• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제68권6호
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• pp.345-349
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• 2010

Background: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is important for the confirmatory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the yield of repeated PCR testing in patients with confirmed pulmonary TB. Methods: The medical records of 130 patients, who had more than two consecutive PCR tests and a M. tuberculosis-positive sputum culture from August, 2006 to December, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed for the purposes of this study. A positive TB-PCR test was defined as at least one positive test result. Results: The cumulative positive PCR test rate was 80% (104/130), with gradually increasing rates of positive findings upon the first, second and third TB-PCR tests with 52.3%, 68.5% and 75.4%, respectively. However, further testing did not increase the positive rate further. Conclusion: Repeated PCR testing at least three times for M. tuberculosis is helpful for diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.231-239
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• 2022

This study aimed to examine the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on areas of Korean medical students' lives, assess concerns, and investigate the strategies they used to cope with stress due to the pandemic. An online survey with a total of 53 items on the impact of COVID-19, concerns, and coping strategies was sent to medical students, and responses were collected from April 27, 2021 to May 30, 2021. In total, 1,329 students were included in the study. Analysis was performed using the chi-square test, independent-sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance, and the post-hoc Scheffé test or Games-Howell test was performed for multiple comparisons. The main negative impacts of the pandemic were on hobbies/leisure activities and mental health, and medical students expressed the highest levels of concern regarding restriction of movement, returning to everyday life, and risk of infection for family and friends. Female students more strongly agreed that COVID-19 had increased their depressed mood and anxiety (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Furthermore, the negative impacts of the pandemic on different areas of life significantly affected current levels of depressed mood and anxiety. To cope with pandemic-related stress, students used several strategies such as talking with family or friends (91.5%), sleeping (83.1%), exercising (72.8%), using social networking services (60.8%), drinking alcohol (37.8%), and practicing meditation/mindfulness (24.4%); the effectiveness of these strategies ranged from 3.45 to 4.19 on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1-5). The study findings suggest that COVID-19 has influenced the mental health of medical students and raised concerns in many areas of their lives. Students used various strategies to cope with the pandemic-related stress; since the effectiveness of frequently used approaches varied, it is essential to guide medical students to develop effective coping strategies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권17호
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• pp.7257-7261
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• 2014

Background: Few Iranian women take the Papanicolaou test despite its important role in preventing cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) variables and implementation intentions in the first and second Pap test practice among Iranian women. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-randomized controlled trial, 200 women who were referred to 30 primary health care clinics in Tehran were randomly selected. PMT variables and Pap test practice were measured at baseline and again after 3 and 15 months. The 4-week educational intervention program was conducted for the intervention group. Results: Following the intervention, the mean scores of self-efficacy, perceived vulnerability, and behavior intention variables were significantly higher in the intervention group when compared to the control group (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the perceived severity, response efficacy, response cost, and fear between the two groups following the intervention. Higher percent of women in the intervention group had obtained first and second Pap test compared to the controls. Conclusions: The PMT and implementation intentions provide a suitable theory-based framework for developing educational interventions regarding Pap test practice in Iran.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.97-103
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• 2003

Purpose: This study aims to determine the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in gastric cancer patients who received gastrectomies, and to compare the rates of H.pylori infection detected by serological test and that of histopathological test, and to evaluate its clinical meaning. Materials and Methods: Fifty two patients were selected from those who underwent gastrectomies at the Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, from March 1997 to May 1997. The control group consisted of healthy 103 persons visited the center for health promotion in Samsung Medical Center. In both groups, we quantitatively checked serum level of IgG anti H. pylori antibody titer by ELISA using GAP IgG test kit (BioRad, USA) for the serological test, and we microscopically examined the surgical specimen stained by Warthin-Starry silver staining method for the histopathological test. Results: The seropositive rate of H. pylori in the patients' group was $71.2\%$ (37/52), and the control group was $65.0\%$ (67/103). The difference between two groups was statistically significant. However the histopathological study showed that the overall detection rate of H. pylori was $61.5\%$ (32/52) in the patients' group and $61.2\%$ (63/103) in the control group; nd this difference was not statistically significant Conclusion: We could confirm that H.pylori infection rate in the gastric cancer resected patients was statistically higher than in the normal healthy persons even in small population. And the detection method for the H. pylori infection by serological test was presumed to be better than that of histopathological test using surgical specimen. Further study for the larger population by well-organized multicenters will be needed.

• 한국응급구조학회지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.123-131
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to find out the effectiveness of gum elastic bougies for intubation in comparison to stylet according to airway type using a manikin. Methods: The study subjects were 52 paramedic students who intubated using a Macintosh laryngoscope and compared stylet and gum elastic bougie use in a 7.5 mmID endotracheal tube, on a manikin with either normal or difficult airway. Difficult airway was made Philadelphia neck collar. Collected data included intubation time, accuracy and ease of intubation, later analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, independent t-test, chi square test, paired t-test, and McNemar test using SPSS Statistics 18.0. Results: There was a significant difference in intubation time according to intubation device and airway type (p=.000). There was no significant difference in accuracy of intubation according to intubation device or airway type (normal airway p=1.000, difficult airway p=.052). There was a significant difference in ease of intubation scale according to intubation device and airway type (p=.000, p=.000). Conclusion: Based on the speed and ease of intubation, gum elastic bougie is recommended for intubation in patients with difficult airways such as those with cervical injury.

