• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.143-146
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• 2015

중동호흡기증후군 코로나바이러스(Middle East respiratory coronavirus, MERS-CoV)로 인한 질환은 2012년부터 보고되었다. 현재까지 대부분의 질환은 성인에서 발생하였으며 소아에 대한 보고는 매우 부족한 실정이다. 그리하여 본 연구에서는 소아에서 MERS-CoV 감염증의 역학적 특성과 임상 양상을 분석하였다. 전세계적으로 MERS-CoV에 감염된 소아는 34명이었으며(2015년 10월 29일 기준), 이는 전체 환자의 2.1%를 차지하였다. 소아 환자들의 중앙 연령은 13세(범위, 9개월부터 17세까지)이었으며, 성별이 보고된 자료(n=33) 중 57.6%가 남자였다. 전체 환자 중에서 약 반은 무증상 감염이었으며, 대부분의 증상이 있는 환자는 호흡기 증상을 동반하였다. MERS-CoV에 감염된 환자들의 예후는 대부분 양호하였으나, 사망한 환자는 4명이었으며 이 중 3명은 기저 질환이 있었다. 전세계적으로 소아에서 발생한 MERS-CoV 감염에 대한 보고 자료를 분석한 결과 MERS-CoV 감염은 소아에서 발생이 낮고 성인에 비해 예후가 좋은 것으로 나타났다.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.216-224
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• 2019

The number of patients from Middle Eastern Arabic countries is steadily increasing in respect to the South Korean government's medical tourism strategies. Word of mouth is one of the main determinants concerning the Middle Eastern Arab patients' medical tourism destination. Further, patients' satisfaction affects repurchase and revisit intention. This study aimed to measure the level of Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction, and to measure the effect of different medical factors on satisfaction in such patients who are seeking medical attention in South Korea. A 110 Middle Eastern Arab patients who visited South Korea for medical purposes participated in our survey between November, 2016 and April, 2017. All factors had a high mean (${\geq}4.24$; ${\geq}84.8/100$) except for one factor (hospital halal meals (3.82; 76.4)). To identify factors influencing participants' overall satisfaction we used multiple regression analysis. Physicians, interpreters, and halal meals were the main factors influencing overall Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction. Physicians and interpreters in Korea are recommended to be oriented to basic Islamic beliefs and Middle Eastern Arab patients' behavior. Daily communication, such as speaking directly to the patient, limiting important issues to two or three at a time, and translating sentence by sentence, could help to improve Middle Eastern Arab patients' satisfaction. Enlisting Middle Eastern nutrition specialists in medical institutions in South Korea may substantially improve non-medical services satisfaction such as halal food and dietary restrictions.

• 한국임상보건과학회지
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.399-408
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• 2015

