• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2014

In accordance with the government's plan to expand the national health insurance (NHI) coverage for severe diseases such as cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and rare and incurable disease, the diagnostic ultrasound services have been covered by NHI from October 1, 2013. The quality is very important factor in providing diagnostic services because they influence on the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome of diseases. In particular, equipments and health care providers plays an important role in providing qualitative services. The purpose of this paper is to examine the major feature of ultrasound services covered by health security system and to review quality assurance policies in other countries such as Australia, Japan, the USA, and Canada. In addition, we assessed the implication of those policies. We especially put emphasis on the types and qualifications of healthcare professionals and measures to manage equipments. All countries have reviewed on policies to promote the quality such as educational requirements of professionals or restrictions on the duration of equipment usage. Various measures should be implemented to assure the qualitative ultrasound service.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4511-4515
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• 2012

Background: In the Middle East, including Iran, breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy among women. Without treatment, a malignant breast tumor advances in stage, diminishing a woman's chances of survival. In this study we aimed to gain insight into the causes of delay in seeking treatment in patients with breast cancer. Methods: The participants in this qualitative, content analysis study were 10 women in whom a diagnosis of breast cancer in the stages of II b, III or IIV had been made. They were selected from patients of a major oncology clinic in Kerman, Iran. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews that lasted between 20 to 30 minutes. Sampling was discontinued when data saturation was achieved. Content analysis was conducted by classifying the data into themes and sub-themes. Results: The results of our study revealed several factors that interfered with patients' professional consultation seeking and prompt treatment. These factors included; lack of knowledge, fear of being diagnosed with cancer, not seeing oneself at risk, mental preoccupation and wrong diagnosis by physicians. Conclusions: This study suggests that women and even physicians need further information about breast cancer symptoms. Women need encouragement to seek medical advice when they encounter suspicious symptoms. Additionally, women may benefit from awareness of the pros of early detection and reassurance about the improvements in the success of breast cancer treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3723-3730
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• 2012

Delay in help-seeking behaviour which is potentially preventable has a major effect on the prognosis and survival of patients with breast cancer. The objective of this study was to explore reasons for delay in seeking help among patients with breast cancer from the East Coast of peninsular Malaysia. A qualitative study using face-to-face in-depth interview was carried out involving 12 breast cancer patients who had been histo-pathologically confirmed and were symptomatic on presentation. Respondents were selected purposely based on their history of delayed consultation, diagnosis or treatment. All were of Malay ethnicity and the age range was 26-67 years. Three were in stage ll, seven in stage lll and two in stage lV. At the time of interview, all except one respondent had accepted treatment. The range of consultation time was 0.2-72.2 months with a median of 1.7 months, diagnosis time was 1.4-95.8 months( median 5.4 months )and treatment time was 0-33.3 months (median 1.2 months). The themes derived from the study were poor knowledge or awareness of breast cancer, fear of cancer consequences, beliefs in complementary alternative medicine, sanction by others, other priorities, denial of disease, attitude of wait and see and health care system weakness. Help-seeking behaviour was influenced by a complex interaction of cognitive, environmental, beliefs, culture and psycho-social factors. Breast cancer awareness and psychological counselling are recommended for all patients with breast symptoms to prevent delay in seeking clinical help.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.147-153
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• 2014

We tried to assessment about characteristics of image through quantitative evaluation method and qualitative evaluation method in Full Field Digital Mammography. It satisfied an approval standard of ten score regardless of compression ratio measuring detection score after compressing and appling an algorithm of JPEG2000 orJPEG compression targeting ACR accreditation phantom. Also, it was apparent that when we selected and compressed the image of real fine lesion and measured a change of diagnosis ability magnifing over 50 percent after compressing over 20:1 ratio, it had a strong influence on diagnosis ability. We realized that the difference between the original image according to compression ratio measuring a quantitative evaluation which is PSNR,RMSE,MAE and SSIM was relatively allowable.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.291-301
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• 2011

This study is based on the diagnosis process on agricultural production cost survey, which is one of the most representative public statistics of agricultural sector in Korea. The diagnosis were performed by employing the quantitative and qualitative approaches with the official guideline provided by the Ministry of Statistics. The various results were produced from the aspects of exactness, relevance, timeliness, accessibility, and comparability, which were based on the qualitative approaches including focus group interview (FGI) with professional users. The results from statistical portfolio analysis implies that the first priority to improve the statistics is given to 'satisfaction level corresponding to user cost' and 'offering sufficient explanation'. The comprehensive results, discussed with the administrative office, are summarized into the following two major points. First, classification of the detailed items should be improved to avoid users' confusion. However, the re-classification need to be professionally reviewed with the relevant administrative office such as Rural Development Administration, producing similar statistics. Second, the KOSIS system is found to be constantly upgraded to improve the users' convenience.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based quantitative parameters to distinguish uterine sarcomas from atypical leiomyomas on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: A total of 138 patients (age, 43.7 ± 10.3 years) with uterine sarcoma (n = 44) and atypical leiomyoma (n = 94) were retrospectively collected from four institutions. The cohort was randomly divided into training (84/138, 60.0%) and validation (54/138, 40.0%) sets. Two independent readers evaluated six qualitative MRI features and two DWI-based quantitative parameters for each index tumor. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the relevant qualitative MRI features. Diagnostic classifiers based on qualitative MRI features alone and in combination with DWI-based quantitative parameters were developed using a logistic regression algorithm. The diagnostic performance of the classifiers was evaluated using a cross-table analysis and calculation of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Mean apparent diffusion coefficient value of uterine sarcoma was lower than that of atypical leiomyoma (mean ± standard deviation, 0.94 ± 0.30 10^-3 mm²/s vs. 1.23 ± 0.25 10^-3 mm²/s; P < 0.001), and the relative contrast ratio was higher in the uterine sarcoma (8.16 ± 2.94 vs. 4.19 ± 2.66; P < 0.001). Selected qualitative MRI features included ill-defined margin (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 17.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-503, P = 0.040), intratumoral hemorrhage (aOR, 27.3; 95% CI, 3.74-596, P = 0.006), and absence of T2 dark area (aOR, 83.5; 95% CI, 12.4-1916, P < 0.001). The classifier that combined qualitative MRI features and DWI-based quantitative parameters showed significantly better performance than without DWI-based parameters in the validation set (AUC, 0.92 vs. 0.78; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The addition of DWI-based quantitative parameters to qualitative MRI features improved the diagnostic performance of the logistic regression classifier in differentiating uterine sarcomas from atypical leiomyomas on preoperative MRI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5687-5690
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• 2012

