• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.5791-5797
• /
• 2012

Introduction: Return-to-work (RTW) can be a problematic occupational issue with detrimental impact on the quality of life of previously-employed breast cancer survivors. This study explored barriers and facilitators encountered during the RTW process in the area of cancer survivorship. Materials and Methods: Six focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide on 40 informants (employed multiethnic survivors). Survivors were stratified into three groups for successfully RTW, and another three groups of survivors who were unable to return to work. Each of the three groups was ethnically homogeneous. Thematic analysis using a constant comparative approach was aided by in vivo software. Results: Participants shared numerous barriers and facilitators which directly or interactively affect RTW. Key barriers were physical-psychological after-effects of treatment, fear of potential environment hazards, high physical job demand, intrusive negative thoughts and overprotective family. Key facilitators were social support, employer support, and regard for financial independence. Across ethnic groups, the main facilitators were financial-independence (for Chinese), and socialisation opportunity (for Malay). A key barrier was after-effects of treatment, expressed across all ethnic groups. Conclusions: Numerous barriers were identified in the non-RTW survivors. Health professionals and especially occupational therapists should be consulted to assist the increasing survivors by providing occupational rehabilitation to enhance RTW amongst employed survivors. Future research to identify prognostic factors can guide clinical efforts to restore cancer survivors to their desired level/type of occupational functioning for productivity and wellbeing.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study was aimed to identify the difference in satisfaction and importance of nursing care between patients in comprehensive nursing care unit (CNCU) and general nursing care unit (GNCU). It also confirms the difference between practice environment of nursing work and nurse's intention to work. Methods: Nursing care satisfaction and importance levels were measured from 202 patients. Practice environment of nursing work and nurse's intention to work were measured from 54 nurses. Results: The satisfaction level was higher in the CNCU in comparison to the GNCU (p<.001). There was no significant difference between the importance and satisfaction level of nursing care for patients at the CNCU (p=.973), whereas in the GNCU, patients' satisfaction level was lower than the importance level (p<.001). The score for practice environment for nursing work was higher in the CNCU than in the GNCU (t=3.34, p=.002). The nurse's intention to work in the CNCU was higher than that of the GNCU, but there was no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Through the survey, the paper suggests that comprehensive nursing care is a service type that satisfies the nursing demand (importance) that patients consider important. Results from nurses showed no significant differences.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.116-123
• /
• 2016

Purpose: To develop an inclusive and sustainable trauma system as the assessment of burden of injuries is very much important. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the estimates and characteristics of abdominal traumatic injuries. Methods: The data were extracted from the National Emergency Department Information System. Based on Korean Standard Classification for Disease 6th version, which is the Korean version of International Classification of Disease 10th revision, abdominal injuries were identified and abdominal surgeries were evaluated with electronic data interchange codes. Demographic factors, numbers of surgeries and clinical outcomes were also investigated. Results: From 2011 to 2014, about 24,696 patients with abdominal trauma were admitted to the hospitals annually in South Korea. The number of patients who were admitted to regional and local emergency medical centers was 8,622 (34.91%) and 15,564(63.02%), respectively. Based on National Emergency Department Information System, liver was identified as the most commonly injured abdominal solid organ (39.50%, 9,754/24,696, followed by spleen (17.57%, 4,338/24,696) and kidney (12.94%, 3,195/24,696). Conclusion: This study shows that the demand for abdominal trauma care is considerable in South Korea and most of the patients with abdominal trauma were admitted to regional or local emergency centers. The results of this study can be used as good source of information for staffs to ensure proper delivery of abdominal trauma care in trauma centers nationally.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 1997

Basic science teaching and clinical education should be integrated whenever appropriate, and the development of skills, values, and attitudes which are emphasized to the same extent as the acquisition of knowledge in nursing. Problem-based learning provides a students-centered learning environment and encourages an inquisitive style of learning. The purpose of this paper is to review and comment the role of tutors and students on problem-based learning. The use of problem-based learning places a high demand on faculty members' time and support. The role of tutors in Problem-based learning focuses primarily on issues of developing and teaching the curriculum and on organizational implementation and institutionalization. Tutors are an integral part of course planning. Tutors serve as a constant source of feedback on student needs and concerns to the course director and constitute an informal steering committee while the course is in progress. Tutors write cases, develop student evaluation methods, recommend resources, suggest modifications in lectures and laboratories. Students have a limited amount of time available to study what is traditionally defined as the core content of nursing. But, the role of students in Problem-based learning would be active, independent learners and problem-solvers rather than passive recipients of information. Students using a deep level approach attempt to integrate what they learn with what they already know, to understand the meaning underlying the material to be learned, and to look for explanations rather than facts. Students are encouraged, with appropriate guidance, to define their own learning goals, to select appropriate experiences to achieve these goals, and to be responsible for assessing their own learning progress. Problem-based learning is more flexible and meaningful, by encouraging student interaction, and by having a better emotional climate than the conventional learning.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.213-229
• /
• 2005

