• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2023

Background: The government should find ways to improve the effectiveness of the policies to control the incidence and mortality of the infectious disease. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the trust in the government's ability to respond to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects the quarantine and hospitalization rate, incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 and quarantine rules compliance in each region of Korea. Methods: The subject of this study is 250 regions (si·gun·gu) in Korea, and the 2020 Community Health Survey data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) was used for the trust in the government's ability to respond to COVID-19, quarantine and hospitalization rate and quarantine rules compliance. For the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 and community factors, data was obtained from KDCA and Korean Statistical Information Service. Path analysis was used to find out the degree of inter-variable influence, and community factors (socio-demographic factors, community health factors, and health behavior factors) were used as control variables. Results: The regional disparity in key variables showed that the late pandemic period cumulative incidence and mortality of COVID-19 were large, while the early pandemic period quarantine and hospitalization rate and quarantine rules compliance were small. Path analysis showed that when community factors were controlled, the trust in government was statistically significant in all of the late pandemic period cumulative incidence (p=0.024) and mortality (p=0.017), and quarantine rules compliance (p=0.011). Conclusion: This study revealed that the higher the trust in the government's ability to respond to COVID-19, the lower the COVID-19 mortality and the higher the quarantine rules compliance at the regional level in Korea. This suggests that when the government implements healthcare policies to control infectious diseases, it is necessary to consider trust to improve policy compliance and control the mortality of the disease and maintain high trust through several effective methods.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

1. Objectives : The aim of this study was to report significant improvement of chronic diarrhea and hematochezia after treatment with Dojeokgangki-tang in a Soyangin Patient with Crohn's Disease. 2. Methods : The patient's subjective and objective symptoms were observed daily throughout the hospitalization period, and the Crohn's disease activity index(CDAI) was calculated to gauge the progress or lack of progress. 3. Results : The symptoms of diarrhea and hematochezia disappeared by the end of the hospitalization period without recurrence, and the CDAI score dropped from 92.5 to 47. 4. Conclusions : A patient with Crohn's disease, who was in the state of repetitive relapse and remission after long term clinical courses was treated with Dojeokgangki-tang in a short period and the the symptoms of diarrhea and hematochezia disappeared without recurrence. Then the patient could stop taking corticosteriods and taper off immune-suppressing drugs.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.398-406
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• 2018

Objective: Hospitalization of patients with delirium after visiting the emergency department (ED) is often required. However, the readmission risk after discharge from the ED should also be considered. This study aimed to explore whether (i) immediate hospitalization influences the readmission risk of patients with delirium; (ii) the readmission risk is affected by various risk factors; and (iii) the healthcare cost differs between groups within 28 days of the first ED visit. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database, the data of 2,780 subjects presenting with delirium at an ED visit from 2000 to 2008 were examined. The readmission risks of the groups of patients (i.e., patients who were and were not admitted within 24 hours of an ED visit) within 28 days were compared, and the effects of the severities of different comorbidities (using Charlson's comorbidity index, CCI), age, gender, diagnosis and differences in medical healthcare cost were analyzed. Results: Patients without immediate hospitalization had a higher risk of readmission within 3, 7, 14, or 28 days of discharge from the ED, especially subjects with more severe comorbidities ($CCI{\geq}3$) or older patients (${\geq}65years$). Subjects with more severe comorbidities or older subjects who were not admitted immediately also incurred a greater healthcare cost for re-hospitalization within the 28-day follow-up period. Conclusion: Patients with delirium with a higher CCI or of a greater age should be carefully considered for immediate hospitalization from ED for further examination in order to reduce the risk of re-hospitalization and cost of healthcare.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2010

The objective of this study were to examine the impact of medicaid coverage expansion policy aimed at improving access to primary care. The case-control study was conducted to compare preventable hospitalization(PH) rate in new medicaid recipients versus national health insurance(NHI) enrollees form 1996 to 2001. Rates of preventable hospitalization associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions(ACSC) were calculated and standardized by age and sex. Multinomial logit regression model was used to control the confounding factors such as age, gender and charlson comorbidity index Annual PH rates in the new medicaid increased 1.64 times after medicaid expansion, with controling confounding factors. Meanwhile, annual PH rate in the NHI increased 1.68 times during the same period, with adjusting confounding factors. Current findings suggest that the new medicaid PH rate was less likely to rise than NHI PH rate after implementing medicaid expansion. This study is expected to provide policy-relevant evidence of medicaid expansion to include population with low income.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.247-253
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• 2001

