• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.480-486
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• 2005

Since the year 2000, lung cancer has become the leading cause of cancer death in South Korea as in many other parts of the world. The current multidisciplinary approach for lung cancer includes a wide range of modalities, not only surgery, radiotherapy, medical drug therapy but also pain control, as well as social and psychological support. Therefore, thoracic surgeons, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, anesthetists, psychologist, nurses and social workers as well as medical doctors care for lung cancer patients. Sharing a common treatment protocol and optimal communication are vital aspects of shared care both from a medical and cost-effectiveness point of view. We developed a shared electronic medical record (SEMR) for treating patients with lung cancer in a university hospital to facilitate the sharing protocols and communications between doctors involved in a lung cancer clinic. A SEMR system was developed within a order communication system(OCS) for a lung cancer clinic. The records of radiological, laboratory and pathological studies as well as the records of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were stored and presented to all doctors who treat the same patient. Every doctor was allowed to change his/her own records. They could review other doctor s records but could not alter them. With the SEMR, it was expected that the time to complete the medical records for one patient could be reduced because it was easy to review all the data from the other doctors who share the same patient. In addition, the confidence of the doctors who share a common treatment protocol would be higher. Therefore, a shared electronic medical record is expected to improve the quality of patient care.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.147-159
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• 2012

Objectives: Systems related to the production, authorization, and listing for insurance of herbal medicine products were compared between South Korea and Taiwan to illuminate herbal medicine products system issues in South Korea. Methods: Papers, and laws and policies related to the production, authorization, and listing for insurance of herbal medicine products in South Korea and Taiwan are analyzed to create the primary documents. The documents from South Korea were screened with the advice of a specialist, while those from Taiwan have been verified through local investigation and with the help of a related specialist. The screened documents were then compared and analyzed in the order of the systems related to the production, authorization, and listing for insurance of herbal medicine products. Results: The systems related to the production of herbal medicine products satisfy GMP requirements in both countries, while Taiwan has more specialized systems related to the production of herbal medicine products and a more strict authorization program as compared to South Korea. While South Korea has most of the herbal medicine products classified as non-prescription drugs, Taiwan has them as prescription drugs. And while South Korea does not allow new herbal medicine products to be listed for insurance, Taiwan allows for once-a-year application toward listing for insurance. Conclusions: In order to ensure the safe and effective use of herbal medicine products, systems related to the production, authorization, and listing for insurance of herbal medicine products are to be established, while the categorization of medicine products principally used by Korean medicine doctors should be prepared. Furthermore, prescription by a Korean medicine doctor for new drugs made with natural products and their listing for insurance need to be encouraged.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2018

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the barriers influencing the sexual conversation. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 200 midwives were selected through convenience sampling method from private and public clinics in Mashhad, North East of Iran. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Results: The mean age of subjects was $39.58{\pm}8.12years$ with $13.49{\pm}7.59years$ of work experience. A number of cultural conditions act as an inhibitory force for the midwives to address sexual issues with menopausal women. Menopausal women visit a doctor at the acute stage when emotional and physical problems make sexual discussion difficult for the midwives (86.5%). Other related causes for not having proper sexual conversation were insufficient knowledge (51.4%), inadequate education provided via public media through health providers (83.5%), midwives or their patient's shame (51.5%), and attempt to get help from traditional healers, friends, relatives and supplicants instead of midwifery staff (78.5%). Also, we found that sexual workshops, communication workshops, and work experiences had a significant influence in changing the views of midwives. Conclusions: Cultural barriers prevent the patients and providers from communicating effectively with each other, thus highlighting the need for sexual and communication workshops for the health care providers.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2016

Objectives : This study investigated the health care utilization patterns of workers' compensation insurance(WCI) pneumoconiosis patients with excessively long hospital stays. Methods : The discharge summary data of 3,094 WCI pneumoconiosis patients were analyzed. The study sample was divided into 3 groups based on the length of stay(LOS). Health care utilization patterns were compared among the groups with logistic regression analysis, and the LOS determinants were identified with linear regression analysis. Results : The average LOS of the 222 long stay group patients was 1,448 days. Patients in this group tended to use private general hospitals, were admitted through the emergency room and discharged without the consent of a doctor. Conclusions : Many of the long LOS patients will maintain their inpatient status for the rest of their lives. For quality of life and efficient use of health care resources, policy makers need to establish a policy that enables patients to receive outpatient care in appropriate living conditions outside the hospital.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.234-244
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• 2020

