• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the association between demographic characteristics, hospitalization-related characteristics, and the severity of long-term hospitalization in a high-level general hospital, and to analyze the factors influencing decisions of all patients. Methods: General and clinical characteristics of the participants were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Differences in these characteristics, contingent upon whether a power source was requested, were analyzed using independent t-Test and Chi-squared tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to the presence or absence of power requests. Results: The factors impacting the decision to refer a dependent variable include medical treatment (neurosurgery) (B=2.118, SE=0.960, p-value=.027, OR=8.314, 95% CI=1.267-54.551), infection isolation (CRE) (B=1.336, SE=0.666, p-value=.045, OR=3.804, 95% CI=1.032-14.021), and the utilization of tertiary antibiotics (B=3.076, SE=1.362, p-value= .024, OR=21.663, 95% CI=1.502-312.530). Conclusion: This study found a significant association between medical treatment (neurosurgery), infection isolation (CRE), and the use of tertiary antibiotics as dependent variables. These findings indicate that continuous monitoring can contribute to a reduction in long-term financial burdens.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2013

Background: The study describes the changes resulted from imposition on tertiary hospital outpatient coinsurance rate rise policy and in tertiary or general hospital drug coverage rise policy on healthcare service utilization. Methods: Accordingly, the hypothesis about outpatient healthcare utilization after rise policy in outpatient coinsurance rate and drug coverage was established, using interrupted time-series analysis and segmented regression analysis to test the hypothesis. 5-year analysis period (2007. 3-2012. 3) from the outset year was designated, the data about most common 10 high-ranking of the main diseases targeting visiting patient from age of 6 to 64 were collected. Results: The summary on the major research is followed. First, the medical expense and duration of treatment tends to be increased in case of imposition about rise policy in outpatient coinsurance rate in the tertiary hospital under the interrupted time-series analysis. It showed temporary increase and slow down on account of influenza A even after the policy enforcement. In segmented regression analysis, duration of visit and medical expense in the tertiary hospital increased temporally right after the policy implementation and the decreased rapidly depends on period. Both rise and fall is statistically significant. The second, In case of tertiary or general hospital outpatient drug coverage rise policy, all of the tertiary hospital healthcare service utilization variables by the interrupted time-series analysis, drug coverage policy in the general hospital deeply declined according to decreasing trend before policy implementation. The third, in case of segmented regression analysis, the visit duration and medical expense statistically declined right after the policy implementation in both the tertiary and general hospital. Meanwhile, administration day was statistically meaningful only for the decrease right after the policy implementation. Otherwise, general hospital changes are not statistically meaningful. And the medicine cost was statistically, meaningfully decreased after the increase in drug coverage. Conclusion: Finally, the result demonstrated according to the analysis is only 1 hypothesis is denied, the other 2 are partially supported. Then, tertiary hospital outpatient coinsurance rate increase policy comparatively makes decrease effect on long-term healthcare utilization, and tertiary or general hospital outpatient drug coverage policy showed partially short-term effect is assured.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.301-308
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• 1994

The individual and combined effects of acidic rain, Mg deficiency (-Mg) and Al surplus (＋Al) on the growth of shoots and roots of pitch pine seedlings and the effect of humic substances (Lit) on Al toxicity were investigated. The growth of height and dry matter were not significantly less for pitch pine seedlings sprayed with simulated acid rain (SAR) of pH 3.5 than for those sprayed with SAR of pH 5.6. But treatments of Al and ＋Al-Mg in soil solution reduced the growth of seedlings in terms of height of shoots, and dry matter of shoots or roots. Effect of Mg deficiency on the growth of seedlings was apparent only when Al was treated simutaneously. The growth of seedlings, regardless of rain pH, decreased in the following order: control=-Mg>Lit＋Al>＋Al>＋Al-Mg. Treatments of Al and ＋Al-Mg in soil solution reduced the total length of secondary and teritary roots of seedlings regardless of rain pH, and decreased in the following order: the primary root

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.157-163
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• 2012

Objective: This study is to understand medical management method in shipbuilding industry. Background: In shipbuilding industry, medical management for prevention of work-related musculoskeletal diseases due to limitations of engineering measures may be important measure. Results: Medical management of musculoskeletal diseases can be divided into primary, secondary, tertiary preventions. Primary preventions consist of symptom survey, appropriate work placement with work capacity evaluation, health promotion. Second preventions are early detection of symptomatic patient and appropriate treatment. Tertiary preventions are rehabilitation treatment and early return-to-work by return-to-work evaluation. In addition, patients with psychological counseling for emotional problems are needed. Conclusion: Medical management measures such as improving the work environment to be made are expected to exert greater effects.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2024

