• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.325-336
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• 2021

The occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is a formidable challenge for infants, parents, and healthcare professionals. Although data from the Middle East are scarce, experts consider FGIDs a prevalent condition in everyday clinical practice. The new Rome IV criteria revisited the definitions from a clinical perspective to provide a practical and consistent diagnostic protocol for FGIDs. However, the treatment practices for functional disorders vary considerably among Middle Eastern countries, often resulting in mismanagement with unnecessary investigations and treatments. In addition, the role of various treatment modalities, including probiotics such as Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, in FGIDs requires further discussion and evaluation. During a consensus meeting, a locally relevant approach for treating common FGIDs such as infant regurgitation, infant colic, and functional constipation was discussed and approved by regional experts. The participants suggested a simplified treatment plan and protocol for general pediatricians and other primary care physicians managing FGIDs. This easy-to-follow standardized protocol will help streamline the initial management of this complex disorder in the Middle East region and even globally.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2021

Objectives : Acupoints education is important in that it can determine the clinical competency of Korean Medicine Doctors (KMDs). Accordingly, we aimed to develop a practical simulator for acupoints education, acupoints training, acupoints practice, and acupoints evaluation. Methods : Korean Medicine (KM) SMART Table can be divided into hardware, server and components, and is organically linked. We develop KM SMART Table that combines the hardware of a human-sized table with a UHD display capable of multi-touch in two cases and software that can teach acupoints. We make Augmented Reality (AR) contents linked with KM SMART Table contents and develop applications that can use contents using mobile devices. By developing an AR image tracking module to react with KM SMART Table, it enables acupoint learning according to the mobile device platform and human anatomy. Results : The current system is a prototype where some 3D technology has been implemented, but the AR function will be produced later. New learning using 3D and AR will be required during acupoints education and acupoints practice. It will be used a lot in OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) practices for strengthening the competency of KMDs, and it will be of great help not only in KM education as a unique simulator of KM, but also in the practice of acupuncture and chuna for musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusions : The KM SMART Table is a technology that combines 3D and AR to learn acupoints, and to conduct acupoints OSCE practice, and we suggest that it can be usefully used for educational evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2021

Severe outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) have continued to re-emerge worldwide. Because of the high mortality rate of suckling piglets in PEDV outbreaks, the disease causes significant economic losses in the pig industry. The limited pre-existing immunity against this virus is thought to cause an explosive increase in infection in pig farms. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical symptoms of PEDV after intentional exposure (feedback). During the first few days of the outbreak in a breeding pig farm, 14 sows showed watery diarrhoea, and the disease subsequently spread rapidly throughout the barn. Pigs that were intentionally exposed to PEDV (n=251) showed watery diarrhoea (46.6%), reduced appetite (17.5%), and vomiting (6.0%). However, 75 exposed pigs (29.9%) showed no clinical signs of disease. Four weeks after the feedback challenge, 34 sows gave birth to litters of piglets, which survived with no diarrhoea. Five weeks after the start of the outbreak, PEDV was not detected in any of the examined samples, including environmental swabs. Thus, early diagnosis, prompt establishment of herd immunity, and strict application of biosecurity are good practices to reduce the mortality rates among new-born piglets and control economic losses in pig farms showing PEDV outbreaks.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.236-248
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• 2023

Purpose: Nursing informatics competency is used to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with best practices and professional and regulatory standards. This study examined the relationship between nursing informatics competency (NIC), nursing care left undone, and nurse reported quality of care (NQoC) and nursing productivity. A path model for their effects on nursing productivity among clinical nurses was also established. Methods: Data were collected using structured questionnaires answered by 192 nurses working in a tertiary hospital located in J city, Korea, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 23.0 and AMOS 21.0 program. Results: The fit indices of the alternative path model satisfied recommended levels χ² = .11 (p = .741), normed χ² (χ² /df) = .11, SRMR = .01, RMSEA = .00, GFI = 1.00, NFI = 1.00, AIC = 18.11. Among the variables, NIC (β = .44, p < .001), NQoC (β = .35, p < .001) had a direct effect on nursing productivity. Due to the mediating effect of NQoC on the relationship between NIC and nursing productivity, the effect size was .14 (95% CI .08~.24). Meanwhile, nursing care left undone through NQoC in the relationship between NIC and nursing productivity, has a significant mediation effect (estimate .01, 95% CI .00~.03). The explanatory power of variables was 44.0%. Conclusion: Education and training for enhancing NIC should be provided to improve nursing productivity, quality of care and to reduce missed nursing care. Furthermore, monitoring the quality of nursing care and using it as a productivity index is essential.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.186-194
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• 2023

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) is important for collaboration between professionals in the team-based practices of the healthcare field. Objectives: This study aimed to examine pharmacy students across in Korea on the experience of IPE and the perceptions of the importance of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and the need of IPE. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a 20 questionnaire to pharmacy students nationwide was conducted from March to May 2019. Results: A total of 555 students from 32 pharmacy schools participated. They recognized that the importance of close pharmacist-medical doctor collaboration was an average of 5.38 points (out of 6 points), but the current level of pharmacist-to-medical doctor collaboration was an average of 2.51 points (out of 6 points), and the reasons for the insufficient IPC were the lack of an environment encouraging mutual cooperation (79.5%) and the psychological distance to the other professional (35.3%). They perceived the necessity of IPE between pharmacistmedical doctor was 4.95 points (out of 6 points), with the curriculum including how to cooperate with medical doctors (78.2%), communication skills (51.0%), and understanding of medical doctors' functions (44.5%), etc. Only 52 respondents (9.4%) had experience in IPE. Respondents who recognized the importance of IPC (≥5 points) showed 4.44-fold higher agreement on the need for IPE than those who did not (≤4 points) (OR 4.44, 95% CI 2.56, 7.68). Conclusions: Further attention and discussion to add IPE program in the pharmacy school curriculum is necessary in order to cultivate pharmacists with sufficient professional collaboration capabilities.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2023

