• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.832-843
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to describe women's embarrassability and embarrassment during cervical screening. Method: The subjects of this study were 82 women who had a cervical screening at a National University Hospital. The data were collected through personal interview using a questionnaire from February 4, 2001 to February 22, 2002. The questionnaire consisted of embarrassability scale, embarrassment Scale, and demographic data. Result: 1) The mean scores of situational embarrassability was 82.6 and that of dispositional embarrassability was 106.7. 2) The mean scores of subject's embarrassment was 54.3 and 48.7 in 10 stages of cervical screening. The following three situations of 10 stages of cervical screening were highly ranked as to be embarrassing: 'during the examination', 'waiting for a doctor', and 'climbing up the exam chair and positioning her thigh for a exam'. 3) There was a positive correlation between dispositional embarrassability and embarrassment of 10 stages of cervical screening. 4) There were significant differences in situational embarrassability of subjects according to education and the locations of service. There were significant differences in dispositional embarrassability of subjects with regard to frequencies of pregnancy. 5) There were significant differences in embarrassment of subjects during cervical screening with respect to age, age at the time of first smear and gender of the examiner. Conclusion: The finding of this study indicates that women experienced a high level of embarrassment during cervical screening, assuming a need for nursing intervention reduces women's embarrassment. Also, there is a positive correlation between embarrassability and embarrassment of cervical screening, suggesting a need for further research identifying the effect of nursing intervention on embarrassment according to embarrassability.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

Purpose: Nowadays in the nuclear medicine, many studies and efforts are being made to reduce the scan time, as well as the waiting time to be needed to execute exams after injection of radionuclide medicines. Several methods are being used in clinic, such as developing new radionuclide compounds that enable to be absorbed into target organs more quickly and reducing acquisition scan time by increase the number of Gamma Camera detectors to examine. Each medical equipment manufacturer has improved the imaging process techniques to reduce scan time. In this paper, we tried to analyze the difference of image quality between FBP, 3D OSEM reconstruction methods that commercialized and being clinically applied, and Astonish reconstruction method (A kind of Iterative fast reconstruction method of Philips), also difference of image quality on scan time. Material and Methods: We investigated in 32 patients that examined the Bone SPECT from June to July 2008 at department of nuclear medicine, ASAN Medical Center in Seoul. 40sec/frame and 20sec/frame images were acquired that using Philips‘ PRECEDENCE 16 Gamma Camera and then reconstructed those images by using the Astonish (Philips’ Reconstruction Method), 3D OSEM and FBP methods. The blinded test was performed to the clinical interpreting physicians with all images analyzed by each reconstruction method for qualitative analysis. And we analyzed target to non target ratio by draws lesions as the center of disease for quantitative analysis. At this time, each image was analyzed with same location and size of ROI. Results: In a qualitative analysis, there was no significant difference by acquisition time changes in image quality. In a quantitative analysis, the images reconstructed Astonish method showed good quality due to better sharpness and distinguish sharply between lesions and peripheral lesions. After measuring each mean value and standard deviation value of target to non target ratio with 40 sec/frame and 20sec/frame images, those values are Astonish (40 sec-$13.91{\pm}5.62$ : 20 sec-$13.88{\pm}5.92$), 3D OSEM (40 sec-$10.60{\pm}3.55$ : 20 sec-$10.55{\pm}3.64$), FBP (40 sec-$8.30{\pm}4.44$ : 20 sec-$8.19{\pm}4.20$). We analyzed target to non target ratio from 20 sec and 40 sec images. And we analyzed the result, In Astonish (t=0.16, p=0.872), 3D OSEM (t=0.51, p=0.610), FBP (t=0.73, p=0.469) methods, there was no significant difference statistically by acquisition time change in image quality. But FBP indicates no statistical differences while some images indicate difference between 40 sec/frame and 20 sec/frame images by various factors. Conclusions: In the circumstance, try to find a solution to reduce nuclear medicine scan time, the development of nuclear medicine equipment hardware has decreased while software has marched forward at a relentless. Due to development of computer hardware, the image reconstruction time was reduced and the expanded capacity to restore enables iterative methods that couldn't be performed before due to technical limits. As imaging process technique developed, it reduced scan time and we could observe that image quality keep similar level. While keeping exam quality and reducing scan time can induce the reduction of patient's pain and sensory waiting time, also accessibility of nuclear medicine exam will be improved and it provide better service to patients and clinical physician who order exams. Consequently, those things make the image of department of nuclear medicine be improved. Concurrent Imaging - A new function that setting up each image acquisition parameter and enables to acquire images simultaneously with various parameters to once examine.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-105
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• 2008

