• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.328-336
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• 2011

Purpose: An association between very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) and hearing loss has long been recognized. Early identification and intervention for hearing loss benefits language and speech/cognitive development. We investigated the risk factors and clinical outcomes of hearing loss among VLBWI. Methods: We analyzed the results of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing of VLBWI. These infants were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between December 2008 and February 2011. A follow-up was conducted subsequently. Results: ABR evaluations were performed on 65 infants, and 31 showed abnormal results (47.7%). Among the 31 infants, 10 were classified with moderate/severe/profound hearing loss (15.4%). The infants with abnormal ABR had a higher incidence of low birth weight, prolonged ventilator care, cumulative dose of furosemide, and the lowest $PaO_2$ (P<0.05). Those with moderate/severe/profound hearing loss had a higher incidence of low Apgar scores at 5 minutes (odds ratio[OR],0.34; 95% confidence interval[CI],0.13-0.89), prolonged ventilator care (OR,1.06; 95% CI,1.01-1.12), and mild hearing loss compared to those without profound hearing loss. Follow-up evaluations on eight infants with ABR reveled improvements 5.6${\pm}$3.9 months later. One infant, who had profound hearing loss in both ears, used a hearing aid. Conclusion: Factors influencing hearing loss at the first VLBWI hearing screening test included lower Apgar scores at 5 min and prolonged use of a ventilator. Most VLBWI with hearing losses were expected to recover after several months of follow-up.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.288-292
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• 2011

Purpose: The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has increased in children and in neonates, and is particularly associated with frequent use of central venous catheter in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. It is known that the morbidity and mortality of MRSA infection are low in neonates, as compared with adults. The objective of this study was to examine the difference in clinical characteristics between VLBW infants that survived and those that did not, a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) of MRSA. Methods: Thirty-four VLBW infants had laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection with S. aureus. We examined the incidence, mortality and morbidity of CRBSI, and predictive factors associated with mortality. Results: Twenty-six infants had same pathogen (24 MRSA, 2 Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) in the blood and in the catheter tip. Eight infants (25.8%) died in the CRBSI and they all had MRSA blood infections. Sex ratio, gestational age, duration between blood collection and identification of pathogens, and WBC and platelet count were not significantly different between patients that died from and patients that survived CRBSI of MRSA. C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in VLBW infants that died. Mean age of onset and hospital day was earlier (9.1${\pm}$6.6 vs. 26.9${\pm}$20.2; P=0.005) and shorter for patients that died (10.1${\pm}$7.0 vs. 73.0${\pm}$32.4; P=0.000). Two survivors had complications of pyogenic arthritis of the lower extremities and soft tissue infection, respectively. Conclusion: Mortality of CRBSI was likely to be high in VLBW infants and might be anticipated by CRP and early onset of disease.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.105-124
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to provide the data base for the activation of Quality Improvement operation through investigating the status of Quality Improvement operation, and finding out factors influencing on the goal-orientation of QI performers in the medical centers of more than one hundred beds where are practicing Quality Improvement operation. In order to reach the purpose, document study was carried out grounded on the proceeding researches and formulated statistical data in relation with the status of Quality Improvement performers, and proof study was carried out through questionnaire survey. The subjects of the survey were the Quality Improvement performers working in seventy three medical centers in Pusan-Gyeongnam, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Ulsan. Among eighty three Quality Improvement performers, fifty, five were questionnaire surveyed, on the result of which Reliability Analysis, Factor Analysis, and Multiple Regression Analysis were made, using statistical program. The the results of the proof analysis on this research are as follows. First, in the factors influencing the devoting to goal pursuit of QI performers, organization-goal contribution(0.44) had significant positive effects, while organization conflict(-0.25) had significant negative effects. In other words, the higher the organization-goal contribution was, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, while the less the organization conflict was, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). Second, in the aspect of goal performance types of QI performers, the process-centered type showed high level of the devoting to goal pursuit, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). Third, in the aspect of QI performance degree, the higher the devoting to goal pursuit was, the higher the QI performance degree was, which was statistically significant.(p<0.05). In addition, the performers who perceived their workplaces organic structure showed much higher QI performance degree, which statistically significant.(p<0.05). Generalizing the results of this research, it is possible to offer a few suggestions as follows. First, as the competition among the medical centers is more severe recently owing to medical center evaluation system, medical centers are practicing various Quality Improvement operation in all of medical services such as clinical performance and management performance, to reach the purpose of both cost-cutting and medical quality improvement. Thus in order to practice Quality Improvement operation more efficiently in medical centers, it is essential to nuke use of problem-solving methods and statistical members. This as the willingness of chief executives and positive attitude and recognition of organization members. This requires the installation of divisions in charge and disposition of persons in charge, not to speak of persistent training of Quality Improvement. Second, the divisions in charge of QI carry out Quality Improvement operation at the medical center level, and take the role of generalizing and adjusting QI performances of various departments. Owing to this role, the division in charge of QI is considered indispensable organization in the QI operation of medical centers along with medical QI committee, while it contributes to the government's goal of reducing quality level gaps among medical centers. Therefore it is necessary for government and QI organizations to give institutional support and resources for the sake of QI operation of medical centers, besides to supply systematic trainning and informations to the divisions and persons in charge of QI. Third, it is certain that disposition of persons in charge should be determined in view of the scale and the scope of QI operation in medical centers.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.39-47
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• 2014

