• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.355-365
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate nursing protocols for superficial cryotherapy in different medical institutions. Methods: The study was conducted with a cross-sectional descriptive design. The medical institutions including general hospitals, hospitals, and geriatric hospitals were randomly selected. A total of 435 nurses from 126 institutions completed a questionnaire. Data were collected from December 2014 to June 2015. Results: Forty-two institutions (39.5%) had nursing protocol for cryotherapy. The nurses reported that durations of cold application were 2 minutes to 5 hours. Frequently used cold therapy devices in order of frequency were frozen gel packs, ice packs, and frozen IV fluid bags. There were variances in the duration of cold application according to the types of institution ($x^2=7.78$, p=.020) and nursing units ($x^2=26.42$, p<.001). In addition, intervals of cold application were different according to the nursing units (x=12.23, p=.032). There were differences in cold application instruments by regional groups (x=70.38, p<.001). Most of the nurses (95.6%) responded that national nursing protocol for superficial cryotherapy were needed. Conclusion: There were difficulties in providing consistent nursing interventions because of the practical differences and absence of evidence-based guidelines for cryotherapy. The researchers recommend that basic studies with various instruments be conducted and proper nursing protocols be developed for cryotherapy.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.594-605
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• 2023

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Asia-Pacific region, and mortality rates differ between countries in the region. Systems of care have been shown to play a major role in determining AMI outcomes, and this review aims to highlight pre-hospital and in-hospital system deficiencies and suggest possible improvements to enhance quality of care, focusing on Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia as representative countries. Time to first medical contact can be shortened by improving patient awareness of AMI symptoms and the need to activate emergency medical services (EMS), as well as by developing robust, well-coordinated and centralized EMS systems. Additionally, performing and transmitting pre-hospital electrocardiograms, algorithmically identifying patients with high risk AMI and developing hospital networks that appropriately divert such patients to percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospitals have been shown to be beneficial. Within the hospital environment, developing and following clinical practice guidelines ensures that treatment plans can be standardised, whilst integrated care pathways can aid in coordinating care within the healthcare institution and can guide care even after discharge. Prescription of guideline directed medical therapy for secondary prevention and patient compliance to medications can be further optimised. Finally, the authors advocate for the establishment of more regional, national and international AMI registries for the formal collection of data to facilitate audit and clinical improvement.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2017

Purpose: Activated charcoal (AC) has been widely used as a universal antidote. Currently, emergency medical centers in Korea cannot administer AC due to discontinuation of the supply of commercial ready-mixed AC suspension. This study was conducted to investigate the proportion of emergency medical centers that administer AC to poisoning patients and provide basic information for emergency physicians and toxicologists. Methods: A prospective telephone survey of all of the included emergency medical institutions was conducted. The type of emergency medical institution, average annual number of patients admitted to the emergency department, annual average number of patients who were poisoned and whether the hospital currently utilizes gastric lavage and administration of AC were determined. Results: AC was administered to poisoning patients in 40% of regional emergency medical centers, 59.3% of local emergency medical centers, and 45.9% of local emergency medical rooms. Overall, 37% of total emergency medical institutions did not administer AC due to discontinuation of the commercial ready-mixed AC suspension. Additionally, 77% of emergency physicians in institutions without AC knew AC is necessary for poisoning patients. The rate of vomiting experienced by the medical staff according to types of charcoal showed that the average rate of vomiting was 33% for commercial ready-mixed activated charcoal suspension and 51% for self-prepared charcoal powder (p=0.02). Conclusion: AC should be secured promptly in emergency medical institutions. Before the supply of commercial ready-mixed AC suspension becomes again it is essential to develop a standardized regimen for self-preparation of charcoal powder and to educate emergency physicians and toxicologists to its use.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.387-396
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• 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between areas of Korea Train Express (KTX) region and external medical service use in Korean society using spatial statistical model. Methods: The data which was used in this study was extracted from 2011 regional health care utilization statistics and health insurance key statistics from National Health Insurance Corporation. A total spatial units of 229 districts (si-gun-gu) were included in this study and spatial area was all parts of the country excepted Jeju, Ulleungdo island. We conducted Kruskal-Wallis test, correlation, Moran's I and hot-spot analysis. And after, ordinary linear regression, spatial lag, spatial error analysis was performed in order to find factors which were associated with external medical service use. The data was processed by SAS ver. 9.1 and Geoda095i (windows). Results: Moran's I of health insurance patients' external medical service use was 0.644. Also, population density, Seoul region, doctor factors positively associated with health insurance patients' external medical service. In contrast, average age, health care organization per 100 thousand were negatively associated with health insurance patients' external medical service use. Conclusion: The finding of this study suggested that health insurance patient's external medical service use correlated for seoul region in korea. The study results imply the need for more attention medical needs in the region (si-gun-gu unit) for health insurance patients of seoul region. It is important to adapt strategy to activation of primary health care as well as enhancing public health institution for prevent leakage of patients to other areas.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.357-366
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• 2016

