• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.150-160
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• 1999

Background : Because hospitals had to faced with financial hardship, we have to have more effective hospital management. In this study, we tried to improve job performance and to reduce cost maintaining safety in fields of patients care. Methods : Central Supply Room(CSR) staffs taught strategy of material cost reduction to middle level managers and staffs 14 times. All staffs and voluntary service workers, working in 33 nursing units, participated in this activity. We developed questionnaire to check the degree of participate in cost reduction activity and job performance in CSR, and quality improvement in the wards. Two hundred questionnaires were distributed and 197 returned. Results : Because CSR staffs developed new items and every item was managed at each department, stocks of each department were reduced. Overall, by comparing before and after cost reduction activity, almost 1.2 billion won reduced for one year. Staffs' loyalty and spirits of cost reduction were improved by changing clothes and duty environment. Furthermore, these activity improved patients' satisfaction. Conclusion : We suggest that CSR activity in a university hospital contributes to improve job performance and to reduce cost without any problem in patient care.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.290-306
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the experiences of health-care providers about advanced practice nurses (APNs) focusing on the perspectives of physicians and APNs in Korea. Methods: Qualitative data were collected with snowball sampling. Six physicians and 13 APNs participated in this study through in-depth interviews or a focus-group interview. Qualitative content analysis was employed. Results: Three themes and seven categories were emerged. Three themes were 1) challenging start and attempts to settle down on unfamiliar system, 2) being positioned as an APN at clinical settings, 3) long journey for social recognition and legal institutionalization of APNs' role. Seven categories were 1) challenges to new area, 2) introduction and conflict of APN system, 3) driving force for stepping toward becoming APNs, 4) dedication and commitment to role development, 5) efforts to prove APNs' competency, 6) approaches to guarantee legal APNs' activities, and 7) filling the gap in health-care service. Conclusion: The findings suggest that health-care providers who have collaborated with APNs are aware of the needs to operate APN system more stably through the legislation of APNs' scope of practices. Further research is needed to provide the evidences of APNs' practice outcomes such as health care quality, patient safety, reduction of medical expenses, etc.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.110-121
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• 2015

Competency-based medical education (CBME) is an outcome-oriented curriculum model for medical education that organizes learning activities and assessment methods according to defined competencies as the learning outcomes of a given curriculum. CBME emerged to address the accountability of medical education in response to growing concerns about the patient safety in North America in the 1970s, and the number of medical schools adopting CBME has dramatically increased since 1990. In Korea, CBME has been under consideration as an alternative curriculum model to reform medical education since 2006. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: (1) to review the literature on CBME to identify the challenges and benefits reported in North America, (2) to summarize the process and experiences of planning and implementing CBME at Inje University College of Medicine, and finally (3) to provide recommendations for Korean medical schools to be better prepared for the successful adoption of CBME. In conclusion, one of the key factors for successful CBME implementation in Korea is how well an individual school can modify the current curriculum and rearrange the existing resources in a way that will enhance students' competencies while maximizing the strengths of the school's existing curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1998

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common systemic inflammatory disease which DMARDS have been widely used as a treatment modality both as monotherapy and combination therapy Bucillamine, one of newer DMARDS, has recently proven its efficacy as monotherapy in the treatment of RA. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and the safety of bucillamine monotherapy and bucillamine plus methotrexate combination therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Forty-nine mild RA patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-trial and were assigned to receive bucillamine 200 mg/day (n=18) or bucillamine 200 mg/day and methotrexate 7.5-15 mg/week (n=31) orally for 16 weeks. Concomitant use of NSAID and prednisolone <5 mg/day or equivalent dose of steroid were allowed. Both monotherapy group and combination therapy group have shown significant improvement in disease activities (Ritchie index, painful joints, swollen joints, morning stiffness, grip strength, ESR, RF, CRP, patient's self assessment of pain, physician's global assessment of disease activity) from the baseline. However, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups. The adverse effects were more frequently shown in combination therapy group than monotherapy group. In conclusion, in patients with mild RA monotherapy has shown to be equally efficacious as combination therapy with less side effects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2023

It is undeniable that a significant number of patients who want to improve their facial appearance is increasingly interested in nonsurgical procedures. Without a doubt, the use of autologous fat could not be left out as a magnificent alternative for nasal modeling simply because of four influential factors: ease of collection, compatibility, the temporality of the results, and safety. This work describes an innovative alternative technique for nasal modeling using micrografts enriched with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs). With this technique, fat was collected and divided into two samples, nanofat and microfat. Nanofat was used to isolate the ASCs; microfat was enriched with ASCs and used for nasal modeling. Lipoinjection was performed in a supraperiosteal plane on the nasal dorsum. Through a retrolabial access, the nasal tip and base of the columella were lipoinjected. We consider that nonsurgical nasal modeling using micrografts enriched with ASCs can be an attractive and innovative alternative. This technique will never be a substitute for surgical rhinoplasty. It can be performed in a minor procedure area with rapid recovery and return to the patient's daily activities the next day. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.212-228
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• 2023

