• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5967-5970
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• 2015

Background: The prevalence of prostate cancer is considered high in many countries, and screening tests are very important in order to detect prostate cancer in its early stages; however false positivity with these screening tests means that a lot of patients undergo unnecessary biopsy, which is an invasive procedure, for the confirmatory test. The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of unnecessary biopsy cases in patients referred for prostate biopsy in one of the most important and overload cancer centers in Syria. Materials and Methods: Retrospective data for a period of four years between January 2009 and December 2012 were collected in Al-Bayrouni University Medical hospital in Damascus, Syria. The patients from whom data were collected were referred to our histopathological department because of elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) serum or an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE). All patients underwent prostatic TRUS-guided biopsies. Diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was based on histopathological examination and prostate cancers cases were graded and scored according to the Gleason score system. Results: For the 406 patients referred to biopsy, the $mean{\pm}SD$ age was $58.4{\pm}23.3$ years. The $mean{\pm}SD$ PSA level was $49.2{\pm}21.5ng/ml$. Of the total we found 237 patients diagnosed with PCa (58. 4%), 166 patients with BPH (40.9%) and 3 cases were unable to be diagnosed (0.7%) because of biopsy collection errors. Conclusions: Our study shows that a high percentage of patients are undergoing unnecessary biopsy, which suggests that the performed screening tests had a high level of false positive and may need re-evaluation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5607-5609
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• 2014

Introduction: Although continuing education is necessary for practicing nurses, it is very difficult to organize traditional classes because of large numbers of nurses and working shifts. Considering the increasing development of mobile electronic learning, we carried out a study to compare effects of the traditional face to face method with mobile learning delivered as text messages by cell phone. Materials and Methods: Sixty female nurses working in our hospital were randomly divided into class and short message service (SMS) groups. Lessons concerning breast cancer screening were prepared as 54 messages and sent in 17 days for the SMS group, while the class group participated in a class held by a university lecturer of breast and cancer surgery. Pre- and post-tests were undertaken for both groups at the same time; a retention test also was performed one month later. For statistical analysis, the paired T test and the independent sample T test were used with SPSS software version 16; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean age and mean work experience of participants in class and SMS groups was $35.8{\pm}7.2$, $9.8{\pm}6.7$, $35.4{\pm}7.3$, and $11.5{\pm}8.5$, respectively. There was a significant increase in mean score post-tests (compared with pretests) in both groups (p<0.05). Although a better improvement in scores of retention tests was demonstrated in the SMS group, the mean subtraction value of the post- and pretests as well as retention- and pretests showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (p=0.3 and p =0.2, respectively). Conclusions: Our study shows that teaching via SMS may probably replace traditional face to face teaching for continuing education in working nurses. Larger studies are suggested to confirm this.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1104-1109
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• 2007

Purpose : Since 1998, school urinary screening tests have been performed on Korean school children. We could detect and treat so many asymptomatic chronic renal disease in early stage. We investigated the efficacy of school urinary screening tests from children with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type I. Methods : We analyzed the characteristics and prognosis of 18 patients with MPGN type I who admitted after 1996 and received steroid therapy with or without cyclosporine. These patients were divided into two groups. Group A (asymptomatic patients detected by school urinary screening tests) consisted of 7 patients; Group S (symptomatic patients) consisted 11 patients. Results : Mean follow-up duration was 6.3 years (from 2 to 11 years). Urinary protein excretion was 1.1 g/day in group A and 6.6 g/day in group S. 24 hour creatinine clearance (mL/min/$1.73m^2$) was 134.3 in group A and 82.3 in group S. No patients in group A had renal insufficiency, but three patients in group S had renal insufficiency and one patient required peritoneal dialysis. Conclusion : Early detection by school urinary screening tests improves prognosis of MPGN type I.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.31-41
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• 2018

