• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.62-75
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• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study was to publicly report the hospital-level surgical volume for 7 types of surgery including gastrectomy. Also, to investigate the changes in patient behaviors after the public reporting among patients with gastrectomy. Methods: This study used data from the National Health Insurance Service Cohort. The data comprised of 2,214 patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer and underwent gastrectomy during 2004-2012. An interrupted time series analysis was performed to investigate the association between patients' choice and public reporting. Results: 79.27% of the patients visited a hospital with high surgical volume. The time trend after introduction of public reporting was positively associated with visiting a high volume hospital (per 1 month, RR: 1.004, p=0.0329). However, after adjusting the health policies by reducing copayment, public reporting on surgical volume was not associated with visiting a high volume hospital. Sub-group analyses had also similar results. Conclusion: Patients were more affected by policies on economic support than on public reporting, and the changes in treatment options may have been affected by the increasing preference for large size hospitals. Thus, public reporting did not significantly improve the options available for patients and their decision making on health care utilization.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.799-807
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• 2021

Objective : Cerebrospinal fluid leakage related complications (CLC) occasionally occur after intradural spinal surgery. We sought to investigate the effectiveness of early ambulation after intradural spinal surgery and analyze the risk factors for CLC. Methods : For this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 314 patients who underwent intradural spinal surgery at a single institution. The early group contained 79 patients who started ambulation after 1 day of bedrest without position restrictions, while the late group consisted of 235 patients who started ambulation after at least 3 days of bed rest and were limited to the prone position after surgery. In the early group, Prolene 6-0 was used as the dura suture material, while black silk 5-0 was used as the dura suture material in the late group. Results : The overall incidence rate of CLC was 10.8%. Significant differences between the early and late groups were identified in the rate of CLC (2.5% vs. 13.6%), surgical repair required (1.3% vs. 7.7%), and length of hospital stay (2.99 vs. 9.29 days) (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that CLC was associated with practices specific to the late group (p=0.011) and the revision surgery (p=0.022). Conclusion : Using Prolene 6-0 as a dura suture material for intradural spinal surgery resulted in lower CLC rates compared to black silk 5-0 sutures despite a shorter bed rest period. Our findings revealed that suture - needle ratio related to dura defect was the most critical factor for CLC. One-day ambulation after primary dura closure using Prolene 6-0 sutures appears to be a costeffective and safe strategy for intradural spinal surgery.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.131-152
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the first echo boomer to second in the needs for family strengths and family functions, after controlling the sociodemographic characteristics. Method: For this study, a survey was conducted with 406 never-married young adults, which has 182 first echo boomers and 224 seconds echo boomers as using the same self-report questionnaire. Results: First, the two echo boomer groups exhibited similar patterns in their perception of the three family strengths, positive family values, pursuit of coexistence, and spiritual value, in that order. On the other hand, in regard to family functions, groups' perceived emotion entertainment leisure function as core functions of the family, but the second echo boomers, unlike the first echo boomers, expressed a higher need for economic functions rather than functions for children generation. Second, the analysis of this study indicated that, even in cases where first and second echo boomers had the same social-demographic characteristics, the latter in contrast with the former tended not to regard spiritual values such love for shared ethical values, compassion, and religious beliefs as a family strength, and did not require functions for children generation of the family. Conclusions: From these findings, the differences in the needs for family strengths and functions expressed by the two generations belonging to two different birth cohorts were influenced by various changes in Korean society occurring between the two generations, such as the social divergence in the functions of care and nurture, the increase in one-person and childless households, and the weakening of kinship-centered or communitarian forms of familism.