Systems thinking, a linking domain of health systems science (HSS), is an approach that investigates specific problems from a holistic perspective. It supports improving patients' health, fulfilling their health needs, and anticipating issues that threaten patient safety within the healthcare system. It also helps solve problems through critical thinking and ref lection. This study aimed to develop an curriculum on systems thinking, explore the effectiveness of the course, and investigate the applicability of HSS education at individual universities. In this study, the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model was utilized to design, develop, implement, and evaluate an elective course on systems thinking. In the design process, learning outcomes and goals were developed, and educational content, teaching-learning methods, and student evaluation methods were linked. In the development process, class materials and evaluation materials were prepared. In the implementation process, the course was implemented, and the evaluation process analyzed the results of learning performance and curriculum assessments. The evaluation found the following results. First, the students in the study realized the importance of systems thinking and experienced the need for systems thinking through non-medical and medical situations. Second, the students were very satisfied with the learning activities in the course (mean=4.84), and the results of the self-competence evaluation, conducted before and after the course, also showed a significant improvement. This study confirmed the effectiveness of the elective course, and its results can serve as a reference for developing an HSS curriculum.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.215-225
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• 2022

Background: Patients with hematologic cancers have a risk of drug-related problems (DRPs) from medications associated with chemotherapy and supportive care. Although the role of oncology pharmacists has been widely documented in the literature, few studies have reported its impact on cost reduction. This study aimed to describe the activities of oncology pharmacists with respect to hematologic diseases and evaluate the associated cost avoidance. Methods: From January to July 2021, patients admitted to the department of hemato-oncology at Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital were studied. The activities of oncology pharmacists were reported by DRP type following the Pharmaceutical Care Network version 9.1 guidelines, and the acceptance rate was calculated. The avoided cost was estimated based on the cost of the pharmacy intervention, pharmacist manpower, and prescriptions associated with the intervention. Results: Pharmacists intervened in 584 prescriptions from 208 patients during the study period. The most prevalent DRP was "adverse drug event (possibly) occurring" (32.4%), followed by "effect of drug treatment not optimal" (28.6%). "Drug selection" (42.5%) and "dose selection" (30.3%) were the most common causes of DRPs. The acceptance rate of the interventions was 97.1%. The total avoidance cost was KRW 149,468,321; the net profit of the avoidance cost, excluding labor costs, was KRW 121,051,690; and the estimated cost saving was KRW 37,223,748. Conclusion: Oncology pharmacists identified and resolved various types of DRPs from prescriptions for patients with hematologic disease, by reviewing the prescriptions. Their clinical service contributed to enhanced patient safety and the avoidance of associated costs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.357-374
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to validate knowledge outcomes included Nursing Outcomes Classification(NOC) developed by Johnson and Maas at the University of Iowa. A sample of 71 nurse experts working in university affiliated hospitals participated in this study. They were asked to rate indicators that examplified the outcomes on a scale of 1(indicator is not all characteristic) to 5(indicator is very characteristic). A questionnaire with an adaptation of Fehring's methodology was used to establish the content validity of outcomes. The results were as follow: 1. All indicators were considered to be 'supporting' and no indicators were considered to be 'nonsupporting'. 2. 'Knowledge: Treatment Regimen' attained and OCV score of 0.816 and was the highest OCV score among outcomes. 3. 'Knowledge: Energy Conservation' attained an OCV score of 0.748 and was the lowest OCV score among abuse outcomes. 4. 'Knowledge: Breastfeeding' attained an OCV score of 0.790 and was the highest indicator was 'description of benefits of breastfeeding'. 5. 'Knowledge: Child Safety' attained an OCV score of 0.778 and was the highest indicator was 'demonstration of first aids techniques'. 6. 'Knowledge: Diet' attained an OCV score of 0.779 and was the highest indicator was 'performance of self-monitoring activities'. 7. 'Knowledge: Disease Process' attained an OCV score of 0.815 and was the highest indicator was 'description of signs and symptoms'. 8. 'Knowledge: Health Behaviors' attained an OCV score of 0.800 and was the highest indicator was 'description of safe use of prescription drugs'. 9. 'Knowledge: Health Resources' attained an OCV score of 0.794 and was the highest indicator was 'description of need for follow-up care'. 10. 'Knowledge: Infection Control' attained an OCV score of 0.793 and was the highest indicator was 'description of signs and symptoms'. 11. 'Knowledge: Medication' attained an OCV score of 0.789 and was the highest indicator was 'description of correct administration of medication'. 12. 'Knowledge: Personal Safety' attained an OCV score of 0.804 and was the highest indicator was 'description of measures to reduce risk of accidental injury'. 13. 'Knowledge: Prescribed Activity' attained an OCV score of 0.810 and was the highest indicator was 'proper performance of exercise'. 14. 'Knowledge: Substance Use Control' attained an OCV score of 0.809 and was the highest indicator was 'description of signs of dependence during substance withdrawl'. 15. 'Knowledge: Treatment Procedure(s)' attained an OCV score of 0.795 and was the highest indicator was 'description of appropriate action for complications'. 16. 'Knowledge: Treatment Regimen' attained an OCV score of 0.816 and was the highest indicator was 'description of self-care responsibilities for emergency situations'. More outcomes need to be validated and outcomes sensitive to Korean culture need to be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.33-54
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• 1981

