• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.14-31
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• 1988

The national family planning program in Korea, which was instituted as an integral part of the nation's economic development plans since 1962, has contributed greatly to a reduction in the fertility and population growth rate. The total fertility rate dipped from 6.0 births per women in 1960 to 2.0 in 1985, and the population growth rate rom 2.84 percent per year to 1.25 percent during the same period, while the contraceptive practice rate for the 15-44 married women increased from 9 percent in 1965 to 70 percent in 1985. Study findings indicate that the fertility reduction in the past 26 years is largely attributed to the virgorous implementation of the national family planning program, rising age at marriage, wide-spread use of induced abortion, and the changes in attitude regarding the value of children that came into being in the wake of the rapid socio-economic development over the period. Among the strengths of the national family planning program are the following : 1) a pluralistic system of program manageent with active participation of various government and voluntary organizations, 2) utilization of a large corps of family planning field workers to conduct face-to-face communication and motivation activities, 3) use of private physicians with government support to provide contraceptive services, 4) a systematic program management system including program planning of traget allocation, evaluation, and supervision with a broad MIS and award system, 5) numerous incentive and disincentive schemes for stimulating the small family norm and contraceptive use, and 6) strong commitments to the family planning program by political leaders. The new demographic targets during the Sixth Five-Year Economic and Social Development plan period(1987-91) have been set for a further reduction in the population growth rate to 1.0 percent by 1993, assuming that the TFR will decline to 1.75 level in 1995. This target is, however, not easy to achieve due to anticipated unfavorable factors like the strong boy preference, high discontinuation rates of reversible contraceptive methods, fertility termination-oriented contraceptive use, a plateau level of contraceptive practice rate that has mostly accounted for a sterilization, shortened length of birth intervals, and the changing patterns of contraceptive mix. The recent changes in contraceptive and fertility behaviors clearly indicate that the past quantity-oriented management system of the national program should be redirected toward a quality-oriented approach. Particularly, program efforts should be expanded to recruit new contraceptive users in the 20s of younger age groups, both for birth spacing and controlling their fertility since the women aged 20 to 29 account for more than 80 percent of the total annual births in recent years. In addition, the current contraceptive fee system of the national family planning program should be gradually shifted from free contraceptive services to a acceptor's charge system, and the provision of contraceptive services through the medical insurance system, which will cover the entire population by 1989, should be accelerated as a means of integration of family planning program with other health programs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to build the diagnosis criteria of Qi deficiency using distribution of sum of 11 items for Qi deficiency in stroke patients. Between September 2006 and December 2010, 2,994 patients from 11 Korean medical hospitals were asked to complete the Korean Standard Pattern Identification for Stroke (K-SPI-Stroke) questionnaire as a part of project 'Fundamental study for the standardization and objectification of pattern identification in traditional Korean medicine for stroke (SOPI-Stroke). Each patient was independently diagnosed by two experts (traditional Korean medicine physicians) from the same site according to one of five patterns. 2,994 patients were divided modeling and testing in 70:30 ratio by stratification of pattern identification. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and odds ratio (OR) using distribution of sum of 11 items (signs and symptoms) for Qi deficiency. More than four from 11 items of Qi deficiency in modeling dataset, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR was 70.07%, 74.94%, 73.92% and 7.00, respectively. In testing dataset, 78.31%, 73.45%, 74.47% and 9.98, respectively. Although this values are not high, after values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR should be more than current value, and then we should be able to suggest as objective diagnosing criteria.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.31-38
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine whether NMED-01 or NMED-02 improves laboratory test results in participants with liver function disorder. Methods : This is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which participants, treating physicians and data management staff were blinded to treatment group. The study was conducted at Semyung university oriental medicine hospital in Jecheon where participants with high level of serum ${\gamma}$-GTP (60-350 U/L) were enrolled. The intervention consisted of three times daily ingestion of either two capsules of placebo, NMED-01 (NeuMed. co. ltd., Seoul), or NMED-02 (NeuMed. co. ltd., Seoul) for twelve weeks. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of NMED-01 and NMED-02, we primarily evaluated the degree of decrement of serum ${\gamma}$-GPT level among three groups. Secondarily the decrement of serum ALT, AST, and triglyceride level in each group were also evaluated. Adverse effects were monitored during the twelve weeks treatment. Results : The change of ${\gamma}$-GTP level of NMED-01 group was lower than that of placebo group at the end of 12-week administration ($28.1{\pm}38.7U/L$ vs. $9.3{\pm}27.0U/L$, p=0.046). Other variables including AST, ALT, and triglyceride level were not significantly reduced. The decrement of ${\gamma}$-GPT, AST, ALT, and triglyceride level of NMED-02 group was not significant. There were no significant adverse effects or toxicities during treatment period. Conclusions : Participants receiving NMED-01 had improvement in laboratory test results. Despite a modest sample size, our results suggest that NMED-01 are safe and may be potentially effective in improving liver function. However, NMED-02 have lack of a detectable effect in this study.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.345-356
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• 2015