• 한국사회정책
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.179-202
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• 2016

This study analyses the effects of the major educational policies, focusing on the private tutoring prohibition policy(PTPP), on the intergenerational class mobility(ICM) by using Korea Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS) 1st-12th surveys. Because private tutoring(shadow education) can be effective for academic achievement of children of above middle classes that spend most private tutoring expenditure and have more information on education, the private tutoring prohibition policy can increase the intergenerational mobility. This study confirms this possibility. Even when the overlapping effect of the middle school equalization polity is controlled for, there is still high effect of the PTPP. We think that we still need to examine the level of intergenerational mobility with PTPP cohort with that of later cohorts in the future. We also emphasize the compositive effect of the several consistent policies such as middle school and high school equalization polices and the PTPP and length and continuity of the policies for the higher mobility.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.755-770
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• 2020

As the postsecondary school-age population continues to decline, universities are building identities to differentiate themselves and create a favorable impression among this cohort. We investigated the role of logo-bearing products as a way of promoting university identity, specifically, the effects of ingroup ties, ingroup affect, and centrality on attitude toward university logo products and purchase intention. This study further examined the moderating effects of perceived university prestige on the relationship between logo product attitude and in-store purchase intention, and the moderating effect of online shopping frequency on the relationship between logo product attitude and online purchase intention. We conducted a survey of undergraduate and graduate students at a university in Seoul. Survey responses (N=561) were collected and processed using SPSS 23.0. Multiple regression analysis showed that ingroup ties and affect had significant effects on product attitude. However, centrality had no significant effect on attitude toward the product. Product attitude had a direct significant effect on both in-store and online purchase intention. Perceived university prestige moderated the relationship between product attitude and in-store purchase intention. Moreover, online shopping frequency moderated the relationship between product attitude and online purchase intention. The results of this study are expected to provide fundamental knowledge for developing product strategy of logo products.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to characterize a validated model for predicting oocyte retrieval in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and to construct model-based nomograms for assistance in clinical decision-making regarding the gonadotropin protocol and dose. Methods: This observational, retrospective, cohort study included 636 women with primary unexplained infertility and a normal menstrual cycle who were attempting assisted reproductive therapy for the first time. The enrolled women were split into an index group (n=497) for model building and a validation group (n=139). The primary outcome was absolute oocyte count. The dose-response relationship was tested using modified Poisson, negative binomial, hybrid Poisson-E_max, and linear models. The validation group was similarly analyzed, and its results were compared to that of the index group. Results: The Poisson model with the log-link function demonstrated superior predictive performance and precision (Akaike information criterion, 2,704; λ=8.27; relative standard error (λ)=2.02%). The covariate analysis included women's age (p<0.001), antral follicle count (p<0.001), basal follicle-stimulating hormone level (p<0.001), gonadotropin dose (p=0.042), and protocol type (p=0.002 and p<0.001 for short and antagonist protocols, respectively). The estimates from 500 bootstrap samples were close to those of the original model. The validation group showed model assessment metrics comparable to the index model. Based on the fitted model, a static nomogram was built to improve visualization. In addition, a dynamic electronic tool was created for convenience of use. Conclusion: Based on our validated model, nomograms were constructed to help clinicians individualize the stimulation protocol and gonadotropin doses in COS cycles.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Background: With the recent aging of the population, the transition to a disease structure centered on chronic diseases is accelerating. Moreover, the socio-economic gap and the polarization of the health gap between regions further increase the burden of disease on the country. Accordingly, this study calculated the disease cost of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, which are the three major chronic diseases, to establish an effective health promotion policy strategy for each region, and analyzed the gap in disease cost within the region to determine health determinants at the individual as well as the regional level. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2015 sample cohort of the National Health Insurance Service and calculated the disease cost of patients (diabetes: I10-I15, hypertension: E10-E14, hyperlipidemia: E78) based on the main diagnosis. Results: Based on our analysis, the case of medical use in cities and provinces was higher than in metropolitan cities, with relatively small medical use in Seoul and Gangwon-do. In terms of the disease cost, the cost of chronic diseases in Seoul and Jeju was the highest, but the difference in disease cost between patients in each region was the largest in Seoul and Gangwon-do. Conclusion: The results of this study provide meaningful data for implementing efficient health promotion policies by analyzing the differences in disease cost and identifying health determinants in different regions. Furthermore, in Korea, where socioeconomic differences are clearly revealed, it can be used as a basis for preparing a strategic plan, from a long-term perspective, to improve the health of patients with chronic diseases in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 2022

