• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.209-219
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe pregnant women's lived experiences of hospitalization due to preterm labor in Korea. Methods: This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological approach. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with nine participants, over the age of 20 years, who had been hospitalized for more than 1 week after being diagnosed with preterm labor. All interviews were audio-taped and verbatim transcripts were made for analysis. The data were analyzed following Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: The participants' ages ranged from 26 to 36 years, and all were married women. They were hospitalized for 13.1 days on average. Five thematic clusters emerged from the analysis. 'Withstanding hospitalization for the fetus's well-being' describes women's feelings during preterm labor and their endurance during their prolonged hospitalization, rooted in their conviction that the fetus comes first. 'Endless frustration in the hospital' encompasses women's emotions while lying in bed and quietly thinking to themselves. 'Unmet physiological needs' describes participants' awareness of their inability to independently handle human physiological needs given the need for careful and limited movement. 'Gratitude for the support around oneself' reflects the support from family and medical staff. 'Shifting perceptions and accepting one's circumstances' describes accepting hospitalization and making efforts to spend their remaining time in the hospital in a meaningful way. Conclusion: The findings in this study provide a deeper understanding and insights into the experiences of Korean women with preterm labor during hospitalization, underscoring the need to develop interventions for these patients.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of type 1 diabetes in patients with schizophrenia and their total medical costs and risk of hospitalization. Methods: This study used Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data in Korea. To examine total medical costs and risk of hospitalization, we selected 1,510 subjects with schizophrenia (half with and half without type 1 diabetes) that were 1:1 matched via propensity score matching. In health care system perspective, total medical costs included out-of-pocket and insurer's costs. Logistic regression models were used to examine the risk of hospitalization. Results: The prevalence of type 1 diabetes in patients with schizophrenia was 3.87 per 1,000 person year. Among patients with schizophrenia, the amount of total average medical costs and hospitalization costs in patients with type 1 diabetes was 1.49 and 1.59 times higher than those in patients without it, respectively. The odds of hospitalization were higher among patients with type 1 diabetes compared with those without it (odds ratio, OR=1.97 ; 95% CI 1.60-2.43). Conclusion: This study showed that medical costs and risk of hospitalization were higher in schizophrenia patients with type 1 diabetes. Therefore, these individuals may require specific care programs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.375-384
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was done to identify the level of adjustment to hospital life, hospitalization recognition and hospital-related fear by school-aged children, and investigate the influence of hospitalization recognition and hospital-related fear on the hospital life of these children. Methods: Participants were 112 three to six grade students who were hospitalized from 3 to 7 days at one of two children's hospital. Date were collected from September 2015 to March 2016. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, multiple regression. Results: The mean score for adjustment to hospital life was $3.43{\pm}0.40$ of 5, for hospitalization recognition, $2.98{\pm}0.46$ of 4 and for hospital-related fear, $1.37{\pm}0.28$ of 3. Factors affecting adjustment to hospital life were hospital-related fear (${\beta}=-.28$, p=.002) and hospitalization recognition (${\beta}=.27$, p=.003). These factors explained 17% of the variance in adjustment to hospital life. Conclusion: Results indicate that adjustment to hospital life by school-aged children is not sufficient enough for them to cope with illnesses and hospitalization. Therefore, to improve adjustment to hospital life by school-aged children, nursing interventions that focus on increasing hospitalization recognition and decreasing hospital-related fear need to be developed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2016