Health service quality is increasingly emphasized, and primary care service is no exception in this. This study identified patients' perception of quality considering convergence factors associated with increased utilization among patients over the age of 65 using community health centers. A total of 307 respondents were included in the analysis. The results showed that positive perceptions on facility and environment, patient-centered care, technical knowledge and skills of physicians, and emotional support with nurses and non-medical workers were statistically and significantly associated with higher utilization. In order to increase utilization of primary care service at community health centers, they need to manage and improve these factors.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.138-147
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• 1998

Authors surveyed intrafamilial child sexual abuse in the children under 15years old in clinical. We sent the semi-structured child sexual abuse questionnaires to 7055 board certified pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine and emergency medicine. Total respondents were 1205. The results from these respondents were as follows. 1) The numbers of respondents who have had the experience of treating victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuses were 157(13.0% of total respondents). 2) Among the perpetrators, 58(36.9%) were siblings and 32(20.4%) 26(16.6%) were step-fathers, and respectively. The most common age bracket was 10s(39.5%), and the next was 40s and 50s (33.7%) Almost all(98.7%) of the perpetrators were male. 3) The mean age of victims was $12.1{\pm}3.3$ years old, and all of the victims were female, and the number of victims who had previous mental or physical handicaps and behavior problems were 5(3.2%) and 8(5.1%) respectively. 4) The ways by which intrafamilial child sexual abuses were found were abnormal behaviors 45(28.7%), victim's own report 40(25.5%), pregnancy 18(11.5%), pain complaint 13(8.3%), other person's report 13(8.3%), and detection during examination 12(7.6%). 5) Time lags between intrafamilial child sexual abuses and hospital visits were after 1 month 97(61.8%), from 1 day to 1 week 29(18.5%), within 1 day 21(13.4%), and from 1 week to 1 month 10(6.4%). 6) Physical complications were perineal wound 93(59.2%), hymen rupture 90(57.3%), pregnancy 68(43.3%), wound of other part of body 11(7.0%), and sexually transmitted disease 4(4.5%). 7) Treatment for victims were discharge 92(58.6%), admission, operation or transfer to a bigger hospital 25(15.9%), psychiatry consult 19(12.1%), report to police(10.9%) and social work consult 3(1.9%). These results suggest that considerable numbers of physicians have had the experience of treating victims of intrafamilial child sexual abuses, and intrafamilial child sexual abuses are the major medical as well as social issue in children in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 1977

