• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.36-57
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• 2010

The degree of income inequality deepened by health care expenditure was useful in assessing the health security level. This exploratory study was conducted to provide a basic evidence to prove the necessity of reinforcement the benefit coverage of South Korea's health security systems. Data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey of Korea and Luxembourg Income Study were used. Income inequality indices before and after deduction of health care expenditure were computed, and the degree of the increase in the indices was compared among 13 countries. The degree of decrease against the effect of income inequality reduction policies by health care expenditure was determined. The relationships between the national characteristics and the increase in income inequality were examined. In South Korea, all income inequality indices increased after deducting health care expenditure, but the difference was not high compared to the mean of 13 countries. However, the degree of decrease against the effect of income inequality reduction policies by health care expenditure was high, compared to the mean of 13 countries. The proportion of public sector spending on health care proved to be statistically significant with the increase of income inequality indices (p<0.05). In the context of the continuous increase in health care expenditure, if benefit coverage of health security systems is not reinforced, income inequality will all the more increase due to health care expenditure. In the establishment of the policies for reinforcement of the benefit coverage, income inequality after deduction of health care expenditure should be continuously monitored.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.1
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• pp.55-58
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• 2012

Mycobacterium szulgai is a rare nontuberculous mycobacterium found in Korea. It is an opportunistic pathogen and is usually isolated from patients with a history of alcoholism, chronic pulmonary disease, or an immunocompromising condition. We present here a case of M. szulgai isolated from a patient with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis. A 54-year-old man was admitted with dyspnea and febrile sensation. He had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis which occurred 30 years earlier and treatment with anti-tuberculosis medication. His chest computed tomography scan showed cavitary consolidation in both upper lungs. A sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear was positive and anti-tuberculous medication was started. However, a polymerase chain reaction for mycobacterium tuberculosis was negative and anti-tuberculous medication was stopped. M. szulgai was isolated on 3 separate sputum and bronchial wash fluid AFB cultures. He was treated with clarithromycin, rifampicin, and ethambutol. After 1 month, a sputum AFB smear and culture became negative and no additional M. szulgai were isolated during a 16-month treatment.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.21-40
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study is to find the tendencies and differences of mother's child-rearing anxiety before and after their children enter into elementary school, to analyze the factors influencing child-rearing anxiety at each time, and thereby to seek a support plan at the time of transition. Methods: The subjects of this study were 181 mothers who participated in two surveys which were conducted before and after their child entered into elementary school. Results: Firstly, mother's child-rearing anxiety before and after their children's entrance into elementary school was at a middle level, but increased significantly when they experienced their children's transition to elementary school. Secondly, mother's child-rearing anxiety, before their children's entrance into elementary school, was influenced by private education, the collection of educational information, cognitive ability, whether or not to develop a work status change plan, and birth order sequentially. Thirdly, child-rearing anxiety after their children's entrance into elementary school was significantly influenced by child-rearing anxiety before their children's entrance into elementary school and the mother's employment. Conclusion/Implications: This study is meaningful in the point that it suggested the necessity for the cooperation between multiple systems, such as systematic and stepwise parenting education, the importance of offering information to educational institutions and local governments, and for work- family support policy to prioritize children in order to support children's successful transition into elementary school.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.355-360
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• 1999

Objectives: This 3-year longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate the influence of self-rating health perception on health care utilization and all cause-death risk. Methods: The hypothesis was tested using a community-based samples, among which subjects 3,414 were interviewed in 1995, Self-rating health perception was assessed by single-item question. Three components of health care utilization amount(number of visits, number of medications, yearly health care expenses) per year were measured using medical insurance data during 3-year follow-up period among subjects in district health care insurance. There were 123 deaths from all causes among 3,085 subjects interviewed. Results: The results showed that those who had poor health perception revealed more increases in the amount of health care utilization than good health perception group (p<0.05). After adjusting for age and sex, the poor health perception group had higher death risk over 3 years than good health perception group(hazard ratio=1.88). but, after adjusting health care utility, supplementary, was not significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that self-rating health perception was associated with difference in health care utilization and all cause-death risk.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.243-252
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify the relationship between the readiness for hospital discharge and self-care changes in an early stage of liver transplantation after discharge. Methods: Data of 75 liver transplant recipients within one year of surgery from a transplantation center from May 2019 to May 2020 were collected for this study. Their readiness for discharge was measured before discharge. Self-care after liver transplantation was evaluated at one week, one month, and three months of discharge at outpatient visits. Linear mixed model was used to evaluate the statistical relationship. Results: The readiness for hospital discharge was significantly higher when the caregiver was a spouse (p=.027), with fewer post-transplantation days (p=.027), absence of acute rejection (p=.004), or high self-efficacy (p<.001). As a result of the linear mixed model analysis, the higher the discharge readiness score, the higher the self-care score (β=0.29, p<.001). However, after three months, their self-care had decreased regardless of their level of readiness for hospital discharge compared to one week after discharge. Conclusion: Improving the readiness before discharge is essential to enhance self-care. Also, active intervention at 3 months of discharge should be performed to check and promote their long-term self-care.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.661-668
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• 1997