• 의학교육논단
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.198-206
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• 2020

This study aimed to identify needed improvements to current evaluation methods in medical school computer-based test (CBT) programs and test environments. To that end, an analysis of the importance and satisfaction was conducted through a survey of 3rd and 4th year medical students who had sufficient experience with CBT programs. Importance performance analysis methodology using the correlation coefficient was applied to assess average satisfaction and importance. The first quadrant (keep up the good work) was a factor of review and time management and test facilities among the conveniences of the CBT program. The second quadrant (concentrate here) was a factor of the convenience of the CBT program and computer monitor and chair factor within the test facilities. The third quadrant (low priority) was a factor of cheating and computer failure. The fourth quadrant (possible overkill) was the location, spacing, and temperature factors of the test facilities. Improvements are needed to reduce 'eye fatigue' and help students focus and understand the questions in the CBT programs. It is necessary to improve computer monitors, desks and chairs, and consider the subject's body type and manager in order to cope with computer breakdown and peripheral failures. Spare computers are needed. These findings are meaningful in that they have been able to identify factors that require improvement in the CBT program and test environment resulting from changes in assessment tools.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권13호
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• pp.5245-5247
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• 2014

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is one of the most important causes of dyspepsia and gastric cancer and diagnosis can be made by invasive or non-invasive methods. The Atlas Helicobacter pylori antigen test is a new rapid non-invasive method which is simple to conduct. The aim of this study was to determine its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted between July 2012 and December 2013. Stool samples of 59 dyspeptic patients who underwent upper endoscopy were evaluated for H. pylori stool antigen. Results: From the 59 patients who participated in this study, there were 36 (61%) males and 23 (39%) females. H. pylori was diagnosed in 24 (40.7%) gastric biopsies, 22 (91.7 %) of these being positive for the Atlas H. pylori antigen test. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 91.7%, 100%, 100%, 94.6% and 96.6% respectively. Conclusions: The Atlas H. pylori antigen test is a new non-invasive method which is simple to perform and avails reliable results in a few minutes. Thus it can be the best option for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection due to its high sensitivity and specificity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권5호
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• pp.416-425
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• 2012

Background: The sensitivities and specificities of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) vary among different population studies, and the data on the routine use of IGRAs are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. Methods: We conducted a prospective study, enrolling 77 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), at a secondary care teaching hospital in Seoul. Results: In total, 12 (15.6%) patients showed indeterminate results due to positive control failure on the QFT-GIT test. Indeterminate results were significantly associated with the elderly, history of the intensive care unit stay, lymphocytopenia, especially low CD4 count, increased C-reactive protein and decreased protein levels. Of the 77 patients, 44 (57.1%) were diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis, and the percentage of false negative results of the QFT-GIT was 36.4% (vs. 31.8% with TST). In the TB group with >65 years old (n=12), the proportions of the indeterminate (33.3% vs. 3.1%) and the false negative results (58.3% vs. 25.0%) of the QFT-GIT were significantly higher than in the younger TB group (n=32). Conclusion: Indeterminate and false negative results of QFT-GIT test were not infrequent in tuberculosis, especially in the elderly. Care should be considered for the interpretation with the elderly, immunocompromised, chronic and severely diseased patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제56권2호
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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.

• 동의신경정신과학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.33-48
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• 2022

Objectives: Academic stress poses a significant risk for the mental health of medical students, and a feasible group intervention program for managing academic stress is required. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical effectiveness of emotional freedom techniques (EFT) on the mental health of Korean medical students. Methods: The class of first-year medical school students (n=36) participated in an after-school EFT group intervention program comprising six sessions (15 minutes/session, three weeks) to analyze its clinical effectiveness as a single-group test-retest clinical study. The changes in the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores were examined using a paired t-test and Cohen's D at post-EFT and two-week follow-up. Results: There were significant curtailments at post-EFT and follow-up measures in TAI-Total (t=2.704 and t=3.289), TAI-Worry (t=2.297 and t=2.454), TAI-Emotionality (t=2.763 and t=3.654), PSS-Negative Perspective (t=2.659 and t=3.877), and PANAS-Negative Affect (t=2.885 and t=3.259) subscales, however not in PSS-Positive Perspective (t=-1.279 and t=-1.101) and PANAS-Positive Affect (t=0.194 and t=-0.122) subscales. The trait anxiety (t=2.227) was significantly mitigated in the post-EFT measure and the state anxiety (t=2.30) in the follow-up measure. Conclusions: The EFT group intervention alleviated test stress, negative affect, and anxiety in the Korean medical students. This study contributes to an understanding of academic stress and EFT intervention in the competitive environment of medical education.