• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2013

Purpose: The study was done to define complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among primary brain tumor patients and factors influencing use. Methods: The study was conducted with convenience sampling in 5 neuro-oncology centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire developed by the researchers. Results: Of 250 patients approached, 231 (92.4%) agreed to participate. Overall, 26.8% of the respondents used CAM and the average cost for CAM use was 300,000 KRW. More than 72% of CAM users did not disclose CAM use to their health care professionals. The most frequently used therapy was natural products including mushrooms. Logistic regression analysis revealed that an education level of university or higher (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.56-5.44, p=.001), unemployment (OR=1.99, 95% CI=1.04-3.80, p=.037), and WHO grade III & IV tumors (OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.07-4.72, p=.048) were significant factors influencing CAM use. Conclusion: Three out of ten brain tumor patients spend substantial sum of money for CAM. In these situations, health care professionals should be aware of this phenomenon and provide adequate information and consultation to the patients.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.356-367
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• 2021

Purpose: This study conducted an economic evaluation of hospital-based home care services for the patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery. Methods: A total of 12,483 patients over 18 years of age who had received breast cancer surgery in 26 tertiary hospitals in 2018 were analyzed with the claim data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service using cost-minimization analysis and societal perspectives. Results: There were 156 patients who utilized hospital-based home care services within 30 days after breast cancer surgery, and they received 2.17 (SD=1.17) hospital-based home care service on average. The average total cost was 5,250,028 KRW (SD=1,905,428) for the group receiving continuous hospital-based home care and 6,113,402 KRW (SD=2,033,739) for the group not receiving continuous hospital-based home care (p<.001). The results of the economic evaluation of continuous hospital-based home care services in patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery indicated a total benefit of 953,691,000 KRW, a total cost of 819,004,000 KRW, and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.16 in 2018. Conclusion: Continuous hospital-based home care was considered economically feasible as the total costs for the group receiving continuous hospital-based home care were lower than those of the group not receiving continuous hospital-based home care. Therefore, policy modification and financial incentives are recommended to increase the utilization of hospital-based home care services for patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.408-413
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• 2023

The incidence of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a prominent geriatric disease, is increasing because of the extended lifespan of companion animals. Various complementary therapies have been proposed for the management of CCDS. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of the Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ in dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Fifteen dogs with CDS were included, and four to five drops of Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ, composed of herbal extracts, were applied around the dorsal neck of all dogs twice daily for 1-3 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using the CCDS scale, and serum β-amyloid oligomer concentrations were measured before and after administration of the extract. The CCDS scale score significantly decreased after administration in dogs with CDS (p = 0.0313), compared to pre-administration levels. Although the serum β-amyloid oligomer concentration decreased after administration, the change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A notable decrease was observed between pre- and post-administration in dogs with β-amyloid levels >300 pg/mL (p = 0.0313). The laboratory results showed no remarkable adverse effects of the extract. This study suggests that Brain Six Complex Extract^ⓒ extract could be an adjunctive treatment for dogs with CDS.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.474-484
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• 2016

This study was performed to identify the effects of the improvement of brain function by CST on the elderly with the 2nd or 3rd grade of long-term care insurance service. A quasi-experimental design using a nonequivalent control group, pre-post test was used. A total of 12 elders (6 in the experimental group and 6 in the control group) were recruited. Upledger CST(10-Step Protocol) was performed on each subject for 50 minutes per session, once a week, for a total of 8 treatments over an 8 week period from Jan to Feb 2015. The brain function quotient was measured before the 1st CST and after the last CST by portable EEG measurement device using a 2 Channel neuro-feedback system. The data was analyzed by SPSS (Ver. 18.0) program. After CST intervention, the attention quotient (AQ), level of tension, anti-stress quotient (ASQ), emotion quotient (EQ) and brain quotient (BQ) of the experimental group was significantly better than that of the control group. These results showed that the CST was effective in reducing the level of fatigue by the AQ, increasing the physical and psychological stress relief by the ASQ, emotional balance by the EQ, and improving the total brain function by the BQ. Therefore, CST can be used as an effective intervention for improving the health and brain function of the elderly in health facilities.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2005

