• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.11-25
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• 2008

As breast cancer shows the highest incidence among women's cancers, the use of mammography is also increasing as a screening test. Mammography should produce high-quality images for accurate diagnosis. For this, it is necessary to manage the performance and image quality of mammography. Thus, in order to investigate quality control, the present study conducted a questionnaire survey of 37 hospitals registered as breast cancer medical examination centers in Gwang-Ju, concerning their quality control of mammography. In the results of surveying the characteristics of apparatus use for mammography, many respondents did not know about the equipment that they were using. Of the hospitals, 19 (49%) were using film, 19 (49%) CR, and 1 DR. In the results of asking how to do quality control, only 38% answered that they inspected according to the manual. In addition, all the surveyed hospitals had specialized agencies do quality control for them. As to the reason for using agencies, 65% mentioned limitations in personnel, time, distance, etc, and 44% mentioned the absence of machines and materials. These results suggest that quality control is being performed perfunctorily, as well as passively and indifferently as it relies on specialized agencies. Accordingly, it is necessary to provide regular education for enhancing people's perception of quality control and to perform quality control adequately in the presence of Radiologist.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.122-131
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• 2009

This study was performed to identify the importance and performance of hospice volunteer's activities perceived by hospice volunteers. Methods: The subjects were 259 hospice volunteers from six hospitals in Daegu and Gyeongsangbukdo areas. A list of hospice volunteer's activities was developed by authors, based on literature, and interviews with the hospice volunteers were used to measure the perception on the importance and performance of their activities. Data were analyzed by using Descriptive statistics, t-test, One-way ANOVA with Scheffe test, and Pearson's product-moment correlation in SPSS Win 12.0. Results: The average of the importance of hospice volunteer's activities was 3.09 and the performance was 2.31, which was lower than the importance. There was a significant correlation between the importance and the performance (r=.487, P=.000). There were significant differences in total score of the importance, depending on religion, education, and period of hospice volunteer activity of subjects. There were significant differences in total score of the performance, depending on age, religion, and period of hospice volunteer activity of subjects. Conclusion: The importance of hospice volunteer's activities, perceived by hospice volunteers, was relatively high, however their performance didn't reach the level of the importance. Some characteristics of the volunteers influenced the perception of the importance and performance of the hospice volunteer's activities. The findings of this study are expected to provide useful information for the development of educational and management programs the hospice volunteers.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2018

Purpose: To provide effective palliative care, it is important to predict not only patients' life expectancy but their discharge status at a time of inpatient admission to a hospice care facility. This study was aimed to identify meaningful life expectancy indicators that can be used to predict patients' discharge status on admission to the facility. Methods: Among 568 patients who were admitted to the hospice ward of P hospital from April 1, 2016 through December 31, 2017, 377 terminal cancer patients were selected. This retrospective cohort study was performed by using performance status, symptoms and signs, socioeconomic status, laboratory findings on admission. Results: Alive discharge was associated with a good performance status that was measured with the Karnofsky and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scales and the Global health and Mental status. Less anorexia, dyspnea, dysphagia and fatigue were also associated with symptoms and signs. Associated laboratory findings were close to normal Complete Blood Cell (CBC) count, Liver Function Test (LFT) and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), ECOG, Global health, Mental status, anorexia, dyspnea, dysphagia, fatigue, CBC, LFT, BUN are meaningful indicators when predicting discharge status for inpatients. Further investigation is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.359-365
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• 2017

