• Title/Summary/Keyword: Quality Facets

Search Result 40, Processing Time 0.027 seconds

A Study on Qulity Perceptions and Satisfaction for Medical Service Marketing (의료서비스 마케팅을 위한 품질지각과 만족에 관한 연구)

  • Yoo, Dong-Keun
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
    • /
    • v.2 no.1
    • /
    • pp.97-114
    • /
    • 1996
  • INSTRODUCTION Service quality is, unlike goods quality, an abstract and elusive constuct. Service quality and its requirements are not easily understood by consumers, and also present some critical research problems. However, quality is very important to marketers and consumers in that it has many strategic benefits in contributing to profitability of marketing activities and consumers' problem-solving activities. Moreover, despite the phenomenal growth of medical service sector, few researchers have attempted to define and model medical service quality. Especially, little research has focused on the evaluation of medical service quality and patient satisfaction from the perspectives of both the provider and the patient. As competition intensifies and patients are demanding higher quality of medical service, medical service quality and patient satisfaction has emerged as a critical research topic. The major purpose of this article is to explore the concept of medical service quality and its evaluation from both nurse and patient perspectives. This article attempts to achieve its purpose by (1)classfying critical service attibutes into threecategories(satisfiers, hygiene factors, and performance factors). (2)measuring the relative importance of need criteria, (3)evaluating SERVPERF model and SERVQUAL model in medical service sector, and (4)identifying the relationship between perceived quality and overall patient satisfaction. METHOD Data were gathered from a sample of 217 patients and 179 nurses in Seoul-area general hospitals. From the review of previous literature, 50 survey items representing various facets of the medical service quality were developed to form a questionnaire. A five-point scale ranging from "Strongly Agree"(5) to "Strongly Disagree"(1) accompanied each statement(expectation statements, perception statements, and importance statements). To measure overall satisfaction, a seven-point scale was used, ranging from "Very Satisfied"(7) to "Very Dissatisfied"(1) with no verbal labels for scale points 2 through 6 RESULTS In explaining the relationship between perceived performance and overall satisfaction, only 31 variables out of original 50 survey items were proven to be statistically significant. Hence, a penalty-reward analysis was performed on theses 31 critical attributes to find out 17 satisfiers, 8 hygiene factors, and 4 performance factors in patient perspective. The role(category) of each service quality attribute in relation to patient satisfaction was com pared across two groups, that is, patients and nurses. They were little overlapped, suggesting that two groups had different sets of 'perceived quality' attributes. Principal components factor analyses of the patients' and nurses' responses were performed to identify the underlying dimensions for the set of performance(experience) statements. 28 variables were analyzed by using a varimax rotation after deleting three obscure variables. The number of factors to be extracted was determined by evaluating the eigenvalue scores. Six factors wereextracted, accounting for 57.1% of the total variance. Reliability analysis was performed to refine the factors further. Using coefficient alpha, scores of .84 to .65 were obtained. Individual-item analysis indicated that all statements in each of the factors should remain. On 26 attributes of 31 critical service quality attributes, there were gaps between actual patient's importance of need criteria and nurse perceptions of them. Those critical attributes could be classified into four categories based on the relative importance of need criteria and perceived performance from the perspective of patient. This analysis is useful in developing strategic plans for performance improvement. (1) top priorities(high importance and low performance) (in this study)- more health-related information -accuracy in billing - quality of food - appointments at my convenience - information about tests and treatments - prompt service of business office -adequacy of accommodations(elevators, etc) (2) current strengths(high importance and high performance) (3)unnecessary strengths(low importance and high performance) (4) low priorities(low importance and low performance) While 26 service quality attributes of SERPERF model were significantly related to patient satisfation, only 13 attributes of SERVQUAL model were significantly related. This result suggested that only experience-based norms(SERVPERF model) were more appropriate than expectations to serve as a benchmark against which service experiences were compared(SERVQUAL model). However, it must be noted that the degree of association to overall satisfaction was not consistent. There were some gaps between nurse percetions and patient perception of medical service performance. From the patient's viewpoint, "personal likability", "technical skill/trust", and "cares about me" were most significant positioning factors that contributed patient satisfaction. DISCUSSION This study shows that there are inconsistencies between nurse perceptions and patient perceptions of medical service attributes. Also, for service quality improvement, it is most important for nurses to understand what satisfiers, hygiene factors, and performance factors are through two-way communications. Patient satisfaction should be measured, and problems identified should be resolved for survival in intense competitive market conditions. Hence, patient satisfaction monitoring is now becoming a standard marketing tool for healthcare providers and its role is expected to increase.