Background: Chronic pain affects approximately 22% of the world's population. Opioids can be useful in chronic pain management. However, some patients have negative perception of opioids. The purpose of this research was to evaluate patients' perception about opioids and investigate problems associated with prescribing and taking opioids in South Korea. Methods: Patients who visited a pain clinic in 14 university hospitals of South Korea from September through October 2018 were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires about taking opioids. Results: Of the 368 patients that were surveyed (female 53.3%, male 46.7%), 56.8% were prescribed opioids. In the opioid group, 92.8% patients had heard of opioids from their doctor and 72.6% of them had a positive perception about opioids. The side effects associated with opioid use were constipation (35.4%), dizziness (24.6%), nausea and vomiting (17.4%), dysuria (6.2%), and addiction (2.0%). In the no opioid group, the primary sources of information about opioids were doctors (49.2%), mass media (30.8%), and the internet (16.2%). The main reasons why 39.0% patients did not take opioids were fear of addiction (57.7%) and side effects (38.5%). There were 71.5% and 60.9% patients in the opioid and no opioid group, respectively, who wished to take opioids when their numeric rating scale pain score was ≥ 7. Conclusions: Perception of opioids among patients who take them was either neutral or positive. However, 39.0% patients who have not been prescribed opioids did not want an opioid prescription, citing fear of addiction and side effects as the primary reasons.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2013

Purpose : The current Medical Law and the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, which are incapable of utilizing the research results and the advanced academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical system of the present-day Korean (Oriental) medicine, have limitations and create a paradox by provoking social conflict among the professionals in the field. The aim of this study was to find out the legal and systematic problems that contributed to a complicated conflict amongst Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors, doctors, pharmacists, and Korean (Oriental) pharmacists regarding the classification of their functions. Methods : We reviewed the history and characteristics of the legislation regarding the duties of Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors and Korean (Oriental) pharmacists as well as the relevant and important public health policies since the enactment of the National Medical Services Law in 1951. We focused on the laws and regulations that are made in the process of the separating functions of physicians and pharmacists and the dispute between the Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors and the Korean (Oriental) pharmacists in the 1990s and 2000s. Results : The legislations and amendments of the medical and pharmaceutical laws and regulations that reflect the modern academic, clinical, and pharmaceutical system of the Korean (Oriental) medicine and the research results could be summarized as follows: 1) A partial amendment of the Medical Law in 1987, which added the provision of "Oriental health guidance" as one of the duties of Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors, assured a place for Korean (Oriental) medicine doctors in the field of public health. 2) A partial revision of Pharmaceutical Affairs Act in 1994 established a new system for Korean (Oriental) pharmacists, bringing about the creation of dualistic pharmaceutical system that complements the dualistic medical system. 3) The Promotion of the Research and Development of Wonder Drugs by Using Natural Substances Act was legislated in 2000 in order to stimulate research and development of Korean (Oriental) medicine and its industrialization. 4) Oriental Medicine Promotion Act in 2003 was enacted to lay foundation to specify and promote technology and industry that are related to Korean (Oriental) medicine. Discussions and conclusions : Although the dualistic medical and pharmaceutical system is set up by the Medical Law and Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, it is shown that the relevant regulations have been developed from a perspective of the western medicine.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 1977

Health care conditions in Korea are gradually improving along with the economic and social development. However, the volume of disease is still great, especially in rural areas. This study attempts, therefore, to initiate a comprehensive proposal of rural health care delivery system. The proposal is constructed three parts, problem of health care system, medical cost, medical education system. The proposal consist of the following components: I. The health care system 1. health sub-center is required to be locate in "Myun" the basis administrative unit of local government for delivering primary health care. But, in the viewpoint of medical economics, the primary health care is operated cautiously. 2. Health center is desirable to provide health services in coordinating the health sub-center and other private health institution. 3. The secondary health care is performed in regional combination hospitals, and the attitude that doctors accomodate this system is required. II. The medical cost, Insurance In the expenditure of medical care, the method of a third person's payment is required absolutely. III. The medical education system. 1. The medical education system (process) is changed from the medical education to regional doctor education. 2 In the nurse education system. nursing technical high school is resurrected.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2009

