• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2012

Objectives: Although evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a useful method for integrating evidence into the decision-making process of occupational physicians, occupational physicians lack EBM knowledge and skills, and do not have the time to learn the EBM method. In order to enable them to educate themselves at the time and place they prefer, we designed an electronic EBM course. We studied the feasibility and utility of the course as well as its effectiveness in increasing EBM knowledge, skills, and behaviour. Methods: Occupational physicians from various countries were included in a within-subjects study. Measurements were conducted on participants' EBM knowledge, skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour at baseline, directly after finishing the course and 2 months later (n = 36). The feasibility and utility of the course were evaluated directly after the course (n = 42). Results: The course is applicable as an introductory course on EBM for occupational physicians in various countries. The course is effective in enhancing EBM knowledge and self-efficacy in practising EBM. No significant effect was found on EBM skills, behaviour, and determinants of behaviour. After the course, more occupational physicians use the international journals to solve a case. Conclusion: An electronic introductory EBM course is suitable for occupational physicians. Although it is an effective method for increasing EBM knowledge, it does not seem effective in improving skills and behaviour. We recommend integrating e-learning courses with blended learning, where it can be used side by side with other educational methods that are effective in changing behaviour.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2023

Background: This study analyzed questions searched by rotator cuff patients and determined types and quality of websites providing information. Methods: Three strings related to rotator cuff repair were explored by Google Search. Result pages were collected under the "People also ask" function for frequent questions and associated webpages. Questions were categorized using Rothwell classification and topical subcategorization. Webpages were evaluated by Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria for source quality. Results: One hundred twenty "People also ask" questions were collected with associated webpages. Using the Rothwell classification of questions, queries were organized into fact (41.7%), value (31.7%), and policy (26.7%). The most common webpage categories were academic (28.3%) and medical practice (27.5%). The most common question subcategories were timeline of recovery (21.7%), indications/management (21.7%), and pain (18.3%). Average JAMA score for all 120 webpages was 1.50. Journal articles had the highest average JAMA score (3.77), while commercial websites had the lowest JAMA score (0.91). The most commonly suggested question for rotator cuff repair/surgery was, "Is rotator cuff surgery worth having?," while the most commonly suggested question for rotator cuff repair pain was, "What happens if a rotator cuff is not repaired?" Conclusions: The most commonly asked questions pertaining to rotator cuff repair evaluate management options and relate to timeline of recovery and pain management. Most information is provided by medical practice, academic, and medical information websites, which have highly variable reliability. By understanding questions their patients search online, surgeons can tailor preoperative education to patient concerns and improve postoperative outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to examine patient satisfaction related to an increase in nursing personnel staffing. Methods: The subjects of this study were 317 hospitalized patients in the general wards of a medical center in Kyungki Do. Data were collected at 2 and 8 months following an increase in nursing personnel in the hospital. Patient Satisfaction Scale developed by Lee(1986) and revised by Seo(2000) was used. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, t-test, ${\chi}2$ test, and one way ANOVA. Results: Although the patient satisfaction scores at 8 months were higher than the scores at 2 months, there were no significant differences in patient satisfaction between the two periods Among the patient satisfaction subscales, the scores of the education subscale at 8 months were marginally higher than at 2 months (t=-1.97, p=.050). Conclusions: Adequate nursing staffing is important in patient satisfaction and patient outcome. The results provide data that suggests a positive direction for nursing intervention and development of nursing professionals.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to compare physical symptoms and fatigue of hemodialysis patients on dialysis day and non-dialysis day. Methods: Data were collected from 63 outpatients undergoing hemodialysis at a hospital in A university hospital in August and September, 2008 using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 12.0 program with Paired t-test and Pearson's correlation. Results: Physical symptoms in patients between dialysis day and non-dialysis day were not different statistically (t=1.76, p=.08). Fatigue on dialysis day was higher than on non-dialysis day (t=3.27, p=.00). Physical symptoms and fatigue positively correlated with dialysis day (r=.42, p=.00) and non-dialysis day (r=.52, p=.00). Conclusion: Intervention to decrease physical symptoms and fatigue in dialysis day and non-dialysis day should be developed.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2011

Objectives: Depressive disorder (DD) is a complex disease, and the assessment of work ability in patients with DD is also complicated. The checklist depression (CDp) has recently been developed to support such work ability assessments and has been recommended for implementation in insurance medicine, starting with an analysis of the organisational and social contexts. The aim of this study was to identify the potential facilitators and barriers in the use of the CDp by insurance physicians (IPs) during work ability assessments of employees on sick leave due to DD. Methods: A qualitative research was conducted based on semi-structured interviews. The participants were IPs with at least one year of work experience in performing work ability assessments. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Results: Ten IPs (7 males, 3 females; mean 53 years) were interviewed. Important facilitators, which emerged for use of the CDp, were an oral introduction for colleagues and staff, support from management, valuing the increased transparency in work ability assessments with using the CDp, having adequate time for assessments as well as modification of the appearance (colour, plasticised form) and content (clarifying aspects of the examples) of the assessment tool. The fear of the loss of autonomy, lack of added value of the CDp, high workload, inadequate instructions and lack of time were mentioned as barriers. Conclusion: Adequate introduction to the use of CDp and the fear of the loss of autonomy of IPs need special attention in planning its implementation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.2-12
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• 2023

