• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.309-317
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• 2020

In the post-corona era, telemedicine is becoming more important. This is the case in which it is written, in terms of this study, and in relation to the relationship between the Koreans and the Korean government. In addition, the aim is to prepare effective measures and seek policy suggestions for expanding the introduction of domestic telemedicine in the future. Although Japan has insisted on the necessity of introducing telemedicine in the medical community, it has institutionalized it with a cautious attitude until the establishment of telemedicine. On the other hand, South Korea lacks clear provisions on medical fees for telemedicine and legal measures regarding the responsibility for medical malpractice. Therefore, a clear legal interpretation of the telemedicine subject is needed, and a strategic approach is prioritized, including guidelines and measures for the legal responsibilities and limitations of physicians and patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2021

Objectives: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) is the most common suicide method and can be life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the lethality of DSP and the characteristics of the adolescent group. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who had visited an academic hospital's regional emergency medical center between 2015 and 2018. The data reviewed through their medical records included sociodemographic factors, clinical variables, and psychiatric treatment. Four groups (Q1-Q4) were categorized by descriptive analysis using the risk-rescue rating scale. Results: A total of 491 patients were enrolled in this study. This study showed that high lethality had statistically significant associations with male sex, older age, admitting suicidal intentions, and the use of herbicides for suicide. Logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between high-lethality and female [odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.30-0.81, p=0.01], non-psychiatric drugs (over-the-counter drug: OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.08-5.74, p=0.03; herbicide: OR=8.65, 95% CI=3.91-19.13, p<0.01), and denial of suicide intent (OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.15-0.55, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study showed the clinical factors associated with the high lethality of DSP and suggested that efforts were needed to care for and thoroughly examine patients with DSP.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.307-314
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• 2021

This study was to analyze the satisfaction and intention to recommend a hospital for spinal and joint patients. Using a structured questionnaire at a spinal and joint hospital in Seoul in 2019, and the relationship between demographic and social characteristics and patient satisfaction, factors influencing hospital satisfaction, and recommendation intention were analyzed. In outpatients, hospital satisfaction was higher in neatness and cleanliness of staff, kindness and facility environment comfort, and hospital satisfaction was low in questions related to waiting time. In inpatients, women's satisfaction was higher in the nursing and hospital environment areas. The correlation analysis between the satisfaction and the willing to recommend, there was a positive correlation. In the sub-analysis, hospital satisfaction was higher in the group that responded with respect and courtesy, listening, satisfaction of the nurse, hospital cleanliness and safety. This study is can be used to improve the quality of hospital care services in related hospitals.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a pressure sore in a stroke patient. An 86-year-old female patient diagnosed with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the right basal ganglia had symptoms of left hemiparesis, dysphagia, and a 4.5-cm-by-2.5-cm left trochanteric pressure sore. Clinical outcomes were measured using the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) pressure injury stages, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) pressure ulcer stages, and the Braden scales. Treatment with Korean medicine, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dressing therapy, significantly improved the trochanteric pressure sore, as reflected by a NPUAP stage change from III to I, an AHCPR stage change from III to I, and a Braden scale change from 13 to 18. These findings suggest that Korean medicine treatment may be effective to treat pressure sores in stroke patients.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.681-693
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to suggest a plan to utilize atypical data in the health care field by inferring standard medical terms related to the musculoskeletal system through keyword network analysis of medical records of patients hospitalized for musculoskeletal disorders. The analysis target was 145 summaries of discharge with musculoskeletal disorders from 2015 to 2019, and was analyzed using TEXTOM, a big data analysis solution developed by The IMC. The 177 musculoskeletal related terms derived through the primary and secondary refining processes were finally analyzed. As a result of the study, the frequent term was 'Metastasis', the clinical findings were 'Metastasis', the symptoms were 'Weakness', the diagnosis was 'Hepatitis', the treatment was 'Remove', and the body structure was 'Spine' in the analysis results for each medical terminology system. 'Oxycodone' was used the most. Based on these results, we would like to suggest implications for the analysis, utilization, and management of unstructured medical data.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-112
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore, using topic modeling, the social value of doctors and medicine demanded by society as reflected in published newspaper articles in Korea. Ultimately, this study aimed to reflect social needs in the process of developing the Patient-Centered Doctor's Competency Framework in Korea. For this purpose, a total of 2,068 newspaper articles published from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed. Through topic modeling of these newspaper articles over the past 5 years, 18 topics were derived and divided into four categories. Focusing on the derived topics and keywords, the topics derived in specific years and the proportion of topics by year were analyzed. The results of this study make it possible to grasp the needs of society projected through the press for doctors and medicine. Due to the nature of the press, topics that frequently appeared in newspaper articles were mainly social phenomena related to requirements for doctors, particularly dealing with economic and legal aspects. In particular, it was confirmed that doctors are now required to have a wider range of competencies that go beyond their required medical knowledge and clinical skills. This study helped to establish doctor's competencies by analyzing social needs for doctors through the latest research methods, and the findings could help to establish and improve doctor's competencies through ongoing research in the future.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.43-52
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the actual conditions related to the working environment of radiological technologist who is working in small or medium-sized hospitals or clinics. The results of this study were intended to improve the working environment of radiological technologist and care for patients. For data collection, a structured questionnaire was used as a research tool, and 838 women (52.4%) were used as a general characteristic of 1,598 people subject to this questionnaire. The annual salary of radiological technologists with less than one year experience was 33.76 million won, and the average annual salary of radiological technologists with more than 10 years of experience was 41.33 million won. It showed an increased of 1.84% per year. Among 1,540 radiological technologists, 879 workers were paid holiday work allowances, 340 workers did not, and 321 holiday workers work during the week. In addition, a total of 817 workers received overtime payment, of which 112 received overtime wage on a monthly basis regardless of the overtime hours. In addition, a total of 348 radiological technologists were not paid overtime wage, and 138 workers were included in the basis salary. There were no union in 85% of the them. According to the results of this study, the wages and working environment of radiological technologists in small or medium-sized hospitals or clinics were not appropriate. Therefore, the efforts of the radiological association and its members are necessary to provide a better working environment for radiological technologists. In addition, it is expected that this study will be used as basic data for the association's policy to improve the working environment of members who work in poor conditions.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.487-495
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• 2022

