• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2015

Background: Previous studies showed differences in healthcare utilization among insurance types. This study aimed to analyze the difference in healthcare utilization for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty inpatients by insurance types after controlling factors affecting healthcare utilization using propensity score matching (PSM). Methods: The 2011 national inpatient sample based on health insurance claims data was used for analysis. PSM was used to control factors influencing healthcare utilization except insurance types. Length of stay and total charges were used as healthcare utilization variables. Patients were divided into National Health Insurance (NHI) and Medical Aid (MA) patients. Factors representing inpatients (gender, age, admission sources, and Elixhauser comorbidity index) and hospitals (number of doctors, number of beds, and location of hospitals) were used as covariates in PSM. Results: Tertiary hospitals didn't show significant difference in length of stay and total charges after PSM between two insurance types. However, MA patients showed significantly longer length of stay than that of NHI patients after PSM in general hospitals. Multivariate regression analysis provided that admission sources, Elixhauser comorbidity index, insurance types, number of doctors, and location of hospitals (province) had significant influences on the length of stay in general hospitals. Conclusion: Study results provided evidences that healthcare utilization was differed by insurance types in general hospitals. Health policy makers will need to prepare interventions to influence the healthcare utilization differences between insurance types.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.471-476
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• 2016

Purpose: Chest radiography is often performed on patients hospitalized with typical clinical manifestations of bronchiolitis. We aimed to determine the proportion of subjects with pathologic chest radiographic findings and the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with the typical presentation of bronchiolitis. Methods: We obtained the following data at admission: sex, age, neonatal history, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, heart rate, respiratory rate, the presence of fever, total duration of fever, oxygen saturation, laboratory parameters (i.e., complete blood cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], etc.), and chest radiography. Results: The study comprised 279 young children. Of these, 26 had a chest radiograph revealing opacity (n=24) or atelectasis (n=2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for confounding factors, the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with bronchiolitis were elevated hs-CRP level (>0.3 mg/dL) and past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study suggests that chest radiographs in young children with typical clinical manifestations of bronchiolitis have limited value. Nonetheless, young children with clinical factors such as high hs-CRP levels at admission or past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses may be more likely to have pathologic chest radiographic findings.

• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2009

In this paper, we investigate a dynamic spectrum sharing problem for the centralized uplink cognitive radio networks using orthogonal frequency division multiple access. We formulate a large-scale joint rate and power allocation as an optimization problem under quality of service constraint for secondary users and interference constraint for primary users. We also suggest admission control to nd a feasible solution to the optimization problem. To implement the resource allocation on a large-scale, we introduce a notion of using the conservative factors $\alpha$ and $\beta$ depending on the outage and violation probabilities. Since estimating instantaneous channel gains is costly and requires high complexity, the proposed algorithm pursues a practical and implementation-friendly resource allocation. Simulation results demonstrate that the large-scale joint rate and power allocation incurs a slight loss in system throughput over the instantaneous one, but it achieves lower complexity with less sensitivity to variations in shadowing statistics.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.115-125
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the relevant factors which determine the use of oriental healthcare services among subjects with chronic illnesses. Method : This study utilized the data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005. Out of all the participants of the survey, 11,665 individuals who are older than 19 years old and have one or more chronic diseases were included in this study. Results : The factors that affect utilization of oriental healthcare services were significantly associated with gender, educational level, job, personal income, the number of chronic illnesses, experiences of nontreatment or delayed treatment and admission experiences for the last one year(p<.001). Although some of these factors need further studies, the determining factors for the use of oriental healthcare services are the presence of chronic illness and the number of chronic disease. That is, the chronically ill are more likely to seek oriental healthcare services. And the more chronic diseases the clients have the higher probability of seeking oriental healthcare services was found. Conclusions : The results suggest that the national integrated care services should be established for diverse development of policy regarding the quality of care of chronic illness and cost-effectiveness.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.271-277
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• 2014

