• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.258-276
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• 1998

This study was conducted to justify the "prescribed shelf life" currently used in Samsung Medical Center and give recommendations based on scientific data to adopt for safe and cost-effective storage times for sterile goods Since the early 1970's, predetermined expiration dating policy has been used in Korea on all in-house sterilized products like any other countries; six months for the supplies wrapped in polyethylene peel pouches and two weeks for the rest. Recently, however, the studies suggest that current standards for preserving the sterility can be changing. It looks like we unnecessarily have too-short expiration date of sterilized supplies, that is far from being cost effective. Certainly, this research is an exciting project, especially in Korea, and will be leading and contributing to the paradigm shift of the conservative concept of shelf life for sterile supplies in Korean healthcare facilities. The major goal of this study was placed on the measurement of the recontamination time in packs wrapped in all kinds of wrapping materials used in S.M.C and stored in various conditions for periods ranging from three months to six months, and then develop a practical standard of "shelf life" based on the analyzed data. Objectives: To measure and compare the recontamination time of sterile packs among wrapppers and storage conditions, and develop a practical standard for the shelf life and storage conditions of sterile products. Samples and Method: The sterile integrity was investigated of the total 1,440 sterile sample packs containing gauze strip($1.5cm{\times}0.5cm$) we prepared and wrapped in nine wrapping materials (randomized reprocessed linens, linens reprocessed 99 times, linens reprocessed 120 times, new kraft paper, used kraft paper, new nonwoven fabrics, 6-time reprocessed nonwoven fabrics, new polyethylene peel pouches, used polyethylene peel pouches), and stored in four locations(closed cabinet of one of the typical wards, open shelf of one of ICUs, open shelf of separate storage room in ER, open shelf in OR), for three to six months, respectively in 1998. Each type of packs were opened weekly and the gauze strips inoculated into Brewer's thioglycollate broth at $35^{\circ}C$ for seven days. Results: There was no growth found for any types of the pack and storage conditions studied. Discussion: This study was conducted in an attempt to identify the possibility of extending the current shelf life for sterile goods we use in a sense of cost effectiveness. The findings suggest that we could extend our expiration dates, that means we can save a lot of materials and personnel time meeded for resterilizing, outdating, recleaning, wrapping, and reshelving. Then it will initiate a great reform in the field of healthcare in Korea, and now we are looking forward to this valuable revolution. We are going to continue this study and take all steps need to apply this new concept to our practice, and then trying to extend to other hospitals.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.315-326
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• 2011

Purpose: Purposes of this study were to identify non-value-added nursing activities (NVANAs) and to estimate the amount of time spent on NVANAs among total nursing activities. Methods: Non-value-added nursing activities were identified though the use of a focus group. The nurses in the focus group were nurses working in a tertiary hospital. They discussed possible activities that could be NVANAs. Based on the focus group discussion, a pilot study was done to examine the actual occurrence of NVANAs in clinical settings. Results: The focus group discussion showed that NVANAs occurred in ten categories of nursing performances including communication with physicians, communication with other departments, medications, equipment/supplies, nursing records, tests, admission, discharge, and transfer. Direct nursing activities accounted for 35.5% of total nursing activities while indirect nursing activities accounted for 64.5%. Of indirect nursing activities, 16% were NVANAs. Most NVANAs were related to communication and equipment/supplies. Conclusions: To improve the quality and efficiency of nursing activities, it is necessary to identify NVANAs and their causes. Results of this study suggest that improvement in the work process and nursing unit structure, support for equipment/supplies, and effective communication are needed to reduce NVANAs in tertiary hospitals in Korea.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.37-38
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• 1999

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 1997

The consumption of various medical cares is affected not only by income and price but also by the number of household members. This study aims at examining how the number of household members affects the consumption pattern of medical care in Japan. The major findings of this study are summarized as follows; The elasticities of household members on the medical care consumption are estimated to be -2.4 in the 20-years groups in case of total medical care expenditure, 4.1 in the 50-years groups of medical care items, -3.1 in the 40-years groups of medical supplies and equipments, and -5.6 in the 60-years groups and -2.7 in the 50-years groups of medical services.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.43-67
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• 2011

