• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.274-277
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• 2017

Objectives: Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a severe type of pneumonia caused by inhalation of aerosols contaminated with Legionella. On September 22, 2016, a single case of LD was reported from a newly built apartment building in Gyeonggi province. This article describes an epidemiologic investigation of LD and identification of the possible source of infection. Methods: To identify the source of LD, we interviewed the patient's husband using a questionnaire based on the Legionella management guidelines from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water samples from the site were collected and analyzed. An epidemiological investigation of the residents and visitors in the apartment building was conducted for 14 days before the index patient's symptoms first appeared to 14 days after the implementation of environmental control measures. Results: Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was isolated from the heated-water samples from the patient's residence and the basement of the apartment complex. Thirty-two suspected cases were reported from the apartment building during the surveillance period, yet all were confirmed negative based on urinary antigen tests. Conclusions: The likely source of infection was the building's potable water, particularly heated water. Further study of effective monitoring systems in heated potable water should be considered.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-85
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand currently active Korean paramedics' disaster response abilities, including immediate response, severity classification, patient treatment, and patient transfer, in a disaster situation with multiple casualties. Methods: A structured questionnaire consisting of a total of 25 questions was used, including 5 questions on the subject's general characteristics and 20 questions on disaster-related emergency response abilities. Results: Among the disaster response abilities of the participants, the patient transport ability scores were high and the cooperative support ability scores were low. In terms of general characteristics, there was a significant difference in age, and it was high in the 40s, and there was a significant positive correlation between each competency. Conclusion: These results suggest that there is an urgent need to develop a systematic and specialized educational system with components inside and outside fire departments related to multiple casualty disasters to improve overall abilities.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2023

Purpose: Culture-based methods for microbiological diagnosis and antibiotic susceptibility tests have limitations in the management of orofacial infections. We aimed to profile pus microbiota and identify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) using a culture-independent approach. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA samples extracted from the pus specimens of two patients with orofacial abscesses were subjected to shotgun sequencing on the NovaSeq system. Taxonomic profiling and prediction of ARGs were performed directly from the metagenomic raw reads. Result: Taxonomic profiling revealed obligate anaerobic polymicrobial communities associated with infections of odontogenic origins: the microbial community of Patient 1 consisted of one predominant species (Prevotella oris 74.6%) with 27 minor species, while the sample from Patient 2 contained 3 abundant species (Porphyromonas endodontalis 33.0%; P. oris 31.6%; and Prevotella koreensis 13.4%) with five minor species. A total of 150 and 136 putative ARGs were predicted in the metagenome of each pus sample. The coverage of most predicted ARGs was less than 10%, and only the CfxA2 gene identified in Patient 1 was covered 100%. ARG analysis of the seven assembled genome/metagenome datasets of P. oris revealed that strain C735 carried the CfxA2 gene. Conclusion: A metagenomics-based approach is useful to profile predominantly anaerobic polymicrobial communities but needs further verification for reliable ARG detection.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2004

Fibromyalgia syndrome(FMS) is a chronic pain disorder of unknown etiology characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches and pains, stiffness, and general fatigue, disturbed sleep and sleepiness. Frequently misdiagnosed, FMS is often confused with myofascial pain syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, hypothyroidism, metastatic carcinoma, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus, any of which may occur concomitantly with FMS. The management of FMS often begins with a thorough examination and a diagnosis from a physician who is formally trained in tender-point/trigger-point recognition. An initial diagnosis provides reassurance to the patient and often reduces the anxiety and depression patterns associated with FMS. The most common goals in the management of FMS are (1) to break the pain cycle, (2) to restore sleep patterns, and (3) to increase functional activity levels. Because FMS is a multifactorial syndrome, it is likely that the best treatment will encompass multiple strategies. Medication with analgesics and antidepressants and also physiotherapy, are often prescribed and give some relief. The other most effective intervention for long-term management of FS to date is physical exercise. Physical therapists can instruct patients in the use of heat at home (moist hot packs, heating pads, whirlpools, warm showers or baths, and hot pads) to increase local blood flow and to decrease muscle spasm and tension. Also instruct patients in the proper use of cold modalities (ice packs, ice massage, and cool baths) to anesthetize localized areas of pain (tender points) and break the pain cycle. Massage and tender-point massage also may promote muscle relaxation. To date, the two most important interventions for the long-term management of FS are patient education and physical exercise. Lately, is handling FMS and Chronic Fatigue syndrome(CFS) together, becuase FMS and CFS are poorly understood disorders that share similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Because of the clinical similarities between both disorders it was suggested that they share a common pathophysiological mechanism, namely, central nervous system dysfunction.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.433-437
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• 2020

