• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.3
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• pp.151-161
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• 2012

Background: Adequate assessment and control of sedation play crucial roles in the proper performance of mechanical ventilation. Methods: A total of 30 patients with various pulmonary diseases were prospectively enrolled. The study population was randomized into two groups. The sedation assessment group (SAG) received active protocol-based control of sedation, and in the empiric control group (ECG), the sedation levels were empirically adjusted. Subsequently, daily interruption of sedation (DIS) was conducted in the SAG. Results: In the SAG, the dose of midazolam was significantly reduced by control of sedation (day 1, $1.3{\pm}0.5{\mu}g/kg/min$; day 2, $0.9{\pm}0.4{\mu}g/kg/min$; p<0.01), and was significantly lower than the ECG on day 2 (p<0.01). Likewise, on day 2, sedation levels were significantly lower in the SAG than in the ECG. Significant relationship was found between Ramsay sedation scale and Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS; $r_s$=-0.57), Ramsay Sedation Scale and Bispectral Index (BIS; $r_s$=0.77), and RASS and BIS ($r_s$=-0.79). In 10 patients, who didn't require re-sedation after DIS, BIS showed the earliest and most significant changes among the sedation scales. Ventilatory parameters showed significant but less prominent changes, and hemodynamic parameters didn't show significant changes. No seriously adverse events ensued after the implementation of DIS. Conclusion: Active assessment and control of sedation significantly reduced the dosage of sedatives in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. DIS, conducted in limited cases, suggested its potential efficacy and tolerability.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-54
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to analyze that ICT-based primary health care affects clinical changes of participants in the primary care chronic disease management pilot project using ICT medical care. Customized health information data, provided by National Health Insurance Service, was used for the analysis. The study targeted a total of 676 people that participated in primary care chronic disease management pilot project using ICT medical care from 2017 to 2018. Hierarchical regression was used to test three model. First, there were many subjects who used face-to-face consultation and non-face-to-face consultation(messaging), but less than half of patients using non-face-to-face consultation(telephone). Second, after participating in the pilot project, the fasting blood sugar level decreased. Third, the clinical condition of the subjects appeared to be an important factor in controlling blood sugar levels. Finally, patients using the non-face-to-face consultation(messaging) had reduced blood sugar levels after participating in the project. This results imply that non-face-to-face consultation is effective in reducing fasting blood sugar level with hospital intervention, and there are effects of the primary care chronic disease management project using ICT.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2012

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop a navigation program for newly diagnosed cancer patients and to evaluate its effects. Methods: The navigation program was based upon Professional Navigation Framework. Patients were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires on satisfaction, distress, anxiety and depression for evaluating the program. Results: The navigation program consisted of facilitating two concepts: continuity of care and empowerment of patients. Information-education package, telephone counseling and navigator's phone number were provided to the newly diagnosed cancer patients for care continuity. Self-care diary and emotional support by telephone counseling were provided to the patients for empowerment of patients. A total of 163 patients - 78 control and 85 experimental participants - were included in the study. The mean scores of satisfaction, distress, anxiety and depression had no statistical differences between the two groups after program implementation. In patients with longer waiting days, the experimental group with the navigation program showed higher relational continuity than the control group after program implementation(p=.023). In patients with longer waiting days or with higher distress, satisfaction of relational continuity was improved after program implementation in the experimental group. Conclusion: The navigation program in this study has applied the concept of patient navigation into oncology clinical setting in Korea. Navigation program can play a significant role in assisting patients navigating across the care continuum.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.396-412
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• 2014

Background: As a reform plan of health care system, Accountable Care Organization (ACO) has became an object of attention in the United States after Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted. ACO is a group of various health care providers and provide coordinated care to its assigned beneficiaries. If ACOs improve the quality level and reduce the cost of care, they can get financial incentives. Under the discussion for a quite long time and demonstration projects, ACO has been established. We aimed to analysis and discuss the history, policy mechanism, contents, status and outcomes of ACO. Also, we intended to suggest political implication Korean health care system with regard to ACO. Methods: We searched the articles related ACO in PubMed and selected several available papers about ACO. Total 56 studies were reviewed and categorized three parts; demonstration projects for formation of ACO, policy mechanism and agenda, empirical results of ACO performance. Results: As a result, establishment of ACO was successful partly in the US. It seems to be due to various project and pilot test for verification in the long time. The empirical effect of ACO was also identified in a few study but it needs more evidences to judge its positive effect. Conclusion: In Korea, there are arguments for the application of ACO. However it is difficult to implement a ACO by different political conditions between Korean and US. Nevertheless ACO proposed us the necessity of paradigm shift in our health policy and could be significant to national policy orientation in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the effects on vision care program including traditional Korean treatment for elementary school students. Methods: 172 eyes of eighty-six older elementary students underwent a vision care program, including traditional Korean treatment, for 3 months between March 2010 and June 2010. The vision care program included health education, such as lifestyle modification, vision strengthening exercises and a course of treatment with traditional Korean methods. Traditional Korean treatment covered periocular acupuncture point stimulation, periauricular acupuncture point stimulation and herbal drug therapy. All patients were examined for visual acuity and auto-refraction and filled out a satisfactory questionnaire about ocular discomforts and quality of life before and after treatments. Results: Patients with mild myopia (-0.75~-2.00) were 61 (35.5%), and 46 (26.7%) were emetropia (${\pm}0.50$ or less). After treatment, uncorrected visual acuity in both eyes was $0.77{\pm}0.46$, which was lower than that before treatment ($0.82{\pm}0.51$), but corrected visual acuity was $0.98{\pm}0.21$, which was higher than that before treatment ($0.93{\pm}0.28 $). About the refractive change, the emetropia group showed a slightly myopic shift while the mild myopia group intended to reduce the myopic error. However, this was not statistically significant. The scales of eyeball pain or discomfort decreased significantly from $17.59{\pm}22.5$ before treatment to $10.28{\pm}17.80$ after treatment, and the scales of the quality of life increased from $1.85{\pm}1.25$ before treatment to $2.25{\pm}1.30$ after treatment. Most patients (90.7%) were satisfied with their treatment results. Conclusions: The vision care program including traditional Korean treatment for elementary school students was effective to improve corrected visual acuity in both eyes and delay the progression of school myopia. In addition, it helped to reduce eyeball pain and discomfort and ultimately to enhance quality of life. Long-term follow-up studies will be needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.2
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• pp.228-231
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• 2012