The first and the longest criminal indictment case of Korean medico-legal battle, so called BORAMAE Hospital Incident, was finally on its end by Korean Supreme Court's decision on June 24, 2004, after 7 years long legal dispute via Seoul District Court and Seoul Superior Appeal Court's decision. Boramae Hospital case was the first Korean legal case of Withdrawing Life-sustaining treatment of mechanical respirator on 58 years old Extradural Hematoma victim who was on Respirator under Coma after multi-organ failure postoperatively(APACHE II score: 34-39). Two physicians who have involved patient's care and had helped to make discharge the Near-death patient to home after repeated demand of patient's wife, due to economic reason, were sentenced as homicidal crime. This review article will discuss the following items with the review of US cases, Quinlan(1976), Nancy Cruzan(1990), Barber (1983), Helen Wanglie(1990), Baby K (1994) and Baby L cases, along with Official Statement of ATS and other Academic dignitaries of US and World.: [1] Details of Boramae Hospital incident, medical facts description and legal language of homicidal crime sentence. [2] The medical dispute about the legal misinterpretation of patient's clinical status, regarding the severity of the victim with multi-organs failure on Respirator under coma with least chance of recovery, less than 10% probability. [3] Case study of US, of similar situation. [4] Introduction of ATS official Statement on Withdrawing/ Withholding Life sustaining treatment. [5] Patient Autonomy as basic principle. [6] The procedural formality in Medical practise for keeping the legitimacy. [7] The definition of Medical Futility and its dispute. [8] Dying in Dignity and PAS(Physician Assisted Suicide)/and/or Euthanasia [9] The Korean version of "Dying in Dignity", based on the Supreme Court's decision of Boramae Hospital incident (2004.6.24.) [10] Summary and Author's Note for future prospects.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.2.1-2.17
• /
• 2014

The plant kingdom is considered to be a repository of modern medicine, attributable to their rich source of bio-active molecules and secondary metabolites. It is indeed the Nutraceuticals that enhance immunity and ensure a healthier life because of their prophylactic and therapeutic values. Over centuries, papaya [Caricaceae; (Carica papaya Linn.)] is a renowned nutritious and medicinal plant. Each part of the papaya like root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed, rinds, and latex has its own nutraceutical properties. It serves as food, cooking aid, and Ethnomedicine to prevent and treat wide-range of diseases and disorders. It has also been traditionally used as appetite enhancer, meat tenderizer, purgative, medicinal acne, abortifacient and vermifuge. Over decades, a series of scientific attempts were made to authenticate the nutraceutical properties of papaya. These studies validated that the papaya has antiplasmodial, antitrichochramal, antitrichomonal, antidengue, and anti-cancer activities. They have also exhibited that papaya possesses antiseptic, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and contraceptive features, and it helps in the management of sickle-cell anaemia, HIV, heart diseases and digestional disorders too. Nevertheless, the responsible bio-active molecules and their mode of actions remain indistinct and imprecise, and this calls for further pharmacological and clinical research on them. Conclusively, papaya is one of the naturally gifted plants; though its nutraceutical properties as a food or as a quasi-drug are poorly understood or undervalued by people. Accordingly, this scrutiny, demand for instigation of public health awareness campaigns to promote papaya consumption, so that the society shall acquire optimal benefits of papaya and in turn prevent and alleviate various diseases and illness.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.303-310
• /
• 2010

