• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.457-478
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• 2023

Background: This study aims to contribute to the adjustment of the appropriate doctor manpower by analyzing the distribution, supply and demand, and estimation of the doctor manpower. Methods: This study utilized the medical personnel data of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, population trend data of the National Statistical Office, and health insurance benefit performance data of the National Health Insurance Service. Based on 2021, we compared the number of doctors in actual supply and the number of doctors in demand according to the amount of medical use by gender and age for 250 regions. Logistic regression analysis and scenario analysis were performed to estimate the future medical workforce by considering the demand for doctors according to the future demographic structure, the size of the quota in medical schools, and the retirement rate. Results: There were 186 regions in which the supply of doctors was below average, and the average ratio of the number of doctors in supply to demand in the region was 62.1%. Conclusion: In order to increase the number of active doctors nationwide to at least 80%, 7,756 people must be allocated. The number of doctors in demand is estimated to decrease after increasing to 1.492 times in 2059. The future projected number of doctors is expected to increase to 1.349 times in 2050 and then decrease taking into account the doctor quota and the retirement rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a modified surgical procedure for the treatment of varicose veins. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on lower extremities with symptomatic great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence that underwent stripping from the groin to the knee, with preservation of the superficial epigastric vein (SEV), between January 2015 and April 2022. Follow-up assessments were performed using Doppler ultrasound, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results: The study included 179 limbs from 120 patients (47 men and 73 women). The mean patient age was 56.5 years (range, 20-78 years), and the distribution of preoperative Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology clinical classes was 8% C0-C1, 88% C2, and 4% C3-C6. The preoperative diameter of the saphenofemoral confluence averaged 6.9 mm (range, 2.7-15.8 mm). After a mean postoperative follow-up period of 24 months, evidence of neovascularization around the stump of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) was observed in 2 limbs (1.1%). Additionally, varicose vein recurrence was found in 1 limb (0.6%) and was associated with an incompetent thigh perforator. At postoperative follow-up, both VCSS and AVVQ scores were significantly lower than the preoperative scores. Conclusion: Modified surgical treatment of GSV incompetence, involving preservation of the SEV and stripping of a short segment up to the knee, demonstrated favorable clinical results in terms of postoperative complication rate, neovascularization rate around the SFJ stump, varicose vein recurrence rate, and improvement in lower extremity symptoms.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to suggest the clinical characteristics and risk factors of facial palsy from the perspective of Korean Medicine. Methods: Medical records of 856 patients, who visited the Korean Medicine hospital with facial palsy from 2004 to 2019, were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics of facial palsy were suggested by figuring out the distribution of age, sex, occupation, onset season, obesity, modes, signs, symptoms, past and family history. Results: By gender, there were more males (54.6%), and the most common age groups were in their 50s (27.4%) and 40s (23.6%). As for the occupation, unemployed (27.7%) and service and sales workers (14.6%) were the most common, and the onset season was the most common in winter (28.9%). The most common clinical characteristics were overwork (33.0%), mental stress (24.8%), and exposure to cold (19.3%) in modes, 'none' (64.3%), postauricular pain (33.2%) in signs, postauricular pain (26.9%), parageusia (14.8%) in symptoms. Hypertension and diabetes were the most common in both past and family history. In particular, the obesity rate of the subjects (59.8%) was much higher than that of Koreans (32.8%). Conclusions: Based on the historical Korean Medicine literature and the results of this study, it is suggested that overwork, stress, exposure to cold, and obesity are identified as risk factors for facial palsy. Furthermore, dysfunction of the stomach meridian is thought to contribute to the cause of facial palsy.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-111
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• 2024

