• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-103
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• 2009

The status and the property of a tongue are the important indicators to diagnose one's health like physiological and clinicopathological changes of inner organs. However, the tongue diagnosis is affected by examination circumstances like a light source, patient's posture, and doctor's condition. To develop an automatic tongue diagnosis system for an objective and standardized diagnosis, classifying tongue coating is inevitable but difficult since the features like color and texture of the tongue coatings and substance have little difference, especially in the neighborhood on the tongue surface. The proposed method has two procedures; the first is to acquire the color table to classify tongue coatings and substance by automatically separating coating regions marked by oriental medical doctors, decomposing the color components of the region into hue, saturation and brightness and obtaining the 2nd order discriminant with statistical data of hue and saturation corresponding to each kind of tongue coatings, and the other is to apply the tongue region in an input image to the color table, resulting in separating the regions of tongue coatings and classifying them automatically. As a result, kinds of tongue coatings and substance were segmented from a face image corresponding to regions marked by oriental medical doctors and the color table for classification took hue and saturation values as inputs and produced the classification of the values into white coating, yellow coating and substance in a digital tongue diagnosis system. The coating regions classified by the proposed method were almost the same to the marked regions. The exactness of classification was 83%, which is the degree of correspondence between what Oriental medical doctors diagnosed and what the proposed method classified. Since the classified regions provide effective information, the proposed method can be used to make an objective and standardized diagnosis and applied to an ubiquitous healthcare system. Therefore, the method will be able to be widely used in Oriental medicine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.129-137
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• 2000

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitude toward the oriental hospital among 1,234 outpatients. Methods: A questionnaire about the general characteristics of patients, the decision-maker of use and the reason of choice or alteration was implemented. Results: The results of this survey as follows: Among outpatients 56.4 % were female in sex, 25.6 % were below 9 years of age; in educational level, 50.1 % were college graduates. Among outpatients, 33.6% chose the oriental hospital as their first choice and the rest were recommended by other persons. The recommenders were mostly relatives(73.9 %), female(73.4 %), young(30-39 years old, 40.1 %), high educational level (above the college, 54.9 %) people. 37.8 % among outpatients were secondary selection after the western medical clinic for the same symptom and sign. 7.0 % were the concomitant users of both therapies. 62.8 % among the concomitant users did not notify the western doctor about the dual therapies. The reasons they did not notify their Western doctors were 'be afraid of western doctor s bias' (42.6 %), 'no special reason' (29.6 %). Conclusions: The appropriate transfer system between oriental and western clinic must be constructed and the proper recognition about dual therapies will be needed among patients and doctors who practice both kinds of medicine.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to identify the effectiveness of CPR training for nurses in the 6-sigma course. Method: The participants were nurses and doctors who worked in the medical center. For data analysis, the SPSS/PC14.0 program was used. Result: The total 11 categories of the primary problems were revealed on the recognition of carrying out CPR by nurses and doctors. After understanding the nurses' CPR knowledge and the practical ability, the survey showed 14.97 points and 67.12 points. After the education, the scores were increased from 14.87 to 23.25 in knowledge and from 67.12 to 93.43 in practical ability. The 6-sigma problem was ended as worked up the management plan and understood the changes over the management improving team. Conclusion: This study carries an emphasis on understanding of various CPR performance problems applied with 6-sigma in ward. In addition, improvement activities in relation to policy of hospitals suggest the high possibilities that the application of the improvement activities could be extended into the entire hospitals.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.59-72
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate health care system recognition and influential factors using the data from the "2017 Health Care Experience Survey". Methods : Data on 7,000 participants in the Health Care Experience Survey were drawn and statistically examined using a t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. Results : First, the significant factors of health care service satisfaction were education, income, region, chronic diseases, unmet medical needs, satisfaction with doctors and institutions, and the health care system's reliability and importance. Second, the influential factors of willingness to pay additional health insurance premium were age, occupation, income, health status, chronic diseases, unmet medical needs, satisfaction with health care institutions, limit to utilization of medical services, necessity of health care reform, and the health care system's reliability, satisfaction, importance. Conclusions : Since the additional burden for improving the health care has been negative to the socially disadvantaged, there should be efforts to provide stable health care funding for financial stability of the health insurances by considering public opinions and reaching social consensus.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-22
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• 2003

