• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.579-599
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to identify the trends and risk of bias of research using time series analysis on health and welfare in Korea and to suggest a direction for future health and welfare research. The database searches identified 6,543 papers. Following the process for screening and selecting, a total of 91 papers were included in the systematic review. There has been a steady increase in the number of articles using time series analysis from 1987 to 2013. Time series analysis was applied in medicine and health science journals. The main goals were explanation and description. Most of the subjects were heath status and utilization of healthcare services. The main model used in the time series analysis was ARIMA followed by time series regression. The data were gathered from various sources, including the national statistical office and government agencies. For assessing risk of bias, some studies were found to have inadequate sample sizes or showed no time series graphs and plots. These findings suggest greater widespread utilization of time series analysis in the field of health and welfare and to use the appropriate analysis methods and statistical procedures to obtain more reliable results to improve the quality of research.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.115-126
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• 2014

In order to improvement of the perceptive of health state and the motivation, this study suggests the ways and design forms which provide PHR information customizing individual attributes as well as guidelines through a decision support system and services which integrate medical information visualization. Expression methods using the color, form, position in order to visualization based on images improved performance of information awareness by changing radar chart from existing information which provide only numerical figure. The methods providing a graphic figure which seems like beads of blood which shows the result of blood tests would also arise patient's attention. They gives the patient's information which is able to compare their health status and normal status and visualizes the records as a human figure in order to perceiving their status as well. The visualization showing the position of human body figures marks in inspection elements located in position of relevant organs. The method also uses icons represent examination results so they improve attention of the results and shorten recognize times.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2021

According to the changes of the medical environment of the times, it is necessary to discuss the issues of the doctor's medical guidance and to conduct continuous research so that alternatives can be prepared systematically. Furthermore, in order to enhance the professionalism of radiological technologists and to develop the medical technician system, the new Radiological Technologist Independent Act has been established, which contains the overall contents of the scope of work, professional qualifications, and specialized education of radiological technologists, and provides quality medical services to patients through professional procedures and treatment. In order to increase the level of medical care, the purpose, definition, mission, role, and scope of work specified in the Medical Act, Medical Service Technologists, etc. Act, the Enforcement Decree, and the Enforcement Rules were variously analyzed and new directions were presented. First, the definition of a medical technician should use a generic term so that the factors of conflict and prejudice could be resolved. Second, change the doctor's guide to doctor's prescription; and then legislate the authority to sign and write medical records after examination by radiological technologists, thereby prohibiting unlicensed technicians that seriously endanger patient safety. Third, an accurate definition of radiological technologists' roles should be established; not only selection and management of radiological technologists' work but also procedures and treatment for each radiology field should be specified to suit the current medical system. Fourth, a professional radiological technologists' qualification system and a specialized education system should be established in order to secure human resources that could provide patients trust in procedures and treatment based on professional knowledge and experience in the field of radiology. Fifth, the Education and Evaluation Institute should be operated in Korea education system to educate the professional knowledge and competency for students. In addition, it is necessary to in-depth analysis of foreign cases could be applied to the medical system and education system in Korea; it could strive to nurture systematic human resources.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2019