Bronchobiliary fistula (BBF), defined as an abnormal communication between the biliary duct and bronchial trees, is a very rare condition. Bilioptysis is a pathognomonic finding for BBF. We studied a 58-year-old man, who had a BBF complicated by liver biloma that occurred after radiofrequency ablation. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of bile-stained sputum and an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography. BBF was treated successfully by endoscopic sphincterotomy and biliary drainage with insertion of a double pig-tail plastic stent into the biloma. We suggest that the optimal choice of treatment modality for BBF depends on the natural course of the underlying disease, and the status of the biliary stricture.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.229-232
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• 2014

A 55 year-old man hit a vehicle while riding a bicycle. He was diagnosed as left hemopneumothorax, multiple rib fracture, cerebral hemorrhage, and skull fracture. Initially he suffered from hypoxia requiring 100% oxygen with a mechanical ventilator. Finally he became hypotensive. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated to support patient's gas exchange. Because hypotension and left ventricular dysfuction persisted, we converted the mode of support to veno-arterio-venous ECMO. Over four days of intensive care, we could wean off ECMO. The patient went to rehabilitation facility after 45 days of hospitalization. Although trauma and bleeding are considered as relative contraindication of ECMO, careful decision making and management may enable us to use ECMO for trauma-related refractory heart and/or lung failure.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.111-120
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• 2023

Purpose: The gradual increase in the number of children with disabilities in Korea highlights the necessity for further research on the role of school health teachers in their care. This study explored the specific experiences of school health teachers in special schools through individual in-depth interviews. Methods: In this study, 11 school health teachers participated, and data were collected through individual in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. Results: The experiences of health teachers at special schools were classified into 5 themes and 13 subthemes. These included "concerns about working in special schools and attachment after working," "management of diverse diseases and ongoing, careful observation," "ambivalence regarding students with disabilities," "competences needed to care for students with disabilities," and "enhancing care education for students with disabilities: demanding institutional support." Conclusion: Effective student health management depends on open communication channels and the establishment of strong connections among health teachers, school personnel, and parents of impaired students. To enhance the quality of care for children with disabilities, specialized education programs to improve teachers' healthcare competency should be developed. Additionally, specific guidelines for the range of medical treatments provided by health instructors, should be devised.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.39-51
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of satisfaction among convalescent hospital staff members on patient safety and quality of care after the certification of the medical institution. Methods: A survey was conducted on seven convalescent hospitals in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, and North Jeolla Province, which were certified as medical institutions for convalescent hospitals by the end of May 2017, The study period lasted from July 24, 2017 to August 22, 2017. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between staff member satisfaction and patient safety and quality of care (r = 0.586, p<0.001). Regression analysis showed that staff member satisfaction (${\beta}=0.531$, p<0.001) had a statistically significant effect on patient safety and quality of care and showed 46.9% explanatory power. Conclusions: The satisfaction of the convalescent hospital staff after the certification of the medical institution positively affected patient safety and quality of care.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.4
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• pp.377-384
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• 2017

Background: Proper education regarding inhaler usage and optimal management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is essential for effectively treating patients with COPD. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management. Methods: We enlisted 127 patients with COPD on an outpatient basis at 43 private clinics in Korea. The patients were educated on inhaler usage and disease management for three visits across 2 weeks. Physicians and patients were administered a COPD assessment test (CAT) and questionnaires about the correct usage of inhalers and management of COPD before commencement of this program and after their third visit. Results: The outcomes of 127 COPD patients were analyzed. CAT scores ($19.6{\pm}12.5$ vs. $15.1{\pm}12.3$) improved significantly after this program (p<0.05). Patients with improved CAT scores of 4 points or more had a better understanding of COPD management and the correct technique for using inhalers than those who did not have improved CAT scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: A comprehensive education program including inhaler training and COPD management at a primary care setting improved CAT scores and led to patients' better understanding of COPD management.