Purpose As breast cancer patients continue to increase every year, cases of BSGI are on the rise with a heavier reliance on it. However, BSGI protocol in hospitals was not studied enough despite it was covered by hospital's condition and recommendation of manufacturers. The objective of the study was an examination of methods to be applicable to BSGI protocols, putting the self-development phantom to use in quality assessment of the images. Materials and Methods Dilon 6800 (Dilon Technologies Inc, Newport News, USA) was used in the study and five different sizes of sphere were distinctively produced in the phantom. The study used $^{99m}TcO_4$. The cases were classified in to three categories that background radioactivity to region of interest as ratio of 2: 4: 8, They were acquired images for 5, 7, 10mins. The acquired image was set region of interest according to the size of sphere, and We analyzed quantitative and qualitative analysis. The acquired data statistically analyzed with SPSS ver.18.0. Results As the result of quantitative and qualitative analysis, count rate of each sphere in accordance with difference of injection dose showed that higher count rate as injection dose and sphere size increased (P<0.005). Count rate of each sphere in accordance with difference of acquisition time showed that higher count rate as acquisition time and sphere size increased (P<0.005). Contrast noise ratio of each sphere in accordance with difference of injection dose showed that higher contrast noise ratio as injection dose increased. Particularly, Contrast noise ratio of eight times ratio images was the highest among. Contrast noise ratio of each sphere in accordance with difference of acquisition time showed that higher contrast noise ratio as acquisition time increased. And, Contrast noise ratio of seven minute image was the highest among (P<0.005). Conclusion There was significant change of Contrast noise ratio through quantitative and qualitative analysis. Moreover, We found usefulness of phantom. If Institutions identified image through the phantom study and they made BSGI protocol, We expected to help the improvement of diagnostic value of the images.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 1992

During the period between March 1983 and December 1990, 74 patients with esophageal carcinoma (EG) were treated with radiation therapy (RT) at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Of these, 6 patients were lost to follow-up, and 13 patients were interrupted. So the remaining 55 patients were analyzed, retrospectively. 32 patients were irradiated with curative aim, 12 patients with palliative intent, 10 patients postoperatively, and 1 patient pre- and post-operatively. Among these 55 patients, 28 patients were treated with chemoradiation modality, and 27 patients with RT alone. All patients were followed for a minimum of 20 months or until death. Of 32 patients irradiated by curative aim, 22 patients (69%) showed partial remission (PR), 6 patients (19%) complete remission (CR). Overall mean survival and two-year survival rate were 15.6 months and 22%. With respect to sex, age, pathologic differentiation, tumor location, tumor size, stage, RT aim, RT response, RT dose, use of chemotherapy and functional categories (FC) of dysphagia at initiation of RT and at finishing RT: Tumor size, stage, RT response had great influences on prognosis and FC at finishing RT had a slight influence on prognosis. Especially, the mean survival and 2-year survival rate in patients with postoperative RT were 24.7 months and 63%, which could be compared with 29.1 months and 43% in radically treated patients with CR. And the mean survival duration and 2-year survival rate in patients irradiated with doses more than 60 Gy were 22.4 months and 29%, and 50~60 Gy were 12.2 months and 12%, respectively. However, no significant difference was shown statistically. Among 12 patients treated with palliative intent, 9 patients (75%) had good improvement in dysphagia and the mean duration of palliative response was 10.6 months.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2006