Purpose: Mortality rate in the health services research field is frequently considered as a proxy for measuring healthcare quality. We compared the mortality rate and hospitalization levels among patients with poisoning. Methods: A population-based study of hospital size and level based on the Korean health insurance and assessment service was conducted to identify the impact of hospital level on patient mortality. Results: We analyzed a total of 16,416 patients, of which 7,607 were from tertiary hospitals, 8,490 were from general hospitals, and 319 were from hospitals. The highest mortality rate of diagnosis regarding poisoning was T60.31 (other herbicides and fungicides, 16%), followed by T60.0 (organophosphate and carbamate insecticides, 12.7%). There was no statistical difference in mortality among hospital levels for gender. Among age groups, tertiary hospitals had lower mortality than general hospitals and hospitals for patients aged more than 70 years (11.9% mortality at tertiary vs 14.2% at general and 23% at hospital; p=0.003, adjusted z score=-6.9), general hospitals had lower mortality than tertiary hospitals and hospitals for patients aged 18 to 29 (0.6% at general vs 2.4% at tertiary and 3.7% at hospital; p=0.01, adjusted z score=-4.3), and hospitals had lower mortality than tertiary hospitals and general hospitals for patients between 50 and 59 years of age (0% at hospital vs 6.4% at general and 8.3% at tertiary; p=0.004). Conclusion: Overall, there was no significant difference between mortality and hospital level among poisoned patients. However, to establish an efficient treatment system for patients with poisoning, further studies will be needed to identify the role of each facility according to hospital level.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-70
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the epidemiological factor (depression), the behavioral factor (activities of daily living), the predisposing factor (self-efficacy), reinforcing factors (family support, professional support), and enabling factor (resource availability, accessibility) on quality of life in home-dwelling disabled people in rural areas. The conceptual model for this study was established on the basis of the PRECEDE model which was developed by Green and Kreuter. Data were drawn from the "Preliminary Investigation for Community-centered rehabilitation" conducted by a public health center located in the O province in 2011 and 186 of 190 disabled people who participated in the survey were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using Direct effects on quality of life arose from latent variables depicting the epidemiological factor (depression)and reinforcing factor (family support, professional support), while indirect effects arose from the behavioral factor (activities of daily living), the predisposing factor (self-efficacy), and enabling support (resource availability, accessibility). This model explained 85.5% of the variance in quality of life among rural disabled individuals. These findings may have shed some light on the necessity of including strategies to reduce depression and to strengthen supports from family and healthcare professionals when performing rehabilitation programs to improve quality of life in home-dwelling disabled people in rural areas. Furthermore, it suggested that it would be useful to develop specific strategies and tactics which might increase self-efficacy and to expand linkages between public health centers and other professional institutions such as hospitals for community-centered rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities.

• Journal of Society of Occupational Therapy for the Aged and Dementia
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2018

Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the sociodemographic characteristics, depression, quality of life, and unmet medical need in elders with and without limitation of activity by aging or dementia. Method : The data were used for raw data of seventh national health and nutrition examination survey (2016). We compared sociodemographic characteristics, depression, quality of life, and unmet medical needs between elders with limitation of activity by aging or dementia (n = 32) and elders without limitation of activity (n = 1201). Result : Elders with limitation of activity were significantly older than elders without limitation of activity (p<.001), income was lower (p<.05) and married status had more bereavement (p<.001). The elders with limitation of activity had higher depression (p<.001) and lower quality of life (p<.001) than elders without limitation of activity. Unmet medical need was greater than elders without limitation of activity (p<.001). Conclusion : Elders with limitation of activity showed that they did not receive enough medical services than elders without limitation of activity. These results suggest that the welfare system for the health care of population with aging or dementia needs to be improved.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2019

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of medical use among juveniles and adolescents, including for chronic disease, in Korea. The study sought to do the following: (a) investigate the extent to which chronic diseases account for medical expenditures, (b) investigate and the socio-demographic characteristics associated with medical use, and (c) identify the differences in medical use between juveniles and adolescents. Methods : We used data from the 2015 Korean Health Panel and selected 12 variables. The socio-demographic characteristics investigated included, growth period (juvenile, adolescents), gender, family income, national basic livelihood act status, disability registration, and degree of disability. There were five medical factors that were considered: emergency room use, hospitalization use, hospital outpatient use, chronic disease, and medical expenditure. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple and logistic regression. Results : The prevalence of chronic disability in juveniles and adolescents was 31.1 % and 1 %, respectively. The factors affecting medical expenditures included hospitalization use, hospital outpatient use, family income, disability, gender, chronic disease, and emergency room use ($R^2=.160$, p<.05). For national basic livelihood act recipients, the probability of having chronic disease was about 1.6 times higher (OR=1.597, 95 % CI=1.092-2.335, p=.016), compared with non-national basic livelihood act recipients. People with disabilities were 6.6 times more likely than those without disabilities to suffer from chronic disease (OR =6.571, 95 % CI=2.776-15.556, p<.001). Hospital outpatient user was 2.3 times higher than non-user (OR=2.260, 95 % CI=1.702-3.001, p<.001). Juveniles had a 1.7 times and 6.2 times higher likelihood of emergency rooms user (OR=1.654, 95 % CI=1.270-2.155, p<.001), and hospital outpatient user than adolescents (OR=6.208, 95 % CI=4.443-8.676, p<.001). Conclusion : The findings of this study suggest that health care services for juveniles is needed to manage chronic diseases that have an effect on medical expenditures.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.209-230
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• 2020

