• Title/Summary/Keyword: health information services

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Awareness and Prevalence of Mammography Screening and its Predictors - A Cross Sectional Study in a Primary Care Clinic in Malaysia

  • Yusof, Azianey;Chia, Yook Chin;Hasni, Yasmin Mohd
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.19
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    • pp.8095-8099
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    • 2014
  • Background: Worldwide, over half a million women died of breast cancer in 2011 alone. Mammography screening is associated with a reduction of 20 to 35% in breast cancer mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the awareness and practice of mammography screening and predictors of its uptake in Malaysian women attending a primary care clinic. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among women aged 40 to 74 years attending a primary care clinic in Selangor, Malaysia. An assisted structured questionnaire included questions on socio-demography, source of information and level of knowledge. An adapted version of the revised Champion Health Belief Model Scale plus other associated factors for mammography screening up-take were also included as part of the questionnaire. Predictors for mammography screening uptake were only determined in those who were aware about mammography screening. Significant predictors were determined by logistic regression. Results: 447 women were recruited for this study; 99.1% of them (n: 411) were aware about breast cancer. Only 50.1% (n: 206) had knowledge about mammography screening. Prevalence of clinical breast-examination (CBE) was 23.3% (n: 104) and mammography screening up-take was 13.2% (n: 59). The predictors for the latter were those who have had clinical breast-examination (aOR=17.58, 95%CI: 7.68-39.82) and those aged between 50 to 59 years (aOR=3.94, 95%CI: 1.61-9.66) as well as those aged 60 years and above (aOR=6.91, 95%CI: 2.28-20.94). Good knowledge and positive beliefs about mammography screening were not associated with mammography screening uptake. Conclusions: Half of our Malaysian women were aware about mammography screening. However, the uptake of mammography was low. Previous CBE and older age were significant predictors of mammography screening uptake. Increasing CBE services may increase compliance with guidelines.

Electronic Attendance-Absence Recording System using BLE Advertising Function of Smartphone (스마트폰의 BLE 광고 기능을 이용한 전자출결 시스템)

  • Lee, Jun-Hyuk
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.7-12
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    • 2017
  • In this paper, we proposed an electronic attendance-absence recording system using a smartphone that does not require separate BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy) devices and infrastructure by using BLE advertisement technology of smartphone. The existing BLE-based electronic attendance-absence recording system requires a BEL device to be attached to each classroom for services and a separate technology to identify the devices attached to the classroom. Also, due to the interference with each other, sometimes an error occurred in the electronic connection. In this paper, we propose a system to solve the problems about time, place and cost, which is a disadvantage of the conventional Bluetooth beacon system. BLE advertising function of the smartphone that the user is using without BLE device, it is possible to construct infrastructure for electronic attendance-absence recording system. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system, we designed the system structure and operation flow and constructed the system using the smart phone in actual used.

A Node Scheduling Control Scheme with Time Delay Requirement in Wireless Sensor Actuator Networks (무선 센서 엑츄에이터 네트워크에서의 시간지연을 고려한 노드 스케줄링 제어 기법)

  • Byun, Heejung
    • Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.17-23
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    • 2016
  • Wireless sensor-actuator networks (WSANs) enhance the existing wireless sensor networks (WSNs) by equipping sensor nodes with an actuator. The actuators work with the sensor nodes and perform application-specific operations. The WSAN systems have several applications such as disaster relief, intelligent building, military surveillance, health monitoring, and infrastructure security. These applications require capability of reliable data transfer to act responsively and accurately. Biologically inspired modeling techniques have received considerable attention for achieving robustness, scalability, and adaptability, while retaining individual simplicity. In this paper, an epidemic-inspired algorithm for data dissemination with delay constraints while minimizing energy consumption in WSAN is proposed. The steady states and system stability are analyzed using control theory. Also, simulation results indicate that the proposed scheme provides desirable dissemination delay and energy saving.