Objective: The study was planned with the purpose of examining the attitude of women who have pap-smear test for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer, factors affecting their decisions and their feelings and experiences during this period. Materials and Methods: A phenomenological method was used. Data were collected between March 2012 and April 2012 using standard and purposive samplings from 17 women. A detailed interview with women were held in their houses and recorded. The data collection tool consisted of two parts, one of which is information form with 17 questions identifying sociodemographic and cervical cancer risk factors of women and the second part is made up of semi-structured interview form with 15 alternative questions taking literature and the pap-smear test into consideration. Collected data were put into a written document. Content analysis was held by loading the documents into NVIVO 8 Statistical Programme. Results: The study comprised themes such as cervical risk factor, decision of taking pap-smear test, taking pap-smear test, knowledge about pap-smear test, relieving factors during pap-smear test, obstructive factors during pap-smear test, gynecological examination and feelings of women during and after pap-smear test while waiting for the results. Conclusions: As women perceive gynaecological examinations differently from other examinations, they have different feelings in each process of the Pap smear test. Medical staff should advise women more clearly on the nature and advantages of the Pap-smear test.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3561-3564
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• 2013

Background: The negative effects of gynecologic cancer on women's health is multidimensional. Sexual problems arising after chemotherapy are decreased interest and vaginal lubrication, lack of orgasm and dyspareunia and sense of reduction in sexual attractiveness in general. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes that patients who receive chemotherapy for a gynecologic oncology disorder experience in their sexual functions. Materials and Methods: A descriptive/cross-sectional and qualitative study was performed. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was used in order to collect data on sexual capacity. The quantitative data obtained were evaluated with frequency and percentage calculations while content analysis was performed for the qualitative data. Results: All of the information related to sexuality was provided by the physician. Chemotherapy treatment affected sexuality negatively in 55.9%. Since receiving the diagnosis, 52.9% of women had experienced no sexual intercourse at all. Those who had an FSFI score of 30 and below made up 75% of the women. After the content analysis of data obtained during in in-depth interviewing, we focused on three main themes: desire for sexual intercourse, problems experienced during sexual intercourse, and coping with problems. Conclusions: An integrated system where sexual problems can be handled professionally should be present during gynecological cancer treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2008

Purpose: This study used a phenomenological method, which is a qualitative study, in order to understand the vivid experience of parents who have a disabled child. Methods: The number of participants was 10. The subjects of this study were parents who are raising their disabled child who attends a special school or normal middle or high schools in D city. The period for collecting materials was from September 2005 to July 2007. The phenomenological analysis method suggested by Giorgi was used. Results: The meanings of the child parenting experience of parents with a disabled child are (1) feeling of frustration of the delayed treatment, (2) difficult to accept the diagnosis of disability, (3) having eyes centered on her child, (4) accepting the disabled child, (5) giving all his energy to his disabled child, (6) making efforts for his family's unity, (7) recognizing the difficulty of parenting disabled child, (8) recognizing the difficulty of education for disabled child, (9) feeling pitiful for his their normal children, (10) planning for disabled child's future. Conclusions: All the programs for disabled child should be programed for their entire life. It is necessary to provide physical, psychological, emotional, social and economic nursing intervention to relieve or reduce the burden of parents with disabled children.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.532-541
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• 2018

Decision support systems are a key focus of research on developing control rooms to aid operators in making reliable decisions and reducing incidents caused by human errors. For this purpose, models of complex systems can be developed to diagnose causes or consequences for specific alarms. Models applied in safety systems of complex and safety-critical systems require rigorous and reliable model building and testing. Multilevel flow modeling is a qualitative and discrete method for diagnosing faults and has previously only been validated by subjective and qualitative means. To ensure reliability during operation, this work aims to synthesize a procedure to measure model performance according to diagnostic requirements. A simple procedure is proposed for validating and evaluating the concept of multilevel flow modeling. For this purpose, expert statements, dynamic process simulations, and pilot plant experiments are used for validation of simple multilevel flow modeling models of a hydrocyclone unit for oil removal from produced water.