• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.94-102
• /
• 2024

Background: There is controversy surrounding the claim that current nursing workforce policies exacerbate the geographic imbalance of nurses in Korea, but very few studies have confirmed this assertion. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors influencing the distribution of nurses at the regional level, including variables related to nursing workforce policies. Methods: This study analyzed the distribution of 225,462 practicing nurses across 250 regions in Korea as of 2020. National statistics were collected for these 250 regions, and regression analysis was conducted. Results: Factors influencing the distribution of practicing nurses included the number of annual inpatient days, integrated nursing care service beds, public healthcare institutions, tertiary hospitals, and general hospitals. Additionally, the number of nursing graduates and healthcare institutions with nurse staffing grade 1 and 2 had an impact on nurse distribution in non-capital regions. Conclusion: To prevent exacerbating the geographic imbalance of nurses, careful decisions should be made regarding the expansion of integrated nursing care service beds. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the number of nursing students in non-capital regions and prioritize the improvement of wages and working conditions for nurses in those areas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.2315-2317
• /
• 2012

Background: Use of smoke-less tobacco (SLT) is very common in South and South-East Asian countries. It is significantly associated with various types of cancers. The objectives of this study were to assess the proportion of hospital staff that use SLT, and to identify the factors associated with its use and their practices. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 560 staff of two tertiary care hospitals were interviewed in the year 2009. Nurses, ward boys and technicians were counted as a paramedic staff while drivers, peons, security guards and housekeeping staff were labeled as non-paramedic staff. SLT use was considered as usage of any of the following: betel quid (paan) with or without tobacco, betel nuts with or without tobacco (gutkha) and snuff (naswar). Results: About half (48.6%) of the hospital staff were using at least one type of SLT. Factors found to be statistically significant with SLT were being a male (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.8-3.7); having no/fewer years of education (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.2-2.4) and working as non-paramedic staff (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.8-3.8). Majority of SLT users were using it on regular basis, for > 5 years and keeping the tobacco products in the oral cavity for >30 minutes. About half of the users started due to peer pressure and had tried to quit this habit but failed. Conclusion: In this study, about half of the study participants were using SLT in different forms. We suggest educational and behavioral interventions for control of SLT usage.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 2005

Purpose: This study was aimed to estimate nursing cost for hemodialysis of tertiary hospitals using Resource Based Relative Value Scale(RVRBS). Method: First, we calculated nursing workload of the each hemodialysis-nursing behaviors compared with basic nursing behavior(check vital sign) for the most severe hemodialysis patients in general hospitals. Second, we measured each spent time according to each nursing behaviors. Third, we computed Resource Based Relative Value(RBRV) scores and nursing expenses of each 14 nursing behavior for hemodialysis. Finally, we estimated nursing cost of each hemodialysis-behavior for the most severe hemodialysis-patients in general hospitals. Result: The mean RBRV scores for each nursing behaviors were from 218.9 to 383.9 points. The highest RBRV socres were 383.9(Complication during hemodialysis). The Nursing behavior that spent the most time was "access the vascular( 31.7 minutes)". Nursing cost per hemodialysis for the patient with severe condition was estimated 63,455(won). Conclusion: Total average workload was 347.6 points and total spent time was 306.5 minutes for 14 hemodialysis nursing behaviors provided to severe patients. There were clear differences in nursing workload and cost according to patient's severity-mild, moderate and severe class.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.591-598
• /
• 2020

Since COVID-19's 1st pandemic came in February 2020, the demand for telemedicine grew greatly that in most countries the deregulation for telemedicine policy have been implemented in more countries. Also in Korea, with the name of 'Non-face-to-face Treatment' telemedicine began to be approved. Telemedicine having strength in chronic disease management has been effective in more and more specialties along with the recent development of ICT that it is expected to contribute to the improvement of the quality of healthcare service and creation of new treatment model. On the contrary it may also exacerbate the distortion in the hospital healthcare service industry in Korea, which is the excessive tipping toward large hospitals. So the dual promotion policy approach in which the settlement of family doctors system extensively utilizing telemedicine for chronic disease management and the support for tertiary hospitals and hospitals focusing on treating foreign patients to provide quality service using telemedicine technology are pursued simultaneously are recommended.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.229-236
• /
• 2023

