• 비만대사연구학술지
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2023

The importance of weight discrimination for people with obesity has been highlighted by research which has found that more than 40% of those living with obesity have experienced weight discrimination. Evidence suggests that weight bias among obese individuals puts their health at risk more than health issues caused by obesity itself. Although bias, stigma, and discrimination towards individuals living with obesity are factors that make it difficult for them to lose weight, weight bias and stigma among healthcare professionals are common, causing individuals living with obesity to avoid treatment and potentially exacerbating obesity-related health issues. The concept that one's own efforts matter contributes to stigma, discrimination, and bias. This issue will be more frequent among primary care providers treating individuals living with obesity; thus, it is important to acknowledge the issues of bias, stigma, and discrimination towards individuals living with obesity and to seek out solutions. In this review, I will discuss the concept of weight bias, stigma, and discrimination, the problems they cause, and seek solutions to weight prejudice, stigma, and discrimination.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.266-275
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• 2023

Purpose: Although long-term viral suppression and antiretroviral therapy (ART) success depend on sustained adherence, adolescents' adherence rates are suboptimal. Optimal adherence is influenced by various factors. Since Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 80% of adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and considering their unique characteristics and susceptibility to poor adherence, it is crucial to provide updated knowledge on adherence rates and their determinants among this population. This review aims to present up-to-date data on adherence rates and associated factors among HIV-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed and Scopus databases were used to identify documents corresponding to the study's objectives. Eleven studies were included in this review after being selected from among all studies that were found online from 2017 to 2023. Results: The reported adherence rates ranged from 55% to 86%. In total, 32 factors were found to be related to adherence among HIV-positive adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. These included 12 adherence-facilitating factors and 20 adherence-inhibiting factors. The most often mentioned factors affecting adherence were advanced World Health Organization clinical stage (i.e., stage IV), ART dose and regimens, a lack of support, and violence victimization. Conclusion: Our findings can help healthcare providers collaborate with HIV-positive adolescents to improve ART adherence and ensure the best possible health outcomes.

• 여성건강간호학회지
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.328-336
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors influencing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older adult women with sarcopenia. Methods: The study was secondary data analysis using data from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The final sample consisted of 142 women aged 60 years and older with sarcopenia and were selected from 8,110 women. The participants was analyzed using complex descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and regression. Results: In terms of HRQoL, three general characteristics were found to be influential, with an explanatory power of 56.0%: difficulty climbing stairs, difficulty working, and perceived health status. Having no or mild difficulty when climbing stairs (B=.20, p=.001; B=.21, p<.001) and no or mild difficulty when working (B=.25, p=. 002; B=.208, p=.013) had a significant effect on HRQoL compared to severe difficulty. Having good or ordinary perceived health status had a significant effect on the HRQoL (B=.11, p<.001; B=.09, p<.001). Conclusion: Based on study findings that the HRQoL of older adult women with sarcopenia were influenced by difficulty climbing stairs and working, as well as good perceived health status, healthcare providers should assist elderly women to maintain physical activities in their daily lives.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.302-308
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• 2024

With incessant advances in information technology and its implications in all domains of our lives, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a requirement for improved machine performance. This brings forth the query of how this can benefit endoscopists and improve both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy in each part of the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, it also raises the question of the recent benefits and clinical usefulness of this new technology in daily endoscopic practice. There are two main categories of AI systems: computer-assisted detection (CADe) for lesion detection and computer-assisted diagnosis (CADx) for optical biopsy and lesion characterization. Quality assurance is the next step in the complete monitoring of high-quality colonoscopies. In all cases, computer-aided endoscopy is used, as the overall results rely on the physician. Video capsule endoscopy is a unique example in which a computer operates a device, stores multiple images, and performs an accurate diagnosis. While there are many expectations, we need to standardize and assess various software packages. It is important for healthcare providers to support this new development and make its use an obligation in daily clinical practice. In summary, AI represents a breakthrough in digestive endoscopy. Screening for gastric and colonic cancer detection should be improved, particularly outside expert centers. Prospective and multicenter trials are mandatory before introducing new software into clinical practice.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.218-227
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the factors influencing attitudes toward end-of-life care among nurses at a tertiary hospital in Korea. Specifically, it examined the roles of nurses' characteristics, death perceptions, terminal care stress, and life satisfaction. Methods: The participants included 150 nurses working at a tertiary hospital, who were recruited between August 15 and September 19, 2023. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 28.0. Results: Nurses' attitudes toward end-of-life care were positively correlated with death perceptions (β = .28, p < .001), 3 years or more of clinical experience (β = .25, p = .001), the experience of an acquaintance death (β = .22, p = .002) and life satisfaction (β = .20, p = .004). These variables explained 34.0% of the total variance in attitudes toward end-of-life care. Conclusion: It is essential to develop and implement individualized end-of-life nursing education programs, particularly utilizing simulations, for nurses with limited clinical experience and low levels of death perceptions. Further research should explore attitudes toward end-of-life care among various healthcare providers with a broader regional scope to improve the overall quality of end-of-life care.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제10권10호
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• pp.373-382
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• 2012

