• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.370-379
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• 2018

This study was conducted 1) to investigate the effects of treatment and other factors on the quality of life of thyroid cancer surgical patients and 2) to provide fundamental data for development of an intervention and symptom management program to improve the quality of life of those patients. A total of 76 patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer and underwent thyroidectomy from July 2013 to December 2014 participated in this study. To investigate the factors affecting quality of life, a t-test and ANOVA analyses were conducted, after which multiple regression analysis was performed. The results were statistically significant between preoperative and one month after surgery of sex, cancer history, fatigue, and quality of life until 3 months after surgery of stage, cancer history, anxiety, and pain. Multiple regression analysis showed that the most influential factors affecting the quality of life were depression and fatigue at one month prior to and after surgery and anxiety at three months after surgery, while no factors were found to be influential at six months after surgery. Overall, the results of this study suggested that it is imperative to manage depression and fatigue one month prior to and after surgery to reduce the physical and psychological pain experienced by thyroid cancer patients. Moreover, three months after the surgery, anxiety should be closely monitored and controlled to improve the quality of life of the patients. This approach is expected to reduce the burden on the health care system and social costs, which will positively affect public health.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.140-145
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• 2019

With the development of IT technology, many changes are taking place in the health service environment over the past. However, even if medical technology is converged with IT technology, the problem of medical costs and management of health services are still one of the things that needs to be addressed. In this paper, we propose a model for hospitals that have established the IoT system to efficiently analyze and manage the personal information of users who receive medical services. The proposed model aims to efficiently check and manage users' medical information through an in-house IoT system. The proposed model can be used in a variety of heterogeneous cloud environments, and users' medical information can be managed efficiently and quickly without additional human and physical resources. In particular, because users' medical information collected in the proposed model is stored on servers through the IoT gateway, medical staff can analyze users' medical information accurately regardless of time and place. As a result of performance evaluation, the proposed model achieved 19.6% improvement in the efficiency of health care services for occupational health care staff over traditional medical system models that did not use the IoT system, and 22.1% improvement in post-health care for users who received medical services. In addition, the burden on medical staff was 17.6 percent lower on average than the existing medical system models.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.223-225
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• 2024

It has been 7 months since medical students boycotted classes and resident doctors left hospitals in protest against the government's policy to increase the number of doctors. As education was suspended and services at university hospitals reduced, medical gaps in medical care have emerged. As a result, concerns are growing about a potential crisis in the healthcare system. The reason for the doctors' strong opposition to the policy lies in several issues that need improvement in the government's decision-making process. By reviewing these issues, we look forward to drawing lessons for making better policy decisions in the future. First, because the evidence supporting policy decisions has various characteristics and scopes, it is important to thoroughly discuss these grounds with stakeholders. Second, the discussion structure for reviewing evidence and making decisions should consist of members capable of fully negotiating diverse perspectives and should be operated through a fair and transparent process. If these steps are not properly implemented, conflicts surrounding the evidence could escalate, thereby lowering trust in the government. When stakeholders lose trust in the government, the social costs of implementing policies may rise, and policy efficiency may decline. Therefore, it is time to restructure the decision-making system in the direction of reducing potential conflicts that may arise during the future policy implementation process and increasing trust in the government.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.65-89
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• 2012