Humankind history is faced with one gigantic turning point due to development of Living genetically Modified Organisms. Food production by means of LMO is on the acceleration in an effort to solve the shortage of food problems. Food is also used as alternative energy source. Use of LMO product is not only limited to food and energy, but is actively utilized in various fields of medicines. This paper is first to check out the state of biomedicine developed and associated problems from industries that use LMO, after which we made an attempt on legislative approach to find out means of relief, through examples of such laws legislated for the sufferer from the adverse effect of the biomedicine. As for the liable subject to bear the responsibility for compensatory damage in a way of relieving the victim owing to adverse effect of biomedicine, those who manufactured and sold biomedicine and who are related to the damage to the victim due to the accident and medical doctors and pharmacists who prescribe and administer the medicine in question have been looked into. Accidents involving medicines and medical supplies could take place without reason for imputation on part of the liable subjects or fault of the victim, in which case the victim can't receive damage compensation from any of both parties. When such accidents happened turn out to be no fault accidents, introduction of damage relief measures might have to be reviewed against side effects of medicine and medical supplies as no fault compensation in order for actual relief to be possible. Talking about technicality of legislation, we can suggest a method of strengthening the accountability of manufacturer for stereotypical agenda on biomedicines by newly legislating special regulation with an issue that resists claim on risks associated with the development of medicine and incorporating the same into Manufactured Product Liability Law. After all, when an accident happens associated with biomedicine, the damage will be done to the consumer. And the consumer will be exposed to fatal danger even without the time to cope with potential risks associated with medicine and medical supplies they take. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the potential victim by having the manufacturer of biomedicines bear the liability of medical risks.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.99-113
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• 2008

In order to protect Rescue 119 workers exposed on the spot from potential infection, this study identified their awareness and practices of infection control so that it could help preventing them from infection and also provide basic materials necessary for pre-hospital infection control. This study applied questionnaire survey to total 215 Rescue 119 workers at fire stations in Jeonbuk province, Jeonnam province and Gwangju city from July 14 to Sept. 14, 2006 for the benefit of data collection. The questionnaire about possible associations between awareness and practices of infection control consisted of total 46 times across 6 categories such as washing hands during emergency activities ; fluid therapy and injection ; respirator maintenance; individual hygienics ; disinfectant supplies and equipments maintenance ; and control of infectious wastes. And collected data were processed using SPSS statistic program to analyze frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient, t-test and one-way ANOVA. As a result, this study came to the following conclusions : In terms of awareness about infection control, our respondents showed highest awareness about infectious waste control, and also showed highest level of practices in washing hands during emergency activities. Throughout all domains, awareness means were higher than practice means. In particular, infectious waste control was the domain of significant differences between awareness and practices. In terms of associations between awareness and individual characteristics, it was found that female rescue worker group and hospital/general hospital career group (before joining the Rescue 119) showed significantly higher awareness on statistic level. In regard to associations between individual characteristics and practices, it was found that female rescue worker group showed higher level of practices than male group on statistic level. This study also analyzed correlations between rescue workers' awareness and practice of infection control. As a result, it was found that the higher awareness was in correlations with the higher practices across all 6 domains including washing hands. In addition, the higher awareness of a questionnaire item was in significantly positive correlations with the higher practice of other items. However, our respondents showed high awareness about anti-infection, but low practices in reality. This indicates necessity of devising possible solutions to improve the practices as much as awareness. Especially, it was noted that major reasons for insufficient practices of infection control guideline come from unhabituated practices and lack of supports for infection-preventing supplies and protective device (mask, etc). Hence, it is necessary to provide more infection-preventing supplies for local rescue workers sufficiently, in parallel with steady habituation of infection control. Furthermore, it is required to manage and study infection control policies even at pre-hospital step in efforts for effective infection control, education and activities.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.39-44
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• 2019

