• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.349-364
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between new-building of rural public health centers and the outpatient medical utilization. Methods : The study subjects were 141 public health centers in rural area. The data were collected from 1995 to 2001, medical utilization and local population, healthcare resources, and economic characteristics were included. In order to evaluate new-building effects, we performed paired t-tests and multivariate regression analyses. Results : The following variables are significant affecting the medical utilization of rural public health centers: urban side location of public health centers(p<0.05), pre- and post-IMF economic crisis(p<0.001), number of medical aid recipients(p<0.01), number of private clinics(p<0.05), workers of public health centers(p<0.001), financial independent level of local governments(p<0.001). In contrast, the existence of new-building and number of the aged 65 and over were not significant variables. Conclusions : We could not find out the positive relationship between the existence of new-building and the volume of medical utilization in rural public health centers. In particular the medical utilization of rural public health centers is significantly affected by IMF economic recession and number of the poor strata, the economically depressed area.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2020

Background: Atelocollagen has been studied for restoration of rotator cuff tendon. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the clinical outcome of ultrasound-guided atelocollagen injection in an outpatient clinic for patients with partial rotator cuff tear. Methods: We recruited 42 outpatients who visited our hospital from May 2019 to September 2019. Atelocollagen injection was performed in patients with partial rotator cuff tear diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Constant, Korean Shoulder Score (KSS) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores, and range of motion were assessed before injection and after 2 months. Statistically, we analyzed the clinical results using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Finally, 15 patients were enrolled for analysis. There was no significant difference between pre- and post-injection in terms of range of motion, ASES (57.0 vs. 60.4), Constant (56.4 vs. 58.9), KSS (64.6 vs. 68.5), and pain-visual analog scale (4.2 vs. 3.7), except function-visual analog scale (F-VAS; 6.3 vs. 7.1) and SST (6.6 vs. 6.9). A significant difference was found in SST (P=0.046) and F-VAS (P=0.009). According to the ultrasound results at 2 months, we found hyperechoic materials in three of seven patients. The most common complication of atelocollagen injection was post-injection pain (53%, 8/15). Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided atelocollagen injection for partial rotator cuff tear showed no significant change in terms of clinical outcomes, except for F-vas and SST score. Tendon regeneration was not clear due to the remnants of atelocollagen present at 2-month follow-up ultrasound. There seems to be alarming post-injection pain for 2 to 3 days in the patients who received atelocollagen injection in an outpatient clinic.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.6-16
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics influencing consultation and waiting time in ambulatory patients. Methods : This study was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital. Subjects were a total of 10,383 ambulatory patients. Consultation time was measured by time spent for meeting with his/her physician per patient. Waiting time was defined as the time difference between each patient's reserved time and time to meet with his/her physician for ambulatory care. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the factors influencing consultation and waiting time. Results : Consultation time was different according to patient' age, previous experience of clinic visit, recent admission history, medical department, specialist care, type of reservation, and day of the week. Significant factors influencing waiting time were patient' age, residential area, previous experience of clinic visit, recent admission history, medical department, specialist care, time spent after ambulatory care begins, and day of the week. Conclusions : The medical department was the strongest factor affecting both consultation time and waiting time. The ambulatory reservation management systems should take into account patient characteristics as well as care-related features.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2004

Dentally disabled person means one who have difficulty in cooperating voluntarily with a dentist for routine dental care. Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) Dental Clinic for Disabled has worked for them under outpatient anesthesia concept. The aim of this study was to determine the anesthetic characteristics of the patients attending for dental treatment at SNUDH Dental Clinic for Disabled in order to establish better future treatment plans. The data were drawn from the patients who visited SNUDH Dental Clinic for Disabled from January 1999 to October 2002. Total 93 dental treatments for 83 patients were enrolled in this study. Most patients had mental retardation and the conservative treatments were carried out under general anesthesia. Thiopental and vecuronium were mostly used for induction agent and neuromuscular blocker, respectively. Enflurane, with oxygen and nitrous oxide, was mostly used to maintain the anesthesia. Mean total anesthetic time was $164.4{\pm}57.2$ minutes and mean duration at the post-anesthetic care unit was $106.2{\pm}50.5$ min. Serious postoperative complications were not observed. These results showed our successful anesthetic outcomes without any severe side effect or complication and the needs of more outpatient centers for dental care for disabled.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.207-223
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• 1995

