• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.431-443
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• 2000

Water quality data from water treatment plants in Korea during 1994-1998 were investigated to find out the characteristics of their non compliance. The number of plants surveyed were approximately 600 and the number of samples were over 30,000. Ten parameters of water quality selected in this study and their non compliance % (inside parenthesis) were as follows: Heterotrophic plate count (0.14%), Total coliforms (0.08%), $NH_3$-N (0.29%), $NO_3$-N (0.14%), THMs (0.02%), Turbidity (0.11%), Residual chlorine (5.5%), $KMnO_4$ consumption (0.04%), Hardness (0.03%), pH (0.07%). These levels of non compliance were compared to those obtained from WIDB (Water Industry Database, 1996) of American Water Works Association. This study strongly supported that small water plants (<10,000 tons/day) were more vulnerable in meeting the regulation criteria of many water quality parameters such as Heterotrophic plate count. Total coliforms, $NO_3$-N, THMs, Turbidity, Residual chlorine, $KMnO_1$ consumption, Hardness and pH. The $NH_3$-N concentration was especially high in winter and its violation was frequently found in the specific areas such as the downstream of major rivers. The average THMs concentration was surprisingly low, indicating $13{\mu}g/L$ which is 43% of US. Accordingly, these characteristics must be reflected in establishing the effective management of water quality policy of drinking water in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2829-2834
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• 2013

The objective was to analyze the radiotherapy (RT) practice at the cancer centre of a tertiary academic medical institution in Delhi. This audit from an Indian public institution covered patient care processes related to cancer diagnosis, integration of RT with other anti-cancer modalities, waiting time, overall treatment time, and compliance with RT. Over a period of one year, all consecutively registered patients in radiotherapy were analyzed for the audit cycle. Analysis of 1,030 patients showed median age of 49.6 years, with presentation as stage I and II in 14.2%, stage III and IV in 71.2% and unknown stage in 14.6%. A total of 974 (95%) were advised for RT appointment; 669 (68.6%) for curative intent and 31.4% for palliation. Mean times for diagnostic workup and from registration at cancer centre to radiotherapy referral were 33 and 31 days respectively. Median waiting time to start of RT course was 41 days. Overall RT compliance was 75% and overall duration for a curative RT course ranged from 50 days to 61 days. Non-completion and interruption of RT course were observed in 12% and 13% respectively. Radiotherapy machine burden in a public cancer hospital in India increases the waiting time and 25% of advised patients do not comply with the prescribed treatment. Infrastructure, machine and manpower constraints lead to more patients being treated on cobalt (74%) and by two-dimensional (78%) techniques.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-101
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of non-compliance with treatment (NCT) among gastric cancer patients in the Korean population. Materials and Methods: Using data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry from 1999 to 2015, patients who did not receive any treatment for gastric cancer within 4 months after diagnosis were defined as the NCT group. The annual incidence rate, distributions according to age group and stage, and 5-year relative survival of the patients exhibiting NCT were analyzed. Results: The number of NCT patients was 5,871 (30.6%) in 1999 and continuously decreased to 4,434 (15.3%) in 2015. Between 2006 and 2015, the proportions of NCT patients decreased from 72.9% to 55.0% among those 80 years old or older and from 9.2% to 5.4% among patients younger than 40 years. In patients with distant metastases, this proportion decreased from 35.5% to 32.7%, and this proportion also decreased from 17.6% to 8.2% among those with localized disease. The 5-year relative survival rates of NCT patients between 2011 and 2015 were significantly lower than those of the treated patients in each stage (60.2% vs. 99.7%, 13.8% vs. 67.1%, and 2.0% vs. 8.3% among those with localized, regional, and distant disease, respectively). Conclusions: The proportion of NCT gastric cancer patients has decreased during the last 16 years. However, considerable numbers of elderly patients are still NCT. There must be a strategy to decrease NCT and improve the nationwide survival rate of patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.194-205
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the long-term outcomes after peri-implantitis treatment and the factors affecting these outcomes. Methods: This study included 92 implants in 45 patients who had been treated for peri-implantitis. Clinical data on the characteristics of patients and their implants were collected retrospectively. The change in the marginal bone level was calculated by comparing the baseline and the most recently obtained (≥3 years after treatment) radiographs. The primary outcome variable was progression of the disease after the treatment at the implant level, which was defined as further bone loss of >1.0 mm or implant removal. A 2-level binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the effects of possible factors on the primary outcome. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.7 years (range, 22-79 years). Progression of peri-implantitis was observed in 64.4% of patients and 63.0% of implants during an observation period of 6.4±2.7 years (mean±standard deviation). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that full compliance to recall visits (P=0.019), smoking (P=0.023), placement of 4 or more implants (P=0.022), and marginal bone loss ≥4 mm at baseline (P=0.027) significantly influenced the treatment outcome. Conclusions: The long-term results of peri-implantitis treatment can be improved by full compliance on the part of patients, whereas it is impaired by smoking, placement of multiple implants, and severe bone loss at baseline. Encouraging patients to stop smoking and to receive supportive care is recommended before treatment.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.343-351
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• 1998

