• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.31-44
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• 1982

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice in high risk infants and determine the factors which affect discharge against advice. Data of this study were collected by means of reviewing the medical records of 127 in-patients who were diagnosed as high risk infants in admission and interviewing of the mothers of these patients was done by telephone. The high risk categories were neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, congenital anomaly, congenital heart disease, blood disorder, neonatal infection and birth injury. Maternal attachment was measured by deviding the subjects into 2 groups, the one the continuing treatment group and the other the discharge against advice group. Maternal attachment is determined by an interplay of maternal attitude and specific infant behaviors. Maternal attachment developes through continuous physical and psychological contact between mother and infants. Later it developes into maternal love. The results were as follows: 1. There was a significant association between maternal attachment and discharge against advice, that is, the attachment score was higher in the continuing treatment group. 2. Inspite of controlling medical insurance, severity of disease and the length of stay, it was found that there continued to be either a partially significant or fully significant relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that maternal attachment was second in importance as a predictor of discharge against advice, which indicates that maternal attachment was a significant predictor of discharge against advice. 3. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that in 32.3％ of these cases the significant predictors of discharge against advice were length of stay, maternal attachment, delivery type, feeding type and income.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2001

Background : The objective of this study is proving the basic data for developing a management system for the discharges against medical advice(AMA) by identifying the characteristics of the AMA patients of an university hospital for 10 years. Methods : By using discharge abstract data base, we divided the total discharges(435,254) into two groups, discharge against medical advice and discharge with discharge order. We confirmed the characteristics of AMA group by analyzing discharge abstract data of the both groups by SAS software V6.12 and $x^2$ test. Medical records of AMA patients in the year 2000 were reviewed to identify the reasons for AMA which we couldn't extract from discharge abstract DB. Result : The total number of AMA for 10 years were 9,358(2.15%) and the AMA rate has been continuously decreased for 10 years. Male, admission through emergency room, discharges admission via other hospital, patients without operation during hospitalization, discharges in hopeless or not improved condition showed higher AMA rate. The AMA rate was higher as the age of the patients was higher, and the average length of stay was longer in AMA patients than in those with discharge order. The AMA rate in psychiatry was highest(14.3%) and it was higher in surgery departments than those of medical or other sections. The AMA rate varied by attending physicians even in the same department and it was statistically significant. Patients with the principal diagnosis of "medical observation and evaluation for suspected diseases" showed the highest AMA rate(15.5%), and that of schizophrenia or psychosis was the nest. One hundred twenty-one patients(19.5%) out of 622 AMA in 2000 discharged against medical advice for transfer to order health care facilities. Among them 71 patients(58.7%) discharged with their medical care information, such as copies of medical record, medical certificates, summaries, etc. Written oath of the patients discharged AMA was filed in their medical records in 466 cases(74.9%) although some of them were incomplete. Conclusion : Characteristics of AMA discharge could be used as the basic data in developing a system to manage the patients who have risk factors to leave the hospital against medical advice. By reducing number of patients leaving the hospital against medical advice we can increase satisfaction of medical providers and consumers.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.102-106
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• 2010

Purpose: With the increasing numbers of foreign residents in Korea, the need for an emergency medical care system for foreign patients seems to be growing. Sometimes, a foreigner admitted to an emergency room is not treated sufficiently due to the absence of insurance, facility in the Korean language, and a guardian. The management of a foreigner with trauma in the ER is difficult due to various problems such as social and economic status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current management status of foreigners with penetrating wounds in the emergency room. Methods: This study is an analysis of 580 patients that were diagnosed with penetrating wounds in one teaching Hospital from Jan. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008. We analyzed results according to nationality, alcohol ingestion, intentional or accidental trauma, trauma mechanism, injury severity, management time in the ER, and outcome in the ER. Results: Of the total 580 patients, 486 patients (83.8%) were native Koreans and 94 patients (16.2%) were foreigners. According to the Revised Trauma Score, the average score of native Korean patients was 7.808, and the average score of foreign patients was 7.638. Of native Korean patients, 22.6% had knife wounds while 38.3% of foreign patients did. Of native Korean patients, 17.3% experienced intentional trauma while 33.0% of the foreign patients did. Of native Korean patients, 22.5% had ingested alcohol while 49.4% of the foreigners had. Of native Korean patients, 10.5% were admitted while 7.6% of the foreign patients were. Of native Korean patients, 14.2% were discharged against medical advice (DAMA), while 18.5% of foreign patients were. Of native Korean patients, 1.2% ran away while 8.7% of the foreign patients did. Conclusion: Stabbing was the most common cause of penetrating wounds in foreigner patients in this study. Intentional trauma was more common in foreigners with penetrating wounds than in native Koreans. The severity was higher in foreigners with penetrating wounds than it was in native Koreans, and patients who ran away or were discharged against medical advice were more commonly foreigners with penetrating wounds. Social insurance or policy is needed for the management of foreigners with penetrating wounds.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.38-46
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• 1999