Objective : In order to investigate and improve public Korean medical health service satisfaction level, this study was designed. Method : A questionnaire has been conducted on 212 patients who received treatments at six public health centers in the northern part of Gyeongbuk during 15 days between Sep. 24 and Oct. 8, 2011. Result : 1. An Investigation on the usage of herbal clinics in public health centers reveals that 63.7% have received three times or more medical treatments previously and 61.8% have had their illness treated at other medical institutions. In regard to illness 32.1% have had arthritis or muscle aches. 50.9% have taken insurance medication after having had treatments at the public health centers. 66% have assessed acupuncture and moxa cautery the most satisfying. 2. To a question regarding whether herbal health treatment costs higher than that of physician's, the highest response at 31.6% is 'No'. And to a question regarding whether herbal medicines administered at public health centers have more side effects than that of physician's, the highest response at 39.6% is 'No'. 3. To a question regarding whether herbal treatment of public health centers has little effect against acute disease, 48.1% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal treatments, when compared with physician's treatments, boost better recovery of patients, 48.1% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal medicine is unscientific, when compared with that of western medicine, 38.2% of responses are 'Fair', To a question regarding whether herbal medicine has faster effect on disease than western medicine, 41.0% of responses are 'Fair'. To a question regarding whether herbal medicine is more effective on disease prevention and promotion of health than disease treatment, 38.2% of responses are 'Fair'. And to a question regarding whether the lack of various types of physical therapy devices in herbal medicine, when compared with western medicine causes inconvenience in herbal treatment, 42.0% of responses are 'Fair'. Those responses take up highest portion at each questionnaire. 4. A comparative study between herbal treatments and physician's treatments has also been conducted. To questions regarding which one of the two considering types of disease is the better, responses are the latter accounted for 43.9% against 'Cancer', the latter accounted for 45.3% against 'Endocrine disorders', the former accounted for 30.7% against 'Psychiatric disorders', the latter accounted for 38.2% gainst 'Otolaryngological(ENT) disease', the former accounted for 47.6% against 'Post traumatic stress disorder', and the former accounted for 52.4% against 'Muscle-skeletal disease'. 5. An investigation on frequency of patients' visits via (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. 6. First, an investigation on frequency of reasons of medical treatments reveal that age, occupation, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of subjects taking insurance medicines after herbal health treatments reveal that monthly income (p<0.05) of subject shows a statistically significant difference. 7. First, an investigation on frequency of a claim that herbal treatments of public health center does not have great effect on acute disease reveals that age, education, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of analysis that herbal treatments has faster effect on disease compared with western treatments reveals that education level, religion, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. 8. When herbal clinics of public health centers and general herbal medicine institutions are compared, a survey on additional treatments that herbal clinics need the most reveals that education level, monthly income, and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Secondly, an investigation on frequency of subjects who want various forms of herbal medicines reveals that occupation and insurance type (p<0.05) of subjects show a statistically significant difference. Conclusion : In order to improve efficiency of treatments and enhance patient's satisfaction level, this study suggests measures such as providing a differentiated acupuncture treatments as a whole, streamlining an reception procedure, adopting more elaborated computer system for a patient to get proper medical attention, standardizing a treatment duration in order for a maximum result, keeping regular office hours, and optimizing a consultation time for a patient.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

Low back disorders (LBDs) have been the most common musculoskeletal problem in Korean workplaces. It affects many workers, and is associated with high costs to many companies as well as the individual, which can negatively influence even the quality of life of workers. The _evaluation of low back disorder risk associated with manual materials handling tasks can be performed using variety of ergonomic assessment tools such as National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Revised Lifting Equation (NLE), the Washington Administrative Code 296-62-0517 (WAC), the Snook Tables etc. But most of these tools provide limited information for choosing the most appropriate assessment method for a particular job and in finding out advantage and disadvantage of the methods, and few have been assessed for their predictive ability. The focus of this study was to _evaluate spinal loads in real time with lifting and pulling heavy cow leathers in variety of postures. Data for estimating mean trunk motions were collected as employees did their work at the job site, using the Lumbar Motion Monitor. Eight employees (2 males, 6 females) were selected in this study, in which the load weight and the vertical start and destination heights of the activity remained constant throughout the task. Variance components (three dimensional spaces) of mean trunk kinematic measures were estimated in a hierarchical design. They were used to compute velocity and acceleration of multiple employees performing the same task and to repetitive movements within a task. Therefore, a results of this study could be used as a quantitative, objective measure to design the workplace so that the risk of occupationally related low back disorder should be minimized.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze the trend of financial balance of Korean medicine clinics during 20 years, and to provide basic information for adjusting the fee schedule of Korean medicine procedures in national health insurance(NHI). Methods : We collected 6 financial analysis reports for Korean medicine clinics from the Association of Korean Oriental Medicine(AKOM). The data on incomes, costs and EBIT(earning before interests and taxes) of subject clinics were abstracted, and their long-term trends were evaluated. Results : The proportion of insurance income in total income increased from 23% to 56% during 20 years. Among 5 treatment groups, 'non-insurance medication' took up 65~67% of total incomes in 1997, but its proportion decreased to 42.4% in 2007. 'medical procedure, physical therapy and others' increased from 12.4% in 1987 to 29.2% in 2007. The labor cost was major part of total cost and its proportion maintained from 52% to 54%. Cost of 'non-insurance medication' was on the decline from 41% in 1996 to 31.6% in 2007. EBIT were -17.4 million won in 1996, and 18.4 million won in 2007. Conclusions : Financial balance of Korean medicine clinics improved until early 2000, but it became worse in 2007. Though deficits from NHI procedures has been covered up by profit from 'non-insurance medication', health insurance became a major source of income during last two decades.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.61-67
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with cognitive and behavioral impairments receiving dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA-dental treatment). From August 2007 to April 2014, information was collected from 475 patients who received GA-dental treatment at the Clinic for Persons with Disabilities, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. The demographic factors (gender, age, disability, medication, GA history, residency type, caregiver, meal type, oral hygiene maintenance, and cooperation level) and dental status (operating duration, DMFT, malocclusion, periodontal disease, tooth defect, and treatment protocol) of the patients were evaluated. DMFT and malocclusion levels were compared among the patients with ANOVA and Sheffe's post-hoc test, and chi-square test, respectively. The correlation between the demographic characteristics and dental status of the patients were analyzed with the Pearson's correction test. The mean age of the patients was 27.1 (7 - 83) years and they had intellectual disabilities (55.4%), developmental disorders (17.9%), brain disorders (16.6%), neurocognitive disorders (4.6%), or others (5.5%). The mean DMFT (DT) was 8.6 (5.2) with a significant difference among the disability types (p<0.05). The incidence of malocclusion was higher in patients with intellectual disabilities and brain disorders than in the other types (p<0.05). The operation time ($191.4{\pm}91.2min$) was correlated with decayed or endodontically-treated teeth (p<0.05). Special needs patients requiring GA-dental treatment showed unfavorable oral conditions. Dental practitioners experience time restrictions and additional costs under a GA setting. Treatment planning and decision-making can be efficiently facilitated by evaluating the clinical characteristics of the patients.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.26.1-26.9
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• 2016