An IPA model was used to evaluate customer service encounters at a large food court; also the gaps between importance and performance from were also evaluated from both perspectives. The findings of this study will be applied in order to improve service quality at various large food service operations. A total of 298 customers from a large shopping mall food court completed the study questionnaire, asking them to evaluate the important and performance attributes of service. Seven underlying dimensions were identified and labeled by factor analysis: factor 1 was "safety": factor 2 "time": factor 3 "atmosphere": factor 4 "quality of food": factor 5 "menu attributes": factor 6 "comfort": and the last and seventh factor was "comprehension". As a result of IPA analysis the overall mean scores between the importance attributes and performance attributes showed significant differences by independent t-tests(p<0.001). Quadrant I was classified with unnecessary items including interior design, proper lighting, suitable chairs, and proper room temperature. In quadrant II thirteen variables showed high scores for both importance and performance, such as various menu choices, hygienic food, dishes, chairs, food court, kitchen, and employees; proper ventilation, employee kindness, waiting time to order, and received food; automatic system for ordering-serving. Quadrant III included eight variables identified as low priority, including appearance of food, nutrient content of food, proper portions, new menu, proper music, proper location of cashier, services for children and efficiency of movement. In quadrant IV six variables were included as areas to focus management's efforts, such as food taste, proper food temperature, use of safe food materials, maintenance of food quality, existence of preferred foods, and proper food prices. These results suggest that food court customers have interests that are distinct from restaurant customers and may need to be treated differently. It is anticipated that this data will be useful to the foodservice industry in order to segment customer characteristics by different dinning behaviors.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. Healthcare resource constraints may predispose treatment delays. We aim to review existing literature on whether delayed treatment results in worse outcomes in HCC. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched from inception till December 2022. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes included post-treatment mortality, readmission rates, and complications. Fourteen studies with a total of 135,389 patients (delayed n = 25,516, no delay n = 109,873) were included. Age, incidence of male patients, Child-Pugh B cirrhosis, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage 0/A HCC were comparable between delayed and no delay groups. Tumor size was significantly smaller in delayed versus no delay group (mean difference, -0.70 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.14, 0.26; p = 0.002). More patients received radiofrequency ablation in delayed versus no delay group (OR, 1.22; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.27; p < 0.0001). OS was comparable between delayed and no delay in HCC treatment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.29; p = 0.07). Comparable DFS between delayed and no delay groups (HR, 0.99; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.30; p = 0.95) was observed. Subgroup analysis of studies that defined treatment delay as > 90 days showed comparable OS in the delayed group (HR, 1.04; 95% CI: 0.93, 1.16; p = 0.51). OS and DFS for delayed treatment were non-inferior compared to no delay, but might be due to better tumor biology/smaller tumor size in the delayed group.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.510-516
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• 2013

Background This paper discusses the treatment protocol for patients with frostbite. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of a series of 17 patients with second- and higher-degree frostbite who had been treated at our medical institution between 2010 and 2012. Results Our clinical series of patients (n=17) included 13 men and four women, whose mean age was $42.4{\pm}11.6$ years (range, 22-67 years). The sites of injury include the foot in six patients (35.3%), the hand in six patients (35.3%) and the facial region in five patients (29.4%). Seven patients with second-degree frostbite were completely cured with only conservative treatment during a mean period of $12.7{\pm}3.3$ days (range, 8-16 days). Of the five patients with third-degree frostbite, two underwent skin grafting following debridement, and the remaining three achieved a complete cure with conservative treatment during a mean period of $35{\pm}4.3$ days (range, 29-39 days). Five patients with fourth-degree frostbite were treated with surgical procedures including amputation. Conclusions With the appropriate conservative management in the early stage of onset, surgeons should decide on surgery after waiting for a sufficient period of time until the demarcation of the wound. Continuous management of patients is also needed to achieve functional recovery after a complete cure has been achieved. This should also be accompanied by patient education for the avoidance of re-exposure to cold environments.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2018

Background: Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure in patients with end-stage lung disease, and is increasingly performed in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of patients who received a lung transplant at Asan Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2016. Thirteen of 54 patients experienced multiorgan transplantation; the remaining 41 who received only lung grafts were included. Results: The mean age of the lung transplant recipients was 44.6 years; 27 were men and 14 were women. The most frequent reasons were idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (21 of 41 patients, 51.2%), interstitial lung disease (9 of 41, 22.0%), and bronchiolitis obliterans after bone marrow transplantation (7 of 41, 17.1%). The median waiting time was 47 days, and many patients received preoperative intensive care (27 of 41, 65.9%), ventilator support (26 of 41, 63.4%), or extracorporeal life support (19 of 41, 46.3%). All 41 patients received bilateral lung grafts. Ten deaths occurred (24.3%), including 5 cases of early mortality (12.2%) and 5 cases of late mortality (12.2%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 78.9%, 74.2%, and 69.3%, respectively. Conclusion: Despite a high percentage of patients who required preoperative intensive care, the transplantation outcomes were acceptable.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2007