Purpose - This research was to help distribution of Go Bags (Survival Bag or Disaster Supplies Kit), which are useful for disaster preparedness, by surveying precomposed Go Bag items in internet shopping malls. Research design, data, and methodology - We checked 15 items including food, water, first aid kit, radio, flashlight or candles, battery, lighter or matches, whistle, blanket, towel, toilet paper, personal sanitations, raincoat, can opener, disaster manual in Go Bags based on the recommendations by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The number of items and price, domestic product, accreditation were compared using a Chi-square test. The Pearson's R was also used to summarize the strength of the linear relationship between the number of items and price, sub-items. Results - Mean of the sub-items was 21, and mean of the items was 8. There was a statistically significant difference between the number of items size and the price level (p=.014). There was also a statistically significant difference between the number of items and sub-items (p<.001), and correlation coefficient was a positive linear relationship of .467. Conclusions - Only eight were sold in the internet shopping malls as a precomposed Go Bag items. Even the approved Go Bags had no difference in the number of items. Higher prices had a relatively greater number of items, and it had a positive correlation between the size of sub-items and items.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to survey a perception of frequency & importance level of job performance, from 249 paramedics who were working at fire station. The job related activities of 4 duties, 18 tasks and 145 task elements were checked by 4 rating scale. The data were analyzed using a SPSS program for descriptive statistics. The results of the study were as follows ; 1. Some of the most frequent tasks were medical tx, managing people & organization, trauma care, pt assessment, general coping skill 2. Some of the most frequent task elements were preparation of written reports, operation of pt lifting supplies, transportation of patients on stretchers, administration of cervical collar and utilization of scoop stretcher. 3. Some of the highest level of importance in task were resuscitation of circulation, surgical tx, safety & infection control, environmental emergency care, trauma care. 4. Some of the highest level of importance in task elements were administration of cervical collar, adult CPR, infant CPR, child CPR, and AED. 5. The highest level of task elements in perception of frequency & importance were administration of cervical collar, infection control after pt care, utilization of long back board, disinfection of ambulance after ride a long, care of chest pain pt, care of unconscious pt, tx of asthma. 6. A difference between frequent & importance score were due to lack of supplies(41%), structural problems(30%) and medical control system(16%), lack of skills(10%), Suggestion; 1. This paper would be more reliable and confirm through wilder range of survey. 2. It would be necessary of more depth survey through dacom study from paramedic. 3. Development of field oriented protocol & curriculum that based on task elements which have high score of both frequency & importance level is required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated associations between perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19, as well as the difference in the magnitude of these associations by occupational type and previous Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) experience. Methods: The participants were workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 who completed a questionnaire about their perceptions related to COVID-19, work experience during the previous MERS-CoV outbreak, and symptoms of PTSD ascertained by the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Participants' characteristics were compared using the chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between perceptions and the prevalence of PTSD, stratified by occupational type and previous MERS-CoV experience. Results: Non-medical personnel showed stronger associations with PTSD than medical personnel according to general fear (odds ratio [OR], 6.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92 to 23.20), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.56), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.59). Those with prior MERS-CoV quarantine experience were more prone to PTSD than those without such experience in terms of general fear (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.37), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.40), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.38). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-medical personnel tended to have higher odds of being categorized as having PTSD. Workers with prior MERS-CoV experience were more susceptible than those without such experience. These findings suggest the need for timely interventions to manage human resources for a sustainable quarantine system.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6533-6537
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• 2012

Cancers are significant contributors to the mortality and health care expenditures. Cancer can be reduced and monitored by new information technology. Radio frequency identification or RFID is a wireless identification technology. The use of this technology can be employed for identifying and tracking clinical staff, patients, supplies, medications and equipments. RFID can trace and manage chemotherapy drugs. There are different types of RFID. Implantable RFID allowing a chip to be embedded under the skin and that store the cancer patient's identifier. These are concerns about applications of RFID. Privacy, security and legal issues are key problems. This paper describes capabilities, benefits and confidentiality aspects in radio frequency identification systems and solutions for overcoming challenges.