Demand on specialized feline dentistry has increased over the years, partly due to growing feline population in Korea. Despite the notable increase in the population, not much researches has been conducted on oral disease for stray cats. Thus this research was conducted on 81 adult stray cats from Gwangju in Korea (42 males and 39 females) with average weight of 3.4 kg and also focused on occurrence of periodontal disease (plaque and calculus), feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion (FORL), stomatitis and tooth anomaly. Formation of dental plaque and calculus were abundant on maxilla than mandible, especially distributed much on 4th premolar teeth and 1st molar teeth. After thorough examination of oral cavity, 33 stray cats (40.7%) were found to have oral disease. Eighteen stray cats (22.2%) had tooth fracture which was evident on cuspid and missing teeth were present on 2nd premolar tooth of maxilla and 2nd incisor of mandible amongst 20 stray cats (24.7%). FORL was present on cuspids and 2nd premolar tooth of maxilla among 10 stray cats (12.3%). Stomatitis was involved with FORL, missing tooth, and tooth fracture. Therefore, it was determined that stomatitis, FORL, and periodontal disease were closely associated.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2010

Objectives : While there are many studies about treatments of facial palsy, no study has been performed on general population of Korea, especially concerning about comparison between western medicine and oriental medicine. This study aimed to investigate magnitude of health visits and treatment patterns for Korean patients with facial palsy through the computerized database of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRAS). Methods : According to the HIRAS database over 5 years' period from 2004 to 2008, the medical records of patients with facial palsy as a main diagnosis were extracted. Inclusion criteria of facial palsy are Bell's palsy(G510), Geniculate ganglionitis(G511), Melkersson's syndrome(G512), Other disorders of facial nerve(G518), Disorder of facial nerve, unspecified(G519) in western medicine. And Paralytic face(G016), Deviated eye and mouth(J01), The other facial palsy(J013) were included in oriental medicine. We compared the claim number of western medical care with that of oriental medicine treatment by year and month. Results : The total claim number of facial palsy was increasing on both western medicine and oriental medicine from 2004 to 2008. In western medicine, the claim number of Bell's palsy(G510) is the most. In oriental medicine the inpatients claim number of Deviated eye and mouth(J01) is the most, while outpatients claim number of the other facial palsy(J013) is the most. Conclusions : Medical database of HIRAS provided comprehensive and vast information on epidemiologic characteristics and treatment, which can be more reliable data to expect medical demand for facial palsy in condition that accurate diagnosis and standardized treatment is delivered in clinical settings.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.147-178
• /
• 2003

In terms of reinforcing the functions and services of rescue 119 and emergency corps, we must review the following considerations : Building up security system along with operational expansion, building up a system for emergency medical treatment, buliding up a comprehensive information management system for rescue and emergency, constructing a provincial safety museum and so forth. For the ways to better the works of rescue 119, we can review the following considerations : Improving the education for fire fighting trainging corps under Jeju Provicial Fire and disaster management department, providing rescue members with more opportunity for clinical practices, enhancing the morale of rescue members, installing a comprehensive briefing room for emergency rescue members, building up medical networks along with reasonable policies for information service, operating the consulting system for rescue 119 and so on. Provide little more superior quality high fire fighting service to jeju islander, and need long-term and elaborate research to correspond in rising fire fighting man-power demand newly and investment. Construction of well-matched disaster administration system is assignment that must hurry in international free city. That jejudo receives time factor about that is received for another thing area's number of persons or equipment when regional special quality large scale or disaster happens is that of course the support receives limitation immediately. Jeju fire fighting services is one story reform, specialization taking into account particular situation of jeju area to grow as sightseeing and center of culture intending international free city, should be upgraded. So, it may do big contribution naturally in jeju international free city phase that coincide jeju islander's social welfare promotion and safety desire.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.1-23
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this paper is to survey the current status of service utilization in oriental medicine, to identify the determinants of consumers' decision in the service utilization, and then suggest policy implications for promoting the consumers' utilization. A multiple regression model was adopted to analyze the factors that influence consumer's decision in purchasing the oriental medical services. Data used in this research relied on National Survey Data conducted by Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, and sampling survey. The results could be summarized as follows.: 1. the number of visits to oriental medical institutions has shown an overall increase during the last decade since the inception of health insurance for oriental medical services. It still, however, revealed a relatively iow figure to western medical services. 2. the main factors, after controlling demographic variables, that determine consumers' selection between oriental medical services and western medical services are considered to be price, belief in effectiveness of services, waiting time for service. Implications for policy recommendation include 1. to reduce a barrier to service utilization by discounting dramatically the price of herb medicine, which is believed to be crucial in expanding market share, 2. to encourage consumer's belief in clinical effectiveness through a specialization in competitive services compared with wertern medicine, 3. to keep the affirmative image among consumers alive through an active participation of oriental medical doctors in community activities, 4 to change the health care system in favor of oriental medicine in the long run.