Pycnogenol is used as a dietary supplement based on various medical research studies suggesting health benefits. In recent years, it has also been used in cosmetic products, but the clinical research on its dermatologic effects has been insufficient. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of pycnogenol topically applied to skin of individuals with acne in their teens and twenties. Cosmetics containing 0.2% pycnogenol were applied to a group of 11 clinical subjects for 6 weeks and their skin conditions were assessed. The group that used cosmetics with pycnogenol showed decrease in P-Acnes, acne causing bacteria, phorphyrin index, a metabolite, and the pigmentation and redness index. This study confirms that pycnogenol extract is effective dermatologically in decreasing acne bacteria and reducing redness and pigmentation of skin affected by acne.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.13.1-13.9
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• 2024

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease in livestock that has tremendous economic impact nationally. After multiple FMD outbreaks, the South Korean government implemented a vaccination policy for efficient disease control. However, during active surveillance by quarantine authorities, pig farms have reported an insufficient antibody positivity rate to FMD. Objective: In this study, the spatial and temporal trends of insufficiency among pig farms were analyzed, and the effect of the number of government veterinary officers was explored as a potential preventive factor. Methods: Various data were acquired, including national-level surveillance data for antibody insufficiency from the Korea Animal Health Integrated System, the number of veterinary officers, and the number of local pig farms. Temporal and geographical descriptive analyses were conducted to overview spatial and temporal trends. Additionally, logistic regression models were employed to investigate the association between the number of officers per pig farm with antibody insufficiency. Spatial cluster analysis was conducted to detect spatial clusters. Results: The results showed that the incidence of insufficiency tended to decrease in recent years (odds ratio [OR], 0.803; 95% confidence interval [95% CIs], 0.721-0.893), and regions with a higher density of governmental veterinary officers (OR, 0.942; 95% CIs, 0.918-0.965) were associated with a lower incidence. Conclusions: This study implies that previously conducted national interventions would be effective, and the quality of government-provided veterinary care could play an important role in addressing the insufficient positivity rate of antibodies.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the supply and demand for cardiologists in Korea and provide evidence for healthcare policy to ensure a stable and adequate workforce for optimal cardiovascular disease management. Methods: Past trends of inflow and outflow of cardiologists were used to make crude projections, which were then adjusted based on demands of services to obtain final projections. Inflow of cardiologists was estimated using second-order polynomial regression and demand for cardiology care was estimated using linear regression. Results: There were 1,139 active cardiologists who were under the age of 65 in clinical practice in Korea. The estimated number of cardiologists from 2022 to 2040 showed that the number of cardiologists would peak at 1,344 in 2032 and gradually decrease thereafter. We also estimated an increase of 947,811 cases of heart-related procedures annually from 2023 to 2032. The number of heart-related procedures per cardiologist would increase 1.4 times from 12,964 in 2023 to 17,862 in 2032. The estimated number of emergency patients per cardiologist under 50 years old would almost double from 544 in 2022 to 987 in 2032. Conclusions: We expect significant shortage of cardiologists in Korea within the next 10 years. The number of emergency patients per cardiologist will increase by nearly 50%, leading to high individual workload for cardiologists. To prevent this imbalance between supply and demand, an organized and collective approach by the specialty of cardiology is imperative to produce a balanced workforce.