Objective: This study was to develop computerized screening test items for mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Through literature reviews, items from computerized tests for screening mild cognitive impairment were extracted. A panel of professional experts validated that the items were important and fit to screen for mild cognitive impairment. Results: A total 37 items were extracted from 12 computerized tests and 11 new items were added through the first panel review. After that, 18 items were removed via the second panel review. Finally, 16 items were selected by analyzing content validity ratio. 16 items consisted of memory, attention, and executive function areas. Conclusions: A total of 16 computerized test items were developed. It is urgent to validate them to screen mild cognitive impairment. Moreover, standardization studies for this test are required in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.3 s.51
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• pp.543-550
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• 1995

The authors conducted a cross-setional study to evaluate the differences of screening test results between clerks and laborers in an occupational health center in Taegu, 1992. A total of 10, 207 workers was included in the study. Of these, male were 6,597 and female 3,610. Constitutional variables included were items of health examination and some confounding variables(sex, age, body weight and work duration). All analyses were conducted separately for each sex through the use of multiple logistic regression analysis on occupation, controlling for age, work duration, and body weight. Laborers showed abnormal hearing test more often than clerks in both sexes. The blood pressure that showed statistical significance in univariate analysis in both sexes lost its significance after controlling covariates. Liver function and urine protein had statistically significant differences between two occupational groups in males and visual correction did in females. The results suggest that there are differences clerks and laborers in some of screening tests and analytic studies are needed to identify the causes of the differences.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.483-489
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• 2016

Purpose: We investigated the number of test takers of the Korean-Developmental Screening Test (K-DST) in a single children's hospital within a year, according to age, referral rate, and follow-up percentage. Methods: For this study, 4,062 children who visited and received K-DST at Woorisoa Children's Hospital between January and December 2015 were enrolled. Seven test sets were used according to the Korean National Health Screening Program for infants and children in the following age groups: 4 to 6, 9 to 12, 18 to 24, 30 to 36, 42 to 48, 54 to 60, and 66 to 71 months. The results of the K-DST were categorized into 4 groups as follows: further evaluation (<-2 standard deviation [-2SD]), follow-up test (-2SD to -1SD), peer level (-1SD to 1SD), and high level (>1SD). Results: The test participants' population and follow-up population were concentrated before the age of 24 months (2,532, 62.3%). The children most commonly referred for further evaluation were those in the 30- to 41-month age group. A mismatch was found between the results of the K-DST and the additional questions. Most of the infants and children with suspicious developmental delays showed catch-up development in their follow-up tests (43 of 55, 78.2%). Conclusion: The use of K-DST should be encouraged, especially among children aged over 24 months. Multiple-choice question format for the additional questions is recommended to avoid confusion. We suggest a nationwide study to evaluate and revise the K-DST.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between classification of the Geriatric Screening for Care-10 (GSC-10) and the Morse Fall Scale (MFS) among elderly inpatients. Methods: Among elderly inpatients aged over 65 admitted to hospital (from November 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017), the data for 5,780 patients (who were evaluated using the Morse Fall Scale and the Geriatric Screening for Care-10) were analyzed using x2-tests and t-tests to examine differences between the GSC-10 and MFS, according to general characteristics of elderly inpatients (i.e., gender) using IBM SPSS Statistics 24. Results: : Scores for the GSC-10 were significantly higher in women than men for depression (p<.001), delirium (p=.048), functional decline (p<.001), incontinence (p<.001), and pain (p<.001). Statistically significant differences in all domains of the GSC-10 for elderly hospitalized patients were found for the classification of fall risk. Conclusion: The findings of this study, as supported by the GSC-10, indicate that the most common problems experienced by the elderly are related to the risk of falling. In order to reduce the incidence of falls in elderly inpatients, customized fall prevention based on the GSC-10 results is necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.114-120
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• 2018

