• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.24-33
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• 2023

Purpose : This study aims to establish an optimal cut-off score on the Braden scale for the assessment of pressure injury to detect pressure injury risks among inpatients in a South Korean tertiary hospital. Methods : This retrospective study used electronic medical records, from January to December 2022. A total of 654 patients were included in the study. Of these, 218 inpatients with pressure injuries and 436 without pressure injuries were classified and analyzed using 1:2 Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and the generalized estimating equation was performed using SPSS Version 26 and the R Machlt package program. Results : The cut-off value on the Braden scale for distinguishing pressure injury was 17 points, and the AUC (area under the ROC curve) was 0.531 (0.484-0.579). The sensitivity was 56.6% (45.5-67.7%) and the specificity was 69.7% (66.0-73.4%). With 17 points, the Braden scale cut-off distinguished those who had pressure injuries from those who did not at the time of admission (p < .03). In the pressure injury group, the Braden score on the day of the pressure injury was 14, with significant results in all subcategories except the moisture category. Conclusion : Our findings revealed that a cut-off value of 17 was optimal for predicting the risk of pressure injuries among tertiary hospital inpatients. Future studies should evaluate the optimal cut-off values in different clinical environments. Additionally, it is necessary to conduct multicenter large sample studies to verify the effectiveness of a 17 value in PI risk assessments.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2022

Aim : The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the awareness level of the mandatory employment system for the disabled and the help of the employment increase on the health status of the disabled. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to raise awareness of the compulsory employment system for the disabled and to suggest a way to improve the health of the disabled. Methods : In this study, the first data of the second wave of the 2016-2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled was used to analyze the participation of the disabled in economic activities. a total of 1,648 subjects were analyzed using the chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results : Compared to the group knowing about the compulsory employment system for the disabled, in the group who did not know about the compulsory employment system, the cognitive level was significantly higher for subjective health status (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.573, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.252-1.977) and chronic diseases (OR: 1.407, 95% CI: 1.091-1.816), Compared to the group that the compulsory employment system for the disabled is helpful in increasing employment, the group that said it was not helpful at all had depression feel (OR: 2.330, 95% CI: 1.219-4.452) and subjective health status (OR: 2.052, 95% CI: 1.232. -3.416) significantly affected. Conclusion : It was found that the lower the level of awareness and help of the compulsory employment system for the disabled, the negative impact on their health status. Therefore, it is necessary to promote employment growth by raising awareness of the employment system for the disabled. Furthermore, in order to improve the health of the disabled, public relations plans to increase the understanding of the disabled on the system and policies to protect the disabled people who lose their will to work due to difficulties in accessing employment were enacted, and Changes to a disability-friendly working environment should be activated so that participants can participate.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.5 s.166
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• pp.405-415
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• 2006

The deposition of sewer solids during dry weather in combined sewer systems results in a loss of flow capacity that may restrict flow and cause a local flooding and enhanced solids deposition. Sewer solid accumulations in drainage systems also create the 'first-flush' phenomena during wet weather runoff periods. In order to solve these problems, measurement of these loadings for a given sewer system for extended period is needed but this task is very difficult and extremely expensive. In this study, generalized procedures for estimating sewer sediment solid during dry weather in combined sewer systems developed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency were applied in a drainage system in Korea. As result, the appropriate equation can be selected and applied according to the available data. However, the estimated solid sediment shows considerable difference between methods which classified by model and estimation methods of variable. The estimated values using equations (1) $\sim$ (4) are greater than that of equations (5) $\sim$ (9) and intermediate models show greater values than elaborate or simplest models. The comparison between simulated and measured solid deposition is difficult due to the absent of measurement data, but this estimation method can be used usefully for the management of sewer solid with reduction of cost and effort if the measurement is carried out and the equation is adjusted according to the actual drainage systems in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.256-266
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• 2014

Purpose : This study was to explore the long-term effects of breast cancer prevention volunteering on self-efficacy, depression, and posttraumatic growth among survivors with breast cancer. Methods: This pilot study utilized a longitudinal design. Participants were 14 women with breast cancer who participated in the breast cancer prevention educational program The data were collated between February and August in 2013. Self-report questionnaires were used to measure the self-efficacy for self-management of breast cancer, depression, and posttraumatic growth at pre-education(T0), 1 month(T1), 3 months(T2), and 6 months(T1) post-education. A generalized estimating equation regression model was used to identify the effects. Results: The scores of self-efficacy increased significantly at T1(${\chi}^2$=5.56, p=.0l8) and D(${\chi}^2$=4.56, p=.033) compared with T0. Depression and posttraumatic growth remained stable with fairly good levels throughout the 6-month period. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that breast cancer prevention volunteering in survivors with breast cancer can be effective for enhancing their self-efficacy and maintaining psychological well-bang. Also the study showed that such volunteering activity could be a useful program not only for the general public but also for breast cancer survivors.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.86-90
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• 2013