This study evaluated the standardization of the outpatient management process in several regions of South Korea. The hospital workers in the administration department of the different medical institutions that are registered with the Korean Hospital Association were surveyed. These institutions can be standard hospitals or hospitals greater in size. A summary of the research results are as follows. There was no significant correlation in their registration procedures in relation to the institution's founder, number of sickbeds, number of staff employed in the administration department, and average number of outpatients per day. On the other hand, the prepayment of medical fees occurred more frequently when the number of sickbeds was larger. In addition, there was no large difference in their appointment procedures in relation to those features. Nevertheless, the prepayment of medical fees accounted for 11.8 % of the entire payment in institutions with less than five hundred beds, while fifty percent of the payment was made in advance in larger institutions with five hundred or more beds. From this research, there was only a small difference among the institutions' outpatient management, but a notable difference was observed in their electronic data processing systems and facilities. Therefore, more financial support should be generated for the implementation of a more integrated process. As a follow-up study, to provide patients with quality medical services, it will be necessary to apply the standardized procedure to an actual medical institution and analyze the expected effect.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.127-132
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• 2023

The Incheon Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB), a department that reflects the characteristics of Incheon Medical Center, a medical and public institution, was established in 2013. IRB contributes to performing its role as a local accountable care hospital and protecting researchers and subjects by proving the ethics of research conducted at the medical center. So far, IRB has reviewed a total of 80 research proposals for human subject research and human-derived material research, and it currently exists as an independent department directly under the president of the medical center. This paper aims to explain the registration and preservation of IRB-related records, the maintenance of the Records Management Standard Table and related regulations, and archives, as well as to present limitations and improvements in the disclosure, utilization, and classification of records.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.167-178
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• 2024

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors influencing the satisfaction of the housing environment of householders living in apartments in the region according to the difference in the elderly population ratio. Methods: The analysis was conducted from the 2021 housing survey in Chungcheongbuk-do and Jeollanam-do region, where the elderly population ratio is the high and low regions. The subjects of the study consisted of 552 people in Chungcheongbuk-do and 616 people in Jeollanam-do, and analysis was performed with t-test and multiple regression. Results: In the Chungcheongbuk-do region(p<0.05), Ease access to commercial facilities, Ease access to medical facilities, Ease access to public institution, Ease access to cultural facilities, Ease access to city parks and green spaces, Ease access to public transportation, Level of air pollution, Relationship with neighbors, and Jeollanam-do region showed positive influences(p<0.05) in Waterproof condition, Safety from fire, Ease access to commercial facilities, Ease access to cultural facilities, Ease access to public transportation, Educational environment, Level of air pollution, Relationship with neighbors. There was a difference(p<0.05) between regions in Waterproof condition, Safety from fire, Ease access to medical facilities, Ease access to public institution, Ease access to city parks and green spaces, Educational environment. Conclusion: The factors influencing housing environment satisfaction according to the elderly population ratio by region were different. it is judged necessary to consider regional population groups when establishing and promoting city development and housing environment improvement project plans.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.280-291
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• 2021

