• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2022

Although the number of computed tomography(CT) is increasing every year, it is insufficient to establish appropriate workload calculation standards of radiologic technologist to provide optimal medical services to patients, such as patient safety management and infection management. The purpose of this study is to present guidelines for calculating the appropriate workload of radiologic technologist by analyzing the work flow of CT procedures and the time required for CT examination in major hospitals. As for the study subjects and methods, the appropriate process for each step of CT examination was investigated to systematically present the process and time required for the actual examination, and the CT procedure time of 104,105 adult patients and 465 pediatric patients under the age of 6 were analyzed. For the time required, data according to the use of contrast medium, procedure type, and adult/child were collected and compared. The test time of CT examination using contrast medium took about 13 minutes when one radiologic technologist worked and about 9 minutes when two radiologic technologists worked. The time required for the procedures were statistically significant depending on the presence or absence of contrast medium, multi-phase procedure, and patient age (considering pediatric patients). As a result, in order to thoroughly perform patient safety and infection management, the appropriate workload increased by about 40% when there were two radiologic technologists. The limit workload was an average of 32 people per day with one radiologic technologist per 15 minutes, and 48 people per day with two radiologic technologist per 10 minutes. This is a marginal workload, and in the case of procedures that require more time to acquire radiographic images, the interval between reservations should be widened.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the appropriate nurse staffing ratio in intensive care units (ICUs) by measuring nursing workload based on patient's severity and needs, using the Korean Patient Classification System for critical care nurses. Methods: The data were collected from January 18 to February 29, 2016 using a standardized checklist by observation or self-report. During the study period, 723 patients were included to be categorized from I to IV using the patient classification system. Measurement of total nursing workload on a shift was calculated in terms of hours based on the time and motion method by using tools for surveying nursing activities. The nursing activities were categorized as direct nursing care, indirect nursing care, and personal time. Total of 127 cases were included in measuring direct nursing time and 18 nurses participated in measuring indirect and personal time. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Two patients were classified into Class I (11.1%), 5 into Class II (27.8%), 9 into Class III (50%), and two into Class IV (11.1%). The amount of direct nursing care required for Class IV (513.7 min) was significantly more than that required for Class I (135.4 min). Direct and indirect nursing care was provided more often during the day shift as compared to the evening or night shifts. These findings provided the rationale for determining the appropriate ratio for nursing staff per shift based on the nursing workload in each shift. Conclusions: An appropriate ratio of nurse staffing should be ensured in ICUs to re-arrange the workload of nurses to help them provide essential direct care for patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.495-503
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• 2019

This study explored the method of determining the appropriate size of the workforce according to the assessment of the workload of medical technologists (also called medical and clinical laboratory technologists, and medical and clinical laboratory scientists) in order to present a standard production model for the appropriate manpower in blood collection rooms. The eleven university hospitals selected for this study had between 600 and 2,000 beds. The 14-steps standard blood collection time was 4 minutes and 8 seconds for the outpatients aged between 20 to 60 years old (57%) except for children and the elderly (43%). Assuming that there were 8 hours per day for mechanically collecting blood, the maximum number of blood donations by one clinical laboratory scientist was analyzed to be 100 cases. In conclusion, it is appropriate to have fewer than 100 cases of daily blood collection by a medical technologist engaged in blood collection. Since the proper number of blood collection workers (100% of blood collection work)=the number of annual working days/(one day's work hours/time per case)×the number of working days per year, then the proper number of blood collection workers (one day's work hours)=the number of working days per year/100×the number of working days).