Purpose: Undernutrition during hospitalization increases the risk of nosocomial infection and lengthens the disease courses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization in children. Methods: All the patients who were admitted in general wards between April and May 2014 were enrolled. Patients aged >18 years and discharged within 2 days were excluded. Weight loss during hospitalization was defined as a decrease in body weight of >2% in 8 hospital days or on the day of discharge. Patients who lost body weight during hospitalization were compared with patients who maintained their body weights. Significant parameters were evaluated by using the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: We enrolled 602 patients, of whom 149 (24.8%) lost >2% of their body weight. Complaint of pain (p=0.004), admission to the surgical department (p=0.001), undergoing surgery (p=0.044), undergoing abdominal surgery (p=0.034), and nil per os (NPO) durations (p=0.003) were related to weight loss during hospitalization. The patients who had high weight-for-age tended to lose more body weight (p=0.001). Admission to the surgical department (odds ratio [OR], 1.668; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.054-2.637; p=0.029) and long NPO durations (OR, 1.496; 95% CI, 1.102-2.031; p=0.010) were independent risk factors of weight loss during hospitalization. The patients with high weight-for-age tended to lose more weight during hospitalization (OR, 1.188; 95% CI, 1.029-1.371; p=0.019). Conclusion: Greater care in terms of nutrition should be taken for patients who are admitted in the surgical department and have prolonged duration of nothing by mouth.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2008

This study investigated the age dependencies in ambient air pollution-associated asthma hospitalization from 2003 to 2005 in Seoul. For all ages and the age groups of 0-14, 15-64, and 65+years, the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks of daily asthma hospitalization associated with changes in particulate matter and ozone. The time-trends, seasonal variances, day effects, temperature, humidity, and pressure at sea level were controlled in the models. Significant associations were observed between asthma hospitalization and the levels of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$. The relative risks (RRs) of asthma hospitalization for every 10 unit increases in $PM_{10}({\mu}g/m^3)$ and $O_3$(ppb) were 1.008 (95% CI 1.005-1.012), and 1.012 (95% CI 1.003-1.020), respectively. Evaluated over $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$ increase in $PM_{10}$, we found the relative risks of asthma hospitalization to be 1.009 (95% CI 1.004-1.014) in 0-14 age group, and 1.015 (95% CI 1.008-1.022) in 65+ age group. Considering 10 ppb increase in $O_3$, those were 1.014 (95% CI 1.003-1.024) in 0-14 age group, and 1.025 (95% CI 1.009-1.041) in 65+ age group. It was concluded that current levels of ambient air pollution in Seoul make a significant contribution to the variation in daily asthma hospitalization. Further reduction in air pollution is necessary to protect the health of the community, especially that of the higher risky groups including children and elderly population.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2018

Objectives: Areca nut is widely consumed in many parts of the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia, where cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also a huge burden. Among the forms of CVD, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Research has shown areca nut chewing to be associated with diabetes, hypertension, oropharyngeal and esophageal cancers, and CVD, but little is known about mortality and re-hospitalization secondary to ACS among areca nut users and non-users. Methods: A prospective cohort was studied to quantify the effect of areca nut chewing on patients with newly diagnosed ACS by categorizing the study population into exposed and non-exposed groups according to baseline chewing status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations of areca nut chewing with the risk of re-hospitalization and 30-day mortality secondary to ACS. Results: Of the 384 ACS patients, 49.5% (n=190) were areca users. During 1-month of follow-up, 20.3% (n=78) deaths and 25.1% (n=96) re-hospitalizations occurred. A higher risk of re-hospitalization was found (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 3.27; p=0.002) in areca users than in non-users. Moreover, patients with severe disease were at a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (aHR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.67 to 4.59; p<0.001) and re-hospitalization (aHR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.73 to 4.26; p<0.001). Conclusions: The 30-day re-hospitalization rate among ACS patients was found to be significantly higher in areca users and individuals with severe disease. These findings suggest that screening for a history of areca nut chewing may help to identify patients at a high risk for re-hospitalization due to secondary events.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2009

