• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.315-321
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• 2022

Although rare, hypodermic needle fractures can occur in the maxillofacial region. In cases of fracture, urgent intervention is required to prevent further complications. We present the case of a 37-year-old female patient with a fractured needle in the left sublingual fossa during a lingual nerve block 6 months before referral. The fragment of a 30-gauge needle was located using cone-beam computed tomography and retrieved under local anesthesia with blunt dissection. The patient recovered uneventfully, except for predictable postoperative inflammatory complications, which resolved within 2 weeks. Precautions should be implemented to prevent needle fractures, which are usually preventable. However, if the retrieval is unsuccessful, the patient should be referred to a well-equipped surgical unit without delay.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.285-295
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• 1990

The utilization of medical care services has been partly regionalized with the implementation of referral requirement by the government since July 1, 1989 when the health insurance coverage was extended to all the people. For the purpose of regionalization, the whole country has been primarily divided into tertiary care regions, and each of them again into secondary care regions. This study investigates the self-sufficiency for in-patient care services of secondary care regions focusing on why it varies among the regions. In doing so, analysis is performed to examine a model which embodies three sets of hypotheses as follows : 1) The regional self-sufficiency for medical care services would be subject to direct influences of regional characteristics, amount of available services and structural properties of regional medical care system ; 2) The regional characteristics would have indirect effects on the self-sufficiency which are mediated by medical care services ; and 3) The amount of available services would indirectly affect the self-sufficiency by influencing the structure of regional medical care system. The results of analysis were generally consistent with the model. The findings have some practical implications. The regional self-sufficiency for medical care services partly depends upon basic properties of each region which cannot be changed in a short period of time. Thus the self-sufficiency for medical care services can be improved mainly by health policy measures. In some of the regions the self-sufficiency for in-patient care services was much higher or lower than can be predicted from the bed-population ratio. Indication is that the allocation of health resources should be made considering a variety of factors bearing upon the supply of and demand for health care ; not on the basis of just a single criterion like the availability. The self-sufficiency of a certain region is related to not only its own characterstics but also the characteristics of neighboring regions. Therefore, attention should be also directed to the inter-regional relationships in health care when the needs for investment of health resources in a region are assessed. However, it should be noted that this study used the data collected before the referral requirement was imposed. A replication of this analysis using recent data would provide an evaluation of the impact on the self-sufficiency of the referral requirement as well as a confirmation of the findings of this study.

• International Journal of Quality Innovation
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.77-87
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• 2009

The main aim of the paper is to provide an empirical analysis on patient satisfaction as an indicator of service quality in Malaysian public hospitals. Self-administered questionnaires were administered to patients by convenience sampling. Two sets of questionnaires were used, one for inpatient and another one set for outpatient. Selection of hospitals was made according to states in Peninsular Malaysia. 23 hospitals covering all state level hospitals, the National Referral Centre and selected district hospitals were chosen as respondent hospitals. Two dimensions of service quality emerged, namely clinical and physical dimension of service. Both outpatient and inpatient were found to be more satisfied with clinical dimension of service than physical dimension. For outpatient satisfaction, there was positive correlation between waiting time and patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was also found to be higher in the smaller district hospitals than in the larger state hospitals. For clinical dimension of service, patients were satisfied with the services of doctors and nurses, while for physical dimension of service, patients were satisfied with the cleanliness of the facilities. The ability of the research to be conducted by random sampling was inhibited by the reluctance of patients to cooperate, which led to the use of convenience sampling. Studies have also shown that patients are reluctant to express their feelings on services provided by their caregivers. The study provides primary data for a nationwide study on patient satisfaction in Malaysian public hospitals, for both inpatient and outpatient.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.133-143
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• 1996