  • PDF

Dynamics and Liver Disease Specific Aspects of Quality of Life Among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease in Yunnan, China

  • Che, Yan-Hua;You, Jing;Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi;Li, Li;Sriplung, Hucha;Yan, Yuan-Zhi;Ma, Si-Jia;Zhang, Xiaoli;Shen, Ting;Chen, He-Min;Rao, Shao-Feng;Zhang, Ru-Yi
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.15 no.12
    • /
    • pp.4765-4771
    • /
    • 2014
  • Background: Patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) may have compromised health related quality of life (HRQoL). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has long been the leading cause of CLD including liver cancer and cirrhosis. Knowledge on different symptom profiles of CLD should help in development of comprehensive treatment and patient care plans. Objective: To access the facets of HRQoL in chronic liver diseases throughout their spectrum of severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in Yunnan Province of China. Both out- and inpatients undergoing treatment protocols for different HBV related liver disease states were consecutively collected from December 2012 to June 2013. ANOVA was used to compare the mean scores of EQ-5D and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) among 5 disease groups. The relationship between demographic variables predicting global CLDQ scores and the domains of CLDQ was analysed. Results: A total of 1040 patients including 520 without complications, 91 with compensated cirrhosis, 198 with decompensated cirrhosis, 131 with HCC and 100 with liver failure were recruited. All domains of CLDQ, the means of EQ-5D value and EQ VAS exhibited significant decline with worsening of disease severity from uncomplicated HBV to liver failure. The multivariate regression demonstrated the reduction of mean scores of CLDQ domain at advanced stage. Patients with liver failure and HCC had more HRQoL impairment than other disease states. No effect of patient gender was found. Patient age was associated with 'fatigue' and 'worry' domains (p=0.006; p=0.004) but not with other domains and global scores of CLDQ and ED-5D. Conclusions: The HRQoL in chronic hepatitis B patients is greatly affected by disease states. Care for HBV-related diseases should consider not only the outcomes of treatment strategies but also improvement in patient wellbeing.

Prospects for Future Multi-disciplinary Collaboration

  • Lai, Claudia K.Y.
    • Perspectives in Nursing Science
    • /
    • v.4 no.1
    • /
    • pp.9-18
    • /
    • 2007
  • Background: Intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration is becoming more prominent in all facets of government, health, social services, and scientific endeavors. An interplay of a multitude of driving forces moves multiple disciplines forward to achieve quality outcomes in health and social sciences services and research. Aim: This paper aims at discussing the prospects for future multidisciplinary collaboration. If inter organizational integration and multidisciplinary collaboration are the ways of the future in academia and the scientific world, it then becomes crucial to examine what lies ahead for the nursing profession, Discussion: This paper argues that in order for multidisciplinary endeavors to succeed, the leaders in multidisciplinary teams shoulder the largest share of the responsibilities involved. In developing a lasting team constituting professionals from different disciplines, the leader needs to include the right individuals in the team, identify a common goal, build trusting relationships through open communication and interprofessional education, and empower members through creating room for autonomy and at the same time allowing space for personal development. The leader will need to utilize information technologies to manage communication issues in a large multi-site multidisciplinary project. Lastly, he or she must be able to demonstrate team productivity through process and outcome evaluation. It needs to be emphasized that it falls to each individual nurse to speak up and act upon what nursing believes and represents in our quest for success in multidisciplinary endeavors. Conclusion: The significance of the role of the leader is paramount for a team to succeed. Yet there is no prospect if only a handful of exceptional nurse leaders are moving ahead in multidisciplinary endeavors. Without the actualization of professional roles by each individual nurse, the profession will have no prospect in collaborations across disciplines.

  • PDF

A Research on Development of Multi-Screen Image and Application to Ultra-High Definition Contents (멀티스크린의 발전과 초고화질 콘텐츠 응용에 대한 연구)

  • Moon, Dae-Hyuk
    • Journal of Industrial Convergence
    • /
    • v.18 no.6
    • /
    • pp.33-39
    • /
    • 2020
  • The multi-screen image system could make the audiences appreciate contents without special devices by expansively composing the images played on a single screen to many facets suitable for the use, which could provide the great immersiveness to the audiences. Based on the recent interest in realistic images, it is produced as films through the multi-projection technology such as Screen X or Escape, and it is developed into the media that could deliver stories and information. Also, the size of display tends to gradually get larger while the image quality is improved to high definition. Thus, the development is accelerated in the form of Digital Signage that could play the high definition image contents by solidly composing many HD or UHD display screens. Moreover, through the convergence of digital technologies, it is developed into the higher value-added industry that could have two-way communication. This study aims to understand the developmental history of multi-screen image from 1950 to the present, technical analysis, and the production method, and then to research how to minimize the image degradation when playing the contents, in various platforms using the multi-screen image.