It can be used easily to reduce rehabilitation and treatment time if diagnostic and therapeutic devices are attached to cloth or body. Therefore we developed neuromuscular wearable ultra-miniature lighting modules which can improve the neuromuscular function and verified its clinical effectiveness. The system is based on the ultra-miniature lighting treatment module and there are two types of systems. One of them is designed as an attached type and the other type is combined with clothing. The wearable ultra-miniature lighting module is composed of controller (battery, MCU, bidirectional transmitter and receiver), cable, treatment medium generating device and other peripheral devices. To verify the clinical effectiveness of this device, we observed the difference of the strength of a muscle before and after 650nm and 25mW laser irradiation on the reflex point for 1 to 4 seconds. Among 48 patients having the degenerative osteoarthritis, the muscle strength before and after irradiation of laser was $21.8{\pm}7.99$ and $27.3{\pm}8.43$. According to the result, the muscle strength after treatment was significantly increased (p<0.01). To whom having difficulty in visiting to OPD(Out-Patient Department), doctors medically examine the patients and find the therapeutic point, attachment of this wearable ultra-miniature lighting module can function as self treatment (treating instrument) and treatment assist at home. If doctor can remotely control the patient and take part in treatment, the therapeutic device could contribute to prevention and care device.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.184-192
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• 2000

Objectives : To inquire the prevalence and the risk factors for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) on young boys in order to use these results as the fundamental data for the prevention of their MPS. Methods : For 7 days in May 1999, this research was taken on 489 male students ranging from 6th to 12th grade. We randomly selected a class for every group and from these classes we operated physical examinations, self-reported questionnaires and from a rehabilitation doctor, MPS test was taken. Thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were also taken by using the inclinometer. We defined MPS as a regional pain complaint, palpable taut band that is painful on compression. Results : The shoulder MPS prevalence of the subjects were 29.7 persons/100 persons. The statistics revealed that as grades went up, the percentage significantly increased in the MPS prevalence. As of case-control study, 145 students who were tested postive in all aspects were placed as cases, and 176 students who were perfectly normal as controls on risk factors. As a result of comparing the student groups who were stisfied with their chairs to the student groups were not satisfied, the taller showed a significantly higher odds ratio (p<0.01). By the multiple logistic regression test, we concluded that the MPS disease was prevailed far more in the students in the higher grades (Odds ratio: 1.16, 95% C.I.: 1.03-1.31), and also those who were dissatisfied with their chairs than in the ones who were satisfied (Odds ratio: 1.92, 95% C.I.: 1.17-3.17). Conclusions : Significant correlations showed between the MPS diagnosed group and the students who are dissatisfied with their chairs. As a result, more research and observation has to be made concerning this disease, and the desks and chairs should be adjusted to suit the student's physical standards.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.72-77
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• 2018

Observation of the current Korean medical education and training system shows that certain negative traits of unchangeable solidification engraft themselves so deeply into the overarching system that they are now hampering the state of the national health welfare. Focusing only on undergraduate medical education, we can point out some glaring side-effects that should be of concern to any stakeholder. For instance, a graduate can legally begin his career as an independent practitioner immediately after passing the licensing exam and return to the old stuck school-year system of 2-year-premedical and 4-year-medical programs where outcome-based and integrated curricula are incomplete and unsatisfactory. In terms of learning opportunities, the balance between patient care and public health, as well as that between in-hospital highly specialized practice and community-based general practice, has worsened. Every stakeholder should be aware of these considerations in order to obtain the insight to forge a new direction. Moreover, our medical schools must prepare our students to take on the global roles of patient care within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, health advocacy for the imminent super-aged society, and education and research in the bio-health industry, by building and applying the concept of academic medicine. We will need to invest more resources, including educational specialists, into the current undergraduate medical education system in order to produce proper outcomes, smart curriculum, innovative methods of teaching and learning, and valid and reliable monitoring and evaluation. The improved quality of undergraduate medical education is the starting point for the success of the national system for public health and medical care as a whole, and therefore its urgency and significance should be emphasized to the public. The medical society should go beyond fixing what is broken and usher in a new era of cooperation and collaboration that invites other health professionals, governmental partners, law-makers, opinion leaders, and the general public in its steps toward the future.