본 연구는 경상북도 경주시 보건소에서 1995년 6월 10일부터 10월 17일까지, 성주군 보건소에서 8월 1일부터 9월 20일까지, 고령군 보건소에서 8월 5일부터 10월 17일까지 진료를 받은 환자 중에서 타 의료기관으로 의뢰된 환자 249명을 대상으로 설문조사를 통하여 보건소 이용자들의 타 의료기관으로의 진료의뢰 양상, 진료의뢰서 발급경위 및 보건소내 전문과목의 요구도를 파악하고자 실시되었다 환자 본인의 희망에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 경우와 의사의 판단에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 경우 모두를 포함하였으며 본인이 설문 조사에 응한 경우만을 분석대상으로 하였다. 자료수집 기간 중 3개 보건소의 전체적인 진료의뢰율은 보건소 이용자 13,652명 중 371명으로 2.7%였으며, 설문조사에 응한 249명 중 환자 본인의 희망에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 사람이 214명(85.9%)이었고, 의사의 판단에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 사람은 35명(14.1%)이었다. 환자 본인의 희망에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 사람 중에는 타 의료기관을 거치지 않고 바로 보건소를 방문한 사람이 98명 (45.9%)으로 가장 많았고, 개인의원을 들렀다가 보건소를 방문한 사람은 74명(34.6%), 평상시 진료는 개인의원에서 받고 있지만 진료의뢰서를 발급받기 위해 보건소를 방문한 사람이 42명(19.5%)인 것으로 나타났다. 대상자들이 보건소에 진료의뢰서를 발급받으러 온 이유로는 '보건소가 거리가 가까워서'가 74명(34.6%)으로 가장 많았고, '보건소에서는 진료의뢰서 발급을 잘 해주기 때문에'가 58명(27.1%), '개인의원에서 진료의뢰서를 발급해주지 않으려 해서'가 35명(16.4%) 그리고 '개인의원에서 진료를 받던 의사에게 진료의뢰서를 발급받기가 미안해서'가 30명(14.0%) 등의 순이었다. 진료의뢰된 환자들의 한국표준질병분류에 의한 질병별 분포는 진료의뢰된 환자 전체적으로는 근골격계 및 결합조직 질환이 43명(17.3%)으로 가장 많았고, 환자 본인이 진료의뢰서 발급을 원한 경우는 신경계 및 감각기 질환이 11.7%,의사가 판단하여 진료의뢰서를 발급한 경우에는 감염성 및 기생충성 질환이 11.4%로 전체 질병별 분포에 비해 상대적으로 높은 비율을 차지하였다. 진료의뢰 환자들의 진료의뢰서 발급 후 진료희망 의료기관은 환자 본인이 희망한 경우와 의사의 판단에 의해 진료의뢰한 경우 모두에서 종합병원 이상의 의료기관을 선호하였다. 보건소내 전문의 진료의 필요성에 대해서는 환자 본인의 희망에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 경우와 의사의 판단에 의해 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 경우에서 각각 161명(75.2%)과 26명(74.3%)이 전문의의 진료가 필요하다고 응답하였다. 전문의의 진료가 필요하다고 응답한 경우 필요한 전문과목의 종류는 내과 88명 (47.1%), 정형외과 19명(10.2%), 일반외과 병(9.1%) 순이었고, 보건소내 전문의의 진료 횟수는 상주 전문의를 원한 경우가 108명(57.8%)으로 가장 많았고, 1주일에 $2\sim3$회가 32명(17.1%), 1주일에 1회가 21명(11.2%), 1달에 1회가 17명(9.1%)순이었다. 이상의 결과로 보건소에서 진료의뢰서를 발급받은 사람의 대부분은 환자 본인이 원하여 진료의뢰서를 발급받고 있어 환자의뢰제도의 개선이 요망되며, 보건소에서 전문의 진료가 실시된다면 내과진료가 우선적으로 시행되고, 정형외과와 일반외과 등의 진료 요구가 높은 전문과목은 민간의료기관의 협조를 통하여 비상근 형태의 진료가 시행되는 것이 좋을 것으로 생각된다.