There is greater standardization of quality control for microscopic examination of urine than for physicochemical test. In this study, we investigated whether it is possible to control the sediment accuracy by microscopic examination through the real thing by preserving the essential sediment with glutaraldehyde, which is required for the rationality of sediment quality control. A urine specimen was prepared using 2.5% glutaraldehyde as a preservation solution. Samples treated with urine preservatives confirmed the morphological deformation of the cells for four weeks at intervals of one week and confirmed whether they should be preserved for 4 weeks thereafter. After preparing the required sediment slide, two more slides were produced; one was stored in a refrigerator for, and the other was stored at room temperature. The morphological deformation of the specimen was confirmed. Glutaraldehyde has the effect of preserving the refrigerated essential sediments and storing them for up to 8 weeks, refrigerated storage after slide production, stabilized by 3 days. Moreover, after treatment with preservatives, the production of the slide and comparison between the measured values between the laboratories and examiners showed a low consistency. In conclusion, we showed that the urine sediment components can be preserved, and it can be used for quality control and education through real objects.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.85-93
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• 2013

Modern fire fighting jobs have been expanded to include areas of rescue, emergency medical service as well as conventional fire suppression, so that load for fire fighting jobs has been increased. Specifically, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as low back injury have been considered as one of major industrial hazards in heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs. This study tried to evaluate risk levels and to prepare background for reducing risk levels associated with heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs. This study applied two major tools in evaluating heavy manual material handling jobs which were NLE (NIOSH Lifting Equation) and 3DSSPP (3D Static Strength Prediction Program). A risk index in terms of heavy manual material handling during fire fighting jobs was identified. This index consisted of seven risk levels ranged from nine points (the first level) to three points (the seventh level). There was no job associated with the first level (the highest risk level) of index. There was only one job (life saving job) belonging to the second level (the second highest risk level) of index. The third level had jobs such as usage of destruction equipment and lifting patient. A total of basic eighteen jobs was categorized into six different levels (2nd-7th levels) of index. The outcome of the study could provide a good basis for conducting job intervention, preparing good equipment and developing good education program in order to prevent and reduce MSDs including low back injury of fire fighting jobs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2005

Objectives : To investigate the fatigue subjective symptoms and VDT related risk factors in bank workers. Methods : A total of 2178 workers (62.8% male, 37.2% female) were surveyed with a self-administered and structured questionnaire consisting of 30 fatigue symptoms and other VDT related factors regarding work characteristics, work postures, work environments, personal medical histories, etc. Fatigue subjective symptoms were divided into 3 groups of 10 questions each: a dull, drowsy and exhausted feeling (Group I), a mental decline of working motivation (Group II), or a feeling of incongruity in the body and dysfunction of autonomic nervous system (Group III). Each question was weighted as 0 for 'none', 1 for 'sometimes', and 2 for 'always'. Results : Mean age was $35.8{\pm}7.2$ years ($38.9{\pm}6.0$ in males, $30.6{\pm}5.8$ in females), Mean work duration was $7.7{\pm}7.1$ years ($8.4{\pm}7.4$ in males, $6.5{\pm}6.4$ in females). Mean symptom score in males was $11.0{\pm}8.1$ ($4.9{\pm}3.1$ in Group I, $3.0{\pm}3.1$ in Group II, $3.1{\pm}2.8$ in Group III) and in females was $17.5{\pm}9.5$ ($7.0{\pm}3.8$ in Group I, $4.6{\pm}3.5$ in Group II, $5.9{\pm}3.4$ in Group III). Mean scores were higher in the order of Group I>III>II. Females had significantly higher scores than males in all three groups (p<0.001). Most common symptoms complained of as 'always' or 'sometimes' were feel strained in the eyes' (85.4%) among Group I, 'find difficulty in thinking'(54.2%) among Group II, and 'feel stiff in the shoulders (72.3%) among Group III. In multiple regression analysis, female, non-straight spine at workstation, more VDT work hours, history of physical therapy, glare of screen, overtime work, young age, and non-horizontal elbow position were significantly related with high score of symptoms. Conclusions : More supportive VDT work environment and education for correct work postures for VDT workers are recommended.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2005