A new medical delivery system which regulated outpatient department(OPD) use from tertiary care hospitals was adopted in 1989. Under the new system, patients using tertiary care hospital OPD without referral slip from clinics or hospitals could not get any insurance benefit for the services received from the tertiary care hospital. This study was conducted to evaluate the Patient Referral System(PRS) with respect to health care expenditures and utilization. Two data sets were used in this study. One was monthly data set(from January 1986 to December 1992) from the Annual Report of Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The other was monthly joint data set composed of personal data of which 10% were selected randomly with their utilization data of KMIC from January 1988 to December 1992. The data were analyzed by time-series intervention model of SAS-ETS. The results of this study were as follows: 1. There was no statistically significant changes in per capita expenditures following PRS. 2. Utilization episodes per capita was increased statistically significantly after implementation of PRS. The use of clinics and hospitals increased significantly, whereas in tertiary care hospitals the use decreased significantly immediately after implementation of PRS and increased afterwards. 3. Follow-up visits per episode were decreased statistically significantly after implementation of PRS. The decrease of follow-up visits per episode were remarkable in clinics and hospitals, whereas in tertiary care hospitals it was increased significantly after implementation of PRS. 4. There was no statistically significant changes in prescribing days per episode following PRS. Futhermore, clinics and hospitals showed a statistically significant decrease in prescribing days per episode, whereas in tertiary care hospital it showed statistically significant increase after implementation of PRS. 5. Except high income class, the use of tertiary care hospitals showed statistically significant decrease after implementation of PRS. The degree of decrease in the use of tertiary care hospitals was inversely proportional to income. These results suggest that the PRS policy was not efficient because per capita expenditures did not decrease, and was not effective because utilization episodes per capita, follow-up visits per episode. and prescribing days per episode were not predictable and failed to show proper utilization. It was somewhat positive that utilization episodes per capita were decreased temporarily in tertiary care hospitals. And PRS policy was not appropriate because utilization episodes per capita was different among income groups. In conclusion, the PRS should be revised for initial goal attainment of cost containment and proper health care utilization.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.202-215
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• 1998

Purpose : To shorten processing time for variety of medical affairs of the patient at the outpatient clinic of a big hospital is very important to qualify medical care of the patient. Therefore, patient's waiting time for drug delivery after doctor's prescription is often utilized as a strong tool to evaluate patient satisfaction with a medical care provided. We performed this study to investigate factors influencing patient satisfaction related with waiting time for drug delivery. Methods : The data were collected from July 21 to August 12, 1998. A total 535 patients or their families who visited outpatient clinics of Inha University Hospital were subjected to evaluate the drug delivery time and the level of their satisfaction related, which were compared with those objectively evaluated by Quality Improvement Team. The reliability of the scale was tested with Cronbach's alpha, and the data were analyzed using frequency, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression. Results : The mean drug delivery time subjectively evaluated by the patient (16.1 13.0 min) was longer than that objectively evaluated (10.9 7.6 min) by 5.2 min. Drug delivery time objectively evaluated was influenced by the prescription contents, total amount or type of drug dispensed, etc, as expected. The time discrepancy between two evaluations was influenced by several causative factors. One of those proved to be a patient's late response to the information from the pharmacy which the drug is ready to deliver. Interestingly, this discrepancy was found to be more prominent especially when waiting place for drug delivery was not less crowded. Other factors, pharmaceutical counseling at the pharmacy, emotional status or behavior of a patient while he waits for the medicine, were also found to influence the time subjectively evaluated. Regarding the degree of patient satisfaction with the drug delivery, majority of patients accepted drug delivery time with less than 10 min. It was also found to be influenced by emotional status of the patient as well as kindness or activity of pharmaceutical counselor. Conclusion : The results show that, besides prescription contents, behavior pattern or emotional status of a patient, environment of the waiting place, and quality of pharmaceutical counseling at the pharmacy, may influence the patient's subjective evaluation of waiting time for drug delivery and his satisfaction related with the service in the big hospital. In order to improve patient satisfaction related with waiting time for drug delivery, it will be cost effective to qualify pharmaceutical counseling and information system at the drug delivery site or waiting place rather than to shorten the real processing time within the pharmacy.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.13-28
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• 2020