Objectives We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Korean medical critical pathway (CP) in treating childhood anorexia. Methods In total, 21 patients who met the criteria and agreed to provide information were assigned to the CP group, while 24 patients who met the criteria, agreed to provide information, but disagreed with CP application were assigned to the non-CP group. Demographic, clinical, and economic indices were compared between the two groups. Clinical indices before and after treatment were also compared between the two groups. Results In the CP group, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, and food approach (FAP) increased significantly after treatment, and numeric rating scale (NRS) and food avoidance (FAV) scores decreased significantly. In the non-CP group, height, weight, weight percentile, BMI, BMI percentile, and FAP increased significantly, whereas NRS and FAV decreased significantly after treatment. Compared to the non-CP group, CP application increased FAP and decreased FAV, medical expenses per consultation, and the total treatment period. Conclusions The application of the Korean medical critical pathway for childhood anorexia is an effective cure system that decreases overall medical expenses with good-quality treatment by means of the standardization of medical practices.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify nursing interventions frequently used with cancer patients. Nursing records from 5 general hospitals for patients with stomach, liver, lung or colon cancer were analyzed. Method: A descriptive study methodology was used and nursing records for 15 patients in each disease category at each hospital, who were admitted and discharged during June 2007 were analyzed. Results: Five domains of NIC were found and the physiological(basic) domain was most frequent (31.52%). Twenty two classes of NIC were identified with risk management for safety being most frequent (22.49%). For the 119 nursing interventions identified, the most frequent was pain management with 7,827 (12.31%), followed by prevention of falls (11.76%), surveillance (6.79%) and wound care (5.12%). Nursing activities of pain management and prevention of falls were comparable to activities listed in literature on guidelines for evidence based and best practices in nursing care. Eight of the 17 nursing activities for pain management, and 9 of 14 for fall prevention were consistent with these guidelines. Conclusion: In this study, nursing interventions were found to be focused on physical care, monitoring patients' condition and education. We have to develop diverse nursing interventions and a convenient recording process.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2022

Background: The exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is a significant risk factor generally underestimated by outdoor workers and employers. Several studies have pointed out that occupational solar exposure increased eye and skin diseases with a considerable impact on the lives and productivity of affected workers. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness against ultraviolet radiation of some measures recently undertaken for the protection of lifeguards in a coastal area of Tuscany. Methods: Different shading structures (gazebos and beach umbrella) were tested during a sunny summer's day on a sandy beach by means of two radiometers; the UV protection offered by some T-shirts used by lifeguards was also tested in the laboratory with a spectrophotometer. Results: The analysed shading structures strongly reduced the ultraviolet radiation by up to 90%, however a not always negligible diffuse radiation is also present in the shade, requiring further protective measures (T-shirt, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc.); the tested T-shirts showed a very good-excellent protection according to the Australian/New Zealand standard. Conclusion: Results obtained in this study suggest how the adoption and dissemination of good practices, including those tested, could be particularly effective as a primary prevention for lifeguards who are subjected to very high levels of radiation for long periods.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2023

Background: The safe use of medication in children is important, as it can have significant implications for their health and wellbeing. Parents or caregivers play a crucial role in the medication administration process. Therefore, this study would evaluate the needs and current status (knowledge, attitude, and practice) of caregivers for children on the safe use of medication. Methods: We conducted questionnaires on 150 caregivers with children under nine years old and asked about their knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the safe use of medication and their needs. Each question was conducted on a 5-point scale. Results: Of the 150 respondents, 128 were women, 75 were in their 30s, and 63 were in their 40s. Among them, 29 parents answered that they had been educated about the safe use of medicines, and 26 (84%) were satisfied with the education. Knowledge, attitude, and practice assessments on drug safety use (mean±SD) were found to be 3.83±0.44, 3.67±0.38, and 3.53±0.45, respectively. There were significant differences between the educated group and the uneducated group in knowledge and practice, not attitude. Conclusion:To provide appropriate education to caregivers of pediatric patients is necessary to ensure the safe and effective use of medication in children. Moreover, appropriate education can improve caregivers' understanding of medication use and lead to proper administration. Therefore, it is imperative to develop educational materials and strategies for medications that incorporate both specialized knowledge and practical applications for pediatric patients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.194-205
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• 2023

Objectives : This study investigated the current utilization status of thermotherapy devices in Korean medicine (KM) institutions and identified areas for improvement and further development, as perceived by KM doctors (KMDs). Methods : An online survey was conducted, targeting KMDs primarily engaged in clinical patient care. The questionnaire included items about respondents' clinical practices, the extent of thermotherapy device usage, their opinions on these devices, and perceived improvement needs. The collected data underwent quantitative analysis. Results : From the 1,025 respondents, data from 862 respondents who provided complete responses were analyzed. On average, respondents utilized thermotherapy treatments for 80% of their patients. Infrared (IR) phototherapy unit, electrical moxibustion apparatus, and heater-based thermotherapy devices were predominantly owned by respondents, with IR being the most frequently used. The average satisfaction score for current thermotherapy devices was 79. A significant concern raised was the necessity for improved health insurance coverage and efficacy evaluation. Conclusions : This research has confirmed that the extensive use of thermotherapy devices by KMDs in treating primarily musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal ailments - common conditions among patients in KM institutions. The main areas identified for improvement encompass safety, cost-effectiveness, and device efficacy. Future enhancements in thermotherapy devices should address these crucial aspects.