Objective : In general, to perform posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF), it has been used more invasive procedure than simple discectomy. However we try to perform PLIF with TFC with smaller invasion almost same as in simple discectomy. This study is about its procedure and clinical results. Materials and Methods : The authors retrospectively analyzed 43 cases of minimally invasive PLIF with TFC from July 1998 to May 2000. Operative procedure, operative complication, change of disc height, blood loss, ambulation time, hospitalization period, clinical success rate, and bony fusion rate were analyzed. Results : 40 patients were capable to walk on the 2nd day of the post-operation. The average hospitalization period is 5.6 days. The average blood loss was 0.19L/level with no transfusion or wound drainage. The height of disc changed from 8.84mm to 13.54mm. Clinical success rate is 95% when evaluated by the Prolo's scale. The complication was delayed wound infection(2) and transient paresthesis(1). The bony fusion was shown in 17 patients (94.4%) out of 18 patients who passed one year. Conclusion : As a result of minimally invasive PLIF, pain was decreased and early ambulation and short hospitalization was possible. Complication was similar or lower than other studies, and the bony fusion rate and clinical success rate were also similar during follow-up.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2021

Objectives: Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the treatment of herbal medicine for patients with COVID-19 asymptomatic infections. Method: In English, search engines such as 'PubMed', 'Science Direct', and 'Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)' were used. In Chinese, search engines such as 'China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)' and Wanfang were used. The keywords for the search engines were 'COVID-19', 'asymptomatic infection', 'Korean Medicine', 'traditional Chinese medicine', 'herbal medicine', and etc. Only clinical studies using herbal medicine for patients without fever or respiratory symptoms were selected. We excluded the cases that do not fit the research topic. Results: A total of 5 studies were finally selected. Among them, four of them used integrated herbal medicine and Western medicine, and one of the studies treated exclusively for herbal medicine. There were a total of seven prescriptions for herbal medicine used in the study. Outcome variables were used as following: lab test, nucleic acid conversion time, hospitalization period, chest CT, and etc. In the RCT study, herbal medicine and Western medicine decreased nucleic acid conversion time, average hospitalization time compared to the control group, but it was not statistically significant. No other adverse reactions were reported in all studies. Conclusion: According to the results, integrated herbal medicine and Western medicine might be an effective treatment for patients with COVID-19 asymptomatic infection reducing hospitalization period, time of nucleic acid turning negative. No severe adverse effects were reported. However, it is thought that better-designed research will be needed in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.864-873
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• 2022

