• Title/Summary/Keyword: Protocol Design

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Wheel Balance Cancer Therapy in the Treatment of Metastatic Gastric Carcinoma : A Retrospective Analysis of 62 Patients (수레바퀴 암 치료법을 시행받은 진행성 위암환자 62명에 대한 후향적 코호트 분석)

  • Park, Jeong-Seok;Yoo, Hwa-Seung;Lee, Yeon-Weol;Cho, Jung-Hyo;Son, Chang-Gue;Cho, Chong-Kwan
    • The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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    • v.28 no.3
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    • pp.531-543
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    • 2007
  • Backgrounds : Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Gastric cancer patients frequently exhibit distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis and at present, there is no standard regimen after operation or chemotherapy to prevent metastasis and recurrences. Aims : The objective of the study was to compare the overall survival and disease free survival in patients treated with wheel balance therapy (WBT) with patients treated with WBT alone or the combination of WBT and conventional therapy and see if there were any significant improvements in survival between the two groups. Setting & Design : East-West Cancer Center at Daejeon University: retrospective study. Materials & Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 62 patients with stage III (40 patients) and stage IV (22 patients) gastric cancer who have received operation or chemotherapy 2 months prior to beginning WBT. The patients followed the WBT protocol which includes herbal medicine such as PSM capsules, OnePlus syrup, or HAD capsules which prevent metastasis and recurrences. Overall survival and disease free survival were analyzed and the patients were treated for 89.55 weeks and 49.27 weeks (median value) for stages III and IV, respectively. Statistical analysis used : Overall survival and disease free survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and the WBT and combination treatment arms were compared using the log rank test. Results : For stage III, the 3 year overall survival was 78.5% and disease free survival was 78.3%. Metastasis and recurrence occurred in 13 of 40 patients (32.5%). For stage IV, the 2 year overall survival was 18.2% and disease free survival was also 18.2%. Metastasis and recurrence occurred in 19 of 22 patients (86.4%). No significant difference was found statistically between the WBT alone and combination treatment arms though the combination regimen showed superiority (overall survival p=0.5093, disease free survival p=0.5175). Conclusions : WBT yielded satisfactory results in prolonging survival and preventing metastasis and recurrence in gastric cancer patients. The major treatment unit of WBT is composed of herbal medications (HAD, PSM capsules, OnePlus syrup) and a randomized, prospective study should be carried out using only this treatment unit in the future.

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Assessment of statistical errors of articles published in the Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics: 2006 - 2010 (대한치과보철학회지에서 볼 수 있는 통계적 오류의 고찰(2006 - 2010))

  • Kang, Dong-Wan;Seo, Yunam;Oh, Nam-Sik;Lim, Hoi-Jeong
    • The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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    • v.50 no.4
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    • pp.258-270
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    • 2012
  • Purpose: Use of inappropriate statistical methods may lead to incorrect conclusions and a waste of valuable resources. The goal of this study was to assess the frequency and the types of several common statistical errors in the published articles of the Journal of the Korean Academy of Prosthodontics (JKAP) for a 5-year period. Materials and methods: Of 336 articles in the JKAP published from 2006 to 2010, 255 articles using statistics were reviewed and classified by statistical method and year. The frequency and types of the statistical methods were examined, and the statistical errors were evaluated by the appropriateness of the experimental design, assumption check, independent outcomes, proper sample size and suitable use of statistical method. Statistical guidelines were completed based on the appropriateness. Results: Of the 255 articles using statistics, 193 articles (75.9%) used inferential statistics and 153 articles used SPSS statistical software (60.0%). Of the articles using inferential statistics, the three most frequently used statistical methods were ANOVA (41.5%), t-test (20.0%), and the nonparametric method (16.9%). The average rate of statistical errors was 61.2 percent, similar to the rate reported by several studies completed for the medical journal. Conclusion: After the whole analysis of the difference among the groups, post-hoc tests for the pairwise comparisons are required. The optimal sample size calculation is an essential part of this study protocol. To minimize the occurrence of statistical errors, statistical guidelines were developed according to each statistical test procedure and will contribute to the academic improvement in the JKAP.

Efficiency and continuancy of basic CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) education for the higher grade students of elementary schools (초등학교 고학년생의 기본심폐소생술 교육효과 및 지속성)