Objective. There were two objectives of the study, first was to identify the barriers as perceived by the patients and providers to access the low vision services and second was to identify the challenges faced by the main providers. Study design. Structured questionnaire based interviews of patients and providers Methodology. To find out the barriers to access of low vision services, the interviews based on structured questionnaire were conducted for two patient groups. The first group consisted of 97 visually impaired individuals attending the department of low vision services at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital Rawalpindi while the second group included 56 visually impaired individuals attending the four rehabilitation centers/schools for the blind in Rawalpindi/Islamabad. To identify the barriers as perceived by the main providers of low vision services and challenges faced by them the interviews based on structured questionnaire were conducted for 19 low vision service providers. Results. From patients point of view, major barrier to low vision services identified was inability to visit hospital /rehabilitation center alone - 29.8% in hospital group and 33.9% in rehabilitation centers group, while the lack of social support, lack of family support, cost of travelling, long distance, afford ability, hesitation in using devices and lack of satisfaction were other important barriers identified. From providers' point of view, major barrier to uptake of services was the need for repeated follow-ups. Optometrists were the main provider of low vision services contributing to 47.4% of the providers. The major challenge faced by the providers was motivation of patients to use low vision devices. Conclusion. The major barrier to low vision services according to the patients is inability to visit the hospital alone, while according to providers, it is the need for repeated follow up which proves major barrier towards uptake of services. The motivation is the major challenge faced by providers, majority of which are optometrists.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.485-498
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to acquire information related to recognition of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and snack intake status among middle school students in the Seoul area. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires on 535 students in the 2nd and 3rd grade (88 Patients: atopic dermatitis and asthma group and 428 Control: healthy group). All data were analyzed using SPSS (version 13.0) software. The results were as follows: Among patients, females (61.4%) had a significantly higher prevalence of symptoms than males (38.6%) (p<0.001). Body mass index was not significantly different between the patients and Control group. The most common source for obtaining information about atopic dermatitis and asthma was 'TV or radio' (38.4%), followed by 'family members or relatives' (27.3%) in patients, but 'Internet' (22.2%) was most common in the control group (p<0.05). Although awareness of atopic dermatitis and asthma was similarly low between the two groups, patients had a higher percentage of correct answers on atopic knowledge (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in knowledge of asthma between the two groups. Frequency of snack intake was significantly lower in patients (p<0.05), and consumption of sundae, fried food, liquefied fermented milk, hamburger, pizza, and french fries was also significantly lower (p<0.05). The reason of selecting snacks was mainly 'taste' in both groups. In conclusion, education regarding atopic knowledge and appropriate snack selection is necessary for students with atopic dermatitis or asthma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

Since April 2012, more than 1,600 laboratory-confirmed human infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported, occurring primarily in countries in the Arabian Peninsula; the majority in Saudi Arabia. The MERS outbreak in Korea, which began in May 2015 through the importation of a single case who had recently traveled to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As of November 28th, 186 secondary and tertiary cases had been reported; 38 deaths, mainly associated with underlying chronic illnesses, were reported. One case was exported to China and has been recorded as the first MERS case in China. Thirty-seven confirmed cases were associated with the index case, who was hospitalized from May 15 to May 17. Emergency room at one of the nation's largest hospitals had been affected by hospital-to-hospital and intra-hospital transmissions of MERS-CoV, resulting in an outbreak of 90 infected patients. The vast majority of 186 confirmed cases are linked to a single transmission chain associated with health facilities. The median age of patients is 55 years, with a range of 16 to 87 years. The majority (61%) of patients are men. Twenty-five (14%) of the cases involve healthcare workers. The overall median incubation period was six days, but it was four days for secondary cases and six days for tertiary cases. There has been no evidence of airborne transmission and sustained human-to-human transmission in communities. Intensified public health measures, including contact tracing, quarantine and isolation of all contacts and suspected cases, and infection prevention and control have brought the MERS-CoV under control in Korea. Since 4 July no new cases have been reported.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

대한소아감염학회는 2015년 우리나라에서 처음으로 중동호흡기증후군(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS, 메르스) 환자가 발생하여 보건의료 응급 상황 발생의 긴박했던 시기에 이에 대한 대처에 참여하였다. 우리 학회는 메르스 발생 시 학회 홈페이지에 관련 공고문을 즉시 게시하였고 소아청소년에서의 메르스 환자의 발생시 의심 환자의 검사와 진단 및 국민안심병원 운영을 위해 소아청소년 MERS (중동호흡기) 검사 지침, 국민안심병원 소아청소년과 운영지침을 발빠르게 배포하였다. 이는 메르스 의심환자에 대한 접근에서 소아청소년에서 흔한 호흡기 질환 환자들이 메르스로 오인되어 불필요한 공포, 검사 및 격리를 당하지 않도록 하기 위함이었다. 이를 통해 소아청소년 환자를 진료하는 의사들과 이들의 보호자들을 안심시켰고 결국 많은 심리적 공포와 의료 비용을 감소시켰으며 메르스 종식 시 돌이켜보니 이는 결국 적절한 조치와 가이드라인이었음이 증명되었다. 앞으로 대한소아감염학회와 회원이 유관기관과 긴밀한 협조와 소통을 할 수 있는 체계 시스템을 구축해야 하며 상급의료기관의 소아청소년 감염전문의 필수 상주 및 이에 의한 감염관리료 제도 장착과 수가 신설 및 개선을 유도하는 등의 추진이 필요하다.