Cancer is a disease which has the huge burden in worldwide, and cancer is the number one cause of death in Korea. At this point, the new framework for cancer monitoring index is required for regional cancer monitoring. Especially, cancer survivors are the important target which is rapidly increasing recently, also cancer survivor's quality of care should be considered in the cancer monitoring index framework. To develop the Multidimensional Cancer Monitoring Index considering cancer survivor's quality of care, we took into account cancer continuum which including prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, assessment of quality of care and monitoring cancer patient, and end-of life care for stage. For target, components of health care delivery system such as patient, family, provider, payer, and policy maker are included. Also, Donabedian model which is a framework for examining health services and evaluating quality of health care such as structure, process, and outcome is applied to contents. This new cancer monitoring framework which includes multidimensional components could help to develop regional cancer monitoring index, and to make national cancer management and prevention policy in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2016

With the development in field of industry and medicine, new machines and techniques are being launched. Moreover, the complexity of the techniques is associated to an increasing risk of incident. Especially, a small error in radiotherapy can lead to a serious patient-related incident, risk management is necessary in radiotherapy in order to reduce the risk of incident. However, in field of radiotherapy, there are no legally binding clauses for risk management and there is an absence of risk management systems at an institutional level. Therefore, we analyzed institutional status of risk management, reporting & classification systems, and risk assessment & analysis in 31 countries. For risk management and reporting systems, 65% of countries investigated had legislation or regulations; however, only 35% of countries used classification systems. It was found that 43% more countries had legislation for risk management in healthcare than those for radiotherapy; 19% more countries had reporting systems for healthcare than those for radiotherapy. For classification systems, 60% more countries had legislation, recommendation, and guidelines in the field of radiotherapy than those for healthcare. Recently, international institutes have published several reports for risk management and patient safety in radiotherapy, owing to which, countries adopting risk management for radiotherapy will gradually increase. Before adopting risk management in Korea, we should precisely understand the procedures and functions of risk management, in order to increase efficiency of risk management because classification & reporting system and risk assessment & analysis are connected organically, and institutional management is needed for high quality of risk management in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.104-114
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• 2021

Objective: To explore the perception of drug utilization review (DUR) system and DUR modernization pilot project among healthcare professionals and patients. Methods: We conducted 8 times of focus group interviews (FGI) between August 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The healthcare professionals and patients who participated in the DUR modernization pilot project were included in the present study. Based on the type of project participation or medical institution, the participants were divided into the following four groups: group 1, hospital; group 2, clinic; group 3, pharmacy; and group 4, patient. Within each group, interviews were conducted under a pre-defined agenda to identify the implicit perceptions of the participants; the contents of the interviews were, then, categorized. Results: Healthcare professionals established a consensus on the positive aspects of the DUR system and DUR modernization pilot project. However, substantial concerns remain, such as additional workload associated with monitoring adverse events or acquiring consents from patients. Furthermore, a difference of opinion over the DUR convenience system was observed. Among 3 DUR convenience system, the personal medication history review service was highly utilized, but pop-up hold function and communication system was rarely used. Conclusion: We observed that systematic intervention using the DUR system is effective for both healthcare providers and consumers. Adverse events caused by inappropriate drug use can be prevented by continuous patient monitoring. Therefore, the role of DUR system needs to be expanded to establish a safe drug management system.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.11 no.sup
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• pp.89-101
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• 2012

This paper presents development of a management system for the health and diseases of the elderly. This study aimed to the promotion of the u-healthcare industry and to the increase in its competitive power by developing and expanding a system for managing the health and diseases of the elderly, in cooperation with u-healthcare companies. The study is underway through the following four substudies. In the first substudy titled development of the bio-signal collection and analysis technology using smart media, a technology that supports the collection of bio-signals in the elderly using portable terminals. In the second substudy titled development of the patient-specific healthcare platform expansion and enhancement technology, a technology is being developed for making medical decisions and taking measures based on the results of the processing of the collected bio-signals. In the third substudy titled development of the N-screen based healthcare contents open service technology, a technology is being developed to provide information on health, diseases, and medicine to platforms. In the fourth substudy titled development of the oriental medicine diagnosis and analysis technology for senile diseases. This study is expected to help ensure an excellent workforce and new technologies in the healthcare sector using smart phones, and to help reduce medical expenses by improving the health of citizens.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.24-36
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• 2016