This paper was investigated degradation of the fracture toughness caused by sensitizing heat-treatment of the cryogenic structural material JN1 base metal using unloading compliance method reported as useful a method in evaluating the elastic-plastic fracture toughness at cryogenic temperature. The specimens used in this paper were 20% side-grooved 0.5T-CT specimens which were machined in the JN1 base metal. Also, to investigate cryogenic fracture toughness of the fusion line region in the JN1 GTA weldments, it was also used 20% side-grooved 0.5T-CT specimens that was machined fusion line to located in the middle of the specimen. The cryogenic fracture toughness values of the JN1 base metal were significantly decreased with increasing the time and temperature of the heat treatment. The fracture toughness value obtained from the fusion line specimen was invalid, but it was lower value than that of the JN1 base metal. Especially, this value was approximately equal with that obtained from the JN1 650.deg. C-5h heat-treated material.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2019

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by infection and represents a substantial global health burden. Recent epidemiological studies showed that sepsis mortality rates have decreased, but that the incidence has continued to increase. Although a mortality benefit from early-goal directed therapy (EGDT) in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock was reported in 2001, three subsequent multicenter randomized studies showed no benefits of EGDT versus usual care. Nonetheless, the early administration of antibiotics and intravenous fluids is considered crucial for the treatment of sepsis. In 2016, new sepsis definitions (Sepsis-3) were issued, in which organ failure was emphasized and use of the terms "systemic inflammatory response syndrome" and "severe sepsis" was discouraged. However, early detection of sepsis with timely, appropriate interventions increases the likelihood of survival for patients with sepsis. Also, performance improvement programs have been associated with a significant increase in compliance with the sepsis bundles and a reduction in mortality. To improve sepsis management and reduce its burden, in 2017, the World Health Assembly and World Health Organization adopted a resolution that urged governments and healthcare workers to implement appropriate measures to address sepsis. Sepsis should be considered a medical emergency, and increasing the level of awareness of sepsis is essential.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.486-494
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• 2021