보건의료의 이용이 의료서비스 공급자 중심에서 소비자 중심으로 변화되어가면서, 환자 본인의 건강정보관리와 알 권리 보장이 부각되고 있다. 이러한 시대적 흐름과 변화에 따라 환자 자신의 건강정보를 알기 위하여 자신의 의료정보를 관리할 수 있게 하는 도구인 개인건강정보(PHR)의 중요성이 증가하게 되었다. 따라서, 이 연구는 의료이용자(보건대학생)와 의료제공자(의과대학생) 간의 개인건강기록(PHR)의 이해정도, 활용, 관리에 대해 조사한 후 두 연구대상 간의 차이를 비교함에 있다. 이 연구의 조사대상은 보건학 전공 학부생과 의과대학생을 선택적으로 선별하였고, 2011년 4월에서 5월까지 보건대학생 106부, 의과대학생 102부를 조사하였다. 개인건강기록(PHR)의 이해정도, 기록의 중요도, 제공기능의 도움정도, 시간 비용 효율성을 t-test를 통해 비교하였다. 또한 개인건강기록(PHR)의 형식과 관리 운영주체의 분포를 파악하기 위해 빈도분석과 $x^2$-test를 하였다. 개인건강기록(PHR)의 이해 정도는 유의한 차이가 없었으나 보건대학생의 주관적, 객관적 이해 정도의 평균(3.51점, 3.58점)이 의과대학생보다 높은 경향을 보였다. 개인건강정보(PHR)의 중요도는 알레르기이력, 가족질병이력이 두 집단 간 유의한 차이를 보였고, 기능에서는 신체검사 모니터링과 건강 유해요인 관리에서 유의한 차이가 나타났으며, 효율성에서는 시간 절감이 유의한 차이를 보였다. 개인건강기록(PHR)의 관리에서 제공형식은 통합형 방식이 우세하였으나 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았고, 운영주체에서는 보건대학생은 본인이 관리하겠다는 응답이 50.0%로 우세하였고, 의과대학생은 의료기관이 관리하는 것이 52.8%의 분포를 보였으며 두 집단 간의 차이는 유의하였다. 현재 개인건강정보(PHR)에 대해 많은 수요와 필요성을 인식하고 있었지만, 활성화에는 한계가 있다. 앞으로 개인건강기록(PHR)의 활성화를 위해서는 연령대별, 질환에 따른 추후 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다. 이 연구는 이전에 시도되지 않았던 의료소비자와 의료제공자의 입장에서 두 집단 간의 차이를 서술함으로써 향후 개인건강기록(PHR)의 활성화를 위한 기초자료가 될 것이다.

• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.218-231
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• 2001

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the understanding and the attitude of Korean hospital CEOs toward the healthcare quality improvement. Methods : A mailed questionnaire survey to the CEOs of hospitals with 400 beds or more was conducted between September 15 and October 30, 2000. Of the 108 hospitals eligible for the study, 58 participated, yielding a response rate of 54 percent. Result : The hospital CEOs have expressed that their hospital management was arduous job, and they had been pressured by increasing competitions among healthcare providers. They indicated that the low fees of health insurance made their hospital management difficult. The results also indicated that there was general consensus that the improvement of service quality was important in encouraging their organizations, but the investment of manpower and equipment ranked higher than the improvement of service quality. The majority of the CEOs have good understanding about quality improvement activities. However the facts that in general QI must be focused at the process of services and customer satisfaction, meanwhile quality improvement activities are helpful for the organizational productivity embarrassed them. The hospital CEOs responded that there were successful changes in terms of quality of care, patient satisfaction, and process efficiency after QI activities, but no increase in patient number and profit. Lack of understanding to QI activities and limited budget seem to attribute unsatisfactory outcomes. Conclusion : The majority of Korean hospital CEOs have a good understanding and attitude about QI activities. As mentioned in the result, despite of several limitations, several facts regarding the CEOs of hospital in Korean can be elucidated. (1) The general cognition of the QI project is relatively high, and it is accepted with positive concern, (2) the priority of the QI project, however, is not set higher than other projects and (3) the specific concepts of the actual QI project such as customer (patient)-focused work driving, the recognition of the work accomplishment, and the importance of rewards have not sufficiently understood.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.1295-1301
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• 2015