The current study aimed to explore the types and frequencies of uncommon complications associated with third molar extractions based on a scoping review of case reports and case series. The study used an electronic literature search based on PubMed and Embase up to March 31, 2020, with an update performed on October 22, 2021. Any case reports and case series that reported complications associated with third molar extractions were included. The types of complications were grouped and the main symptoms of each type of complication were summarized. A total of 51 types of uncommon complications were identified in 248 patients from 186 studies. Most types of complications were post-operative. In the craniofacial and cervical regions, the most frequent complications included iatrogenic displacement of the molars or root fragments in the craniofacial area, late mandibular fracture, and subcutaneous emphysema. In other regions, the most frequent complications include pneumomediastinum, pneumorrhachis, pneumothorax, and pneumopericardium. Of the patients, 37 patients had life-threatening uncommon complications and 20 patients had long-term/irreversible uncommon complications associated with third molar extractions. In conclusion, a variety of uncommon complications associated with third molar extractions were identified. Most complications occurred in the craniofacial and cervical regions and were mild and transient.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.77-92
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• 2011

Objectives : This study examined the health policy researchers' needs and their accessibility towards health insurance claim datasets according to their academic capacity. Methods : An online questionnaire to capture relevant proxy variables for academic needs, accessibility, and research capacity was constructed based on previous studies. The survey was delivered to active health policy researchers through three major scholarly associations in South Korea. Seven-hundred and one scholars responded while the survey as open for 12 days (starting on December 20th, 2010). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Results : Regardless of the definition for operational needs, the prevalent needs of survey respondents were not met with the current provision of claim data. Greater research capacity was shown to be correlated with increased demand for claim data along with a positive correlation between attempts to obtain claim datasets and research capacity. A greater research capacity, however, was not necessarily correlated with better accessibility to the claim data. Conclusions : The substantial unmet need for claim data among the healthcare policy research community calls for establishing proactive institutions which could systematically prepare and make available public datasets and provide call-in services to facilitate proper handling of data.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.218-228
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• 2011

Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a new workers' health surveillance (WHS) for fire fighters in a Dutch pilot-implementation project. Methods: In three fire departments, between November 2007 and February 2009, feasibility was tested with respect to i) worker intent to change health and behavior; ii) the quality of instructions for testing teams; iii) the planned procedure in the field; and iv) future WHS organisation. Acceptability involved i) satisfaction with WHS and ii) verification of the job-specificity of the content of two physical tests of WHS. Fire fighters were surveyed after completing WHS, three testing teams were interviewed, and the content of the two tests was studied by experts. Results: Feasibility: nearly all of the 275 fire fighters intended to improve their health when recommended by the occupational physician. The testing teams found the instructions to be clear, and they were mostly positive about the organisation of WHS. Acceptability: the fire fighters rated WHS at eight points (out of a maximum of ten). The experts also reached a consensus about the optimal job-specific content of the future functional physical tests. Conclusion: Overall, it is feasible and acceptable to implement WHS in a definitive form in the Dutch fire-fighting sector.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2017

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common worldwide and cover a wide range of disorders attributable to the gastrointestinal tract that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. The diagnosis of these disorders relies on the symptom-based Rome criteria. In 2016 the Rome criteria were revised for infants/toddlers and for children and adolescents. In this review, we discuss the novel Rome IV criteria for infants and toddlers. The criteria for infant colic were drastically changed, whereas only minor changes were made for regurgitation, cyclic vomiting syndrome, functional diarrhea, infant dyschezia and functional constipation. In addition to this, the new Rome IV discusses underlying mechanisms of pain in infants and toddlers, including the neurodevelopment of nociceptive and pain pathways, the various factors that are involved in pain experience, and methods of pain assessment in infants and toddlers is essential for the clinician who encounters functional pain in this age group. Overall, the Rome IV criteria have become more distinctive for all disorders in order to improve the process of diagnosing pediatric FGIDs.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.121-133
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to suggest how to interpret the 'practice of Korean Medicine', differentiating it from 'medical practice'. Methods : I analyze the legislations and precedents regarding the practice of Korean Medicine. Results : The Korean Medicine and Pharmaceutics Promotion Act defines 'practice of Korean Medicine' and it clearly differentiates it from the definition of 'medical practice'. However, the scope of this definition is somewhat restricting and it can violate doctors of Korean Medicine's right to equality and their academic freedom. Thus, the application of this definition of the 'practice of Korean Medicine' should be limited to the field of research and development. Meanwhile, criteria of distinguishing 'practice of Korean Medicine' from 'medical practice', which used to make a sharp distinction between Medicine and Korean Medicine by rigorously applying their academic standards, are now focusing more on protecting and improving health of the people. Discussions & Conclusions : I suppose that the distinction between the 'practice of Korean Medicine' and 'medical practice' will be more focused on public health rather than the academic stance of those two medical fields. Meanwhile, in accordance with dualistic medical system, the mutual usage of medical equipment in the area of 'treatment' should be limited while it should be allowed in the area of 'diagnosis' if it satisfies requirements suggested by the Constitutional Court.