Purposes: The purpose of this study is to analyze the institutional and personal factors that affect the medical utilization of patients transferred to tertiary medical institutions. Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed the 2 weeks electronic medical records of 1,556 patients, who were referred to the tertiary hospital, from June 15 to 26, 2015. The patient's personal characteristics, referral hospital, referral path, medical experiences and expenses were analyzed for 6 months after the patient's first visit. Findings: The largest proportion (848; 54.5%) of referrals was referred from primary clinic but the referrals of the same tertiary hospital level were one in seven (228; 14.7%) of the patients. Most patients (1,401; 90%) were referred from the clinics and hospitals directly and only one in ten (155; 10%) of the patients utilized the medical referral center. Patients who had been referred from tertiary care institutions had significantly higher medical costs than those referred to primary care (7,560,000 vs 2,333,000 won). The institutional factors including the numbers of visits to outpatient clinic, previous history of hospitalization and operation, consultation to other medical departments and hospitalization fee significantly influenced on medical utility pattern. Personal factors including patient's medical diagnosis and department of disease have a highly correlation with patient's referrals. Practical implications: The medical utilization of medical expenses and experiences is influenced by institutional and individual factors, and it is important to establish a referral system considering the institutional factors of the type of referral hospital.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.158-165
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of childhood sleep problems at pediatric clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi provinces. Methods: Children (n=936) and their parents who visited 5 primary and 1 secondary pediatric outpatient clinics were invited to complete a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire. Results: Among patients, 901 (96.3%) answered questionnaires in sufficient detail for evaluation. The participant's mean age was $4.35{\pm}3.02years$ (range, 0-18 years). The male to female ratio was 1:0.93 (466 boys, 435 girls). Habitual snoring (>3 day/week) was reported in 16.9% of the participants. The prevalence of habitual snoring in children <2 years and those between 2-5 years was 9% and 18%, respectively. Sleep disordered breathing was found in 15.1% (106 of 700) of children >2 years. Insomnia was reported in 13.2% of children. The prevalence of sleepwalking, night terrors, and bruxism, is 1.6%, 19%, and 21.1%, respectively. Snoring was associated with increased incidence of sleepwalking, night terrors, and bruxism. Age was associated with insomnia and habitual snoring (P<0.05). Insomnia was more prevalent in younger (21%) than in older children (6%). Snoring was more frequent in both preschool (34%) and school-aged children (33%). The frequency of sleep disordered breathing and insomnia did not vary significantly with gender. However, snoring was more prevalent in boys. Conclusion: Sleep problems are frequent among children in Korea. Children with snoring have an increased risk of sleepwalking, night terror, and bruxism. Primary clinicians should consider children's sleep habits to improve their health.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4199-4203
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• 2013

Background: This investigation focused on possible relationships between skin cancers and ABO/Rh blood groups. Materials and Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2012, medical data of 255 patients with skin cancers who were admitted to Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Radiation Oncology and Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinics were retrospectively analyzed. Blood groups of these patients were recorded. The control group consisted of 25701 healthy volunteers who were admitted to Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Blood Donation Center between January 2010 and December 2011. The distribution of the blood groups of the patients with skin cancers was compared to the distribution of ABO/Rh blood groups of healthy controls. The association of the histopathological subtypes of skin cancer with the blood groups was also investigated. Results: Of the patients, 50.2% had A type, 26.3% had O type, 16.1% had B type, and 7.5% had AB blood group with a positive Rh (+) in 77.3%. Of the controls, 44.3% had A type, 31.5% had 0 type, 16.1% had B type, and 8.1% had AB blood group with a positive Rh (+) in 87.8%. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of blood groups and Rh factors (A Rh (-) and 0 Rh positive) between the patients and controls. A total of 36.8% and 20.4% of the patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) had A Rh (+) and B Rh (+), respectively, while 39.2% and 27.6% of the controls had A Rh (+) and B Rh (+), respectively. A significant relationship was observed between the patients with BCC and controls in terms of A Rh (-) (p=0.001). Conclusion: Our study results demonstrated that there is a significant relationship between non-melanoma skin cancer and ABO/Rh factors.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.485-493
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• 2018

Objective : Cerebral varices (CVs) without an arteriovenous shunt, so called nonfistulous CVs, are very rare, and their etiology and natural course are not well understood. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of nonfistulous CVs by the analysis of 39 cases. Methods : From 2000 to 2015, 22 patients with 39 nonfistulous CVs (${\geq}5mm$) were found by searching the medical and radiologic records of our institute. Clinical data and radiological data including numbers, sizes and locations of CVs and associated anomalies were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Previously reported cases in literature were reviewed as well. Results : The mean age of the patients was 21 years (range, 0-78 years). On average, $1.8{\pm}1.2CVs$ were found per patient. CVs were categorized as either fusiform or saccular depending on their shapes. Two patients had saccular type CVs, seventeen patients had fusiform types, and three patients had both fusiform and saccular CVs. Eight patients had associated compromise of the vein of Galen and the straight sinus. Four of those patients had sinus pericranii, as well. Five patients had CVs that were distal draining veins of large developmental venous anomalies. One patient had associated migration anomaly, and two patients had Sturge-Weber syndrome. Six patients with an isolated cerebral varix were observed. Of the 39 CVs in 22 patients, 20 lesions in 14 patients were followed up in outpatient clinics with imaging studies. The average follow-up duration was 6.6 years. During this period, no neurological events occurred, and all the lesions were managed conservatively. Conclusion : Nonfistulous CVs seemed to be asymptomatic in most cases and remained clinically silent. Hence, we suggest conservative management.