Since 1990s, the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM) has been rising rapidly all of the world. In 1983, WHO recommended that the traditional medicine actively be utilized. At the end of 20th century, as chronic and intractable diseases increased in western countries, traditional medicine has attracted considerable attention. COWM shows possibilities of new approaches for these intractable diseases. Thus, we try to show our proper approach of COWM through the international comparative study. In order to fulfill the objectives, we applied the following methodology: 1) Literature review on previous study, 2) Local survey using self-administered questionnaire, and 3) FGI(Focus Group Interview) with local experts. The results were as follows : Three Asian countries, China, Korea and Taiwan, are very active in implementing COWM policy. Japan, however, has independent system of unified medicine. In regards to the combined care policy and system, China has the most advanced COWM system among four countries. In respect to combined care education, it is needed to increase the COWM education contents and the amount of cross educational curriculum. Based on the current COWM system, Chinese, Japanese and Taiwanese doctors can prescribe both oriental and western drugs. But, Korean medical law prohibits western doctors and oriental doctors from prescribing the counterpart´s medicine. So, the revision of current medical law is urgent for COWM in Korea. And when it comes to patient satisfaction, more than fifty percent responded positively in China, Korea and Taiwan. To achieve the goal of COWM ; 1) mutual understanding and recognition of COWM is essential. 2) institutional and legal support system for COWM is desperately urgent. 3) possible international collaboration and cooperation should be sought to untangle these complex cultural dilemmas.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2001

Currently the oriental medical care services in the health centers is getting popularity because of their unique aspects which western medicine can not cover. This study was conducted to speculate the current status of oriental medical care services in health centers and possibility of how to effectively provide the oriental medical care services(or traditional medical care services) in health centers. For the study, the survey questionnaires were distributed to all 269 health centers and 138(51.3%) of them were collected. Eight of the collected were inadequate for the analysis and 130 of 269 questionnaires were finally chosen for the study. The SPSS/PC WIN 8.0 was used for the statistical analysis. The results are as follows. First, 91 out of 130 sample health centers(70%) are providing oriental medical care services. The results show that the willingness of the directors and the public awareness in community are the most important factors to provide oriental medical care services in health centers. In contrast, the lack of cooperative efforts between western and oriental medical doctors and the lack of government supports are considered as factors that intervene the oriental medical care services in health centers. About 80% of the sample health centers respond that the government supports is needed for oriental medical care services in health centers. Second, it was asked to the directors of 39 health centers which do not provide oriental medical care services regarding their future plan to include the services. About 70% of health centers respond that no plan is available now. They acknowledge that the demand on the services is the most important factor to consider the oriental services as their future medical services. Third, 69.2% of the oriental medical doctors in health centers are public health doctor. 95.6% of the sample health centers have space for the oriental medical care services in their facilities and some health centers provide the services through the private clinics nearby facilities. Finally, the surveyors consider both budgetary constraints and difficulty in recruiting doctors as barriers for the effective oriental medical care services in health centers. Finally, t-test and LSD were employed to find out the difference among several groups. The analysis shows statistically significant difference among groups about their recognition on health care policy, health care system, and effectiveness of oriental medical care services. To be conclude, the study shows the necessity of oriental medical care services in health centers. To do so, the government supports, cooperative efforts between oriental and western medical doctors, and providing job security for doctors should proceed to provide effective oriental medical care services in health centers.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.58-72
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was conducted as descriptive correlation research in order to survey healthcare personnel(HCP)'s awareness of patient safety culture and their recognition of standard precautions, and to examine the correlation between the two factors. Methods: The subjects were 400 HCPs including 80 doctors, 240 nurses, and 80 medical technicians from two general hospitals. The questionnaire used in the survey consisted of 9 questions on general characteristics, 44 on the perception of patient safety culture, and 21 on the recognition of standard precautions. Results: According to the subjects' general characteristics, the score was significantly higher in those aged over 40 than in those aged 30-39. In addition, it was significantly higher in managers than in practitioners, in those with work experience of less than a year than in those with 5-9 years. The score was also significantly higher in those working 8 hours a day than in those working over 10 hour a day. The number of medical accident reports according to the subjects' general characteristics was significantly larger in nurses than in doctors, in managers than in practitioners, and in those with 10 years' or longer experiences than in those with less than a year. In the awareness of standard precautions according to the subjects' general characteristics, the score was significantly higher in female workers than in male workers, and in managers than in practitioners. As a whole, the subjects' awareness of patient safety culture and their recognition of standard precautions showed a significant correlation with each other. Conclusion: From the result of this study, sufficient work force and the promotion of organizational culture for safety is needed in order to guarantee patient safety. Likewise, these results suggest that experience, job skill, and adequate working hours have a positive effect on the awareness of patient safety culture and the recognition of standard precautions.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2009

