• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.270-277
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• 2015

There is a lack of evidence on the impact of pharmacist interventions in diabetes care in South Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pharmacist counseling on clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. An uncontrolled before-and-after study was conducted at the outpatient diabetes clinic in a teaching hospital in Gyeongnam, South Korea between January 2 and November 30, 2014. A total of 37 patients were enrolled. During the study periods, the participants and pharmacists met every 2 weeks via follow-up telephone calls in addition to face-to-face meetings upon returning for care visit. At each meeting, a structured patient counseling was performed and the average duration of each meeting was 15~30 minutes. The participants were requested to record daily self-care activities. At the end of this study, patients' satisfaction on pharmacist care was evaluated using the questionnaire developed by us. Compared to baseline, significant reductions (mean${\pm}$standard deviation, p<0.05) in HbA1c were observed at each follow-up period: $-0.32{\pm}0.72%$ from baseline to 3 months; $-0.52{\pm}0.76%$ from baseline to 6 months; $-0.72{\pm}0.76%$ from baseline to 9 months. Over the same follow-up period, the proportions of patients achieving target HbA1c (defined as HbA1c<6.5%) were 3.1%, 10.3%, and 20%, respectively. The proportions of patients who never missed a dose during the same follow-up period were 43.8%, 31.0%, and 20.0%, respectively. The results from the patient satisfaction survey indicated that pharmacist counseling improved patients' knowledge about diabetes and possible drug interactions. Especially, the information on a healthy diet and lifestyle was the most satisfying. To conclude, follow-up telephone calls combined with face-to-face meetings improved clinical and humanistic outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.50-54
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• 2016

Regular dental visit of disabled patients is an important strategy for maintenance of oral health because of the lack of awareness of oral care. But there is limited information about follow up period in disabled patients after dental treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of dental visit and dental management of special care needs patients according to the types of disabilities. A total of 140 patients who received dental treatment at Seoul National University Dental Hospital from 2010 to 2012 were reviewed. Patients were divided 3 groups according to the types of disabilities (disorder of external physical function, disorder of internal organ, psychic disability). Patient's characteristic, dental treatment performed, follow up period and frequency were investigated. The mean follow up period was 28.2 months and average frequency of visit was 3.69 times per year. There was no difference in period and annual visit between 3 groups, but significantly difference in cooperation with medical hospital in affiliation. Regular check-up was the most common dental treatment in all groups. In psychic disorder group, the proportion of sedative treatment was significantly higher than other groups. The results of this study provide information necessary for treatment planning and dental management of disabled patients.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2018

Purpose: Feeding children is a problem in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and it is difficult to know the correct amount. The purpose of this study is to evaluate if prealbumin or retinol binding proteins (RBP) are effective relative to daily enteral nutrition, without being affected by severity of diseases or infections and can be used to follow up nutritional amount. Methods: This is a prospective observational study that includes 81 patients admitted to PICU in Akdeniz University with estimated duration >72 hours, age between 1 month and 8 years. Daily calorie and protein intake were calculated and prealbumin, RBP and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on the first, third, fifth and seventh mornings. Results: We find moderate correlation between daily calorie intake and prealbumin levels (r=0.432, p<0.001), RBP levels and daily protein intake (r=0.330, p<0.001). When we investigated the relationship between changes of prealbumin, RBP, CRP, calorie and protein intake during intensive care stay, we found that increase of Prealbumin and RBP levels are explained by decrease of CRP levels (r=-0.546 and -0.645, p<0.001) and not with increase of nourishment. Conclusion: Even adjusted for PRISM3, age and CRP, prealbumin and RBP are correlated with last 24 hours' diet. However, it is not convenient to use as a follow up biomarker because increase of their levels is related with decrease of CRP levels.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.7-20
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• 2023

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper is to assess a body of research evidence that articulates the impact of physical and environmental factors on behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia who reside in long-term care facilities. This follow-up study of the previous literature review aims to further identify physical and environmental factors, that improve health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia, published in recent five years and to expand the understanding of clinical outcomes as mechanism that mediate the effect of physical environmental factors on improving behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia. Methods: Comprehensive literature review has been conducted to identify empirical studies that link the design of dementia care facilities to health- and quality of care(QOL)-related outcomes and this follow-up review scrutinized peer-reviewed articles published in recent five years (from January 2018 to December 2022), filling the gap between the previous literature review and the current state of research. Results: The review identified a growing body of literature that articulates environment-related factors that improve behavioral·psychological health and quality of life for the elderly people with dementia living long-term care facilities. Implications: The findings of the review can be translated to design implications and design decisions to promote psychological and behavioral health and quality of life of people with dementia in long-term care facilities.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.7
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• pp.313-321
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• 2021

Here we describe the neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight ≤1,500 g) at 3 years of age in the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (NRNJ) database in the past decade and review the methodological issues identified in follow-up studies. The follow-up protocol for children at 3 years of chronological age in the NRNJ consists of physical and comprehensive neurodevelopmental assessments in each participating center. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI)-moderate to severe neurological disability-is defined as cerebral palsy (CP) with a Gross Motor Function Classification System score ≥2, visual impairment such as uni- or bilateral blindness, hearing impairment requiring hearing amplification, or cognitive impairment with a developmental quotient (DQ) of Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development score <70 or judgment as delayed by pediatricians. We used death or NDI as an unfavorable outcome in all study subjects and NDI in survivors using number of assessed infants as the denominator. Follow-up data were collected from 49% of survivors in the database. Infants with follow-up data had lower birth weights and were of younger gestational age than those without follow-up data. Mortality rates of 40,728 VLBW infants born between 2003 and 2012 were 8.2% before discharge and 0.7% after discharge. The impairment rates in the assessed infants were 7.1% for CP, 1.8% for blindness, 0.9% for hearing impairment, 15.9% for a DQ <70, and 19.1% for NDI. The mortality or NDI rate in all study subjects, including infants without follow-up data, was 17.4%, while that in the subjects with outcome data was 32.5%. The NRNJ follow-up study results suggested that children born with a VLBW remained at high risk of NDI in early childhood. It is important to establish a network follow-up protocol and complete assessments with fewer dropouts to enable clarification of the outcomes of registered infants.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2015

