• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.74-83
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• 2001

Background : Since a Gamma Knife had been installed on December 1997, 405 patients have been treated until December 1999 at department of neurosurgery of Seoul National University hospital. The authors analyzed results of a work to improve satisfaction of Gamma Knife surgery patients and to reduce hospital length of stay. Methods : To understand main discontent of patients, a pre-survey was performed from October 1998 to December 1999 using a questionnaire. By Analyzing 93 questionnaire received from 234 patients, pain on frame application, explanation before surgery, waiting time before surgery, waiting time before medical procedure were main discontent factor and overall satisfaction ratio was 71.0%. To improve satisfaction ratio, several quality improvement activity works were designed and applied to 123 patients during the period between January 2000 and September 2000. The same questionnaire were analyzed. Works to reduce the patient hospital LOS were devised and applied during the same period. Results : The overall satisfaction ratio of Gamma Knife radiosurgery patients was increased to 83.7%(P=0.10). The main factor to improve satisfaction ratio was to reduce waiting time(P=0.05) and improvement of discomfort during the surgery(P=0.06). The average LOS was reduced from 3.1 to 2.7 days(P=0.003). Conclusion : As a result of quality assurance activities, the overall satisfaction ratio of patients was improved and LOS was reduced. The pain during frame application was remained as a main discontent factor and a further study is required to reduce this pain.

• 한국의료질향상학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.104-114
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• 1997

Background : Hospitals(Health care providers) are under tremendous pressure to meet consumer demands in order to compete in the rapidly changing health care arena. Through evaluating patient satisfaction, hospitals(health care providers) can learn what the consumer Wants from the health care system. Timely feedback is necessary. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients' hospital experience and satisfaction using telephone interview and to study the usefulness for telephone interview at assessing patient satisfaction. Method : The 846 patients who were discharged from September 17, 1996 to October 11, 1996 were targeted were telephoned. The informations gathered telephone survey were processed by computer and analyzed for the patient satisfaction, contributing factors. Result : The 846 patients who were discharged from September 17, 1996 to October 11, 1996 were called and 197 patients(23.3%) were successful interviewed. 51.3 percent of respondents were male and mean age is 39 years mean LOS(length of stay) is 13 days and 110(56.1%) patients were admitted by outpatients clinic. The mean calling-time is 5.5 minutes. There is no significant difference between interviewers(telemarketer) in patients satisfaction. Seven telephone interviews are possible by interview a day. There in no significant difference between groups in patients satisfaction in length of stay, path of admission, the interval between discharge and interview. 97.5 percent of respondents were satisfied with telephone interview and 81.7% were satisfied with overall satisfaction and 79.4 % of respondents were good response in interviewers' conclusion. Of six variables that were found to be correlated with telephone interview and eight variables correlated with overall hospital satisfaction, a multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that two most important variables which are significantly correlated with telephone interview are to meet doctors, not ask tediously then three variables which are with overall satisfaction are doctors explain, subject response, convenient facilities. Conclusion : The patients interviewed are satisfied with telephone interview. Telephone interview is good method for assessing patient satisfaction, making high levels of patient satisfaction and for hospital marketing.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.19-31
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• 2015

Objectives: Correlations of the levels of the nonspecific inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and of the coagulation marker fibrinogen with the treatment period of wheel balanced cancer therapy were determined. Methods: Electronic charts of stage IV cancer patients hospitalized from February 1, 2008, to November 30, 2013, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients whose laboratory follow-up tests included at least two data points for at least one marker were included. Patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy or having Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) levels exceeding 2 were excluded. Correlations of the markers with the length of treatment for treatment periods ${\geq}21$ and ${\leq}20$ days were determined by gender and whether or not surgery had been performed. Results: Analyses of the CRP and the ESR revealed a higher proportion of patients with stable marker levels than with increased or decreased levels. Also, only the ESR in female and the CRP in male groups had higher proportions of patients with stable marker levels than with increased or decreased levels. The ${\geq}21$ day group had a higher proportion of patients with stable CRP and ESR levels than the ${\leq}20$ days group. Only the ESR in female and the CRP in male groups had higher proportions of patients with stable marker levels in the ${\geq}21$ day than in the ${\leq}20$ day group. In addition, only the CRP in the surgery group and the ESR in the non-surgery group had higher proportions of patients with stable marker levels in the ${\geq}21$ day group than in the ${\leq}20$ day group. Conclusion: For stage IV cancer patients at hospitals that offer Korean medicine, more than 21 days of long-term wheel balanced cancer therapy (WBCT) should help maintain the CRP and the ESR levels and should have a favorable effect on the survival rate.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.22-31
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• 2023