Crystal Growth of $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$ and Nd : $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$ by Czochralski. Technique (융액인상법에 의한 $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$및 Nd : $Y_3Al_5O_{12}$ 단결정육성)

  • Yu, Yeong-Mun;Lee, Yeong-Guk;Park, Ro-Hak
    • Korean Journal of Crystallography
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.51-66
    • /
    • 1994
  • Y3Al5O2 and Nd: Y3Al5012 single crystals were grown by Czochralskl technique. The effectt of pulling rate rotation rate, and doping level of Nd3+ ion on the crystal quality were studied Various types of defects were analysed by photo-elastic effect and chemical etching method Finally, spectroscopic and laser poputies of grown crystal were measured. Optirmum pulling rate for good quality was dependant on the doping level of Nd3+ ion. It was found that the suitable pulling rates for pure Y3Al5O12 for 3.0∼3.5 a/o Nd3+ ion doped Y3Al5012 and for more than 40 a/o Nd3+ ion doped Y3Al5012 were 2∼4mm/hr, 0.6∼0.5mm/hr, and less than 0.4mm/hr respectively. Solid-liquid interface was convex at the rotation rate of 27∼60rpm, and concave at the rotation rate of 80∼100rpm. Growth axis was confired to <111> direction and lattice parameter was measured to 12.017A. Core (211) facets,striations, inclusions of metal particles, dislocations and optical inhonngeneities were detected. Four level laser transition of Nd3+ion in YIAls012 single crystal were identified by the spectroscopic measurements. Laser rod with tam diameter and 63mm length was fabricated from grown Nd3+ Y3Al5012 sin91e crystals. 1.8lJ of lasing threshould and 0.49% of soope efficiency were measured by the Pulsed laser action.

  • PDF

Evaluation Index for U-city Status Diagnostic Assessment System based on Local Governments (지자체 U-City 수준진단체계 평가지표)

  • Lee, Mee Young;Shin, Ju Ho;Lee, Jae Yong
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
    • /
    • v.15 no.5
    • /
    • pp.20-28
    • /
    • 2016
  • A Ubiquitous City (U-city, Smart City) is one that ties information communications technologies (ICT) into many facets of city construction, thereby implicitly intending to function as a smart city that aims to be efficiently managed as well as provide an enhanced standard of living for its residents. Laws related to the construction of such ubiquitous cities point to integrated city management centers, intelligent facilities, and U-City infrastructure, among others, as central components of U-Cities, but do not provide a standard for these structures. Consequently, building of U-Cities by local governments are based on arbitrary judgments constrained the myriad of practical limitations that they face. Such ambiguity brings to light the need to find ways to improve the quality of these efforts. The first and second stages of this research examine the status of the components of a U-City -ubiquitous planning, technology, infrastructure, and services - and undertakes a comprehensive review thereof, with evaluation criteria formulated on the characteristics of stability, connectivity, goal-orientation, and development potential. In the research's third stage, a realistic and detailed evaluation index by which U-Cities can be renewed, demonstrated, and applied (???) is introduced in a step-by-step fashion, which will allow for local governments to properly assess the standard of their U-City in relation to the realities of the locality. Through the research result, it is expected that the index will become a part of the continued development and advancement of the "smart" character of an autonomous U-City at the local scale, and contribute to the overall revitalization of the U-City.