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in tertiary hyperparathyroidism (THPT). Materials and Methods: Patients with THPT underwent RFA between September 2017 and January 2022. Laboratory parameters, including serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels, were monitored for 48 months after RFA and compared with the levels at baseline. Complications related to RFA and changes in hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms were recorded before and after RFA. Results: A total of 42 patients with THPT were recruited for this study. Ultimately, 36 patients with renal failure and 2 patients who underwent successful renal transplantation (male:female, 17:21; median age, 54.5 years) were enrolled. The follow-up time was 21.5 ± 19.0 months in the 36 patients with renal failure. In these 36 patients, iPTH levels were significantly decreased to 261.1 pg/mL at 48 months compared with the baseline value of 1284.9 pg/mL (P = 0.012). Persistent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels maintained at > 585.0 pg/mL for 6 months after treatment, occurred in 4.0% of patients (1/25). Recurrent hyperparathyroidism, defined as iPTH levels > 585.0 pg/mL after 6 months, were 4.0% (1/25) and 0.0% (0/9) at 6 months and 4 years after treatment, respectively. In two patients with THPT after successful renal transplantation, iPTH decreased from the baseline value of 242.5 and 115.9 pg/mL to 171.0 and 62.0 pg/mL at 6 months after treatment. All complications resolved within 6 months of ablation without medical intervention, except in 10.5% (4/38) patients with permanent hypocalcemia. The overall symptom recovery rate was 58.8% (10/17). The severity scores for bone pain, arthralgia, and itchy skin associated with hyperparathyroidism improved after treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: US-guided RFA is an effective and safe alternative to surgery in the treatment of patients with TPTH and improves hyperparathyroidism-related clinical symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.877-884
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• 2011

In this paper, the removal characteristics of dissolved organic carbon (DOCs) by micro bubble ozonation process and $O_3/UV$ process were comparatively studied. In the point of DOC removing reaction coefficient, micro bubble ozonation system and $O_3/UV$ process had not significant difference, $0.0120sec^{-1}$ and $0.0141sec^{-1}$. Therefore micro bubble ozonation process is more suitable for tertiary treatment of sewage in the point of installation and maintenance cost-reducing. The optimum ozone injection rate was 2.0 g $O_3/g$ DOC and HRT was 3 min for the micro bubble ozonation process. The removal efficiency of DOC and SUVA in micro bubble ozonation system was 32.8% and 58.3% respective. Biological aerated filter (BAF) process was installed to remove soluble organic material increased by micro bubble ozonation system. And the effluent BOD of BAF was below 1.0 mg/L. In the view of cost-effectiveness, $O_3/BAF$ process was more profitable than $O_3/UV/BAF$ process for tertiary treatment of sewage. In order to nitrify ammonia in the BAF process completely, $NH_4{^+}-N$ concentration in the influent water of BAF should be designed considering low water temperature in the winter season.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.284-291
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to present a nonoperative treatment for abdominal injuries in patients with multiple traumas and to discuss the role of metropolitan tertiary hospital, non-regional trauma centers. We collected data from patients with multiple traumas including abdominal injuries from 2009 to 2014. Patient characteristics, associated injuries, short-term outcomes and departments that managed the patients overall were analyzed. Based on treatment modalities for abdominal injury, patients were divided into two groups: the operative treatment group and the nonoperative treatment group. We compared differences in patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, initial vital signs, detailed injury types, lengths of hospital and ICU stays. Of the 167 patients with multiple traumas, abdominal injuries were found in 57 patients. The injury mechanism for 44 patients (77.2%) was traffic accidents, and associated extra-abdominal injuries were shown in 45 patients (78.9%). The mean lengths of hospital and ICU stays for the 57 patients were 36.4 days and 8.3 days, respectively. The in-hospital mortality rate was 8.8%. Ten patients (17.5%) were treated operatively, and 47 patients (82.5%) were treated nonoperatively. Among the 47 patients in the nonoperative treatment group, 17 patients received embolization, and 3 patients underwent a percutaneous drainage procedure. Operative treatments were used more in patients with injuries to the pancreas and bowel. No patient required additional surgery or died due to the failure of nonoperative treatment. No differences in the clinical characteristics except for the detailed injury type were observed between the two groups. In appropriately selected patients with multiple traumas including abdominal injuries, nonoperative treatment is a safe and feasible. For rapid and accurate managements of these patients, well-trained trauma surgeons who can manage problems with the various systems in the human body and who can decide whether nonoperative treatment is appropriate or not are required.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2014