Current situation and future prospects for beef production in Europe - A review

  • Hocquette, Jean-Francois;Ellies-Oury, Marie-Pierre;Lherm, Michel;Pineau, Christele;Deblitz, Claus;Farmer, Linda
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.31 no.7
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    • pp.1017-1035
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    • 2018
  • The European Union (EU) is the world's third largest producer of beef. This contributes to the economy, rural development, social life, culture and gastronomy of Europe. The diversity of breeds, animal types (cows, bulls, steers, heifers) and farming systems (intensive, extensive on permanent or temporary pastures, mixed, breeders, feeders, etc) is a strength, and a weakness as the industry is often fragmented and poorly connected. There are also societal concerns regarding animal welfare and environmental issues, despite some positive environmental impacts of farming systems. The EU is amongst the most efficient for beef production as demonstrated by a relative low production of greenhouse gases. Due to regional differences in terms of climate, pasture availability, livestock practices and farms characteristics, productivity and incomes of beef producers vary widely across regions, being among the lowest of the agricultural systems. The beef industry is facing unprecedented challenges related to animal welfare, environmental impact, origin, authenticity, nutritional benefits and eating quality of beef. These may affect the whole industry, especially its farmers. It is therefore essential to bring the beef industry together to spread best practice and better exploit research to maintain and develop an economically viable and sustainable beef industry. Meeting consumers' expectations may be achieved by a better prediction of beef palatability using a modelling approach, such as in Australia. There is a need for accurate information and dissemination on the benefits and issues of beef for human health and for environmental impact. A better objective description of goods and services derived from livestock farming is also required. Putting into practice "agroecology" and organic farming principles are other potential avenues for the future. Different future scenarios can be written depending on the major driving forces, notably meat consumption, climate change, environmental policies and future organization of the supply chain.

A Preliminary Study of Developing Integrated Supportive Service Works for the Families of Disabled Children Focus on the Healthy Family Support Center (건강가정지원센터의 장애아가족 통합지원서비스 사업을 위한 프로그램 개발 기초연구)

  • Oh, Yoon-Ja
    • Journal of Families and Better Life
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    • v.26 no.6
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    • pp.209-225
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    • 2008
  • This study has been designed to develop integrated supportive service works for the families of disabled children registered in the D-Healthy Family Support Center. The service works are intended to improve family members' health and their growth potentials, and cover service programs of family education, counselling, culture solidarity, and information networks. There are two topics covered in this study; first, this study is to develop integrated supportive service programs for the families of disabled children, and second, the study is also to construct comprehensive strategies and plans for effective services after evaluating practical service programs. In this study, 31 families with one or more disabled children have been selected through stratified random sampling, and all the family members were observed for program effects of integrated service items developed from previously validated indices. For analysis, eight question items were made for interview and each item denotes satisfaction score ranging from 1(very dissatisfied) to 5(very satisfied) on the Likert's five point scale. Mean value of each item was counted after the program, and satisfaction scores were compared over the programs implementation. Overall, the satisfaction scores range 4.1 to 4.6, indicating relatively high satisfaction over most service program. Therefore, it is finally proposed that a longitudinal strategy model offer high quality service programs consistently for the target families, as a goal of achieving comprehensive cooperation and support exchanges between community and healthy family support center be schematized.

Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine for COVID-19 in China (중국의 COVID-19 대응을 위한 중의약 활용)

  • Kim, Hanul;Kim, Changwon;Koo, Nampyong;Yi, Junhyeok;Yi, Eunhee;Kim, Dongsu
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2020
  • Objectives : The objectives of this study were to investigate why and how China used traditional Chinese medicine as a response to COVID-19 and how its performance was achieved, and to explore ways to utilize traditional Korean medicine in Korea. Methods : We examined the information through government data and media articles. China's COVID-19 progress and policy response were reviewed and compared with Korea. Based on this, the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine response in China were identified. Results : Based on legal basis, China makes the overall use of traditional Chinese medicines to respond to COVID-19. Traditional Chinese medicine has been applied to health insurance, the licensing regulations have been eased, and traditional Chinese medical specialists were dispatched. The medical care guidelines were developed and R&D were carried out. In addition, policies related to traditional Chinese medicine included policies for preventive treatment, the combination of Chinese and Western medicine, and telemedicine. Conclusions : Traditional Chinese medicine response to COVID-19 was included within the overall national quarantine policy, providing medical services for the mild stage. In addition, R&D was conducted to establish a basis for the utilization of traditional Chinese medicines. Traditional Korean medicine also needs to be prepared so that it can be used as a complement to the response of communicable diseases.