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) directly affects the survival of patients and can cause long-term sequelae. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the operation of a trauma center in a single tertiary general hospital has improved emergency care and clinical outcomes for patients with TBI. Methods: The participants of this study were all TBI patients, patients with isolated TBI, and patients with TBI who underwent surgery within 24 hours, who visited our level 1 trauma center from March 1, 2012 to February 28, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: patients who visited before and after the operation of the trauma center. A comparative analysis was conducted. Differences in detailed emergency care time, hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were investigated in this study. Results: On comparing the entire TBI patient population via dividing them into the aforementioned two groups, the following results were found in the group of patients who visited the hospital after the operation of the trauma center: an increased number of patients with a good functional prognosis (P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively), an increased number of surviving discharges (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), and a reduction in overall emergency care time (P<0.05, for all item values). However, no significant differences existed in the length of intensive care unit stay, ventilator days, and total length of stay for TBI patients who visited the hospital before and after the operation of the trauma center. Conclusions: The findings confirmed that overall TBI patients and patients with isolated brain injury had improved treatment results and emergency care through the operation of a trauma center in a tertiary general hospital.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.726-736
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• 2003

Introduction: This study was conducted to investigate patients' satisfaction with hospital services at a university hospital in G city. Methods: The subjects of this study were 92 inpatients and data were collected during the period from March to April 2003. The research tool used was a 24-item scale(Cronbach' a= .768) on patients' satisfaction with two subcategories of services: 18 items on hospital human resources(a= .722) and 6 items on hospital environment(a= .700). Data were analyzed through $x^2$-test, t-test and ANOVA using SPSS/PC. Results: The level of patients' satisfaction was $38.4{\pm}3.77$ on hospital services $27.6{\pm}6.14$ on hospital human resources, and $10.8{\pm}2.39$ on hospital environment on the average. Satisfaction related to hospital human resources was higher in male subjects (t = 4.15, p = .003) and in those who stayed longer than 15 days (t= 4.404, p= .039) than the others, and also higher in those who replied that all items related to hospital facilities are satisfactory except the parking lot. Satisfaction related to hospital environment was significantly higher in more educated subjects(F = 2.945, p= .037) and in those who replied that all items related to hospital facilities are satisfactory or appropriate except the parking lot and admission procedure. Conclusions: Length of stay and the level of accessibility and appropriateness of hospital facilities were found to be factors that have significant effects on patients' satisfaction.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the oncologic and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Materials and Methods: From July 2006 to November 2016, 384 patients underwent distal gastrectomy for AGC. Data on short- and long-term outcomes were prospectively collected and reviewed. Propensity score matching was applied at a ratio of 1:1 to compare the LDG and ODG groups. Results: The operative times were longer for the LDG group than for the ODG group. However, the time to resumption of diet and the length of hospital stay were shorter in the LDG group than in the ODG group (4.7 vs. 5.6 days, P=0.049 and 9.6 vs. 11.5 days, P=0.035, respectively). The extent of lymph node dissection in the LDG group was more limited than in the ODG group (P=0.002), although there was no difference in the number of retrieved lymph nodes between the 2 groups. The 3-year overall survival rates were 98% and 86.9% (P=0.018), and the 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were 86.3% and 75.3% (P=0.259), respectively, in the LDG and ODG groups. Conclusions: LDG is safe and feasible for AGC, with earlier recovery after surgery and longterm oncologic outcomes comparable to those of ODG.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to investigate the socio-economic benefits of the poison control center (PCC) and to assess whether telephone counseling at the poison control center affects the frequency of emergency room visits, hospitalization, and length of stay of patients with acute poisoning. Methods: The authors conducted a medical literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. Two reviewers evaluated the abstracts for eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed the study quality using a standardized tool. Key results such as the cost-benefit ratio, hospital stay days, unnecessary emergency room visits or hospitalizations, and reduced hospital charges were extracted from the studies. When meta-analysis was possible, it was performed using RevMan software (RevMan version 5.4). Results: Among 299 non-duplicated studies, 19 were relevant to the study questions. The cost-benefit ratios of PCC showed a wide range from 0.76 to 36 (average 6.8) according to the level of the medical expense of each country and whether the study included intentional poisoning. PCC reduced unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. PCC consultation shortened the length of hospital stay by 1.82 (95% CI, 1.07-2.57) days. Conclusion: The systematic review and meta-analysis support the hypothesis that the PCC operation is cost-beneficial. However, when implementing the PCC concept in Korea in the future, it is necessary to prepare an institutional framework to ensure a costeffective model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.412-418
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• 2010