The purposes of this study were to determine the relevant nursing needs of patients following discharge; to identify the degree of their nursing needs; to identify types and status of discharge order and information given to patients; and to determine their specific nursing needs according to their diagnosis. In addition, opinions toward home care services provided by hospitals or by public health nurses and appointment plans with their physicians were also asked in order to determine the necessity of follow-up care for the patient after discharge. Nine hundred and eighty eight subjects were collected among patients being discharged from one national university hospital and four city hospitals. Data were collected from June,1979 to December,1979 using questionnaires and interviews. On the bases of these data the following findings were observed; 1) Almost 40 percents of total subjects discharged from the hospital with some or great degree of nursing needs in general. The most problematic nursing needs were needs for comfort which include needs for releaving pain, for sound sleep and rest, because these needs can only be met by professional help. More than 50% of total subjects have this problem. 2) Needs for mental health, general metabolism, general hygiene and activities and safety were observed in more than 20 percent of subjects. 3) Discharge orders on diet and oral medication were recorded in patients' charts in 70% of all cases. However, more than fifty percents of patients have not been told these information from doctors or nurses. Even though some of them might have had appointment plans with their physicians, they would not keep the appointments unless they completely understood the necessity of the follow-up care. If they have not had any appointment or would not visit the out-patient clinic, there is no method of caring them and prerenting funther discomfort or complications. Even in injection, ski care, dressing and bath, only one thirds of the subjects having recorded discharge orders understood what they need after discharge. The rest of cases have not known what to do for their further care. 4) More than 80 percents and 70 percents of total subjects agreed to a system of home care services provided by hospitals or public health nurses respectively. That is, regardless of sources of medical expenses, most of patients wanted to be taken care of at home following discharge. 5) While more than half of the patients having benefit of medical insurance or paying fully by themselves had appointment plans with their physicians, only one thirds of the patients fully or partially paid by government had appointment plans with their physicians. These results ex-plain that the appointment plan is directly associated with their economic power. This indicates that the home care services are more needed to the people with lower economical status. 6) Those who have been in the hospital more than 24 days wanted !o have home care services more than those who had less hospital days. They also had more appointment plans than other groups. 7) More than 70 percents of the subjects who had been in a university hospital and approximately 30 percents of the subjects in the city hospitals had appointment plans with their physicians. 8) Those who had the cerebrovascular disease, cancer or hypertension demanded more nursing needs such as needs for comfort, for general metabolism and for mental health. 9) Factors which were associated with the degree of patients' nursing needs were age, duration of hospitalization, opinion toward home care services given by public health nurses, hospital appointments and types of hospital. That is, the older they were and the longer the periods of hospitalization were, the higher were their nursing needs. The more they had nursing needs, the more they wanted to have nursing services and had appointment plans. It can be concluded that there is a great demand for a positive and systematic home care services to the people who have been discharged from hospitals following critical care. This program is definitely demanded for the low income groups of people with less education with the financial assistance of the government or other funding agencies.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2000

Objective : Thoracolumbar junction is second most common level of injury next to cervical spine. The object of this study is to study the usefulness of surgical titanium mesh instead of bone graft, as well as to evaluate the correction of spinal deformity and safety of early ambulation in patients with injury at thoracolumbar junction. Patients and Methods : This review included 51 patients who were operated from July 1994 to December 1997. The injured spine is considered to be unstable, if it shows involvement of two or more columns, translatory displacement more than 3.5mm, decrease more than 35% in height of vertebral body and progression of malalignment in serial X-ray. The decision to operate was determined by (1) compression of spinal cord or cauda eguina, (2) unstable fracture, (3) malalignment and (4) fracture dislocation. The procedure consisted of anterior decompression through corpectomy and internal fixation with anterior instrument and surgical titanium mesh which was impacted with gathered bone chip from corpectomy. Results : Fifty-one patients were followed up for at least 12 months. The main causes of injury were fall and vehicle accident. The twelfth thoracic and the first and the second lumbar vertebrae were frequently involved. Complete neural decompression was possible under direct vision in all cases. Kyphotic angulation occurred in a patient. Radiologic evaluation showed correction of deformity and no distortion or loosening of surgical titanium mesh with satisfactory fixation postoperatively. Conclusions : We could obtain neurological improvement, relief of pain, immediate stabilization and early return to normal activities postoperatively. Based on these results, authors recommend anterior decompression and internal fixation with surgical titanium mesh in thoracolumbar unstable spine injuries.