Background: World Health Organization considers opioid analgesic use as an important measure in the treatment of pain relief. However, there are limited data about the pattern of opioid analgesic use in tertiary care hospitals in Korea. The aim of this study was to describe the trends in the prescribed amount of the opioid for 13 years from 2000 to 2012 in a single tertiary care hospital. Methods: The data from the prescribed amount of opioid use in patients aged over 18 years were retrieved from medical charts and longitudinal pharmacy records of Seoul National University Hospital. Yearly prescribed amount of opioids were calculated using defined daily dose adjusted by hospital stay (DDD/1000${\bullet}$HS). Results: Over the 13 years of the study period, overall use of opioid has increased by 64.1%. Although, the opioid use by hospitalized patients comprised 98%~99% of total amount of opioid use, the proportions of opioid use by outpatient and by cancer patient increased from 1.1% to 2.2% and from 60.5% to 69.3%, respectively. The use of non-injectable opioids has increased by 47% and that of injectables has increased by 70%. While the amount of codeine and morphine use has decreased, the use of both transdermal and injection formulation of fentanyl has increased dramatically. Also, the use of oxycodone has increased, especially in outpatient setting. Conclusion: This longitudinal study showed that opioid analgesic use in tertiary hospital, especially in outpatient is continuously increasing. Improvement in pain management in tertiary care hospital can be cautiously inferred based on this results.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2018

Background: Clinical Pharmacy Practice Experience (CPPE) is an important curriculum that offers students patient-centered disease prevention and treatment with evidence-based optimal pharmacotherapy for better clinical outcomes. However, few studies have evaluated the perception of pharmacy students regarding CPPE in tertiary and secondary hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate the perception of pharmacy students regarding the learning program of CPPE. Methods: The survey questionnaire consisted of 15 self-administered questions regarding pharmacy practices, barriers, and improvement of practical training. Fourteen institutional pharmacies located in seven regions responded to a survey questionnaire from March 1 to June 30, 2017. The participants were pharmacy students doing clerkship in a hospital setting. Results: The response rate was 73.6%. Thirty-five participants (22.4%) had used a hospital library, but 121 (77.6%) had never used the library for drug information resources. Eighty-one (50.0%) responded that clinical knowledge and drug information was the most beneficial practice. Thirty-seven (31.1%) respondents in the tertiary hospitals and 19 (46.3%) in the secondary hospitals answered that they were filling prescriptions during the daily break. On the other hand, 72 respondents (60.5%) in the tertiary hospitals and 17 (41.5%) in the secondary hospitals did literature research to prepare for presentation. Conclusion: More students in secondary hospitals continue to fill prescriptions during the daily break, as compared to those in tertiary hospitals. Therefore, the authors suggest self-directed learning to improve clinical performance and each institution considers offering onsite or online library service to improve evidence-based CPPE for pharmacy school students.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.191-203
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• 2022

Background: Direct-acting antivirals are recommended for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus in Korea. However, evaluation of direct-acting antiviral regimens in a real-world setting is limited. The aims of this study were to investigate the effectiveness and safety of direct-acting antiviral treatment in Korean patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1b or 2 at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted with patient data obtained between August 2015 and August 2019 at Jeonbuk National University Hospital. The primary effectiveness endpoint was sustained virological response 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) via intention-to-treat (ITT) and modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analyses. Results: Of the 270 patients, 47.0% were infected with genotype 1b and 53.0% with genotype 2. ITT analysis revealed that SVR12 was achieved in 78.9% of all patients, 77.2% in genotype 1b patients, and 80.4% in genotype 2 patients. Of the 21.1% of all patients who did not achieve SVR12, the majority of treatment failures were non-virologic failures (19.7%). mITT analysis revealed that SVR12 was achieved in 98.2% of all patients, 98.0% in genotype 1b patients, and 98.3% in genotype 2 patients. Almost half of all patients experienced one or more adverse events (43.3%), leading to 2.6% discontinuing scheduled treatment. The most common adverse event was anemia. Conclusions: Direct-acting antiviral-based treatment regimens showed high effectiveness and safety. Non-virological factors, such as premature treatment discontinuation due to adverse events or loss of follow-up, were the major disruptors in achieving SVR12.