Background: In workers with moderate to severe work-related traumatic brain injury (wrTBI), this study aimed to investigate the effect of the timing of rehabilitation therapy initiation on the length of hospital stay and the factors that can influence this timing. Methods: We used data obtained from the Republic of Korea's nationwide Workers' Compensation Insurance. In the Republic of Korea, between the years 2010 and 2019, a total of 26,324 workers filed a claim for compensation for moderate to severe wrTBI. Multiple regression modeling was performed to compare the length of hospital stay according to the timing of rehabilitation therapy initiation following wrTBI. According to the timing of the initiation of rehabilitation therapy following TBI, the proportions of healthcare institutions that provided medical care during each admission step were compared. Results: The length of hospital stay for workers who started rehabilitation therapy within 90 days was significantly shorter than that for workers who started rehabilitationment were first admitted to tertiary hospitals. Approximately 39% of patients who received delayed rehabilitation treatment were first admitted to general hospitals, and 28.5% were first admitted to primary hospitals. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the importance of early rehabilitation initiation and that the type of healthcare institution that the patient is first admitted to after wrTBI may influence the timing of rehabilitation initiation. The results of this study also emphasize the need to establish a Worker's Compensation Insuranceespecialized rehabilitation healthcare delivery system.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.74-84
• /
• 2018

Purpose: For this study an examination was done of relationships between intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' knowledge related to sedation and their clinical competencies in sedation practice. Methods: Ninety one ICU nurses were recruited from two tertiary hospitals in South Korea. A self-report questionnaire was used to examine the levels of knowledge related to sedation and nursing practice competence based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlations were performed using the IBM SPSS 21.0 Results: ICU nurses are more knowledgeable about general information on sedation rather than up-to-date information. Continuing education on sedation was related to difference in knowledge levels. However, the levels of knowledge were not related to competence in sedation practice. Instead, a positive attitude toward sedation practice was significantly related to the subjective norms; orders and goals, perceived behavioral control, practice of sedation, and intention to use. Conclusion: The results of this study provide fundamental information on levels of knowledge related to sedation practices of Korean ICU nurses. Continuing education should emphasize up-to-date information on sedation practice and need for positive attitudes which influence all other competencies towards sedation practices to achieve optical care of sedation in the ICU.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.157-172
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to construct and test a hypothetical model to explain the predictive factors and causal pathways for exercise levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis based on the self-determination theory. A conceptual framework was constructed assuming that autonomy support by health care providers would satisfy the three basic psychological needs of patients, which would increase their autonomous motivation for exercise, resulting in its initiation and continuation. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 221 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were visiting rheumatology clinics in two tertiary hospitals. Health Care Climate Questionnaire-exercise regularly, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction scale, Behavior Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2, and exercise level were used to collect data. Results: The fitness of the hypothetical model met the recommended level (𝛘²/df ≤ 3, SRMR ≤ .08, RMSEA ≤ .08, GFI ≥ .90, AGFI ≥ .85, NFI ≥ .90, TLI ≥ .90, CFI ≥ .90). The model effect analysis revealed that autonomy support by health care providers had a positive effect on patients' autonomy, competence, relatedness, autonomous motivation, and exercise level. Competence and relatedness had positive effects on autonomous motivation and exercise level, respectively. Autonomous motivation had a positive effect on exercise level. Conclusion: The predictive factors of exercise level in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were autonomous motivation, health care providers' autonomy support, competence, and relatedness. Considering these factors, we recommend the development of an effective program for improving exercise levels in these patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.251-258
• /
• 2017