Background: Cancer imposes a significant economic burden on individuals, families and society. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden of cancer using the healthcare claims and cancer registry data in Korea in 2009. Materials and Methods: The economic burden of cancer was estimated using the prevalence data where patients were identified in the Korean Central Cancer Registry. We estimated the medical, non-medical, morbidity and mortality cost due to lost productivity. Medical costs were calculated using the healthcare claims data obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance (KNHI) Corporation. Non-medical costs included the cost of transportation to visit health providers, costs associated with caregiving for cancer patients, and costs for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Data acquired from the Korean National Statistics Office and Ministry of Labor were used to calculate the life expectancy at the time of death, age- and gender-specific wages on average, adjusted for unemployment and labor force participation rate. Sensitivity analysis was performed to derive the current value of foregone future earnings due to premature death, discounted at 3% and 5%. Results: In 2009, estimated total economic cost of cancer amounted to $17.3 billion at a 3% discount rate. Medical care accounted for 28.3% of total costs, followed by non-medical (17.2%), morbidity (24.2%) and mortality (30.3%) costs. Conclusions: Given that the direct medical cost sharply increased over the last decade, we must strive to construct a sustainable health care system that provides better care while lowering the cost. In addition, a comprehensive cancer survivorship policy aimed at lower caregiving cost and higher rate of return to work has become more important than previously considered.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제64권9호
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• pp.480-488
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• 2021

Background: An adequate large-scale pediatric cohort based on nationwide administrative data is lacking in Korea. Purpose: This study established the National Investigation of Birth Cohort in Korea study 2008 (NICKs-2008) based on data from a nationwide population-based health screening program and data on healthcare utilization for children. Methods: The NICKs-2008 study consisted of the Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) and the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSPIC) databases comprising children born in 2008 (n=469,248) and 2009 (n=448,459) in the Republic of Korea. The NHIS database contains data on age, sex, residential area, income, healthcare utilization (International Classification of Diseases10 codes, procedure codes, and drug classification codes), and healthcare providers. The NHSPIC consists of 7 screening rounds. These screening sessions comprised physical examination, developmental screening (rounds 2-7), a general health questionnaire, and age-specific anticipatory guidance. Results: During the 10-year follow-up, 2,718 children (0.3%) died, including more boys than girls (hazard ratio, 1.145; P<0.001). A total of 848,048 children participated in at least 1 of the 7 rounds of the NHSPIC, while 96,046 participated in all 7 screening programs. A total of 823 infants (0.1%) weighed less than 1,000 g, 3,177 (0.4%) weighed 1,000-1,499 g, 37,166 (4.4%) weighed 1,500-2,499 g, 773,081 (91.4%) weighed 2,500-4,000 g, and 32,016 (5.1%) weighed over 4,000 g. There were 23,404 premature babies (5.5%) in 2008 compared to 23,368 (5.6%) in 2009. The developmental screening test indicated appropriate development in 95%-98% of children, follow-up requirements for 1%-4% of children, and recommendations for further evaluation for 1% of children. Conclusion: The NICKs-2008, which integrates data from the NHIS and NHSPIC databases, can be used to analyze disease onset prior to hospitalization based on information such as lifestyle, eating habits, and risk factors.

• 한국전자거래학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.73-86
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• 2019

4차 산업 혁명이 시작되고 헬스케어 분야 역시 신기술을 접목한 새로운 비즈니스 모델을 찾기 위해 노력하고 있다. 그중 블록체인 기술은 의료 분야에서 큰 관심을 갖는 기술 중 하나이다. 여러 가지 문제들로 인하여 시장성 확보에 어려움을 겪고 있는 개인 건강 기록 시스템 분야 역시 블록체인 기술의 접목을 통해 시스템의 발전과 시장성 확보를 위한 노력을 기울이고 있다. 하지만 블록체인은 개인 건강 기록 시스템의 문제를 해결하기에는 한계가 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 블록체인의 상위 개념인 분산 원장 기술을 기반으로 정보 주체가 개인 건강 데이터에 대한 온전한 소유권을 확보할 수 있는 개인 주도적 건강 데이터 관리 프레임워크를 설계하였다. 프레임워크의 설계를 위해 컨소시엄 블록체인 중 하나인 R3 Corda의 구조를 참고하였으며, 개인 사용자의 모바일 장치에 노드를 운용할 수 있도록 기존 블록체인과 다른 네트워크 구조를 설계하였다. 이를 통해 정보주체가 직접 자신의 정보를 저장 및 관리하고 허가된 네트워크 구성원들에게 정보를 공유할 수 있도록 하였다. 제안된 시스템을 통해 의료 산업의 정보 활용도를 향상시키고 국민 건강 증진과 의료 기술의 발전을 이룰 수 있을 것이다.