A Comparative Study on Traditional Korean Medicine and Ayurveda, Tibetan Medicine (아유르베다와 티베트 의학의 기본이론과 한의학과의 비교 고찰)

  • Han, Chang-Hyun;Park, Ji-Ha;Lee, Sang-Nam;Song, Ick-Soo;Lee, Bong-Hyo
    • Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.23-32
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    • 2010
  • Background : There has been increased global interest in traditional medicine. Ayurveda and Korean medicines are most world-widely spread as Complementary and Alternative Medicine(CAM). Objectives : This review gives an overview of basic principles and commonalities of Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine. Method : I have summarized the results of the research into the following categories: basic theoies, history, physiology and pathogenesis. Result : 1. Ayurveda is the medical science that grasps individual constitution through Tridosha, a combination of five primary elements(space, wind, fire, water, and earth), and systematically explains physiological and pathological phenomena which reveal according to the constitution. 2. The theoretical basis forming the Tibetan Medicine is the substance of phlegm, bile, and wind each of which is divided into five kinds. These physiological substances can be transformed into pathological factors when certain environment is formed. 3. Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine, three main axes of the traditional medicine arouse western medical researchers' interest by their peculiar views of the disease and the system of their medical theories. And they are expected to render services to human health. Conclusions : We can expect the potential of the approaching between Ayurveda, Tibetan and Korean medicine.

Physiological signal Modeling for personalized analysis (개인화된 신호 해석을 위한 맥락 기반 생체 신호의 모델링 기법)

  • Choi, Ah-Young;Woo, Woon-Tack
    • 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
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    • 2009.02a
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    • pp.173-177
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    • 2009
  • With the advent of light-weight daily physiological signal monitoring sensors, intelligent inference and analysis method for physiological signal monitoring application, commercialized products and services are released. However, practical constraints still remain for daily physiological signal monitoring. Most devices provide rough health check function and analyze with randomly sampled measurements. In this work, we propose the probabilistic modeling of physiological signal analysis. This model represent the relationship between previous user measurement (history), other group`s type, model and current observation. From the experiment, we found that the personalized analysis with long term regular data shows reliable result and reduces the analyzing errors. In addition, participants agree that the personalized analysis shows reliable and adaptive information than other standard analysis method.

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Diagnostic Aspects of Fine Needle Aspiration for Lung Lesions: Series of 245 Cases

  • Kravtsov, Vladimir;Sukmanov, Inna;Yaffe, Dani;Shitrit, David;Gottfried, Maya;Cioca, Andreea;Kidron, Debora
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.22
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    • pp.9865-9869
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    • 2014
  • Background: Transthoracic fine needle aspiration (FNA) is one of several methods for establishing tissue diagnosis of lung lesions. Other tissue or cell sources for diagnosis include sputum, endobronchial biopsy, washing and brushing, endobronchial FNA, transthoracic core needle biopsy, biopsy from thoracoscopy or thoracotomy. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of FNA and other diagnostic tests in diagnosing lung lesions. Materials and Methods: The population included all patients undergoing FNA for lung lesions at Meir Medical Center from 2006 through 2010. Information regarding additional tissue tests was derived from the electronic archives of the Department of Pathology, patient records and files from the Department of Oncology. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each test. Results: FNA was carried out in 245 patients. Malignant tumors were diagnosed in 190 cases (78%). They included adenocarcinoma (43%), squamous cell carcinoma (15%), non-small cell carcinoma, not otherwise specified (19%), neurondocrine tumors (7%), metastases (9%) and lymphoma (3%). The specificity of FNA for lung neoplasms was 100%; sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy were 87%. Conclusions: FNA is the most sensitive procedure for establishing tissue diagnoses of lung cancer. Combination with core needle biopsy increases the sensitivity. Factors related to the lesion (nature, degenerative changes, location) and to performance of all stages of test affect the ability to establish a diagnosis.

Factors Associated with Discontinuation of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among Korean Cancer Patients

  • Kim, So Young;Kim, Kyung Sook;Park, Jong Hyock;Shin, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Sung Kyeong;Park, Jae Hyun;Park, Eun Cheol;Seo, Hong Gwan
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.225-230
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    • 2013
  • Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine patient characteristics and other factors associated with discontinuation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in Korea. Methods: A national, multicenter, cross-sectional survey of cancer patients was performed in which 674 of 2,661 patients were analyzed for their use of CAM after cancer diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to CAM discontinuation. Results: Among the surveyed cancer patients, 25.3% (674 of 2,661) had used CAM, whereas 38.3% (258 of 674) of those with CAM experience had discontinued CAM therapy. The most frequently used form of CAM was herbs (43.5%). The major reasons for the discontinuation of CAM included absence of effects (23.9%), financial burden (22.9%), and physician opposition (13.7%). Other factors associated with the discontinuation of CAM included metastatic cancer (OR = 2.06), a long duration of cancer treatment (OR = 3.34), dissatisfaction (OR = 4.34), and side effects (OR = 4.23) of CAM therapy. Conclusions: For cancer patients to correctly employ CAM therapy, increase their satisfaction, and reduce their side effects, efforts should be made to analyze the cost effectiveness of CAM, and valid information must be provided to physicians and cancer patients.