• 의료법학
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.249-293
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• 2012

Inter-hospital transfer, depending on its medical and legal appropriateness, affect the prognosis of patients and can even lead to legal disputes. As Emergency Medical Service Act, any physician shall, in case where deemed that pertinent medical service is unavailable for such patient with the capacities of the relevant medical institution, transfer without delay such patient to another medical institution where a pertinent medical service is available. For medico-legally appropriate inter-hospital transfer, the head of a medical institution shall, in case where he transfers an emergency patient provide medical instruments and manpower required for a safe transfer of the emergency patient, and furnish the medical records necessary for a medical examination at the medical institution in receipt of such patient. And transfer process must comply with the requirements prescribed by executive rule such as attachment of the referral, provision of ambulance, fellow riders and informed consent of transfer. Those engaged in emergency medical service shall explain an emergency medical service to an emergency patient and secure his consent. In addition to the duty to inform about emergency medical service to the patient and his or her legally representative, there is also a duty for doctors to sufficiently explain to the patient and his or her legally representative during inter-hospital transfer that the need for the transfer, the medical conditions of the patient to be transferred and emergency treatment that will be provided by the hospital from which the patient is going to transferred. Likewise, the hospital to which the patient is transferred must be thoroughly informed about matters such as the patient's conditions, the treatment the patient was given and reasons for transfer by transferring doctors.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.146-150
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• 2005

Background: Recently, the number of patients visiting pain clinics has been increasing with the augmented concerns of those patients about the management of their pain. We conducted this study in order to elucidate the characteristics of patients visiting pain clinics and to determine a method to further raise their awareness about pain treatment. Methods: We reviewed 1,424 new patients who visited our pain clinic from March 2003 to December 2004. We analyzed these patients according to their age and sex, treatment method before visiting the pain clinic, coexisting disease, chief complaint and pain location, resident district, route of visiting pain clinic, and degree of impairment due to pain by use of questionnaire. Results: In age distribution, the largest proportion (23.5%) was in their 50's. Most patients (64.0%) had received treatment in an oriental medicine clinic before visiting the pain clinic. The most common coexisting disease was hypertension (20.3%) and low back pain was the most common chief complaint (68.3%). Most of the patients lived in Gyeonggido (87%) and most visited our pain clinic on the recommendation of other patients who had visited our pain clinic before. Conclusions: We need to guide pain patients to undergo proper treatment much earlier using patient education or a referral system. Moreover, we should be more careful in patients with diabetes mellitus, and should have greater concern in the treatment of low back pain.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.46-51
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• 2012

Fertility preservation (FP) is an effort to retain the fertility of cancer patients, and as an emerging discipline, it plays a central role in cancer care. Because of improvement in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, an increasingly large number of patients are surviving with cancer. FP specialists should make an effort to spread the significance of FP among reproductive women with cancer and provide appropriate education both for associated physicians and for cancer patients who wish to preserve their fertility. Physicians who take part in the initial diagnosis and management of cancer should consider the importance of early referral of young cancer patients to FP specialists and take care of those patients by providing timely information and appropriate counseling. Individualized treatment strategies should be delivered depending on the patient's situation with appropriate team approach.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.1643-1647
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• 2013

Background: To identify the risk factors and assess the role of survivin in predicting progessivity precancerous cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted from October 2009 until May 2010. We obtained 74 samples, classified according to the degree of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN): 19 samples for CIN 1, 18 samples for CIN 2, 18 samples for CIN 3, and 19 samples as controls. Demographic profiles and risk factors assesment, histopathologic examination, HPV DNA tests, immunocytochemistry (ICC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining for survivin expression were performed on all samples. Data was analyzed with bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed significant risk factors for developing precancerous cervical lesions are age <41 years, women with ${\geq}2$ sexual partners, course of education ${\geq}13$ years, use of oral contraceptives, positive high-risk HPV DNA, and high survivin expression by ICC or IHC staining. These factors were fit to a prediction model and we obtained a scoring system to predict the progressivity of CIN lesions. Conclusions: Determination of survivin expression by immunocytochemistry staining, along with other significant risk factors, can be used in a scoring system to predict the progressivity of CIN lesions. Application of this scoring system may be beneficial in determining the action of therapy towards the patient.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권20호
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• pp.8647-8650
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• 2014

