• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

The fat embolism syndrome (FES) represents a condition, usually with traumatic etiology, which may pose challenges to diagnosis while its treatment usually requires supportive measures in the intensive care units (ICUs). The clinical criteria, including respiratory and cerebral dysfunction and a petechial rash, along with imaging studies help in diagnosis. Here we present three case reports of young male who developed FES and were admitted to our ICUs after long bones fractures emerging after vehicle crashes and we briefly review FES literature. All patients' treatment was directed towards: 1) the restoration of circulating volume with fresh blood and/or plasma; 2) the correction of acidosis; and 3) immobilization of the affected part. All patients recovered and were released to the orthopedic wards. The incidence of cases of patients with FES admitted in our ICUs records a significant decrease. This may be explained in terms effective infrastructure reforms in Greece which brought about significant improvement in early prevention and management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5835-5838
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• 2014

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in Taiwan. The literature has previously shown that age, tumor site, T categories, and number of metastatic nodes significantly affect prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term survival of patients with gastric cancer, as well as the effect of particular prognostic factors on survival. Materials and Methods: This was a survival analysis study with retrospective design. We reviewed the records of 64 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach who had undergone gastrectomy with curative intent between 2009 and 2012 at a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Data extracted from patient documents included age, gender distribution, tumor location, and pathological grading. Results: The median follow-up time was 4 years, and there were 31 deaths attributed to gastric cancer. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that retrieval of less than 15 lymph nodes from a patient was a significant predictor of survival. A significant predictor of poorer survival was higher pathological grading. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the number of lymph nodes retrieved and pathological grading could be viewed as crucial prognostic factors affecting the survival of individuals with gastric cancer.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.94-113
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of appropriateness in hospital stays and factors influencing inappropriate hospital stays. The study was conducted at fifteen general care units in a tertiary university hospital. Appropriateness of hospital stay was assessed using Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol by trained head nurses. The total of 447 patient records were reviewed. Among them, 352 patient data were included in the final data set. A unit of observation was patient day. A rate of appropriate hospital stay was calculated per patient as a unit of analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting inappropriate hospital stay. The eighty-three percent (2030/2651) of hospital stays were evaluated as appropriate. There were significant differences in appropriateness of hospital stay according to patient's age, type of health insurance, medical specialty, and length of stay(p<0.05). In the multiple regression analysis, medical speciality was the most significant factor to predict the inappropriate hospital stay. The study showed a substantial proportion of hospital stay was found to inappropriate. Level of appropriateness was significantly different from medical specialty. Interdepartmental approach should be required to coordinate and improve appropriate resource utilization.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2017

Purpose: In this study an investigation was done of injuries from inpatient falls and diagnostic tests and treatment after falls to identify what factors affect the occurrence of injury from inpatient falls in a tertiary hospital. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were retrieved for 428 fall events from data reported between January 1 and December 31, 2015 and were retrieved from the patient-safety reporting system in the hospital's electronic health records. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed with STATA 13.0. Results: Of the patients, 197 (46.0%) had physical injuries due to falls, 119 (27.8%) were given further diagnostic tests, and 358 (83.6%) received treatment including close observation after inpatient falls. Logistic-regression results identified that age, department, and risk factors had significant impact on injuries from falls. Conclusion: Findings indicate that to reduce the severity of injury after inpatient falls, each hospital should regularly evaluate identified factors, design fall-prevention practices specialized for elders and vulnerable patients, and initiate environmental and equipment innovations.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.83-88
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• 2016

In this research aimed to deduce internal marketing factors, purpose, and their practical application by analyzing preceding researches on internal marketing of Korean medical service organization and investigating the recent trend of its research. Subjects of research are ten preceding researches that have been published in KCI records for the last five years from 2011 to 2016. Summarize result of researches, first, internal factors that were most frequently used were internal communication, compensation system, and education and training, which were used by 8(.8). Second, occupations that had most interest in the internal marketing research appeared to be nursing(.9) and administration(.3). Third, the practical application of the internal marketing appeared to be job satisfaction(.8), followed by customer orientation(.6), and organizational commitment(.4). Suggestion do, necessary to develop subordinate factors regarding the realistic internal marketing, such as both-sided internal communication enhancement, education and training, compensation system differentiated by individuals and teams, fairness in performance rating, work environment improvement, delegation of authority, career development, shared organizational vision in order to maximize job satisfaction, job commitment, and organizational commitment of employees as internal customers, before establishing strategies to satisfy patients and guardians who are external customers.

