• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.485-491
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to develop a method to improve the job satisfaction of sonograpers by analyzing the factors affecting professional self-concept and job satisfaction. For data collection, total 141 sonographers working in Busan took part in the structured questionnaire survey. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS. For verification of the professional self-concept and job satisfaction, independent t-test and one way ANOVA were executed. When the statistical significance was verified, Sheffe was used for post hoc test. As a result, professional self-concept and job satisfaction were higher when got married, and also when a proper salary was paid according to work experience and professional qualification was acquired. In addition, the factors that have the greatest effect on the job satisfaction were analyzed as professional self concept. In conclusion, in order to improve the job satisfaction of sonographers, it is necessary not only to establish a professional qualification system for the job skill development but also to provide an appropriate compensation system according to work experience.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.281-288
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• 2020

This study was intented as an investigation of the employment process into UAE for Korean and overseas sonographers to understand requirements for working abroad in regards to primary education curriculum and employment expansion abroad. A total of 10 candidates are selected who were working together with a job title of a cardiac sonographer in the same department under one hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The candidates had clinical experience over 2 years in other countries after graduation and for 1 year at least in UAE. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, a web search and literature reviews. We analyzed the process regarding their curriculums studying in colleges, educational courses and certificates related medical fields. The findings were created with four essential themes: first, there are specific colleges or diploma courses corresponding academic major in United states, Portugal, Turkey, India and Pakistan. Secondly, healthcare professions were systemized by certifying as a specialist relevant medical fields. Thirdly, it is mandatory to be employed in UAE that are clinical experience for 2 years at least after graduation of specific courses. Lastly, It is required to work in UAE that is a license of healthcare authority under each state by taking a national examination or transferring own certificates to a current license in UAE. In conclusion, the results indicate that employing process for healthcare professionals depends on the educational requirements or clinical experience accumulated due to the various systems to be certified in each country. We believe that this study suggests experimental information for Korean job seekers considering working abroad in the medical ultrasound fields.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.269-275
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• 2023

Echocardiography is a non-invasive method that is useful for diagnosing pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is known that echocardiography depends on the experience, education, and knowledge level of the cardiac sonographer. This study aimed to compare the agreement values between cardiac sonographer with different practical experiences in the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension using echocardiography. Three readers re-evaluated the echocardiography images of 148 patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension at the S Medical Center from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The echocardiography values measured by each reader were compared and analyzed. The results of the analysis of discrete variables revealed that the agreement values of the cardiac sonographers showed excellent consistency for both reader 3 and the cardiologist group, indicating that more experience leads to better predictive accuracy for diagnosis of the condition. Furthermore, in terms of continuous variables, all the cardiac sonographer demonstrated good agreement in the measured values of the right atrium, which was easier to assess and clearer than the structurally complex measurements of the right ventricle. This study represents the first analysis in Korea of the agreement values measured by medical technologists who are cardiac sonographers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.326-333
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• 2018

Background: Echocardiography involves strenuous postures of the upper limbs. This study explored the physical workload in the neck and upper limbs in sonographers performing echocardiography, and the extent to which the workload differs from than in other work tasks (other sonographic examinations, and nonsonographic tasks). Methods: The physical load was assessed by inclinometry, goniometry, and electromyography methods in 33 female sonographers during authentic work using three different echocardiography techniques and other work tasks. Results: Echocardiography was characterized by low velocities of the head, arms, and wrists, and a low proportion of muscular resting time in the forearms, in the transducer limb, and the computer limb. The transducer limb was more elevated in one of the techniques, but this technique also involved a higher proportion of muscular resting time of the trapezius muscle. We also found a high proportion of awkward wrist postures in the transducer wrist in all three techniques; in one due to prolonged flexion, and in the others due to prolonged extension. Other work tasks were less static, and were performed with higher upper arm and wrist velocities. Conclusion: None of the three echocardiography techniques was optimal concerning physical workload. Thus, to achieve more variation in physical load we recommend that the equipment be arranged so that the sonographer can alternate between two different techniques during the workday. We also propose alternation between echocardiography and nonsonographic tasks, in order to introduce variation in the physical workload. Clinical expertise should be used to achieve further improvements.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare the demographic and job characteristics and job satisfaction of sonographers (SONO) and radiological technologists (RT). The subjects were a total of 148 people (69 SONO, 79 RT), who had been working in clinical and hospitals. The method was conducted using a questionnaire with a total of 54 questions consisting of demographic characteristics, job characteristics, and job satisfaction. Reliability was secured with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.6 or higher for the response of the questionnaire. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics, cross-analysis, independent sample T-test, and correlation analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient and Spearman's correlation coefficient were performed for each occupation. As a result, first, the SONO had more female workers than RT. They are more than three times as many in graduate school and above. Second, the SONO had 4.5 times more morning shift than the RT and no form of weekend shift. Third, the average monthly salary of the SONO is higher than that of the RT, but when a certain portion of the salary goes up, the salary no longer goes up. Fourth, satisfaction with expectations, growth desire, positive mentality, growth opportunity, job importance, organizational attachment was higher SONO than the RT, but self-efficacy was higher in RT than SONO. Last, SONO had higher educational background than RT. It is hoped that the results of this study will be able to understand the job characteristics of SONO and RT and identify the factors of job satisfaction and provide them as fundamental materials for job selection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to suggest the optimum ambient illumination level for proper visualization in image inspection and reading on CRT and LCD monitors used for ultrasound and reading. The evaluators were divided into 4 groups: 20 (Ultra-sonographer: 20 groups (4 groups: ultra-sonographer, 1-5 years, 5 ultra-sonographers, 6 to 10 years, 5 ultra-sonographers, 11 to 15 years, The subjects were 32 questions. The evaluation method was image evaluation of ultrasonic soft copy images for 30 seconds per 10, 25, 100Lux ambient illumination. The evaluation results were evaluated as 6 points (Normal = Definitely no lesion), 2 points = possibly not a lesion, 3 points = probably not a lesion, 4 points = possibly a lesion, 5 points = probably a lesion, 6 points = Definitely a lesion). In this study, the results of ROC analysis according to ambient light illumination reading softcopy images used for lesion detection of all ultrasound images showed the highest sensitivity, specificity, and AUC results at 10Lux. It was found that optimal use of 10Lux for ambient light illumination would provide optimal detection of lesions in ultrasound soft copy images. Based on the future research data, it will be presented as basic data for designing ambient light brightness of ultrasound imaging laboratory and reading room.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2010