Developing countries and small local governments face financial constraints, limiting the adoption of their own bus information systems. However, despite poor social infrastructure and low income levels, developing countries have a high smartphone penetration rate, and the distribution and usage of online content and social media are widespread. Smartphones, equipped with GPS sensors, cameras, and other location-based information collection capabilities, can replace expensive on-site terminals. This study aims to replace expensive on-site terminals with smartphones, develop a center system based on cloud servers, and establish an extensible Open BIS (Bus Information System) service and platform that can be applied anywhere. The goal is to formulate a business model in the process.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated the pattern identification (PI) and clinical index of Parkinson's disease (PD) for personalized diagnosis and treatment. Methods: This prospective observational multi-center study recruited 100 patients diagnosed with PD from two Korean medicine hospitals. To cluster new subtypes of PD, items on a PI questionnaire (heat and cold, deficiency and excess, visceral PI) were evaluated along with pulse and tongue analysis. Gait analysis was performed and blood and feces molecular signature changes were assessed to explore biomarkers for new subtypes. In addition, unified PD rating scale II and III scores and the European quality of life 5-dimension questionnaire were assessed. Results: The clinical index obtained in this study analyzed the frequency statistics and hierarchical clustering analysis to classify new subtypes based on PI. Moreover, the biomarkers and current status of herbal medicine treatment were analyzed using the new subtypes. The results provide comprehensive data to investigate new subtypes and subtype-based biomarkers for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of PD patients. Ethical approval was obtained from the medical ethics committees of the two Korean medicine hospitals. All amendments to the research protocol were submitted and approved. Conclusions: An objective and standardized diagnostic tool is needed for the personalized treatment of PD by traditional Korean medicine. Therefore, we developed a clinical index as the basis for the PI clinical evaluation of PD. Trial Registration: This trial is registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) (KCT0008677)

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2024

A Reference Sound Source (RSS) is an important standard device employed in measuring sound power. The specifications of RSS is specified in international standards, and it is classified as a major calibration item in the field of acoustic metrology. Since the output power of RSS is affected by the supply voltage, each country needs to secure its own calibration service system. In this study, a procedure for calibrating a RSS is established based on the reverberant room conditions and uncertainty evaluation is conducted. Basically, the calibration procedure can apply a precision measurement process of acoustic power, and here, the measurement method using the reverberation chamber of ISO 3741 is applied. For this purpose, a measurement system is constructed, measurements are conducted with two types of RSS, and measurement uncertainty is evaluated. Through measurement examples, it is confirmed that the non-uniformity of the sound pressure distribution in the reverberation room and the volume measurement uncertainty contributed significantly to the overall uncertainty. Additionally, the influence of input voltage is experimentally examined to examine the uncertainty contribution that can be reflected in acoustic power measurements.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.208-219
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• 2024

This study aims to analyze dental care at the 25^th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) using a predesigned standardized dental chart to provide a reference for the operation of dental emergency clinics at future large-scale youth events. The dental charts of all patients treated at the 25^th WSJ emergency dental clinic were examined. Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze the differences between youth scouts and adult leaders. Eighty visits of 71 patients were included in the study. The largest number of patients was from Asia-Pacific (49.3%), followed by patients from Europe (40.8%). In terms of chief complaints, oral ulcers (19.7%), lesions of the lips (18.3%), and orthodontic discomfort (15.5%) were the most prevalent. The analysis showed a significant difference (p = 0.0023) between youth scouts and adult leaders in the distribution of patients in the first half (July 30^th - August 3^rd) and second half (August 4^th - August 8^th) of the event. There was a higher incidence of dental conditions associated with hot and humid environments, unlike typical emergency dental settings. Therefore, despite adequate preparation, unexpected dental visits may occur, and it is recommended that operations be conducted in community-based dental hospitals to allow for immediate and efficient responses in international camps.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.235-256
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• 2024