This study was made with 1394 clinical records obtained by a mobile charity health team in a rural Korea for 10 days from July 23 to Aug. 1, 1977 to see the disease pattern of the rural population in Korea. The health team consisted of 7 physicians in different clinical departments of the St. Mary's Hospital tried to cover as many as patients in that area by giving full informations and instructions before starting health services. which supposed to minimize the omissions of patients visits in that area. The proportion of each disease as well as its order in terms of the number of patients was reviewed by matching with age and sex distribution of patients, and with the duration of illness (complaints). Major findings obtained in this analysis were as follows; 1. Among 1394 patients, 536 (38.5%) was male and 858(61.5%) was female. As to the age distribution of the patients. those who are in the age group of 10-19 showed the highest proportion of 15.6% and those who are in the age group of 5-9 and 40-49 was the next with the proportion of 15.4% and 15.2% respectively. 2. The most prevalent cause of general morbidity were diseases of digestive system, diseases of nervous system and sensory organs, diseases of respiratory system, and diseases of skin and subcutaneous tissue in order. And their proportions among all patients were 21.8%, 20.7%, 14.5%, and 12.4% in respectively. The order of the diseases ranked by the number of patiens was slightly different in female population from that of total population, i. e. diseases of nervous system and sensory organs was the first. diseases of digestive system was the second, and the diseases of circulatory system was the third. 3. 23.2% of all patients were found to have had symptoms relating to their illness for more or less 5 years, and 18.3%, for more or less 6 months. Looking at the duration of illness by diseases, 28.6% of digestive tract disease patients and had the relating symptoms for about 1 week while 24.3% had had the symptoms for about 5 years, and in diseases of nervous system and and sensory organs, many(33.7%) had had symptoms for relatively long period (more than one year). On the other hand, in diseases of respiratory system, those who had had the relating symptoms for about 1 month was 24.3 % among all patients in this category and those who had had the symptoms for less than 1 week was 32.2%. 4. The duration of illness (complaints) was longer in females than in males and shorter in younger age groups than in older age groups.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2019

Purpose: Annual influenza vaccination is the best strategy to prevent healthcare-associated influenza transmission. Influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers (HCWs) vary by country, region, and year. We investigated the influenza vaccination rates for HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in South Korea, where a non-mandatory vaccination campaign was conducted. Methods: We retrospectively investigated factors affecting the influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in three tertiary hospitals in Goyang City, where the non-mandatory influenza vaccination program is conducted. Results: Consequently, 6,994 of 7,180 HCWs (97%) were included, and the overall vaccination rate was 85%. Nurses had the highest rate with 92%, followed by health technicians (88%), physicians (84%), and non-medical HCWs (79%, P<0.001). Vaccination rates differed, depending on the frequency of contact with patients in the non-medical HCWs (frequent contact vs. less-frequent contact; 90% vs. 73%, P<0.001). Conclusions: The influenza vaccination rate among HCWs during the 2017-2018 influenza season in Korea was 85%, which is among the highest rates compared with previously reported non-mandatory vaccination rates in other countries. The vaccination rate may vary depending on the HCW's occupational characteristics, including the extent of contact with the patient. Therefore, a multifaceted strategy is needed to increase the vaccination rate of HCWs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.234-244
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• 2020

Background: Chronic pain affects approximately 22% of the world's population. Opioids can be useful in chronic pain management. However, some patients have negative perception of opioids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate patients' perception about opioids and investigate problems associated with prescribing and taking opioids in South Korea. Methods: Patients who visited a pain clinic in 14 university hospitals of South Korea from September through October 2018 were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires about taking opioids. Results: Of the 368 patients that were surveyed (female 53.3%, male 46.7%), 56.8% were prescribed opioids. In the opioid group, 92.8% patients had heard of opioids from their doctor and 72.6% of them had a positive perception about opioids. The side effects associated with opioid use were constipation (35.4%), dizziness (24.6%), nausea and vomiting (17.4%), dysuria (6.2%), and addiction (2.0%). In the no opioid group, the primary sources of information about opioids were doctors (49.2%), mass media (30.8%), and the internet (16.2%). The main reasons why 39.0% patients did not take opioids were fear of addiction (57.7%) and side effects (38.5%). There were 71.5% and 60.9% patients in the opioid and no opioid group, respectively, who wished to take opioids when their numeric rating scale pain score was ≥ 7. Conclusions: Perception of opioids among patients who take them was either neutral or positive. However, 39.0% patients who have not been prescribed opioids did not want an opioid prescription, citing fear of addiction and side effects as the primary reasons.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 1991