Objectives: The objective of the current study is to determine whether an ultrasound device system is adequate for measuring distance from Sangwan (CV13) to pancreas. Methods: We recruited 3 healthy young male subjects and 2 sonographers. The each sonographer measured vertical shortest distance from CV13 to pancreas with a ultrasound device three times in random order. Because the total variation could be divided into repeatability, reproducibility and subject-to-subject variation in Gage R&R method, we compared the sources of variation associated with the measurement system with an analysis of variance model. Results & Conclusions: Number of distinct categories is calculated on the basis of standard deviation of subject-to-subject divided by standard deviation of total Gage R&R. If the number of categories is five or more, the measurement system may be acceptable for the analysis of the process. The number of distinct categories of the ultrasound device system for measuring distance from CV13 to pancreas was 6.29. So we concluded that repeatability and reproducibility of the ultrasound device system for measuring distance from CV13 to pancreas was acceptable.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2011

Objectives: The objective of the current study is to determine whether an ultrasound device system is adequate for measuring distance from the abdominal surface of Sangwan (CV13) to peritoneum in front of anterior surface of liver. Methods: We recruited 3 healthy young male subjects and 2 sonographers. The each sonographer measured vertical shortest distance from the abdominal surface of Sangwan (CV13) to peritoneum in front of anterior surface of liver with a ultrasound device with three methods of 3.5 MHz convex probe and gel, 9 MHz linear probe and gel, and 9 MHz linear probe and solid gel pad, three times in random order. Because the total variation could be divided into repeatability, reproducibility and subject-to-subject variation in Gage R&R method, we compared the sources of variation associated with the measurement system with an analysis of variance model. Results & Conclusions: Number of distinct categories is calculated on the basis of standard deviation of subject-to-subject divided by standard deviation of total Gage R&R. If the number of categories is five or more, the measurement system may be acceptable for the analysis of the process. The number of distinct categories of the ultrasound device system for measuring distance from the abdominal surface of Sangwan (CV13) to peritoneum in front of anterior surface of liver were 9.20 (9 MHz linear probe and gel), 14.70 (9 MHz linear probe and solid gel pad). So we concluded that repeatabilities and reproducibilities of the ultrasound device system for measuring distance from the abdominal surface of Sangwan (CV13) to peritoneum in front of anterior surface of liver with the methods of 9 MHz linear probe and gel, and 9 MHz linear probe and solid gel pad were acceptable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.395-400
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• 2002

Recently, the increasing use of antenatal high resolutional ultrasonographic studies, and the increasing expertise of sonographers have contributed to the more frequent prenatal detecton of fetal hepatic calcification. Fetal hepatic calcification can arise from peritoneal, ischemic, infectious, neoplastic, and idiopathic causes. There are many reports that the prognosis is good in isolated fetal hepatic calcification without chromosomal aberrations, associated congenital malfomations or other organ abnormalities. We report one case of fetal hepatic calcification diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography at gestational age of 27 weeks, without chromosomal abnormalities or other associated organ abnormalities, showing good prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3835-3838
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• 2015

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of IOTA simple rules in predicting malignant adnexal tumors by non-expert examiners. Materials and Methods: Five obstetric/gynecologic residents, who had never performed gynecologic ultrasound examination by themselves before, were trained for IOTA simple rules by an experienced examiner. One trained resident performed ultrasound examinations including IOTA simple rules on 100 women, who were scheduled for surgery due to ovarian masses, within 24 hours of surgery. The gold standard diagnosis was based on pathological or operative findings. The five-trained residents performed IOTA simple rules on 30 patients for evaluation of inter-observer variability. Results: A total of 100 patients underwent ultrasound examination for the IOTA simple rules. Of them, IOTA simple rules could be applied in 94 (94%) masses including 71 (71.0%) benign masses and 29 (29.0%) malignant masses. The diagnostic performance of IOTA simple rules showed sensitivity of 89.3% (95%CI, 77.8%; 100.7%), specificity 83.3% (95%CI, 74.3%; 92.3%). Inter-observer variability was analyzed using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Kappa indices of the four pairs of raters are 0.713-0.884 (0.722, 0.827, 0.713, and 0.884). Conclusions: IOTA simple rules have high diagnostic performance in discriminating adnexal masses even when are applied by non-expert sonographers, though a training course may be required. Nevertheless, they should be further tested by a greater number of general practitioners before widely use.