Objective : To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of lumbar interbody fusion and its correlation with various factors (e.g., age, comorbidities, fusion level, bone quality) in patients over and under 65 years of age who underwent lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative lumbar disease. Methods : One-hundred-thirty-three patients with lumbar degenerative disease underwent lumbar fusion surgery between June 2006 and June 2007 and were followed for more than one year. Forty-eight (361%) were older than 65 years of age (group A) and 85 (63.9%) were under 65 years of age (group B). Diagnosis, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, and perioperative complications were recorded. The analysis of clinical outcomes was based on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Radiological results were evaluated using plain radiographs. Clinical outcomes, radiological outcomes, length of hospital stay, and complication rates were analyzed in relation to lumbar fusion level, the number of comorbidities, bone mineral density (BMD), and age. Results : The mean age of the patients was 61.2 years (range, 33-86 years) and the mean BMD was -2.2 (range, -4.8 to -2.8). The mean length of hospital stay was 15.0 days (range, 5-60 days) and the mean follow-up was 23.0 months (range, 18-30 months). Eighty-five (64.0%) patients had more than one preoperative comorbidities. Perioperative complications occurred in 27 of 133 patients (20.3%). The incidence of overall complication was 22.9% in group A, and 18.8% in group B but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The mean VAS scores for the back and leg were significantly decreased in both groups (p < 0.05), and bony fusion was achieved in 125 of 133 patients (94.0%). There was no significant difference in bony union rates between groups A and B (91.7% in group A vs. 95.3% in group B, p = 0.398). In group A. perioperative complications were more common with the increase in fusion level (p = 0.027). Perioperative complications in both groups A (p = 0.035) and B (p = 0.044) increased with an increasing number of comorbidities. Conclusion : Elderly patients with comorbidities are at a high risk for complications and adverse outcomes after lumbar spine surgery. In our study, clinical outcomes, fusion rates, and perioperative complication rates in older patients were comparable with those in younger populations. The number of comorbidities and the extent of fusion level were significant factors in predicting the occurrence of postoperative complications. However, proper perioperative general supportive care with a thorough fusion strategy during the operation could improve the overall postoperative outcomes in lumbar fusion surgery for elderly patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.199-209
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to compare therapeutic efficacy and technical outcomes between adjustable electrode (AE) and conventional fixed electrode (FE) for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: Between 2013 and 2021, RFA was performed on histologically proven benign thyroid nodules. For the AE method, AE length ≥ 1 cm with higher power and < 1 cm with lower power were utilized for ablating feeding vessels and nodules, especially those near anatomical structures, respectively. The therapeutic efficacy (volume reduction rate [VRR], complication rate, and regrowth rate) and technical outcomes (total energy delivery, ablated volume/energy, RFA time, and ablated volume/time) of FE and AE were compared. Continuous parameters were compared using a two-sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, and categorical parameters were compared using a chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 182 nodules (FE: 92 vs. AE: 90) in 173 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 47.0 ± 14.7 years; female, 90.8% [157/173]; median follow-up, 726 days [interquartile range, 441-1075 days]) were analyzed. The therapeutic efficacy was comparable, whereas technical outcomes were more favorable for AE. Both electrodes demonstrated comparable overall median VRR (FE: 92.4% vs. AE: 84.9%, P = 0.240) without immediate major complications. Overall regrowth rates were comparable between the two groups (FE: 2.2% [2/90] vs. AE: 1.1% [1/90], P > 0.99). AE demonstrated a shorter median RFA time (FE: 811 vs. AE: 627 seconds, P = 0.009). Both delivered comparable median energy (FE: 42.8 vs. AE: 29.2 kJ, P = 0.069), but AE demonstrated higher median ablated volume/energy and median ablated volume/time (FE: 0.2 vs. AE: 0.3 cc/kJ, P < 0.001; and FE: 0.7 vs. AE: 1.0 cc/min, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Therapeutic efficacy between FE and AE was comparable. AE demonstrated better technical outcomes than FE in terms of RFA time, ablated volume/energy, and ablated volume/time.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.464-476
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to measure patient satisfaction with hosptial foodservices, and thereby identify areas for improvement and provides basic data for the introduction of total quality management into hospital foodservice in the Taegu·Kyungpook area. This survey was carried out on 676 hospitalized patients in 11 hospitals with over 200 beds to determine the quality satisfaction with foodservices. The subjects were 62.4% male and 37.6% female. Sixty-two percent of the subjects were over age 40, 46.7% were only educated to middle school or below, 41.8% were hospitalized for 1 - 10 days. Eighty-seven precent of the subjects did not receive any nutrition education. The expectation and perception grid showed that the high expectation to the low perception items were the seasoning of the meals, taste of the meals, and prompt dealings with meal complaints. The quality satisfaction values of all the attributes indicated a minus. The unsatisfied quality attributes were the opportunity to meet with a dietitian, seasoning of the meals, taste of the meals, explanation of the meals, and prompt dealings with meal complaints. Among the demographic characteristics, age, education, length of admission, and experience with nutrition education produced significant differences in the quality satisfaction scores. In conclusion, it would seem to be desirable that hospital foodservice department introduce selective menus, hygiene education for foodservice employees, standard recipes, quality assurance, and increase the meal rounding of dietitians in the patient foodservice.