$\underline{Purpose}$: This study was to search the optimal slice thickness of computed tomography (CT) in an intensity modulated radiation therapy plan through changing the slice thickness and comparing the change of the calculated absorbed dose with measured absorbed dose. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: An intensity modulated radiation therapy plan for a head and neck cancer patient was done, first of all. Then CT with various ranges of slice thickness ($0.125{\sim}1.0\;cm$) for a head and neck anthropomorphic phantom was done and the images were reconstructed. The plan parameters obtained from the plan of the head and neck cancer patient was applied into the reconstructed images of the phantom and then absorbed doses were calculated. Films were inserted into the phantom, and irradiated with 6 MV X-ray with the same beam data obtained from the head and neck cancer patient. Films were then scanned and isodoses were measured with the use of film measurement software and were compared with the calculated isodeses. $\underline{Results}$: As the slice thickness of CT decreased, the volume of the phantom and the maximum absorbed dose increased. As the slice thickness of CT changed from 0.125 to 1.0 cm, the maximum absorbed dose changed ${\sim}5%$. The difference between the measured and calculated volume of the phantom was small ($3.7{\sim}3.8%$) when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less. The difference between the measured and calculated dose was small ($0.35{\sim}1.40%$) when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Because the difference between the measured and calculated dose in a head and neck phantom was small and the difference between the measured and calculated volume was small when the slice thickness of CT was 0.25 cm or less, we suggest that the slice thickness of CT should be 0.25 cm or less for an optimal intensity modulated radiation therapy plan.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs of breast self examination education (BSEE) programs for developing nursing centers. A first, we reviewed the literature of activity and management-related factors of nursing centers: and, second. we used a questionnaire to discover the degree of knowledge, attitude, and practice on breast cancer, as well as an individual's intention to participate BSEE program. 1. Reviewing the literatures of nursing center activities. Nursing centers which were administered by a professional nurse are an ideal site for faculty and student practices. With the use of nursing models of health. professional nurses in nursing centers diagnose and treat human responses to potential and actual health problems and offer holistic, client-centered health service. In nursing centers professional nursing services include health education, health promotion, and health-related research. A nursing center is comprised of the advisory and exacutive commitee; the advisory commitee serves consultants and links community needs to the nursing center, while the director of the exacutive commitee identifies the potential resources to generate funds, support, and facilitate the activities of staffs in a nursing center. Nursing centers mobilize various financal resources for reimbursement of services from college and insurance companies, collect minimum service fees from the client, and further collect fees for providing programs to community groups, this also includes membership fees, and donations. The services provided by nursing centers focus on services related to primary prevention, health maintenance & health promotion, direct nursing care for acute & chronic diseases, and holistic care for actual and potential health problems. The client satisfaction for the services was high. Students also showed positive reponses for their clinical experiences and independent working conditions. 2. The degree of knowledge, attitudes, and practices for breast cancer. and an individual's intention to participate in the BSEE program. The subjects of this study were 308 females in K-city in the Republic of Korea. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 35.0 years old. Those who already participated in the BSEE were 64.9%, and those who had support and encouragement to practice BSE from significant others were 25.1 %. Clients intent to participate in the BSEE were 37.0%. The mean score of knowledge(2.4 out of 5 points) and practices(1.8 out of 5 points) for breast cancer were quite low, but the mean score of attitudes was relatively positive04.5 out of 20 point) for breast cancer. Those who already had BSEE showed significantly high scores in knowledge(t=6.48, p<0.01), attitudes (t=10.54, p<0.01). and practices(t=57.07, p<0.001) for breast cancer than those who had not participated in the BSEE. In all age groups no intention to participate in the BSEE was higher than who the intention to participate. These findings suggest some strategies should be developed to increase the awareness of breast cancer's early detection.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.147-161
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• 2004

Objectives: There are many habitual drinking in rural area. So it is the key point of drinking control policy in rural community to understand the drinking behavior in leisure time and to have an appropriate screening method for problem drinking. CAGE and AUDIT are famous screening tools for problem drinking and alcoholics. Even though there are some studies to validate CAGE and AUDIT which translated in Korean, they were not studied with community based population but with hospital based patients. In this study we assessed the usefulness of CAGE and AUDIT for selecting problem drinking in a rural population, and compared problem drinkers with normal group about spending leisure, Methods: The study subjects were 120 residents over 20 years old who lived in 3 districts in Dong-San Myun near Chun-chon city. We made up questionnaire by interview from Feb. 13 to 19, 2004. Results: The mean age of study population was 66.01 .26 years old. Defining the problem drinking as more than 12 score in AUDIT and more than 2 score in CAGE, the proportion of problem drinker was 30.600 and 28.9% respectively. This proportions were higher than those of other national wide studies. There were significant difference in drinking frequency per week and amount per one episode between problem drinker and normal group. Experience about driving, accident, injury, disturbance in working and quarrel after drinking were also significantly different. Problem drinker were more tolerable to the bad social culture about drinking (eg. force to drink, bad drunken habit. overdrinking, drinking relay etc.) than normal group. Watching TV and playing with neighborhood were most frequent method of spending leisure in this study population, normal male group exercised more frequently in leisure time than problem drinker. Conclusions: It may be useful to use CAGE and AUDIT score for screening problem drinking in rural community. Appropriate utilization of leisure time may he important for control of problem drinking in rural area.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