• 기본간호학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.402-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical to protect healthcare workers from pandemic outbreaks. This study was designed to identify nurses' knowledge, attitude and perceptions on PPE. Methods: Data were collected from 154 nurses working at a tertiary general hospital, where positively diagnosed and suspected patients were accepted and admitted during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus outbreak in 2015. The PPE tool consists of 20 items for knowledge, and 5 each for attitudes and perceptions. Results: Overall, knowledge for PPE was higher than moderate (76.95/100), but there was a lack for items related to powered air purifying respirator (PAPR). For attitudes, willingness to work in pandemic outbreaks was the most positive (4.04/5.00). Goggles and PAPR were perceived as the most uncomfortable barriers to work. There was no correlation between knowledge, attitude and perceptions, despite a strong positive correlation between attitude and perceptions. PPE training was identified as a factor to improve knowledge and attitudes on PPE. Conclusion: To respond to pandemic influenza, nurses need to expand their knowledge on PPE up to Level C, and be updated through regular training. Study findings suggest that repetitive studies targeting nurses and other healthcare workers at various hospital settings are necessary.

• 임상간호연구
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.179-188
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined post-traumatic stress (PTS) and the factors affecting it among general hospital nurses after the MERS(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic. Methods: Data were collected from 170 nurses who worked at general hospitals since the first reported MERS outbreak. The IES-R-K assessed PTS. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The mean PTS level was 7.80 points (range: 0~88); 7.1% of the participants were at a high risk. Nurses who had been in contact with patients suspected or diagnosed with MERS had high post-traumatic levels; those who had been quarantined during the MERS outbreak had relatively higher PTS levels. Shift-work nurses had higher PTS levels than those with fixed working hours. Above charge' nurses stress levels were higher than staff nurses' stress levels. The results showed that factors including contact with an MERS-suspected or diagnosed patient, position at work, and working status of MERS-affected nurses explained 16% of the PTS. Among the main variables, nurses' above charge position was the greatest factor affecting PTS. Discussion: It is necessary to develop intervention studies and programs considering these variables. Furthermore, development and implementation of differentiated programs should be done considering the position of above charge nurses.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• 제33권53호
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• pp.348.1-348.6
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• 2018

We report a case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in a 61-year-old businessman returning from Kuwait. The patient arrived there on August 16, 2018, developed watery diarrhea on August 28 (day 0), and came back to Korea on September 7 (day 10) as his condition worsened. Upon arrival, he complained of diarrhea and weakness, but denied any respiratory symptoms, and he directly went to visit an emergency room. Chest radiography revealed interstitial infiltrates in the lungs, and he was immediately transferred to an isolation unit. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of sputum samples taken on day 11 returned positive for MERS-CoV. No secondary MERS-CoV infection was identified among people who had close contact with him. This case underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion of MERS-CoV infection in any febrile patients who present after a trip to the Middle East.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.111-116
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• 2017

The Korean Society of Nephrology participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities and civilian experts to prevent and control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015. The Korean Society of Nephrology MERS Task Force Team took an immediate action and drafted 'the clinical recommendation for hemodialysis facilities' to follow when the first and the only confirmed case was reported in the hemodialysis unit. Owing to the dedicated support from medical doctors, dialysis nurses, and related medical companies, we could prevent further transmission of MERS infection successfully in hemodialysis units. This special report describes the experience of infection control during MERS outbreak in 2015 and summarizes the contents of 'the clinical practice guideline for hemodialysis facilities dealing with MERS patients' built upon our previous experience.