The objective of this study was to analyze patient satisfaction and perception of nutritional counseling services quality. A patient satisfaction and perception survey was conducted for 1,095 patients from 43 tertiary hospitals and 20 general hospitals. The number of returned questionnaires was 656 (response rate: 60.0%). Data from 633 questionnaires were analyzed after the questionnaires with unanswered items were excluded. Five domains were identified from the result of the factor analysis using the maximum likelihood and oblique rotation. The five domains were named empathy, responsiveness, tangibles, reliability, and skill and specialty. Patient perception mean score of nutritional counseling was 4.54/5.00. Patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher in empathy (P<0.001), responsiveness, and skill and specialty (P<0.01) with a college or graduate school education than in patients with a middle school education. There was no statistically significant difference between satisfaction scores in tertiary hospitals and those in general hospitals, but patients in capital hospitals reported significantly higher scores than their local counterparts in empathy, responsiveness, reliability, skill and specialty (P<0.001), and tangibles (P<0.05). In responsiveness, significantly higher (P<0.01) scores were observed in patients who received nutritional counseling only once compared to patients who received counseling two times. Patients perception of nutritional counseling services was significantly correlated with their satisfaction of five domains, reliability (r=0.721), responsiveness (r=0.697), empathy (r=0.690), skill and specialty (r=0.678), and tangibles (r=0.622).

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.255-264
• /
• 2014

Objective: The aims of this study are to investigate the total volume of prescribed medicines against Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the trends of usage by analyzing the claims-data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service. Method: The demographic and claims-data were included the major AD treating medicines such as donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine and memantine, and analyzed during the period of 2010~2012. The assessing criteria were gender, age, habitation, types of medical institution, code of ingredients, outcomes of treatment, volume and amount of claims, and the numbers of patients with dementias. After trimming the data, it were analyzed by the market size, demographic traits, characteristics of medical service, characteristics of each anti-AD medicine, etc. Results: Among the chosen 4 medicines, donepezil had the top prescription volumes. Most prevalent prescribing preparations of donepezil were conventional types. However, among the non-conventional types, oro-dispersible formulation is the fast increasing one in both volume and growth rate. This specialized preparations to improve both toleration and adherence, tend to being prescribed generally at the tertiary medical institutions. While the younger patients with mild-to-moderate AD mostly treated by expensive medicines in resident at the tertiary hospitals, the rest older patients with severe AD have been treated non-expensive one at long-term care facilities. Conclusion: AD is a chronic illness therefore, long-term use of therapeutic medications are highly important. If an anti-AD treatment was applied steadily in the earlier stages, it would be achieved not only improving the quality of life of patient but also reducing the expenses in the medical and nursing cares. As the socioeconomical impacts of AD is expanding, healthcare professionals need to aware the importance of pharmacotherapy and to improve sociopolitical fundamentals.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.6 no.1_2
• /
• pp.80-91
• /
• 1999

Background : With the CQI concepts, which emphasize doing the right things right the first time, we tried to enhance the timely completion of medical records by changing the review process from retrospective method to concurrent one. Methods : Against the current retrospective QA activity, Medical record administrator did the concurrent QA of the inpatient medical records with the deficiency sheets. One general surgery ward was chosen as a trial one. The deficiency rate of the medical records of the discharged patients was compared before and after the enforcement of the system. Job analysis of the medical record departments was done about four tertiary care hospitals located in Seoul to estimate the cost and the time consumed by current system. Results : There was a little improvement in the completion rate of the medical records after the trial. The new system was effective. And job analysis showed that much money and time were wasted by current retrospective feedback system. Conclusion : Though the result was not so satisfactory, it should be considered that this test was a voluntary one and the interns and residents were not forced to complete the medical records during this trial period. If there be any strong motivation to complete the medical record in time, this system is sure to be succeed. As the DRG system requires the concurrent review of the medical records to confirm severity of the patient's illness and to assure the timely discharge, it is desirable to enforce this method with the DRG system together. DRG coding and reducing deficiency rate of the medical records can be accomplished simultaneously.