Objectives : Practice-Based Research Networks (PBRNs), collaborations of practitioners and academic researchers, have provided platforms for conducting research to address clinical questions generated from daily routine care. This review aimed to critically analyse articles from PBRNs that are related to complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) and to suggest future directions for a PBRN which is appropriate for Korean Medicine (KM). Methods : PubMed, PBRN registries in Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and relevant PBRN websites were searched up to November 2019 for research articles from PBRNs that focused on CIM regardless of study design. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. The included studies were read in full, classified and summarised according to their topics. Results : A total of 51 articles published from 1998 through 2020 were included in this review. They were categorised into three principal themes based on research questions and findings: health services research (embracing researches examining characteristics of patients and CIM practitioners/practices, and communication between patients and practitioners); effectiveness and safety of CIM practices/interventions; and feasibility studies of instruments and interventions in PBRN settings. The study designs varied including surveys (n=30), prospective observational studies (n=6), 2ndary analyses of existing studies (n=7), protocols (n=7), retrospective chart review (n=1) and qualitative study (n=1). Quality of the included studies greatly varied. Conclusions : PBRNs can serve as a feasible platform for conducting practice-relevant research on KM and CIM. Considering growing demands on evidence-base for routine practice of KM amid various stakeholders, a PBRN in KM community and further researches nested within PBRN designs are warranted.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Dental Administration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Dental settings have unique characteristics that warrant specific infection control considerations, including (1) prioritizing the most critical dental services and provide care in a way that minimizes harm to patients due to delayed care, or harm to personnel from potential exposure to persons infected with the COVID-19 disease, and (2) proactively communicate to both personnel and patients the need for them to stay at home if sick. For health care, an interim infection prevention and control recommendation (COVID-19) is recommended for patients suspected of having coronavirus or those whose status has been confirmed. SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, is thought to be spread primarily between people who are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet) through respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely. However, COVID-19 is a new disease, and there remain uncertainties about its mode of spreads and the severity of illness it causes. The virus has been shown to persist in aerosols for several hours, and on some surfaces for days under laboratory conditions. COVID-19 may also be spread by people who are asymptomatic. The practice of dentistry involves the use of rotary dental and surgical instruments, such as handpieces or ultrasonic scalers, and air-water syringes. These instruments create a visible spray that can contain particle droplets of water, saliva, blood, microorganisms, and other debris. While KF 94 masks protect the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose from droplet spatter, they do not provide complete protection against the inhalation of airborne infectious agents. If the patient is afebrile (temperature <100.4°F)* and otherwise without symptoms consistent with COVID-19, then dental care may be provided using appropriate engineering and administrative controls, work practices, and infection control considerations. It is necessary to provide supplies for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, including alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) with 60%~95% alcohol, tissues, and no-touch receptacles for disposal, at healthcare facility entrances, waiting rooms, and patient check-ins. There is also the need to install physical barriers (e.g., glass or plastic windows) in reception areas to limit close contact between triage personnel and potentially infectious patients. Ideally, dental treatment should be provided in individual rooms whenever possible, with a spacing of at least 6 feet between the patient chairs. Further, the use of easy-to-clean floor-to-ceiling barriers will enhance the effectiveness of portable HEPA air filtration systems. Before and after all patient contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before putting on and after removing personal protective equipment, including gloves, hand hygiene after removal is particularly important to remove any pathogens that may have been transferred to the bare hands during the removal process. ABHR with 60~95% alcohol is to be used, or hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 s.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.63-75
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the roles and practices of occupational therapists in public health centers based on their working experience of occupational therapists who are working in these facilities. Methods : We used Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological research method. Six occupational therapists were interviewed, and their recorded data were analyzed using Claizzi's thematic analysis. Results : As a result, 4 categories, 16 themes, and 24 elements were elicited. The major roles of occupational therapists in public health centers were the evaluation of clients, home-visit occupational therapy, management of dementia programs and community connection projects. Interventions that are needed to create a healthy community include case and program management, compensatory approaches, and healthy lifestyle interventions. The difficulties experienced by occupational therapists include their limited number job insecurity, performance-oriented administrative policy, and the lack of communication among professionals. Occupational therapists require education in health management and practice in public health centers to build their capacities. Conclusion : The results of this study could be used for guidelines for occupational therapists who work in community healthcare centers, as well as basic training for competent occupational therapists in the community.