Background: Based on the fact that the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency is a public institution established by social demands for medical disputes, this study reviews the publicness of public organization and discusses its policy implications. Methods: Through Moore's strategic triangle, which consists of legitimacy and support, public value and operational capacity, the process of creating public value is examined. For the analysis, case studies were conducted using related literature data from 2012, when the agency was established, to the present. Results: As a result of the analysis, first, the related law examined in the operational capability has been revised dozens of times, but the revised law has its own contradictions and limitations. The human resource system is also being improved, but there is a problem with the fairness and reliability of the arbitration process, especially due to the limitations of the appraiser system. Second, in terms of legitimacy and support, a regional gap occurred despite efforts to improve accessibility through the expansion of the organization. And the arbitration agency failed to reconcile conflicts caused by stakeholders' perception of each other as a trade-off relationship. Third, the public value result shows that, despite many explicit (statistical) achievements, citizens' use of the past dispute resolution means (litigation) has not decreased. Likewise, the perception of value makers (citizens) is important for creating public value as an invisible result, but it has not yet been formally investigated, so the performance can not be recognized. Conclusion: While the organization's efforts for continuous change and improvement are encouraging, it is not perceived as a better means of resolving disputes and improving quality of services. Therefore, it is necessary to reconsider the institutional design centered on value creators.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2021

In order to provide a physiological solution for patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), the surgeon must understand where and how the pathology of lymphedema occurred. Based on each patient's pathology, the treatment plan should be carefully decided and individualized. At the authors' institution, the treatment plan is made individually based on each patient's symptoms and relative factors. Most early-stage patients first undergo decongestive therapy and then, depending on the efficacy of the treatment, a surgical approach is suggested. If the patient is indicated for surgery, all the points of lymphatic flow obstruction are carefully examined. Thus a BCRL patient can be considered for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), a lymph node flap, scar resection, or a combination thereof. LVA targets ectatic superficial collecting lymphatics, which are located within the deep fat layer, and preoperative mapping using ultrasonography is critical. If there is contracture on the axilla, axillary scar removal is indicated to relieve the vein pressure and allow better drainage. Furthermore, removing the scars and reconstructing the fat layer will allow a better chance for the lymphatics to regenerate. After complete removal of scar tissue, a regional fat flap or a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap with lymph node transfer is performed. By deciding the surgical planning for BCRL based on each patient's pathophysiology, optimal outcomes can be achieved. Depending on each patient's pathophysiology, LVA, scar removal, vascularized lymph node transfer with a sufficient adipocutaneous flap, and simultaneous breast reconstruction should be planned.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6883-6888
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• 2013

Background: Platinum based concurrent chemo-radiation is the de-facto standard of care in the non-surgical management of locally-advanced head and neck cancer of squamous origin. Three-weekly single agent cisplatin at 100 $mg/m^2$ concurrent with radical radiotherapy has demonstrated consistent improvement in loco-regional control and survival. This improvement is however at the cost of considerable hematologic toxicity and poor overall compliance. The routine use of this regime is improbable in developing countries with limited resources. We therefore aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of an alternative regime of weekly cisplatin and concurrent radiotherapy in such patients. Materials and Methods: January-05 and April-12, 188 patients of locally-advanced head and neck cancer of squamous origin were treated with concurrent weekly-cisplatin at $35mg/m^2$ and conventional radiotherapy 60-66Gy/30-33 fractions/5days per week. Results: Overall, 95% patients received planned doses of RT while 74% completed within the stipulated overall treatment time of <50 days. Eighty-two percent received at-least 5 weekly cycles. Grade-III/IV mucositis was seen in 58%/9% respectively, which resulted in mean weight loss of 9.2% from a pre-treatment mean of 54.5 kg. Grade-III hematologic toxicity-0.5%; grade II nephrotoxicity-2.5% and grade III emesis-3% were also seen. Grade-III/IV subcutaneous toxicity-10%/1% and grade-III/IV xerostomia-10%/0% were observed. Complete responses at the primary site, regional nodes and overall disease were seen in 86%, 89% and 83% patients respectively. The median and 5-years disease-free survival were 26 months and 39.4% respectively, while the median and overall survival were 27 months and 41.8% respectively. Conclusions: Weekly-cisplatin at 35 $mg/m^2$ when delivered concurrently with conventional radical RT (at-least 66y/33 fractions) in locally-advanced head and neck cancer is well tolerated with minimal hematologic and neprologic toxicity and can be routinely delivered on an out-patient basis. It is an effective alternative to the standard 3-weekly cisplatin especially in the context of developing countries.