  • Kim, Hee-Jung
    • The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.87-98
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : This study was designed to figure out the necessity of continuing basic CPR education for the higher grade students of elementary school. The assessment contents were knowledge, practice ability, precision level of CPR skills and continuation of the educational efficiency. Methods : Twenty two students of 4th and 5th grade of elementary school in K city in Chungcheongnam-do were recruited for this study. The study method was a control group of non-synchronized design. A preliminary study was done on October 27 in 2006. The main study was performed from February 14 to May 11 in 2007. The researcher adopted the method of Kyung-hui, Kang (1998) such as awareness, attitude and knowledge in control group, emergency medical technician test protocol, Anne/SkillReporter$^{(R)}$ in case of the basic CPR knowledge. Four times of measures were done in shortly after practicing CPR, 4 weeks after the education, 8 weeks after the education, and 12 weeks after the education. By using SPSS/PC+ (version 12.0), the researcher analyzed the collected data based on frequency, percentage, repeated measurement, ANOVA (analysis of variance), and sidak (multiple comparison - sidak). Results : 1) The confidence of people in the control group in terms of practicing CPR showed a statistically meaningful difference (t = 10.230, p = .000) before/after CPR education. Therefore, hypothesis No.1-1 was accepted. 2) The educational necessity of people in the control group showed no statistically meaningful difference (t = -1.695, p = 0.105) before/after CPR education. Therefore, hypothesis No.1-2 was rejected. 3) The knowledge points of people in the control group showed a statistically meaningful difference (t = -7.731, p = .000) before/after CPR education. Therefore, hypothesis No.2 was accepted. 4) The confidence of people in the control group in terms of practicing CRP showed no meaningful difference (F = 2.789, p = 0.072) as time passed. Therefore, hypothesis No.3 was rejected. 5) The knowledge of people in the control group showed a meaningful difference (F = 9.090, p = .000) as time passed. Therefore, hypothesis No.4 was accepted. 6) The capability of people in the control group in terms of practicing CPR showed a statistically meaningful difference (F = 42.795, p = .000) as time passed. Therefore, hypothesis No.5 was accepted. 7) The precision level of CPR skill of people in the control group showed a statistically meaningful difference (F = 25.198, p = .000) as time passed. Therefore, hypothesis No.6-1 was accepted. 8) The precision level of chest compression skill of people in the control group showed a statistically meaningful difference (F = 5.188, p = .003). Therefore, hypothesis No.6-2 was accepted. Conclusion : In a nutshell, CPR education for the 4th and 5th graders of elementary schools had an influence on their confidence in practicing CPR and on their knowledge. This study showed that as time passed. the educational effect declined in terms of knowledge point, capability of practicing CPR, and the precision level of CRP skill. The results of the study could be postulated into the fact that re-education within 8 weeks after the first education was essential to retaining the educational effect. Therefore, we need to vitalize the CPR education for elementary school students repeatedly on a regular basis in order to continue the educational effect after they were grown-ups and to make them play their roles as a first aider.

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Forecasting Substitution and Competition among Previous and New products using Choice-based Diffusion Model with Switching Cost: Focusing on Substitution and Competition among Previous and New Fixed Charged Broadcasting Services (전환 비용이 반영된 선택 기반 확산 모형을 통한 신.구 상품간 대체 및 경쟁 예측: 신.구 유료 방송서비스간 대체 및 경쟁 사례를 중심으로)

  • Koh, Dae-Young;Hwang, Jun-Seok;Oh, Hyun-Seok;Lee, Jong-Su
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.223-252
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    • 2008
  • In this study, we attempt to propose a choice-based diffusion model with switching cost, which can be used to forecast the dynamic substitution and competition among previous and new products at both individual-level and aggregate level, especially when market data for new products is insufficient. Additionally, we apply the proposed model to the empirical case of substitution and competition among Analog Cable TV that represents previous fixed charged broadcasting service and Digital Cable TV and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) that are new ones, verify the validities of our proposed model, and finally derive related empirical implications. For empirical application, we obtained data from survey conducted as follows. Survey was administered by Dongseo Research to 1,000 adults aging from 20 to 60 living in Seoul, Korea, in May of 2007, under the title of 'Demand analysis of next generation fixed interactive broadcasting services'. Conjoint survey modified as follows, was used. First, as the traditional approach in conjoint analysis, we extracted 16 hypothetical alternative cards from the orthogonal design using important attributes and levels of next generation interactive broadcasting services which were determined by previous literature review and experts' comments. Again, we divided 16 conjoint cards into 4 groups, and thus composed 4 choice sets with 4 alternatives each. Therefore, each respondent faces 4 different hypothetical choice situations. In addition to this, we added two ways of modification. First, we asked the respondents to include the status-quo broadcasting services they subscribe to, as another alternative in each choice set. As a result, respondents choose the most preferred alternative among 5 alternatives consisting of 1 alternative with current subscription and 4 hypothetical alternatives in 4 choice sets. Modification of traditional conjoint survey in this way enabled us to estimate the factors related to switching cost or switching threshold in addition to the effects of attributes. Also, by using both revealed preference data(1 alternative with current subscription) and stated preference data (4 hypothetical alternatives), additional advantages in terms of the estimation properties and more conservative and realistic forecast, can be achieved. Second, we asked the respondents to choose the most preferred alternative while considering their expected adoption timing or switching timing. Respondents are asked to report their expected adoption or switching timing among 14 half-year points after the introduction of next generation broadcasting services. As a result, for each respondent, 14 observations with 5 alternatives for each period, are obtained, which results in panel-type data. Finally, this panel-type data consisting of $4{\ast}14{\ast}1000=56000$observations is used for estimation of the individual-level consumer adoption model. From the results obtained by empirical application, in case of forecasting the demand of new products without considering existence of previous product(s) and(or) switching cost factors, it is found that overestimated speed of diffusion at introductory stage or distorted predictions can be obtained, and as such, validities of our proposed model in which both existence of previous products and switching cost factors are properly considered, are verified. Also, it is found that proposed model can produce flexible patterns of market evolution depending on the degree of the effects of consumer preferences for the attributes of the alternatives on individual-level state transition, rather than following S-shaped curve assumed a priori. Empirically, it is found that in various scenarios with diverse combinations of prices, IPTV is more likely to take advantageous positions over Digital Cable TV in obtaining subscribers. Meanwhile, despite inferiorities in many technological attributes, Analog Cable TV, which is regarded as previous product in our analysis, is likely to be substituted by new services gradually rather than abruptly thanks to the advantage in low service charge and existence of high switching cost in fixed charged broadcasting service market.

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