• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2017

Objectives : As a descriptive study, the present research investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding medical waste and factors influencing these variables, based on nurses working at university hospitals in Busan and Gyoengnam provinces. Methods : The 508 participants were selected from five university hospitals in Busan and Kyongnam provinces and consented to participate in the study between June 1 and July 15, 2016. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS 23.0 based on descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Person correlation coefficients, and hierarchical analysis. Results : The average scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding medical waste among the participants were 15.88 (1.71), 4.38 (0.45), and 4.24 (0.40) respectively. When the scores for the knowledge and attitude related to medical waste were higher, the score for practice (r=.500, p<.001) increased, and the most influential factor on practice regarding medical waste was attitude toward medical waste (${\beta}=.45$, p<.001). Conclusions : Thus, to reinforce a positive attitude toward medical waste management, continuous education and a systematic approach to minimize health and environmental hazards are needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4025-4029
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• 2015

Background: Gastrointestinal tract cancers are among the most common cancers in Iran and comprise approximately 38% of all the reported cases of cancer. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and to investigate spatial clustering of common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract across the counties of Iran using full Bayesian smoothing and Moran I Index statistics. Materials and Methods: The data of the national registry cancer were used in this study. Besides, indirect standardized rates were calculated for 371 counties of Iranand smoothed using Winbug 1.4 software with a full Bayesian method. Global Moran I and local Moran I were also used to investigate clustering. Results: According to the results, 75,644 new cases of cancer were nationally registered in Iran among which 18,019 cases (23.8%) were esophagus, gastric, colorectal, and liver cancers. The results of Global Moran's I test were 0.60 (P=0.001), 0.47 (P=0.001), 0.29 (P=0.001), and 0.40 (P=0.001) for esophagus, gastric, colorectal, and liver cancers, respectively. This shows clustering of the four studied cancers in Iran at the national level. Conclusions: High level clustering of the cases was seen in northern, northwestern, western, and northeastern areas for esophagus, gastric, and colorectal cancers. Considering liver cancer, high clustering was observed in some counties in central, northeastern, and southern areas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3149-3152
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• 2012

Objective: The prognostic significance of perineural invasion (PNI) in gastric cancer has been previously investigated but not clearly clarified. The objective of our study was to investigate the role of PNI as prognostic factor in patients undergoing curative surgical resection and without distant metastasis in comparison with other clinicopathological factors. Methods: Between 2001 and 2010, 287 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma underwent radical gastrectomy recorded in hospital based registries. PNI was assessed as positive when cancer cells were seen in the perinerium or neural fascicles intramurally. Categorical and continuous variables were summarized using descriptive statistics and compared using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests, respectively. Cancer related survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: PNI was positive in 211 of 287 cancers (73%), with a positive relation to lymph node metastases and advanced stage (p=0.0001, p=0.0001, respectively), mural invasion, and lymphatic and blood vessel invasion (p=0.0001, p=0.0001, respectively). The median survival of the PNI positive patients was significantly shorter than that of their PNI negative counterparts (24.1 versus 38.2 months, p=0.008). In the multivariate analysis, we detected PNI was an independent prognostic factor (p=0.025, HR=1.21, 95% CL 1.08-2.3) along with classical clinicopathological variables such as lymph node involvement (p=0.001), pT stage (p=0.03), and LVI (p=0.017), but not age, gender, tumour localization, stage, histologic type, and surgery procedure. Conclusions: PNI positivity in gastric cancers was related mural invasion, lymph node involvement, advanced stage and lymphatic and venous blood vessels. The presence of PNI appeared as an independent prognostic factor on survival on multivariate analysis, not influenced by tumor stage, lymph node metastases and other classical factors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the overall operations of National Hospital Food service after it was benefited by National Health Insurance (NHI). The survey was conducted between July and August, 2007. Among questionnaires mailed to 2,558 medical care institutions, 2,090 returned (81%) questionnaires were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test and ANOVA using the SPSS 13.0. The general foodservice characteristic of medical care institutions were as follows. The type of foodservice operations were 'self-operated' (86.9%), 'contracted' (10.5%) and 'Both' (2.6%). Only 6.4% of medical care institutions provided 'hospital food menu not benefited by NHI'. The number of dietitians and cook for medical care institutions were 1.1 and 1.0, respectively. The cost of a general diet meal was 4,205 won and therapeutic diet meal was 4,434 won. The overall operations of hospital foodservice were different depending on the types of medical care institution. After hospital foodservice was benefited by NHI, the overall quality of hospital foodservice including manpower, facilities, and environment was improved. The future direction of hospital foodservice should 1) differentiate the cost of hospital foodservice by the types of medical care institution, 2) increase in co-payment, and 3) provide same service with equal expenses in each party as medical aid or NHS beneficiary.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.533-540
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to use the data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to analyze the disagreement in disease coding given by different medical institutions on the same disease of the same patient and provide basic data that could help improve the quality of national public health statistics. 9,976,826 patients' data records from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS) of 2014 were analyzed. The disagreement in disease coding differed by movement paths for medical institutions; the disagreement rate tended to increase when moving from a medical institution other than public health centers to a public health center and decrease remarkably when moving from a specialized general hospital to another. Therefore, this analysis of disagreement in disease coding among medical institutions suggests the need to supplement the system so that domestic medical institutions can realize consistent disease coding.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2023