Purpose : We aimed to compare the frequency of positive repeat urine cultures 48 hours after antimicrobial treatment between anatomically normal and abnormal urinary tract Infection (UTI) groups to determine the potential clinical usefulness of the tests. Methods : We reviewed medical records of 930 patients under age 14, who had been admitted for UTI at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from January 1, 1998 to August 1, 2008. The eligible patients were divided into two groups the anatomically normal UTI group and the anatomically abnormal UTI group. Statistical analyses were performed with variables consisting of the sex ratio, age distribution and the frequency of positive repeat urine cultures of each group. Results : The sex ratio of the anatomically normal UTI group was M:F=1.9:1, whereas that of the anatomically abnormal UTI group was M:F=3.5:1 (P=0.019). For age distribution, it was found that the mean age of the anatomically normal UTI group was $0.82{\pm}1.83$ years, whereas that of the anatomically abnormal UTI group was $1.18{\pm}2.57$ years (P=0.113). The frequency of positive repeat urine cultures in the anatomically normal UTI group was 3/279 (1.1%), whereas that of the anatomically abnormal UTI group was 1/90 (1.1%) (P=0.675). Conclusion : We conclude that performing a repeat urine culture is not justified in terms of clinical usefulness, and it is unreasonable to use the results as an index of therapeutic success. A follow-up urine culture is unnecessary in patients with both the anatomically normal and abnormal UTI group.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-102
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• 1995

As the society is being industrialized, the fast-paced economic development that has caused substantial increase in cerebrovascular and coronary artery diseases and the industrial development and increased use of means of transportation have resulted in the rapid rise of incidents in external injuries as well. So the pubic has become acutely aware of the need for fast and effective emergency care delivery system. The goal of emergency care delivery system is to meet the emergency care needs of patients. The emergency care delivery system is seeking to efficiently satisfy the care needs of people. Therefore the purpose of this study is designed to develop an effective programs for emergency care delivery system in Korea. The following specific objectives were investigated. This emergency care delivery system must have the necessary man power, for transfering the patients, communication net work, and emergency care facilities. 1) Man power Emergency care requires n0t only specialized traning in the emergency treatment but also knowledge and experience i11 other related area, so emergency care personnel traning program should be designed in order to adapt to the specific need of emergency patients. It will be necessary to ensure professional personnel who aquires the sufficient traning and experience for emergency care and to look for legal basis. We have to develop re-educational programs for emergency nurse specialist. They should be received speciality of emergency nursing care so that they will work actively and positively in emergency part. Emergency medical doctor and nurse specialist should be given an education which is related in emergency and critical care. Emergency care personnel will continue to provide both acute and continuing care as partner with other medical team. 2) Transfering the patients. Successful management of pre-hospital care requires adequate traning for the emergency medical technician. Traning program should be required to participate in a actual first aids activites in order to have apportunities to acquire practical skills as well as theoretical knowledge. The system of emergency medical technician should be remarkablly successful with first responder firefighters. Establishing this system must add necessary ambulances operating at any given time. It will be necessary to standardize the ambulance size and equipment. Ambulance should be arranged with each and every fire station. 3) Communication net work. The head office of emergency commumication network should be arranged with the head office of fire station in community. It is proposed that Hot-line system for emergency care should be introduce. High controlled ambulance and thirtial emergency center should simultaneously equip critical-line in order to communication with each other. Ordinary ambulance and secondary emergency facility should also simultaneously equip emergency-line in order to communication with each other. 4) Emergency care facilities. Primary emergency care facilities should be covered with the ambulatory emergency patients-minor illness and injuires. Secondary emergency care facilities should be covered with the emergency admission patients. Third emergency care center should be covered with the critical patients who need special treatments and operation. Secondary and third emergency care facilities should employ emergency medical doctor and emergency nurse specialist to treat in-patients with severe and acute illness and multiple injuires. It should be fashioned for a system of emergency facilities that meets emergency patients needs. Provide incentives for increased number of emergency care facilities with traning in personal/clinical emergency care. 5) Finance It is recommended to put the finance of a emergency care on a firm basis. The emergency care delivery system should be managed by the government or accreditted organizations. In order to facilitate this relevant program the fund is needed for more efficient and effective emergency researchs, service, programs, and policy. 6) Gaining understanding and co-operation of pubic It is also important to undertake pubic education to improve understanding of first aids and C. P. R of individuals, communities and business. It is proposed that teachers and health officers be certified in C. P. R. The C. P. R education can be powerful influence save lives. Lastly appropriate emergency care information must be provided to the pubic for assisting them in choosing emergency care.