Background: Patients were subjected to post-discharge follow-up (by telephone) in order to investigate the potential complications of outpatient general anesthesia or deep sedation that could develop in disabled dental patients discharged from the hospital. The ultimate aim of this study was to establish an appropriate response measure for such complications. Methods: The caregivers of 79 disabled patients who underwent dental procedures under general anesthesia at our outpatient clinic were interviewed over telephone. Necessary care instructions were provided during the phone calls when required. The patient satisfaction level regarding the telephonic follow-up care was surveyed by additional telephone calls. Results: Most of the patients did not suffer any serious complications; however, some reported fever and bleeding. The data obtained in this study can be utilized towards the development of caregiver education pertaining to the ambulatory general anesthesia of dental patients with disabilities. Conclusions: Additionally, we hope that the findings of this study will help minimize the effects of complications experienced by disabled dental patients undergoing ambulatory general anesthesia, as well as increase the overall patient satisfaction level.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.215-220
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• 2018

Meralgia paresthetica (MP) is a sensory mononeuropathy, caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) of thigh. Patients refractory to conservative management are treated with various interventional procedures. We report the first use of extended duration (8 minutes) pulsed radiofrequency of the LFCN in a case series of five patients with refractory MP. Four patients had follow up for 1-2 years, and one had 6 months follow up. All patients reported remarkable and long lasting symptom relief and an increase in daily life activities. Three patients came off medications and two patients required minimal doses of neuropathic medications. No complications were observed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4901-4903
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• 2015

The gynecologic oncology patients surveillance network program was conducted with the collaboration of 5 provincial hospitals located in the north of Thailand (Chiang Rai, Lamphun Nan, Phayao and Phrae). The aim was to identify ways of reducing the burden and the cost to the gynecologic cancer patients who needed to travel to the tertiary care hospital for follow up. The clinical data of each patient was transferred to the provincial hospital by the internet via the website www.gogcmu.or.th. All the general gynecologists who participated in this project attended the training course set up for the program. From January 2011 to February 2014, 854 patients who were willing to have their next follow-up at the network hospitals close to their home were enrolled this project. Almost of them were residents in Chiang Rai province and the most common disease was cervical cancer. After the project had been running for 1 year, 604 of the enrolled patients and 21 health-care personnel who had participated in this project were interviewed to assess its success. Some 85.3% of the patients and 100% of the health-care personnel were satisfied with this project. However, 60 patients had withdrawn, the most common reason being the lack of confidence in the follow up at the local provincial hospital. In conclusion, it is possible to initiate a gynecologic oncology patients' surveillance network program and the initiation could reduce the problems associated with and the cost the patients incurred as they journeyed to the tertiary care hospital.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.590-597
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• 2020

Objective : Covered stenting is an optional strategy for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm, especially in malignant conditions of potential rupture, but the long-term outcomes are not clear. Our aim was to determine if covered stenting is an effective option for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm with promising long-term outcomes. Methods : Self-expanding Viabahn and balloon-expandable Willis covered stents were separately implanted for extra- and intracranial traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm. The covered stent was placed across the distal and proximal pseudoaneurysm leakage under roadmap guidance. Procedural success was defined as technical success (complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery) without a primary end point (any stroke or death within 30 days after the procedure). Long-term outcomes were evaluated as ischemic stroke in the territory of the qualifying artery by clinical follow-up through outpatient or telephone consultation and as the exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery by imaging follow-up through angiography. Results : Five patients with traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm who underwent covered stenting were enrolled. The procedural success rate was 100%. No ischemic stroke in the territory of the qualifying artery was recorded in any of the five patients during a mean clinical follow-up of 44±16 months. Complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and patency of the parent artery were maintained in all five patients during a mean imaging follow-up of 39±16 months. Conclusion : Satisfactory procedural and long-term outcomes were obtained, suggesting that covered stenting is an effective option for traumatic carotid pseudoaneurysm.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2022

Background: In asthma, consistent control of chronic airway inflammation is crucial, and the use of asthma-controller medication has been emphasized. Our purpose in this study is to compare the incidence of acute exacerbation and healthcare costs related to the use of asthma-controller medication. Methods: By using data collected by the National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we compared one-year clinical outcomes and medical costs from July 2014 to June 2015 (follow-up period) between two groups of patients with asthma who received different prescriptions for recommended asthma-controller medication (inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene receptor antagonists) at least once from July 2013 to June 2014 (assessment period). Results: There were 51,757 patients who satisfied our inclusion criteria. Among them, 13,702 patients (26.5%) were prescribed a recommended asthma-controller medication during the assessment period. In patients using a recommended asthma-controller medication, the frequency of acute exacerbations decreased in the follow-up period, from 2.7% to 1.1%. The total medical costs of the controller group decreased during the follow-up period compared to the assessment period, from $3,772,692 to $1,985,475. Only 50.9% of patients in the controller group used healthcare services in the follow-up period, and the use of asthma-controller medication decreased in the follow-up period. Conclusion: Overall, patients using a recommended asthma-controller medication showed decreased acute exacerbation and reduced total healthcare cost by half.