Two patients with confirmed cerebral cysticercosis were treated with Albendazole(Zentel$^{(R)}$) at a daily dose of 1.200mg t.i.d. for 14 consecutive days and evaluated for tolerance and therapeutic effects. First case was 29 year old male, who had experience of 4 times of grand mal seizures during 1 year period before administration in Korea University Hospital. His chief complaints were seizure and moderate degree headache. He also had 4 subcutaneous nodules on the thorax, right and left upper arms. Among them one nodule was biopsied and confirmed microscopically as Cysticercus cellulosae hominis. Computed tomography of the brain showed four round low density lesions in right postero-frontal area, sylvian area, intra-occipital area and left parietal area. Second case was 48 year old male, who also had experience of seizures at 3 years, 5 months and 3 months before administration. In this case, no subcutaneous nodules and no headaches were noted. Brain CT showed four round low density lesions in right postero-parietal area and temporo-parietal area, and left temporo-parietal and parietal area. Serum antibody against cystic fluid antigen was detected by ELISA in both cases. The efficacy of the treatment of cerebral cysticercosis was assessed by the frequency of convulsions after treatment for 22 months follow-up. by the disappearance of the densities in cystic lesions at brain CT for 6 months follow-up, and disappearance of subcutaneous nodules, headache and so on. As the results, all low density lesions in both cases were disappeared in films of brain CT, and 4 nodules in first case were also disappeared. No more seizure and complain of headache occurred during the last 22 months after treatment in both cases. Post-treatment complete blood count and liver function test revealed no remarkable change compared to pre-treatment test. In the nations of Latin America, the physicians do not initially recommended the simultaneous administrations of steroids, reserving them only for patients whom the adverse reactions such as severe headache and/or seizures are occurred. According to them, in most patients these symptoms are controlled with aspirin and symptomatic drugs. But our experience using praziquantel is different, and most cerebral cysticercosis patients who takes PZQ had complaint of severe headache and sometimes seizure. So we simultaneously used dexamethasone as 6mg q.i.d. for 14 consecutive days and 6 days tapering thereafter in both cases for prevention of reactions produced by the host in response to the deaths of the parasites. As the conclusion, albendazole is effective in patients who presented cerebral cysticercosis and albendazole may help in the control of cysticercosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.6
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• pp.690-702
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• 2023

Objective : To analyze the outcomes of coil embolization (CE) for unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) according to region and hospital size based on National Health Insurance Service data in South Korea. Methods : The incidence of complications, including intracranial hemorrhage (ICRH) and cerebral infarction (CI), occurring within 3 months and the 1-year mortality rates in UIA patients who underwent CE in 2018 were analyzed. Hospitals were classified as tertiary referral general hospitals (TRGHs), general hospitals (GHs) or semigeneral hospitals (sGHs) according to their size, and the administrative districts of South Korea were divided into 15 regions. Results : In 2018, 8425 (TRGHs, 4438; GHs, 3617; sGHs, 370) CEs were performed for UIAs. Complications occurred in 5.69% of patients seen at TRGHs, 13.48% at GHs, and 20.45% at sGHs. The complication rate in TRGHs was significantly lower than that in GHs (p=0.039) or sGHs (p=0.005), and that in GHs was significantly lower than that in sGHs (p=0.030). The mortality rates in TRGHs, GHs, and sGHs were 0.81%, 2.16%, and 3.92%, respectively, with no significant difference. Despite no significant difference in the mortality rates, the complication rate significantly increased as the number of CE procedures per hospital decreased (p=0.001; rho=-0.635). Among the hospitals where more than 30 CEs were performed for UIAs, the incidence of CIs (p=0.096, rho=-0.205) and the mortality rates (3 months, p=0.048, rho=-0.243; 1 year, p=0.009, rho=-0.315) significantly decreased as the number of CEs that were performed increased and no significant difference in the incidence of post-CE ICRH was observed. Conclusion : The complication rate in patients who underwent CE for UIA increased as the hospital size and physicians' experience in conducting CEs decreased. We recommend nationwide quality control policies CEs for UIAs.