Background : To evaluate the frequency and cause of return to the emergency department within 48 hours and to identify the nature of the problem. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 76 patients who returned to the emregency department within 48 hours from September 1998 to February 1999. Results : Overall revisit rate within 48hours was 2.6%. Of 76 patients, 5(6.6%) had planned return, 64(84.2%) had unplanned return and 7(9.2%) had incomplete documentation. The causes of unplanned return were inadequate medical management (11.8%), discharge against medical advice (27.6%), return after scheduled ambulatory care (22.4%), and unavoidable revisit due to symptom aggrevation or development of new symptom (22.4%). Conclusion : The study provided a basic information for us to improve the quality of emergency care by reducing unnecessary return to the emergency department. It is necessary to monitor continuously the quality of emergency care and to develop the standard of emergency return rate.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1620-1627
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• 2000

Objectives : DAMA cases were analyzed to examine what the main casual factors of DAMA were and how to deal with these cases effectively in hospital with the DAMA interdisciplinary team including medical social worker whose role is to perform psycho-social assessment, family counsel, to evaluate family's DAMA need. Patients and Methods : The content analysis of medical record and social work record were reviewed in 37 cases referred by medical doctor to DAMA team. These cases were reported by patients' self discharge request or family's request for discharge from September 1998 to February 2000. The DAMA team consists of Assistant Director of Hospital as team leader, medical staff in-charge, social worker, QI nurse, other staff members who are not involved in direct treatment for patient, and administrative clerk. Results : The results of content analysis are as follows : 1) The most causal factors of DAMA consist of combination of more than 2 factors. 2) The major decision-maker is revealed to be son and daughter of patient. 3) In 59.4% of cases, family was not informed of patients' prognosis, alternatives, the consequence of DAMA at all. 4) In cases of DAMA report, the rapid intervention of social worker is carried out. Conclusion : In this study, we propose the interdisciplinary team approach to make decision legitimately and ethically for DAMA. The suggestions from this study are as follows : 1) To deal with DAMA case properly, the interdisciplinary team approach should be considered. 2) The criteria for DAMA case should be formed carefully. For the explicit selection of DAMA case, preliminary system for high-risk patient screening is recommended. 3) The medical social worker is available for the psycho-social problems of the patient once family members. For the effective family counselling, discharge planning and nursing home placement, the participation of medical social worker should be mandatory.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the changes in the characteristics of patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, as well as the distinctive differences in intentionally exposed patients. Methods: The medical records of CO poisoning patients, who visited nine emergency departments between January 2010 and December 2011, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical information including age, gender, hospitalization, type of discharge, cause and location of exposure, site of onset, concentration of initial blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methods of treatment and presence of neurological complications was examined. The subjects were divided into an intentional and non-intentional group and the differences between them was compared. Results: A total 209 subjects were recruited. The median age was 38 years (29~49.5 years). They frequently complained of nausea and vomiting, and the most common exposures occurred in winter, normally in the home. The cause of exposure was usually fire, followed by incomplete combustion of fuels. The median initial blood COHb was 13.15%. The proportion of intentionally exposed patients was 21%. They were significantly younger, more frequently discharged against medical advice, and showed a higher initial blood COHb level (22.85%) than the non-intentional group. Conclusion: This study suggests that those with intentional CO poisoning are normally discharged against medical advice even when they have a higher initial COHb level. An adequate explanation of the delayed neurologic sequelae and short term follow-up observation is recommended for those patients with intentional exposure.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.60-62
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• 2005

A previously healthy 57-year-old woman with dyspnea and wheezing presented to the emergency department a few minutes after exposure to unknown gas from mixing bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and cleaning agent (hydrochloric acid) at work place. Initial physical examination revealed severe wheezing on both whole lung fields, but the chest radiograph was normal. Arterial blood gas analysis showed only moderate hypoxemia. The patient was treated with oxygen, $\beta$adrenergic bronchodilators, antihistamines and corticosteroids, after then symptoms were improved. And the patient discharged against medical advice. We report a rare case of reactive airways dysfuntion syndrome from chlorine gas exposure.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1995