Purpose: We undertook this study to find out the recognitions of terminal cancer patients and doctors about advance directives (ADs), of how they would do in non-response medical conditions and whether ADs could be one of medical options for their dying with dignity. Methods: One hundred thirty four cancer patients in the Hospice Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, and 97 medical doctors in the Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Medical Center, were asked about ADs, including Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR), medical power of attorney, living will and medical options. Results: One hundred thirty patients (97%) and 38 doctors (39.2%) were unfamiliar with ADs, however, 128 patients (95.5%), 95 doctors (97.9%) agreed with it. Seventy nine patients (59.0%) and 96 doctors (99.0%) wanted DNR rather then intensive treatments if they were in non-response medical conditions. Eighty four patients (62.7%) and 75 doctors (77.3%) were agreeable to medical power of attorney. One hundred Thirty four patients (100.0%) and 94 doctors (96.9%) did not want medical options to be in terminal conditions, and hoped to die in peace. Conclusion: Most of patients did not know about ADs and how to make it. However, they showed positive attitudes about it. If we advertise it properly, it is highly likely that a large number of cancer patients would make their living wills easily by ADs. Nevertheless, many legal and ethical problems have to be solved. Doctors should engage their patients in an ongoing communication about the end-of-life. Therefore, let the patients have opportunities to plan their own deaths.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.171-186
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• 2007

Objective : No studies had been carried out to date on how Korean medicine practitioners recognize and treat postpartum diseases. Therefore, research on such issues by means of a questionnaire survey was expected to contribute to providing common ground and foundation far postpartum treatment. Methods : This study is based on a questionnaire survey administered to 200 doctors, consisting of 79 members of the Korean Society of Oriental Obstetrics & Gynecology and 121 Korean medicine practitioners, from May to September 2006. Items related to individual characteristics of Korean medicine practitioners and 20 objective items constituted the questionnaire, with every item of the questionnaire belonging to 6 greater categories that the author had categorized for the purpose of the study. Results : The result of the study showed what perspectives and clinical attitudes the majority of participating Korean medicine practitioners had in relation with postpartum diseases. On the basis of these findings, better common ground and systematic treatments can be developed to treat postpartum diseases.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was aimed to facilitate mutual comprehension between Western and Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) by analyzing recognition of medical school students on traditional medical prescription and treatment such as herbal medicines and acupuncture. Methods : We conducted a survey targeting medical school students of four medical schools from April through May 2009, and analyzed 208 cases responded. Results : Survey results revealed that medical school students took knowledge of traditional medicine from TV programs and on the Web in general. They thought they had considerable traditional medical knowledge but did not almost understand for professional contents. Regardless of some positive recognition for traditional herbal medicine, negative perspectives were more common and its safety and efficacy on the drug reference were considered as a major reason. On the other hand, recognition on acupuncture was comparatively positive. Scientific data for both herbal medicine and acupuncture are lacking in reality but the attitude only for acupuncture was different. Of the survey respondents, 57.8% had negative attitude against diagnostic methods of TKM and 59.1% opposed to the usage of modern medical equipments by TKM doctors. With regard to the future position of TKM, they tacitly approved that TKM would be absorbed into the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and importance of TKM objectification, followed by Government's support. Conclusions : Medical school students neither affirm nor deny TKM as a whole but the state of awareness for each item was similar to the physician. In terms of TKM its internal and external innovation would be required to continuously establish objectification of TKM prescription and scientific research on treatment technology.