Objectives The aim of this study was to find out the psychological changes associated with internet addiction between before and after the military drill among the young male army recruits. Methods All 1091 participants were army recruits aged from 19 to 22 years who participated in the 5-week military drill. They were assessed with some self-reported questionnaires [Sociodemographic questionnaires, Young's Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Rated Scale (ASRS)]. They were divided into two groups, One is the internet addiction tendency group and the other is non-addiction group according to the IAS score. And the severity of the internet addiction tendency, depression, anxiety and impulsiveness were evaluated by the IAS, the STAI, the BDI, the BIS, the ASRS before and after military drill. Results The result of the paired t-test shows that the IAS, the STAI, the BDI, the BIS, the ASRS scores decreased after military drill in both non-addiction group and internet addiction tendency group. The result of the repeated measures ANOVA shows that there is an interaction effect between the changes of ASRS-hyperactivity (F = 23.437, p < 0.001), ASRS-impulsiveness (F = 4.896, p = 0.027), BIS-total (F = 4.057, p = 0.044), BIS-motor impulsiveness (F = 13.609, p < 0.001) scores and groups. The result of the generalized estimating equation shows that internet addiction tendency is associated with ASRS-inattention (${\beta}=0.075$, p < 0.001), ASRS-hyperactivity (${\beta}=0.092$, p = 0.002), STAI-trait anxiety (${\beta}=0.046$, p < 0.001), BIS-motor impulsiveness (${\beta}=0.119$, p = 0.028). Conclusions The results show that psychopathologies such as internet addiction tendency, depression, anxiety, impulsiveness may improve after military drill regardless of the groups. Internet addiction tendency may be related to the ASRS-inattention, ASRS-hyperactivity, STAI-trait anxiety, motor-impulsiveness. So these findings may be considered in the treatment of internet addiction in terms of the impulsiveness control.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.15-26
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• 2014

This study focus on a economic value of the Big Data technologies by real options model using big data technology company's stock price to determine the price of the economic value of incremental assessed value. For estimating stochastic process of company's stock price by big data technology to extract the incremental shares, Generalized Moments Method (GMM) are used. Option value for Black-Scholes partial differential equation was derived, in which finite difference numerical methods to obtain the Big Data technology was introduced to estimate the economic value. As a result, a option value of big data technology investment is 38.5 billion under assumption which investment cost is 50 million won and time value is a about 1 million, respectively. Thus, introduction of big data technology to create a substantial effect on corporate profits, is valuable and there are an effects on the additional time value. Sensitivity analysis of lower underlying asset value appear decreased options value and the lower investment cost showed increased options value. A volatility are not sensitive on the option value due to the big data technological characteristics which are low stock volatility and introduction periods.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.513-522
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• 2019