The aims of this study is to investigate the status of nursing care delivery systems and nurse staffing levels and to analyze differences in the quality of nursing care by the type of nursing care delivery system. This research was based on data from 723 nurses working in 55 medical and surgical units in 26 general hospitals. Descriptive statistics on nurse staffing levels and the nursing care delivery system, and multi-level logistic regression were used to estimate the determinants of quality of nursing care. The number of patients per nurse is 17.74 patients in functional nursing care and 15.56 patients in total nursing care. In comparison to hospitals adopting total nursing care, hospitals with functional nursing care had greater patients. The nurses rated units using total nursing care as significantly better quality of nursing care than the units with functional nursing care. Total nursing care or modified total nursing care, rather than functional nursing care, could lead to improvement in the quality of care(total nursing care OR=3.895, modified total nursing care OR=2.475). Patient-centered approaches under proper circumstances can be successfully implemented and the positive effects demonstrated.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2002

The objective of research provides the physical therapy of good quality to the patients to search for the problem pant against a physical therapy accident and it simultaneously respects physical therapy company law, the possibility of preparing a system defensive ability in order to be. The data were collected from 2000 October 1 to December 30th, and analyzed by a frequency and a percentage, oneway ANOVA, Scheffe method, $x^2$ official approvals. Conclusion (1) the accident where the patient falls from inside the treatment 'room is many and occasionally' 29.3% (63 people) with was many most. (2) Because of a mistake by a part-time therapist in holiday or a colleague therapist to do, the fracture or bum accident happens 12.5% (27 people), by a assist nurse due to more showed 12.1% (26 people) experience degree in the patient. (3) From physical therapy process breakdown of the medical treatment machinery and tools or it is in malfunction to do and the experience which has a failure to physical therapy is one enemy 68.1% (147 people) was in item. Also it treats and the patient or in the protector it sends an explanation in advance not to be, the experience which it enforces 50% (108 people), of service hour treatment equipment the medical treatment directives broad way of the doctor is accurate in insufficiency and does not enforce the experience is 45.4% (98 people), the patient whom I am treating Hot Pack (electricity has pack inclusion) with to do, the art dealer (over at 1 buffoonery) the experience which it puts on 27.1% (58 people), The patient whom I am treating is the electrotherapy flag (electricity has pack exclusion) with to do, the art dealer (1 degree art dealer over) the experience which it puts on 16.3% (35 people), the experience boat song the patient against a fracture from physical therapy process 9 person (4.2%) was visible an experience degree. (4) With hospital infection to do, from the patient the experience and the therapist which receive a problem proposal were caused by with hospital infection and the answer back regarding the experience which tries to receive a treatment appeared 6% (13 people), 42% (9 people) with each. (5) It listened to the treatment hour patient or the appeal of the protector and especially it does not appear to be being important it was not and and the management which is special it did not take, also the experience where the condition of the patient is deteriorated after that was 10.3% (22 people). (6) The condition or state of the patient does not agree with the medical treatment instruction of the doctor not to be, amendment one experience was 67.5% (145 people). (7) The experience degree of the physical therapy accident which relates with physical therapy recording and a secret maintenance 59.7% (129 people) 'is many and occasionally it is,' it showed an answer back and e it showed a most high accident experience degree. (8) The business overweight of physical therapy company 43.3% (93 people) with was high most from recognition degree of the physical therapy company against a physical therapy accident. (9) Against the question which asks the responsibility subject matter of physical therapy accident the whole answer back volition 42.8% did it is a joint responsibility where the multi person relates. (10) The accident occurs most the hour unit which plentifully in the afternoon 64.3% (133 people) with appeared from the recognition degree against the frequency hour unit of physical therapy accident. (11) Physical therapy it bought and after the various medical treatment accident which relates against the attitude of the, patient side against the physical therapy company it understood and trillion it was many most with 33.3% to be finished. (12) After physical therapy accident the management against the physical therapy company of the hospital authorities concerned above all do not experience 70.6% (149 people), from event right and wrong submission 22.7% (48 people), warning management 2.8% (6 people), the event report requirement and money compensation were each 0.5% (1 person). (13) As the prevention book of physical therapy accident most it is important, the fact which it thinks that, the persons supplement of physical therapy company 58.8% (127 people) with was high most. (14) It related with a physical therapy accident and the medical law 43.5%, civil law 23.9%, was visible the answer back ratio of the criminal law 13.7% from the degree which probably is a relation law.