Purpose: Regardless of treatment, brain metastases are associated with a poor prognosis. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of cancer patients with brain mestastases they after admission into a hospice unit and knowing they have received appropriate hospice and palliative care. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records in 40 cancer patients with brain metastases they after admission into a hospice unit from March in 2003 to March in 2005. Results: There were 20 males (50%) and 20 females (50%), and the median age of the patients was 64 years. The most common cause of brain metastases was lung cancer (22 patients, 55%), followed by stomach cancer (5, 13%) and breast cancer (3, 8%). Sixteen patients (40%) have never been teated and 20 patient have received the chemotherapy for the primary cancer. The most common symptom of cancer patients with brain metastases is headache (12 patients, 30%), followed by mental change (10, 25%), focal weakness (9, 23%) and convulsion (4, 10%). The most prevalent cause for admission was mental change (13 patients, 33%), followed by pain (9 patients, 23%). The reasons for hospice and palliative care were through recommendation of physician (1 patient, 3%), patient and family self (14, 35%) and the others (25, 62%). Twenty five of the others has been referred to hospice and palliative care during conservative management after referral and enrolled at hospice unit. The median hospitalization was 19 days and median survival in hospice and palliative care was 41 days. The median survival was 87 days from the day when the cancer patients have been diagnosed as brain metastases to death. Conclusion: The duration of hospice and palliative care was not enough to care the cancer patients with brain metastases. We suggest physicians, patients and family need the education and promotion for effective hospice and palliative care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.481-489
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• 1998

Injuries and infectious diseases have been the most important public health problems since the beginning of human life. Injuries result in death of about 30,000 people each year in South Korea. In terms of years of life lost, injuries are considerably more costly than either heart disease or cancer. In terms of cost - both the direct costs of care and the indirect costs to individuals, families, and societies of a diminished life-injuries are among the most expensive of all social problems. The main purposes of this study are (1) to describe the outcomes as well as treatment process of brain injured patients and (2) to identify the factors impacting on length of stay during hospitalization and hospital fees. The research method used in this study was to review the medical records of five hundreds brain injured cases using systemic random sampling. The multiple logistic regression was administered to identify the factors impacting on the outcomes. The results are as follow : (1) the consultation .ate was found to be 72.9% while referral rate was 11.2%; (2) nearly 30% of the respondents were hospitalized over 30 days; (3) multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the determinants influencing LOS were number of consultations, number of lab tests, and surgery; (4) the determinants of hospital fee were severity of brain injury, gender of patients, number of consultations, number of lab tests, and surgery.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.421-431
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• 2008

Purpose: Using comprehensive and valid instrument, MDS-HC 2.0, this study aimed to analyze the functional status and to evaluate the care needs of the community-dwelling disabled with cerebral impairment. Method: With a convenient sample of 88 disabled with cerebral impairment, the data were collected at a community health center located in rural area in Choongchung providence in August 2005. Subject's functional status and care needs were evaluated using Minimum Data Set-Home Care version 2.0. Result: Significant proportion of subjects were totally dependent for locomotion-outdoor (26.1%), personal hygiene (24.1%), bathing (24.1%). For IADLs, over 40% of subjects were totally dependent for ordinary house work, managing finances, or shopping. Top five ranked care needs were preventive health care measures (100%), communication disorders (71.6%), visual function (55.7%), health promotion (52.3%), and pressure ulcers (48.9%). The proportion of triggered clinical assessment protocols were significantly higher in disability level I group for the risk of institutionalization (p=<.001), communication disorders (p=.004), cognitive problems (p=.001), pressure ulcers (p=<.001), skin and foot conditions (p=.010), and urinary incontinence and indwelling catheters (p=<.001). Conclusions: It is necessary to provide community based rehabilitation services that are individualized for their service needs thus enhance optimal level of functioning.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.445-453
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• 2019

