• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2020

Background: Same-day sputum microcopy is recommended in areas where sputum smear microscopy external quality assessment (EQA) is effectively implemented and sturdy. In Addis Ababa, the status of EQA and drop-out of same-day sputum smear microcopy has not yet been assessed. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of same-day sputum smear microscopy and diagnostic drop-out of presumptive tuberculosis (TB) patients in health facilities (HFs) across Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Amulti-analysis was conducted from September 2016 to July 2017 to determine the status of external quality assessment and diagnostic drop-out of presumptive TB patients registered for same-day sputum smear microscopy. Data was coded and entered in Microsoft Excel, and subsequently transferred and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The drop-out of same-day sputum smear microscopy was 209 (6.2%). More than 33% of the specimens collected for purposes of same-day sputum smears were of poor quality. Among the selected HFs for the study: 13 (46.4%) used filter reagents prior to sputum smear staining while 75% of the selected HFs for the study used smear microscopy services interruption in a year. The sensitivity and specificity of the HFs participating in regional quality assessment scheme for the diagnosis of TB was 97.4% and 99.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The diagnostic drop-out of same-day sputum smear microscopy was high in Addis Ababa. Strengthening EQA, competency-based laboratory professionals training on sputum smear microscopy might reduce the reading errors in sputum smear. Awareness creation of the community on the benefits gained from completion of specimen provision for the same-day approach decreases diagnostic drop-out and enhances TB control program.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.24 no.63
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• pp.89-99
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• 2001

This paper proposes assessment of quality management activities based on cost of quality. Cost of quality is considered prevention cost, appraisal cost, internal failure cost, external failure cost in this paper. This paper shows quality cost magement system in thermal power site devision according to activity analysis. Cost of quality in power industries provides a valuable method of both proving the need for improvement and giving a starting point for projects.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.30 no.7_8
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• pp.618-641
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• 2003

Various quality models using quality factor, quality criteria and metrics have been proposed in order to evaluate quality of software products. However, a customized quality model which is specific to the characteristics of software component is required. In this paper, we propose external quality prediction techniques enable us to predict what external quality the final software product will have by using metrics as with internal attributes of software in development. We also propose a model not only for measuring quality by using metrics but also for applying internal attributes of ISO 9126 into artifacts of software component development.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2000

In order to solve water quality problem of domestic dam reservoir, many projects have been performed in a point of view to restoration of water quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of release from sediment on water quality and release characteristics. Daecheong dam reservoir was investigated for two years, from 1998 to 1999. The nutrient release rates of Daecheong reservoir is less than foreign eutrophic reservoir at anoxic condition. For the evaluation of the effect of nutrient release on water quality, internal and external loading was calculated at Daecheong reservoir. As total phosphorus loading from sediment is calculated 9.3 ton/yr and inflow loading from Daecheong reservoir watershed 118 ton/yr, internal loading shows the portion of 7.88% to external loading. At this study, because sampling point was choosed at the point where much sediment is accumulated, experimental result is more than average release rates. Because Daecheong reservoir shows complete thermal stratification and anoxic condition below 30m from water surface in summer seasons, released phosphorus from sediment can not transfer to epilimnion and eventually resettles. Therefore sediment has insignificant impacts on water quality on Daecheong dam reservoir.

• Laboratory Medicine and Quality Assurance
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.51-69
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• 2018