Purpose: A nationwide outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) refractory to macrolide antibiotics occurred in Korea during 2011. Steroid therapy has been reported to be both efficacious and well tolerated in pediatric patients with refractory MP. We compared clinical features and laboratory characteristics between children with refractory MP requiring steroid treatment and those with macrolide-responsive MP and evaluated the risk factors associated with refractory MP. Methods: We investigated 203 children who were admitted to our institution with MP from June to November 2011. Refractory MP was defined by persistent fever over $38.3^{\circ}C$ with progressive pulmonary consolidation or pleural effusion despite administration of appropriate macrolide antibiotics for 5 days or longer after admission. Steroid therapy was initiated on the fifth day after admission for refractory cases. Results: There were 26 patients with refractory MP requiring steroid therapy. The mean duration of steroid therapy was 5.4 days and most of the patients were afebrile within 24 hours after initiation of steroid therapy. The prevalence of refractory MP was higher in patients with pleural effusion, lobar pneumonia affecting more than 2 lobes, higher levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, increased oxygen requirements, and longer duration of hospitalization. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma were also associated with refractory MP after adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion: Children with refractory MP had more severe pneumonia. Atopic sensitization and history of asthma may be risk factors for refractory MP requiring steroid therapy in Korean children.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.138-155
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• 2000

Background: Factors related to waiting and staying time for patient care in emergency care center (ECC) were examined during 1 month from Apr. 1 to Apr. 30, 1997 at an ECC of Yeungnam university hospital in Taegu metropolitan city, to obtain the baseline data on the strategy of effective management of emergency patients. Method: The study subjects consisted of the 1,742 patients who visited at ECC and the data were obtained from the medical records of ECC and direct surveys. Results: The mean interval between ECC admission time and initial care time by each ECC duty residents was 83.1 minutes for male patients and 84.9 minutes for female patients, and mean ECC staying time (time interval between admission and final disposition from ECC) was 718.0 minutes in men and 670.5 minutes in women. As the results, the mean staying time in ECC was higher in older age, and especially the both of initial care time and staying time were highest in patients of medical aid, and shortest in patients of worker's accident compensation insurance. The on admission or not, previously endotracheal-intubation state of patient. The ECC staying ti initial care time was much more delayed in patients of not having previous medical records and the ECC staying time was higher in referred patients from out-patient department, in transferred patients from the other hospitals and patients having previous records, and in patients partly used the order-communicating system. The factors associated with the initial care time were the numbers of ECC patients and the existence of any true emergent patients, being cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) statusme was much more longer in patients of drug intoxication, in CPR patients, in medical department patients, in transfused patients and in patients related to 3 or more departments. And according to the numbers of duty internships, the ECC staying time for four internships was more longer than for five internships and after admission ordering was done, also-more longer in status being of no available beds. As above mentioned results, the factors for the ECC staying time were thought to be statistically significant (P<0.01) according to the patient's age and the laboratory orders and the X-ray films checked. And also the factor for the ECC staying time were thought to be statistically significant (P<0.01) according to the status being of no available beds, the laboratory orders and/or the special laboratory orders, the X-ray films checked, final disposing department, transferred to other hospital or not, home medication or not, admission or not, the grades of beds, the year grades of residents, the causes of ECC visit, the being CPR status on admission or not, the surgical operation or not, being known personells in our hospital. Conclution: Authors concluded that the relieving method of long-staying time in ECC was being establishing the legally proved apparatus which could differentiate the true emergency or non-emergency patients, and that the methods of shortening ECC staying time were doing definitely necessary laboratory orders and managing beds more flexibly to admit for ECC patients and finally this methods were thought to be a method of unloading for ECC personnels and improving the quality of care in emergency patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.393-406
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• 1998

Twenty five cases of the patient admission-treatment from chiefly complained of neck pain observed clinically from first January 1997 to thirty first December 1997 in the Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Oriental Hospital, Taejon University, Taejon, Korea. And the results were obtained as follows; 1. The distribution of sex was male 13(52%) cases, female 12(48%) cases and the male to female ratio was 1.1 : 1. The distribution of age was the most predominant as the fifties 6(24%) cases. 2. The contributing factors were the most predominant as the reason unknown 9(36%) cases, unstable position 5(20%) cases. 3. The distribution of duration was the most predominant of 9(36%) cases in a week. 4. The distribution of before admission-treatments were the most predominant as west-medication 13(32.5%) cases. 5. The distribution of patient's condition of first treatment was the most predominant as Gr.III 13(52%) cases. 6. The distribution of duration for admission was the most predominant as 13(52%) cases in a week. 7. The distribution of radiological studies were the nust predominant as the HIVD 26(63.4%) cases. 8. The distribution of clinical symptoms were the most predominant as neck pain 25(21.0%) cases, radiating pain to the upper extremities 23(19.3%) cases. 9. The distribution of located on clinical syrnptoms were the most predominant as neck-shoulder and back-upper extremities 11(44%) cases. 10. The distribution of clinical diagnosis was the most predominant as HIVD 16(45.7%) cases. 11. The distribution of methods of treatment were the most predominant as Acupuncture -­ Herb Medication - Electro Acupuncture treatment 8(32%) cases. 12. The effect of treatment by discharge was the most predominant of 11(44%) cases as Good result.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.731-747
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• 2015