Objectives: Sarcopenia has emerged as a significant aging-related disease that affects many facets of societal-level and patient-level public health. This study analysed knowledge of sarcopenia and associated socio-demographic factors among the general public of Malaysia in order to effectively improve its prevention and countermeasures. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Selangor, Malaysia, using Google Forms among 202 Malaysian adults from January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge scores. The continuous variables were evaluated using the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and one-way analysis of variance test. The Spearman correlation coefficient was employed to determine the correlation between socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge score levels. Results: The final analysis included 202 participants. The mean±standard deviation age was 49.03±12.65. Only 6.9% of participants had good knowledge of sarcopenia and were aware of sarcopenia's characteristics, consequences, and treatments. Post-hoc comparisons using the Dunnett T3 test showed statistical significance in mean knowledge score and age group (p=0.011) and education level (p≤0.001). The Mann-Whitney test revealed that gender (p=0.026) and current smoking status (p=0.023) significantly influenced knowledge scores. Conclusions: The general public's knowledge of sarcopenia was found to be poor to moderate and associated with age and education status. Therefore, education and interventions by policymakers and healthcare professionals to improve public knowledge of sarcopenia in Malaysia are needed.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2023

Migraine is a common neurological disease correlated with oxidative stress and lipid profile disorders. The present study was designed to determine the effects of Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) supplementation on oxidative status and lipid profile in migraine individuals. This clinical trial was conducted on 84 females aged 18-50 years, diagnosed for episodic migraine according to the International Headache Society. Subjects were randomized to receive either Co-Q10 supplement (400 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Lipid profile and oxidative stress indices including malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured before and after intervention in both groups. Also, anthropometric indices, dietary intakes, and clinical features were collected. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16. Seventy-seven of the participants, with mean age of 33.70 ± 7.75 years, completed the study. After 12-week intervention, Co-Q10 led to a significant decrease in MDA levels compared to placebo (p = 0.009), with no effect on TAC levels (p = 0.106). A significant increase in serum Co-Q10 concentration and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level in Co-Q10 group was observed, but no significant differences were found in other lipid profile variables (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol). Among anthropometric variables, Co-Q10 only caused a significant reduction in body fat percentage (BFP), but we did not find any significant changes in others. A 12-week Co-Q10 supplementation led to significant improvement in clinical features, BFP, and HDL-C level among migraine individuals.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2006

Background : To examine the difference between ICD-10 and The Korean standard classification of disease(oriental medicine), and to aim at improve the practical use as statistical data. It is one of the reason of disease classification. On that account we convert the many to many correspondence presenting classification of oriental medicine into many to one correspondence. Method : The study tracked out 155 patients discharged from the university hospital which is located in Gyeonggi Province and managing hospital and oriental medicine hospital from July to October this year. The period of this study was from August 1 to November 18. We compared correspondence between the two services' diagnosis(hospital services and oriental medicine hospital services) at the same time and attempted many to one correspondence classification. That is for production of statistical data. Result : We investigated the group which have had medical treatment experience of two kinds of services at the same time. The result of this investigation was that the same oriental medicine diagnosis used differently in western medicine diagnosis. 44.5% was accorded with western medicine diagnosis. Correspondence of the western medicine diagnose with the top of the Korean standard classification of disease(oriental medicine) list's western medicine diagnosis was 13.5%. For many to one correspondence classification for statistics, one western medicine diagnosis was selected for one oriental medicine diagnosis. In case of the main diagnosis(I sign) was not enough to explain oriental medicine diagnosis' characteristic, we chose multiple other diagnosis, so other diagnosis(II sign) about patient's cause of disease could be selected for supplement after we examined the patient's records. The statistics was possible with this many to one correspondence. Conclusion : The result of this study about correspondence between western medicine diagnoses and those of oriental medicine confirms that The Korean standard classification of disease(oriental medicine) is hard to be standardized with western medicine diagnosis. Therefore, according to this study, we use new many to one correspondence classification, multiple oriental medicine diagnoses with one ICD-10, which can be used by statistical data.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.95-111
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• 2005