Purpose: Routine screening for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (TORCH) in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and small for gestational age (SGA) neonates has become a common practice. However, the incidence of TORCH varies across countries, and the cost of TORCH testing may be disadvantageous compared to disease-specific screening. To evaluate the efficacy of TORCH screening, the medical charts of IUGR or SGA neonates born in a single institution in Bucheon, Korea from 2011 to 2015 were reviewed. Methods: The clinical data of the 126 IUGR or SGA neonates were gathered, including gestational age, Apgar scores, neonatal sonographic findings, chromosome study, morbidities, developmental follow-up, and growth catch-up. Maternal factors including underlying maternal disease and fetal sonography were collected, and placental findings were recorded when available. TORCH screening was done using serum IgM, CMV urine culture, quantification of CMV DNA with real-time polymerase chain reaction, and rapid plasma reagin qualitative test for syphilis. Tests were repeated only for those with positive results. Results: Of the 119 TORCH screenings, only one was positive for toxoplasmosis IgM. This result was deemed false positive due to negative IgM on repeated testing and the absence of clinical symptoms. Conclusion: Considering the incidence and risk of TORCH in Korea, the financial burden of TORCH screening, and the single positive TORCH finding in our study, we suggest disease-specific screening based on maternal history and the clinical symptoms of the neonate. Regarding CMV, which may present asymptomatically, universal screening may be appropriate upon cost-benefit analysis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2269-2276
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• 2015

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is now common in Thailand with an increase in incidence over time. Health authorities are planning to implement a nationwide CRC screening program using fecal immunochemical test (FIT) as a primary screening tool. This study aimed to estimate preferences and acceptance of FIT and colonoscopy, explore factors influencing the acceptance, and investigate reasons behind choosing and rejecting to screen before the program was implemented. Patients aged 50-69, visiting the primary care unit during the study period, were invited to join this study. Patients with a history of cancer or past CRC screening were excluded. Face-to-face interviews were conducted. Subjects were informed about CRC and the screening tests: FIT and colonoscopy. Then, they were asked for their opinions regarding the screening. The total number of subjects was 437 (86.7% response rate). Fifty-eight percent were females. The median age was 58 years. FIT was accepted by 74.1% of subjects compared to 55.6% for colonoscopy. The acceptance of colonoscopy was associated with perceived susceptibility to CRC and family history of cancer. No symptoms, unwilling to screen, healthy, too busy and anxious about diagnosis were reasons for refusing to screen. FIT was preferred for its simplicity and non-invasiveness compared with colonoscopy. Those rejecting FIT expressed a strong preference for colonoscopy. Subjects chose colonoscopy because of its accuracy; it was refused for the process and complications. If the screening program is implemented for the entire target population in Thailand, we estimate that 106,546 will have a positive FIT, between 8,618 and 12,749 identified with advanced adenoma and between 2,645 and 3,912 identified with CRC in the first round of the program.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-48
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the satisfaction of participants in the National Cancer Screening Program(NCSP) and to identify factors affecting the satisfaction. The telephone survey was conducted in July 2007 for the participants who were screened by the NCSP from January through May 2007. Student's t-tests and analysis of variance were performed first to determine if the mean satisfaction score differed by the characteristics of study objects, followed by multiple linear regression analyses to examine the factors affecting satisfaction. Dependent variable was general satisfaction for the screening service, and three dimensions of independent variables - 'sociodemographic characteristics', 'screening characteristics', and 'perceived service quality' - were used for the empirical analyses. Female, old-aged, less educated, Medicaid recipients, rural residents and the participants with normal results were more likely to be satisfied with the NCSP. The results of multiple regression analyses show that gender, age, location of residence, type of screening units, and perceived quality of screening services were significantly related to satisfaction. This study is meaningful as the first attempt to measure participant satisfaction with the NCSP, and to identify factors affecting the satisfaction. Among the identified factors, the NCSP needs to pay attention to perceived quality of service, in particular, to improve the satisfaction. This study is expected to contribute to raising the compliance rate and to improve the quality of the NCSP.