The majority of lung cancers associated with hyperamylasemia are adenocarcinomas. Here we report an unusual case of a 54-year-old male patient who complained of dyspnea, anterior chest wall discomfort and facial edema for one month, presenting with a huge mediastinal mass and hyperamylasemia complicated by pericardial effusion. Histological evaluation of mediastinal mass revealed small cell carcinoma and pericardium showed nonspecific inflammation with fibrosis. The serum amylase had an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of salivary gland enzyme. There were no evidence of a salivary or pancreatic causes of hyperamylasemia. After chemotherapy, parenchymal lung lesions improved and hyperamylasemia disappeared. For the management of pericardial effusion, a pericardial window was formed. We concluded that the striking increase in serum amylase was due to the ectopic production of this enzyme by the tumor.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.497-511
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a school-centered healthy eating environment for children in elementary care classrooms and prevent incorrect eating habits and obesity through the development and application of standardized healthy eating habit-forming educational materials. Methods: Ten schools in eight districts of Gyeonggi-do and 400 students from 19 care classes were selected. Based on the developed educational materials, the program was applied to students once in two weeks. 'Notices for Parents' forms were also sent to the students' home to educate their parents. Pre and post-surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the education. The pre-education, education, and aftercare were conducted from September 28 to September 31, 2016, from October 3 to November 30, 2016, and from December 5 to December 9, 2016, respectively. Results: The healthy eating program for elementary care classes was designed to develop a school-centered healthy eating environment and provide standardized educational material for healthy eating habits. Twelve educational topics were developed: , , , , , , , , , , , and . Moreover, the materials were produced in four forms: for students, for after school caring teachers, for external specialists, and for parents. The effectiveness evaluation was conducted to confirm the application of the program. The average eating habits score was 3.3 ± 0.6, with no significant difference between before and after application. The score of overall satisfaction of the education was 3.9 ± 0.9. The most satisfying content was 'Did you get to know how to eat evenly?'. Significant increases were observed in two contents for parents regarding their children's knowledge changes after the education: 'Five nutrients needed for growing children' and 'Knowing sugar foods and sugar-containing foods'. On the other hand, their educational satisfaction was 3.6 ± 0.6, which was lower than the children's satisfaction. This might be because their education was conducted only through the 'Notices for Parents' form. Conclusions: In the long term, the healthy eating habit-formation education for lower elementary school children is expected to be beneficial. To prevent obesity and establish healthy eating habits of children, it is important to develop healthy eating education programs centered on elementary school aftercare classes, including the development of educational materials and an application system through connection with the home and community.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.313-325
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to develop the protocol of kangaroo care for premature infants and to evaluate its effects including physiologic responses of premature infants, their parents'anxiety, and neonatal nurses'perception regarding the kangaroo care. Methods: Kangaroo care protocol was developed through a literature review and validation of an expert group. The developed kangaroo care protocol was tested with 27 preterm infants, 24 parents, and 60 nurses in one neonatal intensive care unit in S hospital. Data were collected from December 2012 to February 2013 and analyzed by descriptive statistics and t-test using the SPSS/Win statistical program. Results: Physiologic responses including heart rate, respiration rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature among premature infants received the kangaroo care were maintained within normal limit. The anxiety levels of the parents who provided kangaroo care for their infants were significantly decreased as it was compared before and after care (t=3.43, p=.002). There were no significant differences in nurses'perceptions about kangaroo care before and after the application of the protocol. Conclusion: The developed kangaroo care protocol is proved to be effective and can be used safely in nursing practice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.396-399
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• 2008

Factitious hemoptysis is the bleeding type of Munchausen's syndrome, and this describes a group of patients who intentionally produce symptoms. Because factitious hemoptysis is a very rare manifestation of hemoptysis, it generally passes unnoticed. We report here on a case of factitious hemoptysis in a 15-year-old boy who presented with hemoptysis. During his three hospitalizations, we conducted many diagnostic procedures, including chest CT, laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy and bronchial arteriography, yet we failed to find the definitive cause of the patient's hemoptysis. He kept on complaining of repetitive hemoptysis and seizure-like activity. His father discovered that he had collected his blood into the specimen cup via an intravenous line. After we removed the intravenous line, he did not show blood to us again. We suggest that factitious hemoptysis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemoptysis of an unclear bleeding focus, and especially when the patient has a bizarre hospital course or unusual behavior. We also include a review of the relevant literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2004

Anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS) is an uncommon, but potentially fatal and mutilsystemic disorder that occurs after exposure to the arene oxide-producing anticonvulsants-carbamzepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin. The multisystemic reactions include fever, skin eruptions, lymphadenopathy, hematologic abnormality and hepatitis. The diagnosis of AHS is made by history of drug exposure and clinical course. No specific treatments are proved as benefit except discontinuing the offending drug and trying the steroids in some severe cases. We report a case of carbamazepine induced anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome characterized by skin rash, eosinophilia, subcarinal lymphadenopathy and eosinophilic pneumonia. The patient was resolved completely after only discontinuing carbamazepine.