Background: The adequate provision of medical care relies on the availability of a suitable number of healthcare professionals. To ensure stability in healthcare delivery, it is crucial for a country to accurately estimate and address the supply of doctors. This study aims to contribute to the formulation of effective policies for securing and distributing doctor manpower, with a focus on medically underserved areas at both the national and local government levels. Methods: Employing the system dynamics methodology, this research utilizes stock and flow diagrams, including level and rate diagrams, to quantitatively analyze the cumulative structure of the doctor supply and demand system. Results: The analysis reveals a substantial shortage of clinical doctors in Gyeongsangnam-do, amounting to 15,477 as of 2021. Projections indicate a need for an additional 7,570 doctors by the year 2050 to maintain the current healthcare service level. Examination of medical treatment rights and distribution across cities and counties indicates an insufficiency in doctor supply relative to demand in the majority of regions. Alternative scenarios, such as increasing medical school enrollments and adjusting retirement ages, were explored, yet none provided a sufficient resolution to the shortage. Conclusion: The findings underscore an impending exacerbation of the doctor shortage in Gyeongsangnam-do if the existing system is perpetuated. Addressing this issue necessitates not only augmenting the number of medical school students and adapting retirement age policies but also implementing diverse strategies employed successfully in other countries. This study serves as a foundational step in informing evidence-based policies aimed at securing an ample and appropriately distributed doctor workforce for sustainable healthcare delivery.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.54-69
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• 2024

Purposes: This study aims to analyze the location patterns, concentration, and accessibility of clinics in Seoul with the grids of a geographic information system(GIS) and provide useful indicators for research on hospital and clinic management and policies based on the results. The study especially sets out to identify areas falling behind in the service of the essential medical care departments based on an analysis with 250m×250m grids and contribute to efficient medical business management and public healthcare policies based on the results. Methodology: The study analyzed clinics in Seoul in terms of concentration, distribution and clustering patterns, accessibility, and hot spots by dividing the entire city into 500m×500m cells and generating grids. The accessibility analysis for the essential medical care departments was especially in detail based on grids in a 250m×250m cell size. Findings: The Herfindahl results show that plastic surgery and rehabilitation medicine recorded the highest concentration level. General medicine and dermatology recorded the highest Moran's I value, and internal medicine was the highest in hot spots. Obstetrics and gynecology capable of child delivery showed considerably lower accessibility in the grids corresponding to Gangseo-gu, Yangcheon-gu, and Gwanak-gu. Surgery had low accessibility in the grids corresponding to the northern parts of Gangseo-gu for the total population. Practical Implication: Unlike previous studies whose analyses covered wide areas, the present study examined minute spatial patterns, concentration, and accessibility based on an analysis with 500m×500m or 250m×250m grids. Based on its findings, the study expects a more minute analysis for future research on medical business management and policies.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.101-120
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• 2024

Purpose - The purpose of this study was to examine the influencing factors on the revisit intention of unmanned convenience stores for Chinese consumers who use unmanned convenience stores. The effect of unmanned convenience store characteristics (operation system, store arrangement) on customers' perceived benefits and the effect of perceived benefits (convenience, speed, stability, playability) on revisit intention were verified. In addition, by using untact propensity as a control variable, the purpose of this study was to examine that the characteristics of unmanned convenience stores have a moderating effect on the perceived benefits of customers. Design/methodology/approach - The study collected 201 survey data from unmanned convenience stores in China. In order to analyze the data, Smart PLS was used to carry out empirical analysis. Findings - The results showed that operating systems had a positive impact on convenience, speed, and safety, while store layout had a positive impact on playfulness. Perceived benefits (convenience, safety, and playfulness) had a positive impact on their intention to revisit. Rapidity had a negative impact on the intention to revisit. Contactless tendencies regulate the effect of operating systems on convenience. Research implications or Originality - Unmanned convenience stores are striving to provide high-quality experiences to customers and increase customer satisfaction by utilizing cutting-edge IT technologies in stores such as AI, mobile device payment services, QR codes, and big data technologies. Recently, research on unmanned convenience stores has been active in the service and distribution industry-related fields, but research on the intention to revisit is insufficient. Also, few studies have used untact propensity as a control variable.