Objectives : The analysis of prognosis about lumbago classes is important for low back patients. This study was designed to show the clinical significance about lowback pain patients based on 10 classes lumbago ill Dong-Eui-Bo-Kham. Methods : To analyze classify 80 patients who had received the hospital treatment for low back pain, they were classified according to 10 classes lumbago in Dong-Eui-Bo-Kham. To estimate the efficacy of oriental medical treatment, we used Quardruple Visual Analog Scale (QVAS). Results & Conclusion :1. According To 10 classes lumbago in Dong-Eui-Bo-Kham, the largest group of lumbago was due to muscle strain in 30(37.5%) cases, the next was due to wind pathogen group in 18(22.5%) cases, due to blood stasis group in 16(20%), due to Kidney deficiency by 12(15.0%), due to retention of food group by 2(2.5%), the lumbago due to humidity pathogen group by 2(2.5%) in order. 2. By the results which puts out the statistics in lumbago classes on a objectivity treatment record, the Lumbago due to blood stasis, the lumbago due to kidney deficiency, the lumbago due to muscle strain, the lumbago due to wind pathogen, the lumbago due to retention of food, the lumbago due to humidity pathogen showed $3.6({\pm}0.68),\;2.83({\pm}0.84),\;3.13({\pm}0.78),\;2.67{\pm}(0.77),\;3.00,\;3.00$. 3. By the results which puts out the statistics in lumbago classes as a subjectivity treatment record, the Lumbago due to blood stasis, the lumbago due to Kidney deficiency, the lumbago due to muscle strain, the lumbago due to wind pathogen, the lumbago due to retention of food, the lumbago due to humidity pathogen changed from $8.19{{\pm}1.68),\;8.58{\pm}(1.08),\;7.80{\pm}(2.28),\;8.67({\pm}1.46),\;9.00({\pm}1.41),\;8.50({\pm}0.71)\;to\;2.81({\pm}1.91),\;4.17({\pm}2.52),\;2.43({\pm}1.63),\;3.00({\pm}1.85),\;2.00,\;3.00$.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2007

It was not until 1975 that cancer registration was initiated in Korea; voluntary registration of cancer patients of training hospitals throughout the country began under the auspices of the Korean Cancer Society(KCS). However, an official cancer registration, the Korea Central Cancer Registry(KCCR), began on July 1st, 1980. Forty-five training and two non-training hospitals throughout the country initiated registration of patients in whom neoplasms had been found. Data related to case information specified are to be sent to the KCCR at the National Medical Center(it moved at National Cancer Center in 2000). The initial cancer registration of KCS was merged to the KCCR in 1980. Although the KCCR covers most all the large training hospitals in Korea, it cannot provide incidence data. It is, however, the only of its kind in the world, being neither hospital nor population based. The first population based cancer registry(PBCR) was launched in a small county, Kangwha(it has around 80,000 inhabitants), by Yonsei University Medical College in 1983. All data were collected by active methods, and incidence statistics for 1986-1992 appeared in Vol VII of the CI5. Another PBCR, Seoul Cancer Registry(SCR), started in 1991. It was supported by a civilian foundation, the Korean Foundation for Cancer Research. The basic idea of case registration of SCR was the incorporation of KCCR data to PBCR, e. g. dual sources of case registration, i.e., from the KCCR and also including cases diagnosed in small hospitals and other medical facilities. Assessing completeness and validity of case registration of SCR, the program and methodology used by the SCR was later extended to other large cities and areas in Korea, and the PBCR in each area was established. Cancer incidence statistics of Seoul for 1993-1997, Busan for 1996-1997, and Daegu for 1997-1998, as well as Kangwha for 1993-1997, appeared eventually in Vol VIII of the CI5. The Korean or 'pillar' model for a PBCR is a new one. The KCCR data file is a reliable basis, as a pillar, for a PBCR in each area. The main framework of the model for such a registry is the incorporation of a KCCR data file with data from additionally surveyed cases; the data related to cancer deaths, medical insurance claims, and visit-and surveillance of non-KCCR medical facilities. Cancer registration has been adopted as a national cancer control program by Korean government in 2004 as the Anti-Cancer Act was enacted. Since then, some officers have tried to launch a nation-wide PBCR covering whole country. In the meantime, however, cancer registration was interrupted and discontinued for years due to the Privacy Protection Law, which was solved by an amendment of the Anti-Cancer Act in 2006. It would be premature to establish the nation-wide PBCR in Korea. Instead, continuous efforts to improve the completeness of registration of the KCCR, to progress existing PBCRs, and to expand PBCRs over other areas are still to be devoted. The nation-wide PBCR in Korea will be established eventually with summation of the PBCRs of the Korean model.