Background: Ovarian cancer is the most common cancer cause of gynecologic cancer deaths. In order to increase the likelihood of patient survival through primary operation by gyneco-oncologists, an appropriate algorithm for referral is considered here. Materials and Methods: Suspicious adnexal mass cases including ovarian malignancy probability score-1 (OMPS1) scores between 2.3-3.65 are re-evaluated by OMPS2. Sensitivity and specificity of each score were determined. Results: Sensitivity and specificity with a 3.82 score of OMPS2 in the studied subgroup (OMPS1 scores between 2.3-3.65) were 64% and 76.9% respectively. Conclusions: Management of OMPS1 scores of below 2.3 with sensitivity of 100% and above 3.65 with specificity of 72.9% is clear. In the subgroup of cases with OMPS1 score between 2.3-3.65, OMPS2 is helpful for triage with a cutoff score of 3.82.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.49-59
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• 2005

목적: 2001년부터 2003년까지 3년간 동안 일 종합병원 입원 환자에 대한 정신과 자문을 조사하여 이 기간 동안의 자문 의뢰의 특성을 알아보고, 최근 변화의 추세에 대하여 조사하여 이를 바탕으로 중요성이 높아지고 있는 자문조정 정신의학의 방향이나 이 분야 연구에 대한 자료를 얻고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 본 연구는 2001년 1월 1일부터 2003년12월31일 까지 3년간 부산 메리놀병원에 입원하여 정신과 자문 의뢰된 환자들을 대상으로 하여 실시하였으며, 정신과에 보관된 자문 목록을 바탕으로 차트를 검토하여 환자들의 자문 기록과 병록 일지를 참고하였고, 그 빈도수를 백분율로 처리하였다. 결과: 1) 전체 입원 환자에 대한 최근 3년간 정신과 평균 자문율은 1.72%이었다. 2) 최근 3년간 60세 이상 환자의 자문이 47.8%였고, 특히 70세 이상 환자가 20.2% 이었다. 3) 전체 자문 의뢰 중 내과가 72.5%로 빈도가 가장 많았다. 4) 자문 의뢰가 가장 많은 달은 3월이었으며, 12월이 가장 적었다. 5) 자문 의뢰 중 정서적인 이상 증상에 의하여 의뢰하는 경우가 가장 많았으며, 그 다음이 이학적인 이상 소견이 없이 신체적인 증상을 호소하는 경우이었으나, 점진적으로 감소하는 경향을 보였고, 약물 중독, 알콜 문제가 있는 경우 정신의학적 평가를 의뢰하는 경우는 증가하였다. 6) 자문 의뢰시 정신과적인 진단은 신체형 장애가 가장 많았으며, 우울 장애, 기질성 정신장애의 순이었다. 우울 장애와 신체형 장애, 알콜 의존의 진단은 매년 증가하는 추세이나, 불안장애, 기질성 정신장애의 진단은 감소하였다. 7) 자문 진료 후 권고 사항은 약물 치료가 가장 많았으며, 진단적인 검사를 의뢰하는 경우도 증가하였으며, 정신 치료를 권유하는 경우도 매년 증가하였다. 결론 : 본원의 정신과 자문율이 1.72%이었으며, 60세 이상의 노인 환자들이 47.8%이었으며, 이는 매년 증가하였다. 자문 의뢰의 주요 원인은 우울 등의 정서적인 이상으로 의뢰되는 경우가 가장 많았고, 내과에서 자문을 의뢰하는 경우가 가장 많았다. 자문 이후 약물 치료에 대한 권유가 가장 많았고, 그 비율이 낮기는 하였으나 정신 치료 등 정신과적인 접근을 권유하는 경우도 증가하는 경향을 보였다.