatric symptoms. In our study we found that depressive symptoms in particular were most tightly associated with psychosocial factors. Evaluation of the risk factors, early screening and intervention for low SES children would be valuable mental health management tactics to implement in a community mental health system.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2002

PURPOSE: Estrogen replacement therapy is indicated for the relief of hot flushes and urogenital atrophy, the prevention of osteoporosis and the reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease. The present study assessed by blood pressure, heart rate variability, and climacteric symptoms in menopausal women before treatment and at 1 month during estrogen replacement therapy. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 16 healthy menopausal women (range 49 to 59 years, mean : 53.4 years) attending menopausal clinics for the complaint of climateric symptoms at S. hospital in Chunchoen. They were all non-smokers and no patient had symptoms or evidence of cardiovascular disease. They took estrogen replacement therapy (conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg with or without medroxy progesteron 2.5mg) for 1 month. Blood pressure, heart rate variability(heart period and vagal tone) through ECG, and climacteric symptom were measured in all subjects before treatment and at 1 month during treatment. Climacteric symptom questionnaire which was developed by Neugarten et al.(1963) was modified with 20 items of question(Cronbach's alpha = 88 -.89). The data was collected from Sept. 1. 2000 to July. 30. 2001. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in mean systolic and diastolic pressure between the baseline and at 1 month during treatment. The mean heart period and vagal tone were slightly increased, but difference of mean heart period and vagal tone were not statistically significant between the baseline and at 1 month during treatment. The score of climacteric symptoms decreased significantly from the baseline after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Even though, this study did not show that estrogen replacement therapy led decrease of blood pressure and increase heart rate variability, climacteric symptoms reduced much in all subjects after taking drugs. These results suggest that there is need to repeat study with long term period.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2011

Purpose: This study is to present substantial data for the development of practicable health related programs with which the dental technicians can enjoy better quality of life. To this end, we have surveyed the self-reported psychosomatic symptoms of the dental technicians in Korea and figured out their current health problems. Methods: Out of the random selection of the registered dental offices of Dental Technicians in Korea, 2,000 working dental technicians were asked to fill out the questionnaire from January 19 to April 30, 2009. We collected the 1,525 sheets of the questionnaire and took frequency analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and structural equation modeling using SPSS Win 12.0 and AMOS program. Results: Concerning the modes of the subjects' appealing of their psychosomatic self-symptoms, scale point of the mental health turned out 18.68, which is higher than the physical health that scored 17.28. In the case of the results from the standardized scores of the sub items, scale point of aggressiveness scored the highest(20.14), whereas that of mouth and annus scored the lowest (15.29). Additionally, the overall satisfaction rates of the health related quality of life was 67.89. Regarding the health related quality of life, self reported mental symptoms(-.736) was more influential than physical symptoms(0.29). Conclusion: The psychosomatic self reported symptoms of the dental technicians proved higher than other occupations, whereas health related quality of life was very low. Consequently, it seems vital to lessen the mental symptoms and the sub items concerned.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.272-282
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• 2004

Stress is a primary health promotion issue in worksite research because psychological distress is closely related not only to workers　 health status but also to their job performance. This study identified the work environment and work condition factors affecting workers　 stress symptoms among the Korean manufacturing factory workers. A total of 7,818 factory workers employed in 1,562 manufacturing companies participated in the Korean nation-wide occupational health survey conducted by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency in 2003. Participants were selected by the stratified proportional sampling process by standardized industry classification, company size, and locations. Trained interviewers visited the target companies and interviewed the factory workers randomly selected in each company. Work environments included physical work environments (temperature, noise, hazardous organic compounds, and so on) and psychological work environments (job demands, job control, and social support at work), and work conditions included daily working hour, rest time, and so on. Men were 71.5% and the mean age was 34.0 years old. The average working period in the present company was 6.9 years. The average stress score was 26.2 under the perfect score, 50, which means the moderate level of stress. Perceived stress had significant correlations with young age, poor physical work environment, high fatigue, bad perceived health status, and high job demands in Pearson's simple correlation analysis. Perceived health status and perceived fatigue explained 21% variance of stress symptoms and the work environment factor explained 4.8% of that; however, work condition did not have the sufficient effect. In particular, psychosocial work environment variables (job demand, job control, and social support at work) had a clear effect on stress symptoms rather than the physical work environments. Poor perceived health status, severe perceived fatigue, poor physical work environment, high job demands, low social support, heavy alcohol consumption and little exercise were significantly related to high stress symptoms in the Korean manufacturing workers.