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.237-249
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the adequacy of current nurse staffing levels by identifying nursing activities and workload. Methods: The study used a mixed-method design. A nursing activity survey was conducted using the work sampling method over 2 working days with 119 general ward nurses. A focus group interview was conducted with 12 nurses. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 and content analysis, respectively. Results: The most amount of time was spent on medication (in direct nursing) and electronic medical record documentation (in indirect nursing). The appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:7.7 for the day shift, 1:9.0 for the evening shift, and 1:11.9 for the night shift. However, the current nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:9.4, 1:11.0, and 1:13.8 for the day, evening, and night shifts, respectively. Therefore, the current nurse staffing level is insufficient for the workload. In the focus group interview, the main reasons cited for being unable to complete tasks within working hours were communication and coordination, and the nursing electronic medical record. The essential nursing activities of basic nursing and emotional support were overlooked owing to a heavy workload. Therefore, an adequate nurse staffing level should be higher than the measured quantitative workload. Conclusion: These results suggest the general wards of tertiary hospitals should evaluate the adequacy of their current nurse staffing and allocate sufficient nurses to improve patient safety and nursing care quality.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2019

The physiological function test is the only patient contact area in the field of clinical laboratory. We need to recruit and encourage the experts due to requiring the expertise and long time for examination. However, there is currently no rule for estimating optimal workforce in the field of physiological function tests. The purpose of this study is to establish the basis of the studies for mid- to long-long term job creation in the field of ultrasound by evaluating the number of appropriate tests and appropriate workforce. We calculated the quantitative and qualitative workload for the number of appropriate tests and appropriate workforce using online questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). A total of 216 respondents were 48 (22.2%) male and 168 (77.8%) female. A total of 157 laboratories were 62 (39.5%) for echocardiography, 91 (58.0%) for the transcranial Doppler (TCD) and 4 (5.7%) for the carotid ultrasound. The mean number of appropriate tests was 10 ± 2 in the echocardiography, 9 ± 2 in TCD and 11 ± 2 in the carotid ultrasound. In addition, the number of laboratories required to recruit employees for appropriate workforce was 19 in echocardiography, 18 in TCD, and 0 in carotid ultrasound. The number of hospital required to recruit workforce were 7 primary hospitals, 22 secondary hospitals, 7 third hospitals. This study can be used as an important data as the first study at present time when the data on the workforce status and work environment of the ultrasonic laboratories is insufficient. Based on the quantitative and qualitative workloads, the number of appropriate tests and appropriate workforce can support mid- to long-long term job creation in the field of ultrasound.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2020

There has not been any scientific analysis on appropriate size of workforce and salary for civilian workers in military so far. Thus, this paper conducted analysis on propriety in employment size of military doctrine researchers using system dynamic methodology based on annual military doctrine workload. Vensim software was mainly used to measure complement of the research group based on data from job analysis. Secondly, a multiple regression analysis was performed to study an appropriate wage for researchers based on their expertise and working condition. The data from twenty public research institutions and twenty eight job positions that are performing similar duty with military doctrine researchers was obtained and utilized to create a salary-estimation regression equation in the analysis. Finally, with cost-benefit analysis method this paper studied financial effectiveness of hiring military doctrine researchers. Contingent valuation method, which has been recognized as one of the most effective methodologies in cost-benefit analysis on intangible value, was utilized to measure benefit of hiring the researchers. The methodology presented in this paper can be applied to measure and improve the efficiency of military organization not only in military doctrine research area but also in several military functional area (military training, logistics, administration, combat development, and combat support).

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2020

Intelligent systems(i.e., artificial intelligence), particularly deep learning, are machines able to mimic the cognitive functions of humans to perform tasks of problem-solving and learning. This field deals with computational models that can think and act intelligently, like the human brain, and construct algorithms that can learn from data to make predictions. Artificial intelligence is becoming important in radiology due to its ability to detect abnormalities in radiographic images that are unnoticed by the naked human eye. These systems have reduced radiologists' workload by rapidly recording and presenting data, and thereby monitoring the treatment response with a reduced risk of cognitive bias. Intelligent systems have an important role to play and could be used by dentists as an adjunct to other imaging modalities in making appropriate diagnoses and treatment plans. In the field of maxillofacial radiology, these systems have shown promise for the interpretation of complex images, accurate localization of landmarks, characterization of bone architecture, estimation of oral cancer risk, and the assessment of metastatic lymph nodes, periapical pathologies, and maxillary sinus pathologies. This review discusses the clinical applications and scope of intelligent systems such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and deep learning programs in maxillofacial imaging.