As part of the immunoserology program of the Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service, we organized two trials on the external quality assessment of hepatitis viral markers in 2016 and 2017. The hepatitis viral antigens and antibodies program consisted of 10 test items. We delivered two and three types of pooled sera specimens to 965 and 965 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2016, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 915 (94.8%) and 913 (95.0%) in the first and second trials in 2016, respectively. We also delivered three kinds of pooled sera specimens to 936 and 1,015 institutions for the first and second trials of external proficiency testing in 2017, respectively. The number of participating laboratories was 920 (98.3%) and 996 (98.1%) in the first and second trials in 2017, respectively. The most commonly tested items were hepatitis B surface antigen, followed by the antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B envelope antigen, antibodies to hepatitis B envelope antigen, anti-hepatitis A virus and antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. The most frequently used methods for detecting viral markers were the chemiluminescence immunoassay and the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, but they yielded a few-false positive results due to the matrix effect. The immunochromatographic assay yielded false-negative results for anti-hepatitis A virus due to low sensitivity. Continuous improvement in the quality of viral hepatitis testing through participation in the survey seems necessary.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the Second Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), focusing on its validity and reliability. Methods: The external validity was evaluated by the assessment of sampling procedures and the response rate, in order to investigate the representativeness of the sample. The content validity was evaluated by the assessment of the development of the questionnaire, and the consistency of questions for the selected construct. The test-retest method was used to evaluate the reliability by means of a phone call survey of 30% of the respondents, who were randomly selected. The respondents' satisfaction regarding the survey procedures and interview time were analyzed to evaluate the quality of survey data. Results: The external validity was assured by an acceptable sampling procedure, rigid multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling. The content validity was also guaranteed by a reasonable procedure for the development of the questionnaire with a pretest. The internal consistency of the questions for work autonomy was maintained, with 0.738 of Cronbach's alpha. The response rate of 36% was lower than that of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), with a contact rate of 66%, compared to 76% for the EWCS. The matching rates of the five retested questions were more than 98% reliable. Conclusion: The quality of the second KWCS was assured by the high external and content validity and reliability. The rigid sampling procedure and development of the questionnaire contributed to quality assurance. The high level of reliability may be guaranteed by the sophisticated field survey procedures and the development of a technical manual for interviewers. The technical strategies for a high response rate should be developed for future surveys.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2011

Objectives: In this study, we summarized the External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals which started in 1995 and continued until a $31^{st}$ round robin in the spring of 2010. The program was performed twice per year until 2009, and this was changed to once a year since 2010. The objective of the program is to ensure the reliability of the data related to biological monitoring from analytical laboratories. Methods: One hundred and eighteen laboratories participated in the $31^{st}$ round robin. The program offers 5 items for inorganic analysis: lead in blood, cadmium in blood, manganese in blood, cadmium in urine, and mercury in urine. It also offers 10 items for organic analysis, including hippuric acid, methylhippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, N-methylformamide, N-methylacetamide, trichloroacetic acid, total trichloro-compounds, trans,trans-muconic acid, and 2,5-hexanedione in urine. Target values were determined by statistical analysis using consensus values. All the data, such as chromatograms and calibration curves, were reviewed by the committee. Results: The proficiency rate was below 70% prior to the first round robin and improved to over 90% for common items, such as PbB and HA, while those for other items still remained in the range of 60-90% and need to be improved up to 90%. Conclusion: The EQAS has taken a primary role in improving the reliability of analytical data. A total quality assurance scheme is suggested, including the validation of technical documentation for the whole analytical procedure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2019

Korean hospitals implement external quality assessment (EQA) schemes to improve the quality of clinical tests. However, smaller hospital do not implement EQA due to lack of appreciation and cost burdens. The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of EQA from the perspective of clinical chemistry carried out at a small-to-medium sized hospital (SMH) and to investigate factors influencing quality control. The medical institution concerned had performed EQA on 21 items annually for three years and had analyzed measurement methods, variation coefficients, and anomalous results as defined by the SMH. No significant change in test methods or variation coefficients, which exhibited a high level of variation, were observed for any test item over the 3-year period. The results obtained showed that anomalous test results were significantly more frequent when EQA was not conducted (p<0.05), internal quality control was not conducted daily (p<0.01), and when tests were less frequently performed (p<0.01). Small-to-medium sized hospitals need to be more aware of the benefits of EQA and provide tailored education to staff.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2014

Objectives The aim of this study is to analyze the therapeutic effect of external Qigong therapy for treatment of other people's disease on joint pain. Methods We searched articles from Pubmed, Chinese Academic Journals (CAJ) and Oasis online databases. Searching keywords were 'external qigong', 'external qi gong', 'qi therapy', '外气', '关节' and '기공'. After searching the articles, we performed quality assessment using Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tool and risk of bias assessment tool for non-randomized study (RoBANS). Results Among the 117 articles were searched, 2 randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and 2 single-group before and after studies were finally selected. All of 4 studies showed that external Qigong therapy has significant effect on joint pain. Conclusions Although external Qigong therapy has therapeutic effect on joint pain, it is not common therapy yet. However, external Qigong therapy requires more interests and studies in the future, because it is faithful therapy for Korean medicine theory.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-3
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• 1987