Purpose: The most accepted method for the reanimation of a paralyzed face is the two-stage method that combines cross-face nerve grafting with free-muscle transfer. Although the results of reconstruction with this method are satisfactory, there is an excessive delay between the stages, which prolongs the period of rehabilitation. In order to overcome this drawback, a one- stage, neurovascular free-flap reconstruction method using free neurovascular muscle flaps is introduced. Methods: From 1994 to 2004, 35 patients with longstanding facial palsy were treated. Fifteen patients underwent the single-stage reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi muscle, and 20 patients underwent the two-stage reconstruction method with the gracilis muscle. We compared the long-term results of the two methods of reconstruction. The mean follow-up period was 28.7 months for one-stage reconstruction, and 35.2 months for the two-stage, respectively. Results: In the patient group of the single stage reconstruction, both mouth corner excursion and animation grade were markedly improved at the final postoperative visit. Moreover, the first muscle contraction occurred earlier in this group, than in the two-stage reconstruction group. However, four patients in the single stage group never achieved a first muscle contraction or mouth corner excursion. Conclusion: Facial palsy is a very challenging condition for cosmetic surgeons to deal with. Traditional methods for treatment of chronic facial palsy use a two-stage muscle flap which is time-consuming and burdensome to patients, many of whom are averse to waiting 8 to 12 months to complete the two stages. The one-stage reconstruction method described herein uses a latissimus dorsi free-flap and has demonstrated consistent positive outcomes in clinical assessments.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.61-76
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• 2011

Limited research has investigated the satisfaction of patients with cancer. This study was performed to explore patients' satisfaction and the related factors. The data were collected by telephone survey for the participants who were beneficiaries on the national financial aid program for cancer patients between January and October in 2009. Student's t-tests and analysis of variance were performed first to determine if the mean satisfaction score differed by the characteristics of study objects, followed by stepwise multiple regression analyses to examine the factors affecting satisfaction. When comparing the relating factors with patients' satisfaction according to the sociodemographic characteristics, the male, old-aged, higher educated, lower cancer stage, lung cancer group showed a significantly higher level of recognition for satisfaction. A public health center, better public relations, recognized more helpful, don't have expectation, put a person to expense, and don't feel pressured for medical cost groups were showed a higher level of recognition for satisfaction. The result of the multiple regression analysis, short waiting time, well known program policy, recognized helping of policy and had the financial burden had significantly influence on the satisfaction of patients with cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.285-293
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• 2019

Objectives: This study examined the effects of plasma-rich growth factors (PRGF) on accelerating bone regeneration/repair in fresh extraction sockets, and determined the quality and quantity of bone by assessing the bone density using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Twenty patients, who had undergone bilateral extractions, were included in this study. In one extraction socket, PRGF was used and covered with an autologous fibrin plug. Nothing was used in the opposite side extraction socket. Thirteen weeks post extraction, the level of bone regeneration was evaluated on both sides with CBCT. Results: At the end of the study, the mean bone density according to the Hounsfield units (HU) in the control group and PRGF group was 500.05 HU (type III bone type) and 647.95 HU (type II bone type), respectively. Conclusion: This study recommends the use of PRGF in post extraction sites to accelerate the rate of bone regeneration and improve the quality of regenerated bone. The technique to process PRGF was simple compared to previously mentioned techniques used for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) preparation. PRP preparation requires a two-cycle centrifugation procedure, leading to a longer processing time.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.364-373
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• 2003

Purpose: For good quality of myocardial perfusion images, an approximately 30 min to 1 hour of waiting time after radiopharmaceutical injection and ingestion of fatty meal are asked of the patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the shortening of waiting time after radiopharmaceutical injection and improvement of image quality using natural plant extracts that promote bile excretion. Materials and Methods: Ten volunteers participated in protocol 1 (7 men, 3 women; mean age, $24.1{\pm}2.4$ years) and protocol 2 (8 men, 2 women; mean age, $26.1{\pm}2.9$ years), respectively. For the modified method of both protocols, subjects took natural plant extracts 15 minutes before the first injection of $^{99m}Tc$ MIBI without laking fatty meals. Control (Conventional) methods were peformed with intake of a fatty meal 20 to 30 minutes after $^{99m}Tc$ MIBI injection. Results: As the results of protocol 1 and 2, the ratio of myocardial to lung ratio were not different between modified and conventional method. Liver to lung ratio of modified method showed significantly lower value than that of conventional method. In modified method, myocardial to liver ratio was higher persistently. In protocol 2, natural plant extracts took before the first injection of $^{99m}Tc$ MIBI exerted accelerating effect of excretion of bile juice into Intestine until the end of examination. Conclusion: These results represent that natural plant extracts for facilitation of bile excretion before injection of $^{99m}Tc$ MIBI may provide better quality of myocardial perfusion images without the need for preparations such as ingestion of fatty meal within the 2 hours compared with conventional method.