Purpose: Cholestasis resulting from cytomegalovirus (CMV)-induced hepatitis manifests in 40% of patients with a CMV infection. Ganciclovir treatment in children with CMV infections has proven to be highly effective. Until now, there are very few studies have identified predictive factors for liver biochemistry improvement after ganciclovir therapy. This study aimed to identify the predictors of liver biochemistry improvement in patients with CMV cholestasis after ganciclovir treatment. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical records from Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia from 2013 to 2018. CMV cholestasis was confirmed based on serum CMV IgG and IgM positivity and/or blood and urine CMV antigenemia positivity. Incomplete medical records and other etiologies for cholestasis, such as biliary atresia, choledochal cyst, metabolic diseases, and Alagille syndrome, were excluded. Patient age at cholestasis diagnosis and ganciclovir treatment, duration of CMV cholestasis, history of prematurity, central nervous system involvement, and nutritional status were analyzed and presented as an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: CMV cholestasis with ganciclovir therapy was found in 41 of 54 patients. Multivariate analysis showed that a shorter duration of CMV cholestasis (OR: 4.6, 95% CI: 1.00-21.07, p=0.04) was statistically significant for liver biochemistry improvement after 1 month of ganciclovir treatment. The remaining factors that were analyzed were not significant predictors of liver biochemistry improvement in patients with CMV cholestasis after ganciclovir treatment. Conclusion: A shorter duration of CMV cholestasis is the predictor of liver biochemistry improvement after 1 month gancyclovir treatment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.352-367
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• 2021

Purpose: Minimally invasive gastrectomy is a promising surgical method with well-known benefits, including reduced postoperative complications. However, for total gastrectomy of gastric cancers, this approach does not significantly reduce the risk of complications. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for the severity of complications associated with minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The study included 392 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent either laparoscopic or robotic total gastrectomy between 2011 and 2019. Clinicopathological and operative characteristics were assessed to determine the features related to postoperative complications after minimally invasive total gastrectomy. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for overall complications and mild and severe complications, respectively. Results: Of 103 (26.3%) patients experiencing complications, 66 (16.8%) and 37 (9.4%) developed mild and severe complications, respectively. On multivariate multinomial regression analysis, independent predictors of severe complications included obesity (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.02-6.43; P=0.046), advanced stage (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.13-7.43; P=0.026), and more intraoperative bleeding (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06; P=0.001). Operation time was the only independent risk factor for mild complications (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.001-1.13; P=0.047). Conclusions: The risk factors for mild and severe complications were associated with surgery, indicating surgical difficulty. Surgeons should be aware of these potential risks that are related to the severity of complications so as to reduce surgery-related complications after minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.351-359
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• 2022

Objectives: The Regional CardioCerebroVascular Center (RCCVC) project was initiated to improve clinical outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction or stroke in non-capital areas of Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and issues identified by the Busan RCCVC project in the treatment of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Among the patients who were registered in the Korean Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction for the RCCVC project between 2007 and 2019, those who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI at the Busan RCCVC were selected, and their medical data were compared with a historical cohort. Results: In total, 1161 patients were selected for the analysis. Ten years after the implementation of the Busan RCCVC project, the median door-to-balloon time was reduced from 86 (interquartile range [IQR], 64-116) to 54 (IQR, 44-61) minutes, and the median symptom-to-balloon time was reduced from 256 (IQR, 180-407) to 189 (IQR, 118-305) minutes (p<0.001). Inversely, the false-positive PCI team activation rate increased from 0.6% to 21.4% (p<0.001). However, the 1-year cardiovascular death and major adverse cardiac event rates did not change. Even after 10 years, approximately 75% of the patients had a symptom-to-balloon time over 120 minutes, and approximately 50% of the patients underwent inter-hospital transfer for primary PCI. Conclusions: A decade after the implementation of the Busan RCCVC project, although time parameters for early reperfusion therapy for STEMI improved, at the cost of an increased false-positive PCI team activation rate, survival outcomes were unchanged.