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to report the symptom improvement effect of integrative Korean medicine treatment based on Pyongsim Solution: Cheonwangbosim-dan in a patient with variant angina and asthma symptoms. Methods: This 68-year-old male patient was treated with Pyongsim Solution, Gamihyangsayukgunja-tang, Gwakhyangjunggi-san, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and cupping therapy for 24 days. The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Levels profile, Numerical Rating Scale score, and pulse rate per minute were measured on admission, at two weeks of hospitalization, and upon discharge to assess the clinical outcomes. Results: After treatment, the "mobility" dimension profile of the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Levels changed from 1 to 1, "self-care" changed from 1 to 1, "usual activity" changed from 3 to 2, "pain/discomfort" changed from 4 to 3, and "anxiety/depression" changed from 3 to 2. The Numerical Rating Scale score for chest pain decreased from 7 to 5, chest tightness decreased from 6 to 4, sleep disturbance decreased from 6 to 3, polydipsia decreased from 5 to 3, and stomach discomfort decreased from 5 to 3. All the profiles of these five dimensions were unchanged for 11 days in the period between the two weeks of hospitalization and discharge. There were also no changes in the profiles of either "mobility" or "self-care" throughout the entire 24-day hospitalization period. Conclusion: This case report shows that integrative Korean medicine treatment based on Pyongsim Solution can improve the symptoms of patients with variant angina and mild intermittent asthma, suggesting that Pyongsim Solution could be an important herbal medication for treatment.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate the effectiveness of long-term psychosocial intervention in reducing the disabling period of patients with major psychiatric disorders by their rehospitalization rate. Methods: Of the 210 patients with major psychiatric disorders received psychosocial interventions in a Mental Health and Welfare Center, 192 patients (147 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 45 with mood disorders) who received interventions more than 6 months were selected. Review of case management records was conducted to obtain information. Results: The number and length of hospitalization and the hospital days per year significantly decreased after psychosocial intervention. Additional analysis of 102 patients followed up for more than 5 years suggested that the effectiveness of the intervention persisted for a sufficient period. However, no significant difference was observed in the number of rehospitalization in 45 patients with mood disorders, though the length of hospitalization significantly decreased. In addition, the hospital days per year of 21 patients with mood disorder followed up for more than 5 years also showed no significant decrease. Conclusion: Long-term psychosocial intervention had a significant effect on reducing the number and length of hospitalization for patients with major psychiatric disorder and the effectiveness maintained for more than 5 years.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study is to report the results of treating patients with acute low back pain syndrome who are difficult to walk with Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy. Methods : We used combinations of korean medicine such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy, and thermal therapy. At the same time, the patient was treated with Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy. The first period of hospitalization was 14 days and the second period was 54 days. At the second hospitalization, back pain recurred and was unable to walk. At the first hospitalization, L5-S1 HIVD and L4-5 Mild HIVD were diagnosed on lumbar MRI, and there was no abnormality in blood tests. Results : By relieving muscle tension and restoring the weakened muscle elasticity with herbal treatment and Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy, back pain decreased and the inability to walk gradually improved, making it possible to walk on its own. Conclusions : The results of standing and walking on one's own were obtained by relieving muscle tension and restoring weakened muscle elasticity in acute back pain syndrome with gait disturbance diagnosed with lumbar herniated intervertebral disc through korean medicine treatment and Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy. Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy is thought to help acute back pain by restoring muscle elasticity and strengthening muscle strength. In the future, it is expected that additional clinical studies will be conducted on various pain diseases with Whidam's Vibrator Pelvic Sugi Therapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 1977

Personalized Patient centered nursing care is increasingly difficult to achieve despite the fact that it remains one of our consistent goals. So, we must find away to individualized nursing care. One means, to achieve this is by use of the nursing history form, which has been developed to help the nurse make maximum use of her limited time with the patient, by obtaining systematically the information needed to plan his nursing care. The nursing history form can be used to collect data about individual nursing needs but also it lends itself to the collection of epidemiological data relevant to the needs of patient population. So this study was undertaken in an attempt to describe the general characteristics of the population studied, to find out their perceptions and expectations related to their illness and hospitalization, to find out specific basic needs and to examine the relationship between the patients nursing needs and demographic characteristics through the responses to the nursing history questions. The study population defined and selected was all the patients (70) who were admitted to Yonsei University Hospital from October 1 - 15, 1975. The direct interview method was used and the data were categorized by the investigator, according to the nature of responses to each question and were subjected to the percentile and the chi- square tests. The findings can be summarized as follows 11. General characteristics of the study population ; The population was made up mainly of urban patients who were highly educated. The age was equally distributed. 2. Patients, perceptions and expectations related to illness and hospitalization ; 88.6% of the patients knew about the reason for hospitalization but 64. 5% could state symptoms only. 37.5% recognized the cause of illness. Approximately three fourth of the patients expressed on expectation for early recovery. 60.0% of the patient responses indicated, that they expected less than 10 days of hospitalization. Of the total responses regarding hospitalization, 45.7% were negative about the post -hospitalization expectation, 45.7% expected to return to work. As a result of these findings, we can see that there is a great educational need, a psychological need and environmental need for adaptation to the hospital and a socio- economic need for the post - hospitalization period. 3. Specific basic needs : The physical needs include the problem of getting sufficient sleep (50.0%), difficulty in food intake(47.1%), problems with hospital diet (47.0%), abnormal condition of the skin(44.3%), problems with bowel elimination(35.7%), assistance with bathing(35.7%), pain(30.0%), difficulty in walking(30.0%) , difficulty in seeing(30.0%) problems in urinary elimination(20.0%) , and difficulty in hearing(10.0%), 4. Nursing needs and epidemiological characteristics ; Age distribution was related to the rendition of the mouth but no significant differences were observed statistically with the patients responses to the other nursing history questions according to the epidemiological variables of age, sex, education and residence.