Jejunal and ileal atresias are the most common cause of congenital intestinal obstruction and accounts for about 1/3 of all cases of intestinal obstruction in newborns. Despite the relative frequency of this anomaly, its survival rate was less than 10% up to 1950, more recently the survival rate has risen rapidly to 90% with the introduction of modern surgical techniques and the use of total parenteral nutrition. In 1969 Thomas described a tapering jejunoplasty to manage the discrepancy in the size of the proximal dilated lumen & contracted distal lumen, and to preserve absorptive surface when the dilated jejunum involved a long length, and Grosfeld et al.(1979) facilitated this method by using GIA staplers. Author have also used GIA stapler to resect the antimesenteric portion of the dilated proximal bowel in 8 cases of jejunoileal atresias with good results. The following results were obtained ; 1. There we 3 jejunal atresias & 5 ileal atresias, and male to female sex ratio was 5 : 3. 2. The type of atresia was as follows ; type IIIa was 3 cases, type IIIb was 4 cases, type IIIb+IV was 1 case. 3. In non-complication cases(5 cases), the mean hospital day was 16 days, and oral feeding was feasible from 6.2 days after operation. 4. The complications(anastomotic leakage, pneumonia) were frequently occurred in type IIIb cases and in low birth weight cases(75%). 5. Mortality rate was 25% including DAMA(discharge against medical advice) discharge case.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.58-65
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• 2022

Purpose: Alcohol is one of the most commonly co-ingested agents in deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) cases presenting at the emergency department (ED). The increased impulsivity, aggressiveness, and disinhibition caused by alcohol ingestion may have different clinical features and outcomes in cases of DSP. This study investigates whether alcohol co-ingestion affects the clinical features and outcomes of DSP patients in the ED. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. We investigated DSP cases who visited our ED from January 2010 to December 2016. Patients were classified into two groups: with (ALC+) or without (ALC-) alcohol co-ingestion. The clinical features of DSP were compared by considering the co-ingestion of alcohol, and the factors related to discharge against medical advice (AMA) of DSP were analyzed. Results: A total of 689 patients were included in the study, with 272 (39.5%) in the ALC+ group. Majority of the ALC+ group patients were middle-aged males (45-54 years old) and arrived at the ED at night. The rate of discharge AMA from ED was significantly higher in the ALC+ group (130; 47.8%) compared to the ALC- group (p=0.001). No significant differences were obtained in the poisoning severity scores between the two groups (p=0.223). Multivariate analysis revealed that alcohol co-ingestion (odds ratio [OR]=1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.98), alert mental status (OR=1.65; 95% CI, 1.17-2.32), past psychiatric history (OR=0.04; 95% CI, 0.01-0.28), age >65 years (OR=0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.78), and time from event to ED arrival >6 hrs (OR=0.57; 95% CI, 0.37-0.88) were independent predictive factors of discharge AMA (p=0.043, p=0.004, p=0.001, p=0.006, and p=0.010, respectively). Conclusion: Our results determined a high association between alcohol co-ingestion and the outcome of discharge AMA in DSP patients. Emergency physicians should, therefore, be aware that DSP patients who have co-ingested alcohol may be uncooperative and at high risk of discharge AMA.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.38-42
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• 2014

Purpose: Gastroschisis and omphalocele are major anterior abdominal wall defects. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical differences and mortalities of gastroschisis and omphalocele in Asan Medical Center. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records was conducted of 103 cases of gastroschisis and omphalocele from September 1989 to February 2013 in Asan Medical Center in Korea. Results: There were 43 cases (41.7%) of gastroschisis and 60 cases (58.3%) of omphalocele. There was a female predominance in both gastroschisis (60.5%) and omphalocele (58.3%). The average gestational age at delivery was $36.7{\pm}0.4$ weeks for both groups. The mean birth weights were $2,381.9{\pm}80.6g$ for gastroschisis and $2,779.4{\pm}82.8g$ for omphalocele (p=0.001). Mean maternal ages in the gastroschisis and omphalocele groups were $27.5{\pm}0.7$ years and $30.5{\pm}0.7$ years, respectively (p=0.002). Associated malformations were documented in 13 infants (30.2%) with gastroschisis and 46 infants (76.7%) with omphalocele (p<0.001). All of gastroschisis patients except one underwent surgery including 31 primary repairs and 11 staged repairs. Fifty-two infants with omphalocele underwent surgery-primary repair in 41 infants and staged repair in 11 infants. Among 103 cases, 19 cases (18.4%) expired. Mortality rates of gastroschisis and omphalocele were 23.3% (10/43 cases) and 15.0% (9/60 cases), respectively (p=0.287). The main causes of death were abdominal compartment syndrome (6/10 cases) in gastroschisis, respiratory failure (4/9 cases) and discharge against medical advice (4/9 cases) in omphalocele. Conclusion: Gastroschisisis was associated with younger maternal age and lower birth weight than omphalocele. Associated malformations were more common in omphalocele. The mortality rates did not make a statistical significance. This might be the improvement of treatment of cardiac anomalies, because no patient died from cardiac dysfunction in our study. Furthermore, abdominal compartment syndrome might be the main cause of death in gastroschisis.