Objective : To elucidate the correlates of self-rated fatigue in Korean employees. Methods : The data for 10,176 (men, 7,984; women, 2,192; mean age, 34.2; SD: 8.8) employees recruited from a nationwide sample were examined. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the participants' fatigue, sociodemographics (sex, age, education, and marital status), job-related characteristics (work duration, grade at work, work hours, shiftwork, employment type, and magnitude of workplace), and health-related habits (smoking, drinking, coffee intake, and exercise). Two types of measurement for fatigue were used to evaluate the magnitude of fatigue: self-rated question and a standardized measurement tool (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale: MFS). Results : According to the self-rated fatigue, 32% of employees reported that they felt fatigue for the past two weeks, and 9.6% of males and 8.7% of females had experienced excessive fatigue (6 months or more). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that fatigue measured by MFS was more common in women, younger, college or more graduated, single, and employees who do not regularly exercise. Fatigue was also associated with long work hours, and the size of the workplace (<1,000 employees). Conclusions : These results suggest that fatigue has been considered as a common complaint, and that it is affected by job-related factors like work hours and the workplace size as well as sociodemographics or health-related behaviors. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of fatigue on adverse health outcomes, work performance, work disability, sick absence and medical utilization, and to examine the relationship of job characteristics (e.g.: work demand, decision latitude) to fatigue.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2002

Objectives : To investigate the therapeutic compliance and its related factors in lung cancer patients. Methods : The subjects of this study comprised 277 patients first diagnosed with lung cancer at Kyungpook National University Hospital between Jan 1999 and Sept 1999. Of these, 141(50.9%) participated in the study by properly replying to structured questionnaires. The data was analyzed using a simplified Health Decision Model. This model includes categories of variables covering therapeutic compliance, health beliefs, patient preferences, knowledge and experience, social interaction, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results : The therapeutic compliance rate of the 141 study subjects was 78.0%. An analysis of health beliefs and patient preferences revealed health concern (p<0.05), dependency on medicine (p<0.05), perceived susceptibility and severity (p<0.05) as well as preferred treatment (p<0.01) as factors related to therapeutic compliance. Factors from the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors that were related to therapeutic compliance were age (p<0.01), monthly income (p<0.05), histological type (p<0.05) and clinical stage (p<0.05) of cancer. Conclusions : In order to improve therapeutic compliance in lung cancer patients it is necessary to educate the aged, low-income patients, or patients who have small cell lung cancer or lune cancer of an advanced stage for which surgery is not indicated. Additionally, it is essential for medical personnel to have a deep concern about patients who have poor lifestyles, a low dependency on medicine, or a high perceived susceptibility and severity. Practically, early diagnosis of lung cancer and thoughtful considerations of low-income patients are important. By means of population-based education in a community, we may promote attention to health and enhance the early diagnosis of lung cancer.

• 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 radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2015

Digital Radiography is a big part of diagnostic radiology. Because uncorrected digital radiography image supported false effect of Patient's health care. We must be manage the correct digital radiography image. Thus, the artifact images can have effect to make a wrong diagnosis. We report types of occurrence by analyzing the artifacts that occurs in digital radiography system. We had collected the artifacts occurred in digital radiography system of general hospital from 2007 to 2014. The collected data had analyzed and then had categorize as the occurred causes. The artifacts could be categorized by hardware artifacts, software artifacts, operating errors, system artifacts, and others. Hardware artifact from a Ghost artifact that is caused by lag effect occurred most frequently. The others cases are the artifacts caused by RF noise and foreign body in equipments. Software artifacts are many different types of reasons. The uncorrected processing artifacts and the image processing error artifacts occurred most frequently. Exposure data recognize (EDR) error artifacts, the processing error of commissural line, and etc., the software artifacts were caused by various reasons. Operating artifacts were caused when the user didn't have the full understanding of the digital medical image system. System artifacts had appeared the error due to DICOM header information and the compression algorithm. The obvious artifacts should be re-examined, and it could result in increasing the exposure dose of the patient. The unclear artifact leads to a wrong diagnosis and added examination. The ability to correctly determine artifact are required. We have to reduce the artifact occurrences by understanding its characteristic and providing sustainable education as well as the maintenance of the equipments.