This study assessed the relationships between levels of $PM_{10}$ and hospitalization rates for asthma among children from 2003 to 2005 at four major cities in Korea. In addition, we estimated the reduced number of asthma hospitalization associated with an ambient $PM_{10}$ improvement to the acceptable levels as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks (RR) of asthma hospitalization associated with changes in $PM_{10}$ The RRs of children's asthma hospitalization for every $10{\mu}g/m^3$ increment in $PM_{10}$ were 1.009(95% CI = 1.004-1.014) in Seoul, 1.013(95% CI = 1.006-1.021) in Incheon, 1.009(95% CI = 1.002-1.016) in Busan, and 1.021(95% CI = 1.005-1.037) in Ulsan. We assessed $PM_{10}$ related health benefits from implementing the WHO's guidelines (24-hour average $50{\mu}g/m^3$) using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program. The estimated benefits were 439(95% CI = 216-666) reduced asthma hospitalization in Seoul, 720(95% CI = 304-1,151) in Incheon, 260(95% CI = 66-459) in Busan, and 126(95% CI = 30-228) in Ulsan. It was concluded that improving $PM_{10}$ condition to the WHO guideline would make a significant contribution to the reduction in asthma hospitalization among children. Therefore, public health measures are still needed to improve air quality in Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined factors associated with the hospitalization of patients who visited the emergency department (ED) after deliberate self-poisoning. Methods: The medical records of the patients, who visited the ED at a tertiary teaching hospital after deliberate self-poisoning between March 2017 and December 2019, were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Fifty-seven in the hospitalization and 236 in the discharge group patients were included. The mean age in the hospitalization and discharge group was 48.8±20.4 and 41.8±19.1, respectively (p=0.020). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in age (p=0.020), mental status (p<0.001), request for help (p=0.046), chronic disease (p=0.036), substance ingested (p<0.001), and risk rescue-rating scale (p<0.001) between the two groups (hospitalization group and discharge group). In multiple logistic regression analysis for predicting the hospitalization of patients after deliberate self-poisoning, the Risk-Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS) was identified (OR=1.493, 95% confidential interval=1.330-1.675, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristics analysis of RRRS for the decision to hospitalize showed a cut-off value of 38.9, with a sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of 96.4%, 77.0%, and 0.949, respectively. Conclusion: The RRRS can be used to determine the hospitalization for patients who visited the ED after deliberate self-poisoning. Nevertheless, multicenter prospective studies will be needed to determine the generalisability of these results.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition during hospitalization is linked to increased morbidity and mortality, but there are insufficient studies observing clinical factors contributing to weight loss during hospitalization in Indonesia. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the rate of weight loss during hospitalization and the contributing factors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a prospective study involving hospitalized adult patients aged 18-59 yrs, conducted between July and September 2019. Body weight measurement was taken at the time of admission and on the last day of hospitalization. The factors studied were malnutrition at admission (body mass index < 18.5 kg/m²), immobilization, depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II Indonesia), polypharmacy, inflammatory status (neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio; NLR), comorbidity status (Charlson Comorbidity Index; CCI), and length of stay. RESULTS: Totally, 55 patients were included in the final analysis, with a median age of 39 (18-59 yrs) yrs. Of these, 27% had malnutrition at admission, 31% had a CCI score > 2, and 26% had an NLR value of ≥ 9. In all, 62% presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, and depression was documented in one-third of the subjects at admission. Overall, we recorded a mean weight loss of 0.41 kg (P = 0.038) during hospitalization, with significant weight loss observed among patients hospitalized for 7 days or more (P = 0.009). The bivariate analysis revealed that inflammatory status (P = 0.016) was associated with in-hospital weight loss, while the multivariate analysis determined that the contributing factors were length of stay (P < 0.001) and depression (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: We found that inflammatory status of the patient might influence the incidence of weight loss during hospitalization, while depression and length of stay were independent predictors of weight loss during hospitalization.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.35-41
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• 2005

This study was conducted to identify the effect of daylighting in hospitals on hospitalization time of patients and patients' outcomes in hospitals. Two major variations include orientation of hospital wards and the hospitalization times of various kinds of patients. Patients' data were obtained from two hospitals located in Seoul, Korea. The hospital buildings have north-facing and north-facing wards. The patients were classified according to the types of diseases and the orientation of the patient rooms. Then, statistical T-tests were applied in order to verify if natural light might shorter the hospitalization time of patients. The study also identified the types of diseases that were more responsive to the quantity of natural light in patient rooms. This information may be used as a basis for the development of guidelines for patient rooms in hospitals to achieve more effective healing environments. Likewise, the results may be applied to medical treatment buildings, recreational centers and hospital as well.