The growth of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and its progress over the years for use in post-operative bone growth has been revolutionary in its effect on bone tissue proliferation and vascular flow. However, further progress in PEMF therapy has been difficult due to lack of more evidence-based understanding of its mechanism of action. Our objective was to review the current understanding of bone growth physiology, the mechanism of PEMF therapy action along with its application in spinal surgery and associated outcomes. The authors of this review examined multiple controlled, comparative, and cohort studies to compare fusion rates of patients undergoing PEMF stimulation. Examining spinal fusion rates, a rounded comparison of post-fusion outcomes with and without bone stimulator was performed. Results showed that postoperative spinal surgery PEMF stimulation had higher rates of fusion than control groups. Though PEMF therapy was proven more effective, multiple factors contributed to difficulty in patient compliance for use. Extended timeframe of treatment and cost of treatment were the main obstacles to full compliance. This review showed that PEMF therapy presented an increased rate of recovery in patients, supporting the use of these devices as an effective post-surgical aid. Given the recent advances in the development of PEMF devices, affordability and access will be much easier suited to the patient population, allowing for more readily available treatment options.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.134-145
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a video dietary instruction program for hemodialysis patients to understand dietary compliance as well as the effect on the physiological indicator. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study of a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Data were collected from August 6, 2012 to January 10, 2013. Twenty patients were assigned to an experimental group and twenty-one patients were assigned to a control group. A video dietary instruction program was developed and applied only to the experimental group once a week for a total of 8 weeks. Dietary compliance and physiological indicators were subsequently measured. Results: Dietary compliance was improved in both groups over time. There was no significant change in the physiological indicator value in both groups, indicating that there was no correlation between the treatment type and time. Conclusion: The video dietary instruction program could not make a statistically significant change on the physiological indicator value of the experimental group; however, this change was maintained within the allowable limits. Therefore, the video dietary instruction program can be utilized continuously as a standardized nursing intervention program in order to maintain the dietary compliance of hemodialysis patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2002

Objectives : To investigate the therapeutic compliance and its related factors in lung cancer patients. Methods : The subjects of this study comprised 277 patients first diagnosed with lung cancer at Kyungpook National University Hospital between Jan 1999 and Sept 1999. Of these, 141(50.9%) participated in the study by properly replying to structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using a simplified Health Decision Model. This model includes categories of variables covering therapeutic compliance, health beliefs, patient preferences, knowledge and experience, social interaction, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results : The therapeutic compliance rate of the 141 study subjects was 78.0%. An analysis of health beliefs and patient preferences revealed health concern (p<0.05), dependency on medicine (p<0.05), perceived susceptibility and severity (p<0.05) as well as preferred treatment (p<0.01) as factors related to therapeutic compliance. Factors from the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors that were related to therapeutic compliance were age (p<0.01), monthly income (p<0.05), histological type (p<0.05) and clinical stage (p<0.05) of cancer. Conclusions : In order to improve therapeutic compliance in lung cancer patients it is necessary to educate the aged, low-income patients, or patients who have small cell lung cancer or lune cancer of an advanced stage for which surgery is not indicated. Additionally, it is essential for medical personnel to have a deep concern about patients who have poor lifestyles, a low dependency on medicine, or a high perceived susceptibility and severity. Practically, early diagnosis of lung cancer and thoughtful considerations of low-income patients are important. By means of population-based education in a community, we may promote attention to health and enhance the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.104-115
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• 2016

Objective: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of individual patient behavior regarding the health and medical care level on their therapeutic compliance for people diagnosed with high blood pressure by a physician, in order to evaluate the impact of treatment compliance. In this study, the therapeutic compliance was defined as the hypertension drug cure rate. The current blood pressure controls were persons about 30 years of age diagnosed with high blood pressure by their doctor one month fraction of the people who take more than 20 days (30 days). Methods: The data was analyzed by using the X2-test for different comparisons of the therapeutic compliance in the individual characteristics and using a two-stage multilevel logistic regression to identify the community variance of the related index of high blood pressure therapeutic compliance using the data from 229 adults over the age of 19 in a community health survey conducted in 2010. The Spss 18.0 statistical program was used with HLM 7 (hierarchical linear model) Results: It was found that the rate of therapeutic compliance was affected by the individual health behavior and health and medical care levels. Conclusion: In this study, although the odds ratio of the variable region of the high level of health care, I was able Unlike previous studies and focuses on the personal level of variation found variations in the local health care level was a significant. More studies on multilevel analysis are needed in the future considering regional level data.