Optical System Design for Real-Time 3-Dimension Ophthalmoscope (실시간 3차원 검안경의 광학설계)

  • Lee, Soak-Hee;Yang, Yun-Sik;Choe, Oh-Mok;Sim, Sang-Hyun;Doo, Ha-Young
    • Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.35-39
    • /
    • 2003
  • The display technology on the retina is the key role in inspecting the condition of the patients. 2-dimensional retina image is widely used in the eye examination as of today. Recently, 3-dimensional retina image ones have been introduced to this area, but the quality of the image is not fully satisfied to the operator. For the purpose of developing 3-D retina imaging instrument, the optimization of a 3-D retina imaging system using Code-V tool was investigated in this thesis. He-Ne laser having the wavelength 632.8 nm was used to make a power source to detect the retina. Several lenses and mirrors installed on sledge which were developed to perform focus control on 3-D device were designed to make a beam focusing and direct line. Polygon scanner having 24 mirror facets and galvanometer making tilting movement were utilized to make a 2-D laser plane. Also, design of eye ball had been fulfilled to see the focus of the 2-D plane. Reflected ray from retina detected on the sensor array with the same path. All cognitive components were optimized for aberration correction in order to focus on retina. Results of optimization were compared to those of initial designed optics system. On the basis of above results, the result of third aberration has been corrected to stable values to the optical system. MTF evaluating the resolution of an image has been closely correlated to the diffraction limit and PSF indicating the strength distribution of an image has shown the SR value as 0.9998 having high performance. The possibility of new and powerful 3-D retina image instrument was verified by simulating each component of the instrument by Code-V.

  • PDF

Analysis of the Organization System and Learning Objectives of Middle School Informatics Textbooks (중학교 정보 교과서의 구성체계 및 학습목표 분석)

  • Kang, Oh-Han
    • The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
    • /
    • v.22 no.2
    • /
    • pp.1-9
    • /
    • 2019
  • In order to improve the quality of textbooks, this study analyzed seven informatics textbooks published based on the 2015 revised curriculum. Content analysis was used to analyze the organization system of these textbooks. Learning objectives of the textbooks were also analyzed according to Anderson's taxonomy of educational objectives. Furthermore, a textbook satisfaction survey, in which textbook selection criteria were applied, was given out to preliminary teachers. The results showed that the textbooks were similarly organized, centered on practice, activities, differentiated learning, and small group learning. However, the number of pages varies considerably for each chapter. After analyzing learning objectives of the textbooks, it was found that in terms of cognitive processes, 'understanding' (53%) was the highest item and 'analyzing' (16%) the second highest; in terms of type of knowledge, 'conceptual' (42%) and 'procedural' (31%) accounted for the two highest categories; in terms of cognitive domains, there has been a significant increase in 'analyzing' and 'creating' facets for learning objectives of these new versions of textbooks as compared to those of previously existed textbooks. In the satisfaction survey on a 5-point Likert scale, 'the accuracy and fairness of the content' had the highest points at 4.21 among four scale items. In this study, the improvement of the textbook is proposed based on the findings from this analysis.