• Korean journal of dermatology
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.614-619
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• 2018

Background: Scabies is a contagious skin infestation primarily observed in poor or overcrowded environments. However, an individual may be affected regardless of hygiene and/or socioeconomic status, and/or age. Objective: To investigate the characteristics and epidemiology of scabies in patients visiting a single tertiary hospital in Jeonbuk province. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 194 patients with scabies who visited the Dermatology clinic at Wonkwang University Hospital between June 2015 and May 2018. Results: Of the 194 patients investigated, 82 (42.3%) were men and 112 (57.7%) were women. The mean age of men was 46.3 years and that of women was 60.1 years. Scabies was diagnosed in patients most commonly in autumn. The most common symptom of scabies was the occurrence of papules (83.5%) followed by the presence of burrows (23.2%). The most common route of infection was a nursing hospital (26.3%), except unknown (29.4%). Medications used to treat scabies included 5% permethrin cream, 10% crotamiton ointment, and 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. The mean duration of treatment was 33.9 days using 5% permethrin cream, 34.8 days using 10% crotamiton ointment, and 34.6 days using 1% gamma benzene hexachloride lotion. Conclusion: This study could help in the prevention and management of scabies, by guiding clinicians in choosing optimal therapeutic agents based on patients' condition.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.295-304
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• 2021

Clinical photography is an essential component of patient care in plastic surgery. The use of unsecured smartphone cameras, digital cameras, social media, instant messaging, and commercially available cloud-based storage devices threatens patients' data safety. This paper Identifies potential risks of clinical photography and heightens awareness of safe clinical photography. Specifically, we evaluated existing risk-mitigation strategies globally, comparing them to industry standards in similar settings, and formulated a framework for developing a risk-mitigation plan for avoiding data breaches by identifying the safest methods of picture taking, transfer to storage, retrieval, and use, both within and outside the organization. Since threats evolve constantly, the framework must evolve too. Based on a literature search of both PubMed and the web (via Google) with key phrases and child terms (for PubMed), the risks and consequences of data breaches in individual processes in clinical photography are identified. Current clinical-photography practices are described. Lastly, we evaluate current risk mitigation strategies for clinical photography by examining guidelines from professional organizations, governmental agencies, and non-healthcare industries. Combining lessons learned from the steps above into a comprehensive framework that could contribute to national/international guidelines on safe clinical photography, we provide recommendations for best practice guidelines. It is imperative that best practice guidelines for the simple, safe, and secure capture, transfer, storage, and retrieval of clinical photographs be co-developed through cooperative efforts between providers, hospital administrators, clinical informaticians, IT governance structures, and national professional organizations. This would significantly safeguard patient data security and provide the privacy that patients deserve and expect.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.151-166
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• 2022