This study investigates general environmental factors influencing hypertension and diabetes patients and their disease control methods, self-efficacy, nutritional risk, diagnosis of eating styles according to nutritional risk, accountability in eating habit instructions, and nutritional intake and provides basic data for eating habit control in hypertension and diabetes patients. For this, 70 patients who visited a hypertension and diabetes admission center were interviewed using a questionnaire. According to the results, the implementation of self-efficacy in hypertension and diabetes was higher in female subjects. The diagnosis of eating type with nutritional risk was higher in female subjects, and there was a significant difference between male and female subjects (p<0.05). Both sexes had scores above 6 in nutritional risk and were diagnosed to have a "high-risk nutritional status." In the diagnosis of eating habits with nutritional risk, diet quality was higher for female patients (p<0.05), and the nutritional intake of subjects was low for most nutrients. In particular, the intake of calcium, vitamin A, riboflavin, and folic acid was low, indicating a need to improve eating habits for the balanced intake of nutrients because of the increasing importance of eating habits for controlling chronic diseases.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2010

Purpose: Poisoning is a major health problem for the elderly, and poisoning can cause fatal side effects. However, the characteristics and clinical features of elderly patients with acute poisoning have not been well studied in the previous domestic research. So, we tried to analyze the clinical characteristics and toxic substances of the patients who were 65 years old or older and who were admitted to the regional emergency medical center due to acute poisoning. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and poisoning protocols of the patients who were 65 years of age or older and who had with acute poisoning and who visited the ED in our emergency center from January 2005 to December 2009. We collected the demographic information, the gender, the underlying diseases, the causes and toxic substances, the initial presentation, the treatment and the outcomes. Results: A total of 2179 poisoned patients visited the hospital during 5 years, and among them 244 were 65 years of age or older (11.2%). The mean age was $75.6{\pm}6.9$ years and the male:female ratio was 1:1.7. The most common cause of poisoning was suicide (73.4%) and the most common source of poisonous substances was their own drugs. Of the substances used for poisoning, benzodiazepine was the most common drug (25.8%), followed by sedatives other than benzodiazepine (25.4%), insecticide (12.7%), chemical agents (12.3%) and herbicides (8.2%). The most common initial presentation was mental change (64.8%). When comparing the factors between the three elderly groups, there was no difference in gender, the cause, the substances and the underlying disease. The outcomes of treatment included ICU admission (56.1%), a good condition at discharge (12.7%) and admission to a general ward (12.7%). The overall mortality rate was 10.2% for the elderly patients. Conclusion: In this Korean study, unlike the foreign studies, the most common cause of poisoning in elderly patients was intentional poisoning. The admission rate was 68.8% and mortality rate was 10.2%.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.879-887
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to know the state of rehabilitation treatment of stroke, to compare treatment with Bobath therapy or not, establish what factors have influence on treatment effect and hospitalization period and to be a great help for guide of treatment and education of patient and family We analyzed 87 stroke patients retrospectively for the patient's age, the subtype of diagnosis, the period at the start of treatment, the duration of treatment, the duration of hospitalization, the speech problem the co-morbid complication and the ambulatory function at discharge These patients visited the department of rehabilitation medicine, Holy Family Hospital, Catholic university of Korea from June 1993 to June 1998. The patients were classified into two groups. One group (47 patients) was treated by Bobath trerapy and the other (40 patients) was not. The results were as follow ; 1) The period at the start of treatment was 15.3 days and the duration of treatment was 32.4 days 2) The shorter the period at the start of treatment, the shorter the duration of admission 3) There was no significant difference between two groups for the duration of hospitalization, seventy two percent of patients with Bobath treatment was walked compared with 25% of patients without Bobath treatment was. 4) There was no relation between the speech problem and the duration of admission, but the group with no speech problem showed better results in ambulation than those with speech problem. On conclusion, as soon as possible early rehabilitation treatment of the stroke patients should be performed in order to reduce the duration of hospitalization. Special(or professonal) treatment with Bobath therapy show more improved funtional recovery than that without Bobath therapy. Therefore actualization of Bobath therapy is also required.