Background: This study is to investigate the association between the distribution of multimorbidity and length of stay and medical expenses among inpatients in a municipal hospital to achieve an integrated care setting. Methods: We used the exploratory factor analysis and the generalized estimating equation model to analyze the data from patients living in the northeast region of Seoul, who were hospitalized from January 2017 to December 2017 in a municipal hospital. Results: As a result of the factor analysis, seven types of multiple chronic diseases were classified. Among the elderly patients admitted to municipal hospitals, the burden of medical expenses was mainly influenced by the length of stay (B=310,719, p-value <0.0001), not the type of disease (all not significant). Length of stay were mainly due to psychiatric illness (factor 1: B=4.323, p-value <0.0001) related to the brain and metabolic diseases (factor 2: B=2.364, p-value=0.003). Conclusion: This study showed that the medical expenses of the elderly patients were largely due to prolonged hospitalization, not multimorbidity. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an integrated care paradigm strategy cope with the multimorbidity of the elderly in the community and to alleviate the socio-economic burden.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.259-264
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a positioning education program through the brochure or oral explanations for the parents of premature infants with a brain lesion and investigated the satisfaction level of physical therapy of parents of premature infants with a brain lesion. Methods: Forty parents of premature infants with a brain lesion participated in this study. The recruited premature infants were randomized into groups A (n=20) and B (n=20) for the purpose of the positioning education method through brochure or oral explanations. The level of satisfaction and recognition for the positioning education program was investigated by the parents of 12 month old infants. The gross motor function, measure-88, was examined at three months, six months, nine months, and twelve months of the corrected age. Results: No significant differences in the recognition of the position education program, level of satisfaction of the environment, and the attitude of the therapist were noted (p>0.05). Significantly high levels of satisfaction with the program of group B given the brochure were noted. The gross motor function measure-88 was also similar in both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study suggests that the parents were satisfied with the positioning education program of the brochure. The differences in educational methods did not affect the development of premature infants.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2011

Objectives : This study of oral health problems was conducted to 311 students in Special Schools in order to inquire into the state of their oral health behaviors, to find out the main obstacles against dental services, to secure dental reasonable basis for oral health promotion. Methods : A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Special School of the 311 students in the area of the metropolitan Seoul. By means of Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test, oral hygiene habits for each type of the subjects, the contents of dental care services, the prerequisites to improve oral health, were inquired. To evaluate the effects to the current oral health status of types of disability, 2-way ANOVA was practiced. Results : The handicapped with Visual impairment, mental retardation, multiplicity with disabilities, answered negatively in their own oral health status. 47.4% of the deaf can do brush for theirselves without the inconvenience, but in other types of disability they showed that they were helped by others. Subjects did not use the secondary oral hygiene necessaries because, except brain damage, almost of types of disability impeded the convenient use. 60 to 88.2 percent of the total respondents were the recent visitors to dental clinique within 1 year, and the most common motives of the visiting dentist, is a routine medical examination, their movements to the dentist in all types of disabilities, needed helps of others. Most of them received medical treatment at a private dentist, the handicapped preferred the private care and place(49.8%). Only in the case of the brain disorders, extremely much of the disabled answered that they were needed the preventive treatment, and the another cases of disability were largely needed the treatment of the decayed teeth. To improve the oral health of the people with disabilities, at the opening of the clinics and hospitals over a certain size, the mandatory medical facilities for the care of the disabled should be preceded and followed by the improvement of dental insurance system so as to reduce the burdens of the cost of dental care. Conclusions : The improvement of oral health policy for the disabled are needed inevitably: Development of secondary oral hygienic easy to use for the disabled, the building systems of medical dental hospital with the disabled facilities, by the improvement of the insurance system, the reduction of the burden of payments.