Objectives Korea's Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH) was enacted for the protection of human health and the environment in 2015. Considering that about 2000 new substances are introduced annually across the globe, the extent of animal testing requirement could be overwhelming unless regulators and companies work proactively to institute and enforce global best practices to replace, reduce or refine animal use. In this review, the way to reduce the animal use for K-REACH is discussed. Methods Background of the enforcement of the K-REACH and its details was reviewed along with the papers and regulatory documents regarding the limitation of animal experiments and its alternatives in order to discuss the regulatory adoption of alternative tests. Results Depending on the tonnage of the chemical used, the data required ranges from acute and other short-term studies for a single exposure route to testing via multiple exposure routes and costly, longer-term studies such as a full two-generation reproducibility toxicity. The European Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals regulation provides for mandatory sharing of vertebrate test data to avoid unnecessary duplication of animal use and test costs, and obligation to revise data requirements and test guidelines "as soon as possible" after relevant, validated replacement, reduction or refinement (3R) methods become available. Furthermore, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development actively accepts alternative animal tests and 3R to chemical toxicity tests. Conclusions Alternative tests which are more ethical and efficient than animal experiments should be widely used to assess the toxicity of chemicals for K-REACH registration. The relevant regulatory agencies will have to make efforts to actively adopt and uptake new alternative tests and 3R to K-REACH.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2008

Improved nutritional intake contributes to maintaining health and quality of life in elderly population and also reducing individual and social medical costs. Most of nutrition assistance programs for elderly, such as congregate or home-delivered meal programs, are not currently serviced in rural communities mainly due to low cost efficiency of program operation. However, the needs and necessity of such programs are presumed to be higher in rural area where the population density of elderly at nutritional risk is relatively high. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a community-based meal program for the rural elderly. In 2007, four rural communities located in Jeon-Nam province were selected and the pilot meal program was applied for three months. Following are key features of the meal program model developed in this study: 1) meal production and service are operated by elderly participants to overcome the voluntary personnel shortage 2) utilization of locally-produced foods is maximized to reduce the meal cost, 3) traditional cooking methods are applied to adjust the food preference of elderly, and 4) foods are serviced on site to minimize the food safety problem possibly caused by delivery process. The pilot programs resulted in high satisfaction with the programs of participating elderly. The community-based meal program model developed in this study is expected to be used as an effective nutrition and health intervention model for the rural elderly.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

Background: 8,000 children in North Korea died before they reached the 1 year after births in 2013. The high mortality rate of children under five years of age is mainly caused by infectious diseases and malnutrition. The need for national pediatric immunization and supply of vaccines will be vital when the abrupt reunification occurs. Objective: The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the pediatric immunization coverage of North Korea. Additionally it is to estimate the amount and the costs needed to vaccinate. Methods: The target population is the children of North Korea. The method is based on a pre-survey and an interview of North Korea defectors. The target interviewees searched for are as follows; doctors, teachers, and others. The interview includes questions on mortality rates and immunization coverage. The analysis is largely based on the statements of the health care providers within the selected group. Results: The interviewees are 8; 7 female and 1 male. The birth years range from 1956 to 1982. 3 out of 8 are former health care providers; a doctor, a pharmacist, and a nurse. The morbidity rate of infectious diseases exceeds the data from WHO. The immunization coverage is nearly 0% after 1980s. In order to ensure the welfare of North Korean children, at least 8,234,000 vaccine doses, requiring over 105 million U.S. dollars, are needed. Conclusion: The morbidity rate of infectious disease in North Korea is conspicuous. The preparation for supply and expenditure of vaccines is vital.