Purpose: The severity classification in association with the time of visit to and the appropriateness of using a public ambulance for visiting the emergency department (ED) have not been thoroughly evaluated, and we aimed to evaluate these aspects. Methods: In this descriptive research, we retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of patients who visited the ED of the B General Hospital, Seoul from January to December 2019. Results: Of the 54,297 patients who were included in the analysis, 34,629 (63.8%) and 14,065 (25.9%) visited the ED directly and through public ambulances, respectively; 10,328 (73.4%) patients who used public ambulances were discharged home. In the daytime and nighttime, 24,891 (45.8%) and 29,406 (54.2%), respectively, visited the ED. The mean length of ED stay (LoS) of emergency and non-emergency patients was 326 and 159 minutes, respectively, and of patients classified as Korean Triage and Acuity Scale levels 1 and 2 was 427 and 430 minutes, respectively, which was longer than the total of 236 minutes. Conclusion: Patients who visited the ED using public ambulances constituted nearly 25% of all ED visits, and more than 70% of these patients were discharged home. Patients with high severity had a longer mean LoS, and daytime ED visits were characterized by higher numbers and severity of patients than nighttime ED visits.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of children who visited the pediatric emergency department (PED) following an accident. Method: Data were obtained from the medical records of 4,010 children who visited the PED from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006. Data were analyzed using SPSS WIN 13.0 version. Results: The percentage of children who visited the PED for treatment following an accident was 14.9%. There were more boys (63.5%) than girls. The largest age group for children visiting the PED was preschool aged children. Slip downs were the most frequent accident (37.1%). The face was the most frequently injured area of the body (26.0%). Most (93.3%) of the children who visited the PED were classified as non-emergency, 6.5% as emergency and 0.2% as urgent. About 70.0% of children were examined and 50% of children were medicated. Fifty percent stayed in the PED department for less than 2 hours, and 88.0% of children were discharged to home. Nine percent were admitted, and 2.2% were transferred to other hospitals. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the need for accident prevention education for parents, and the need to develop effective education for clinical nurses working in PED.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.636-652
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• 1992

This study identified the impact of childhood cancer on the Korean family. The purpose was to contribute knowledge for family nursing and pediatric hospice care practice with sick children and their families. This descriptive study was conducted during a 6 month period with children who were being treated for cancer at six university hospitals in Seoul. The data were gathered from members of 68 families ; 24(Group A), with a child newly diagnosed with cancer : 27(Group B), with a child under treatment and without complications, and 17 (Group C), with a child in relapse. Medical records, structured questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The questionnaires and interview schedules had been used previously in Martinson's research in the USA and China. The findings, conclusions, and suggestions are as follows. 1. The impact of childhood cancer on the family. Members of the family experienced fear, helplessness, guilty feelings, and anger at the time of the initial diagnosis and at relapse. Mothers complained of headache, anorexia and poor appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbance, and bad dreams. Many of the fathers either lost or changed jobs, and all working mothers stopped working. Half the parents reported changes in their marital relationships such as frequent quarrels but also stronger unity. Family members perceived cancer as the most frightening disease. Change in their world view was expressed as living on faith understanding suffering, determining to live a better life, wanting to live an upright life and valuing health as the most important. Religious activities are found most helpful through this difficult experience. Financial debt due to the treatment and care of the sick child, burdened 22 families. The above mentioned impact was most evidant in Group B(those presently undergoing treatment) and Group C(those in relapse). Findings indicate that nursing care should embrace the family of a child who is being treated for cancer. 2. Characteristics of the child with cancer The majority of the children in this sample had a diagnosis of leukemia. Their mean age was 6.8 and the ratio of boys to girls was 1.12 ; 1. The mean hospitalization frequency was 13.5 times and the mean duration of illness was 16.8 months. Most of 1.he children perceived cancer as the most frightening disease ; 32.7% of the children described their sickness as serious. Children in Group C were hospitalized more frequently, stayed in hospital for longer periods, and expressed their sickness as quite serious more often than the other two groups. These findings indicate how much comprehensive pediatric hospice nursing care services are needed along with relevant research and nursing education. 3. Characteristics of the families. The mean age of the father was 39.5 and the mother, 36,6 ; they are in their most productive life period. Mothers especially expressed feelings of financial uneasiness and powerlessness about giving up their jobs, and guilty feelings for not providing enough care and concern to other children due to taking care of the sick one. The burden of caring for the sick child can bring negative changes in family dynamics which they think provoke potential health problems in members of the family These findings suggest a need for nursing support and counselling resources. Findings also suggest the need for ethical inquiry about such questions as who should give information to the child in regard to diagnosis and prognosis, when, and how. Other suggestions included : 1) Quality health care for childhood cancer such as home care and pediatric hospice programs should be established. 2) Special and practical consideration for long-term patients should be made in the present insurance coverage. The reimbursement period for long-term patients should be lengthened. 3) Further in-depth qualitative studies are needed. 4) Education programs including guided practice experience for pediatric hospice care practitioners are needed.