Oxide perovskite crystals type ABCO4:application and growth

  • Pajaczkowska, A.
    • Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
    • /
    • 1996.06a
    • /
    • pp.258-292
    • /
    • 1996
  • In the last year great interest appears to YBCO thin films preparation on different substrate materials. Preparation of epitaxial film is a very difficult problem. There are many requirements to substrate materials that must be fullfilled. Main problems are lattice mismatch (misfit) and similarity of structure. From paper [1] or follows that difference in interatomic distances and angles of substrate and film is mire important problem than similarity of structure. In this work we present interatomic distances and angle relations between substrate materials belonging to ABCO4 group (where A-Sr or Ca, B-rare earth element, C-Al or Ga) of different orientations and YBCO thin films. There are many materials used as substrates for HTsC thin films. ABCO4 group of compounds is characterized by small dielectric constants (it is necessary for microwave applications of HTsC films), absence of twins and small misfit [2]. There most interesting compounds CaNdAlO4, SrLaAlO4 and SrLaGaO4 were investigated. All these compounds are of pseudo-perovskite structure with space group 14/mmm. This structure is very similar to structure of YBCO. SLG substrate has the lowest misfit (0.3%) and dielectric constant. For preparation of then films of substrates of this group of compound plane of <100> orientation are mainly used. Good quality films of <001> orientations are obtained [3]. In this case not only a-a misfit play role, but c-3b misfit is very important too. Sometimes, for preparation of thin films substrates of <001> and <110> orientations were manufactured [3]. Different misfits for different YBCO faces have been analyzed. It has been found that the mismatching factor for (100) face is very similar to that for (001) face so there is possibility of preparation of thin films on both orientations. SrLaAlO4(SLA) and SrLaGaO4(SLG) crystals of general formula ABCO4 have been grown by the Czochralski method. The quality of SLA and SLG crystals strongly depends on axial gradient of temperature and growth and rotation rates. High quality crystals were obtained at axial gradient of temperature near crystal-melt interface lower than 50℃/cm, growth rate 1-3 mm/h and the rotation rate changing from 10-20pm[4]. Strong anisotropy in morphology of SLA and SLG single crystals grown by the Czochralski method is clearly visible. On the basics of our considerations for ABCO4 type of the tetragonal crystals there can appear {001}, {101}, and {110} faces for ionic type model [5]. Morphology of these crystals depend on ionic-covalent character of bonding and crystal growth parameters. Point defects are observed in crystals and they are reflected in color changes (colorless, yellow, green). Point defects are detected in directions perpendicular to oxide planes and are connected with instability of oxygen position in lattice. To investigate facets formations crystals were doped with Cr3+, Er3+, Pr3+, Ba2+. Chromium greater size ion which is substituted for Al3+ clearly induces faceting. There appear easy {110} faces and SLA crystals crack even then the amount of Cr is below 0.3at.% SLG single crystals are not so sensitive to the content of chromium ions. It was also found that if {110} face appears at the beginning of growth process the crystal changes its color on the plane {110} but it happens only on the shoulder part. The projection of {110} face has a great amount of oxygen positions which can be easy defected. Pure and doped SLA and SLG crystals measured by EPR in the<110> direction show more intensive lines than in other directions which allows to suggest that the amount of oxygen defects on the {110} plane is higher. In order to find the origin of colors and their relation with the crystal stability, a set of SLA and SLG crystals were investigated using optical spectroscopy. The colored samples exhibit an absorption band stretching from the UV absorption edge of the crystal, from about 240 nm to about 550 m. In the case of colorless sample, the absorption spectrum consists of a relatively weak band in the UV region. The spectral position and intensities of absorption bands of SLA are typical for imperfection similar to color centers which may be created in most of oxide crystals by UV and X-radiation. It is pointed out that crystal growth process of polycomponent oxide crystals by Czochralski method depends on the preparation of melt and its stoichiometry, orientation of seed, gradient of temperature at crystal-melt interface, parameters of growth (rotation and pulling rate) and control of red-ox atmosphere during seeding and growth (rotation and pulling rate) and control of red-ox atmosphere during seeding and growth. Growth parameters have an influence on the morphology of crystal-melt interface, type and concentration of defects.

  • PDF

Evaluation of the influence of a visual design of an examination guide on patient comprehension and testing accuracy (검사 안내문의 시각적 디자인화가 환자의 검사 이해도 및 정확성에 미치는 영향 평가)

  • Kang, Young-Eun;Jung, Woo-Young;Hong, Bo-Ruem
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.23 no.1
    • /
    • pp.29-34
    • /
    • 2019
  • Purpose An examination guide is a useful medium to provide the patient with an overview, pre- and post-test preparation, and precautions of nuclear testing. The design and arrangement of existing written texts and announcements were evaluated to elucidate the comprehension of patients undergoing testing. Materials and Methods Informational material describing bone scanning and $^{201}thallium$ myocardium perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), as a secondary examination, which accounts for the largest portion of gamma imaging at Asan Hospital (Seoul, South Korea), was selected as an improvement target in consultation with a national innovation center. Existing informational material was dispensed to patients scheduled for bone scans from November 2016 to February 2017 and the revised material was issued from March 2017 to May 2017. A survey was conducted of 200 patients who underwent $^{201}thallium$ myocardium perfusion SPECT before and after the revisions (n = 100 each time period) to assess the patients' understanding of the informational material. Results When comparing the use of the conventional vs. revised material, the number of patients who received treatment before bone scanning had decreased from 130 to 60, while the number of those who required additional imaging decreased from 53 to 14. Prior to the revision, 43% of patients underwent testing before preparation and 18% underwent additional testing. The decreased need for additional image acquisition after revision of the informational material resulted in a decrease in acquisition time of about 2 min, from 16.5 to 14.2 min. In the case of $^{201}thallium$ myocardium perfusion SPECT, patient comprehension of all five items surveyed had increased, while the number of patients who had repeatedly asked about various facets of the procedure pre- and post-testing had decreased from 36% to 16% and 31% to 14%, respectively. Conclusion Lower patient comprehension is accompanied by a decrease in image quality due to non-compliance during pre-testing and may lead to repetitive questions from the patient, which may also negatively affect the fatigue and work efficiency of the examiner. Improved readability and visibility of informational material through visualization was correlated with greater patient comprehension as well as improved image quality and acquisition time.