Background: South Korea operates a Medical Aid (MA) program targeting selected low-income individuals to ensure medical service delivery to the disadvantaged while enhancing self-sufficiency of work-capable beneficiaries. However, as reasons behind welfare exits are diverse and do not always infer poverty relief or the provision of appropriate levels of health care services, this study aimed to investigate the association between changes in MA status and health care utilization. Methods: This study used the 2006 to 2015 National Health Insurance claims data. The impact of changes in annual MA status on health care utilization (yearly number of outpatient visits, inpatient visits, length of stay, and emergency department [ED] visits) was investigated using the generalized estimating equation model. Results: In 117,943 adult subjects aged 20 to 64, compared to the 'MA to MA' group, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed general decreases in utilization (outpatient visits: β=-3.93, p<0.0001; hospital admissions: relative risk [RR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.91; length of stay: β=-3.64, p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77-0.90). Similar patterns were found in the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (outpatient visits: β=-5.72, p<0.0001; admissions: RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; length of stay: β=-5.87; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88). Likewise, in 74,747 older adult subjects aged 65 or above, the 'MA to MA exit' group showed reduced levels of utilization (outpatient visits: β=-1.51; p=0.0020), as well as the 'MA exit to MA exit' group (admissions: RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.95; length of stay: β, -5.45; p<0.0001; ED visits: RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97). Conclusion: MA exit was associated with general decreases in health care utilization. Utilization patterns of individuals with experiences of receiving MA benefits should be monitored to promote the ideal use of health care services while preventing potential financial barriers present in accessing medical care.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1066-1076
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the 2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) Practice Guidelines (hereafter, PG) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, compared to the Liver Imaging-Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) version 2018 (hereafter, v2018). Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to October 2015, treatment-naïve hepatic lesions (≥ 1 cm) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis were retrospectively evaluated. For each lesion, three radiologists independently analyzed the imaging features and classified the lesions into categories according to the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018. The imaging features and categories were determined by consensus. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the per-lesion diagnostic performance of the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018 using the consensus data. Results: In total, 422 lesions (234 HCCs, 45 non-HCC malignancies, and 143 benign lesions) from 387 patients (79% male; mean age, 59 years) were included. In all lesions, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity and lower specificity than LR-5 (LI-RADS v2018) (87.2% [204/234] vs. 80.8% [189/234], p < 0.001; 86.2% [162/188] vs. 91.0% [171/188], p = 0.002). However, in lesions of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC had a higher sensitivity than the LR-5 (86.8% [164/189] vs. 82.0 (155/189), p = 0.002) without a reduction in the specificity (80.0% [48/60] vs. 83.3% [50/60], p = 0.15). In all lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of the definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) and LR-5/4 did not differ significantly (89.7% [210/234] vs. 91.5% [214/234], p = 0.204; 83.5% [157/188] vs. 79.3% [149/188], p = 0.071). Conclusion: For the diagnosis of HCC of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity than LR-5, without a reduction in specificity. The definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a similar sensitivity and specificity to that those of the LR-5/4.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.866-877
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• 2022

Objective: The optimal imaging approach for evaluating pathological nipple discharge remains unclear. We investigated the value of adding ductography to ultrasound (US) for evaluating pathologic nipple discharge in patients with negative mammography findings. Materials and Methods: From July 2003 to December 2018, 101 women (mean age, 46.3 ± 12.2 years; range, 23-75 years) with pathologic nipple discharge were evaluated using pre-ductography (initial) US, ductography, and post-ductography US. The imaging findings were reviewed retrospectively. The standard reference was surgery (70 patients) or > 2 years of follow-up with US (31 patients). The diagnostic performances of initial US, ductography, and post-ductography US for detecting malignancy were compared using the McNemar's test or a generalized estimating equation. Results: In total, 47 papillomas, 30 other benign lesions, seven high-risk lesions, and 17 malignant lesions were identified as underlying causes of pathologic nipple discharge. Only eight of the 17 malignancies were detected on the initial US, while the remaining nine malignancies were detected by ductography. Among the nine malignancies detected by ductography, eight were detected on post-ductography US and could be localized for US-guided intervention. The sensitivities of ductography (94.1% [16/17]) and post-ductography US (94.1% [16/17]) were significantly higher than those of initial US (47.1% [8/17]; p = 0.027 and 0.013, respectively). The negative predictive value of post-ductography US (96.9% [31/32]) was significantly higher than that of the initial US (83.3% [45/54]; p = 0.006). Specificity was significantly higher for initial US than for ductography and post-ductography US (p = 0.001 for all). Conclusion: The combined use of ductography and US has a high sensitivity for detecting malignancy in patients with pathologic nipple discharge and negative mammography. Ductography findings enable lesion localization on second-look post-ductography US, thus facilitating the selection of optimal treatment plans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.627-637
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• 2023

Purpose To investigate the effect of patient positioning on tendinosis grade, visible range, and infraspinatus tendon (IST) thickness, and to determine the feasibility of internal rotation (IR) position to assess IST on ultrasound (US). Materials and Methods This study included 52 shoulders of 48 subjects who were evaluated for IST in three different positions: neutral position (N), IR, and position with the ipsilateral hand on the contralateral shoulder (HC). Two radiologists retrospectively graded IST tendinosis from grade 0 to grade 3 and the visible range from grade 1 to grade 4. The thickness of the IST was measured by another radiologist with a short-axis view. A generalized estimating equation was used for statistical analysis. Results The tendinosis grades were higher in the HC position than in the IR position, with a cumulative odds ratio of 2.087 (p = 0.004, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.268-3.433). The tendinosis grades in the HC position (p = 0.370) and IR position (p = 0.146) were not significantly different from those in the N position. The overall difference in IST thickness was significant (p < 0.001), but the visible range (p = 0.530) was not significantly different according to position. Conclusion Patient positioning significantly affected the grade of tendinosis and thickness but not the visible range of the IST. The IR position is a feasible position for assessing the IST on US.