• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7309-7314
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• 2013

Aim: To investigate factors that affect the place of death (POD) of terminal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We recruited 702 consecutive patients (${\geq}18$ years) from 12 centers during July 2005 to October 2006, and 481 completed the questionnaire. In April 2011, we linked the data for 96.0% (n=462) of the deceased patients to the POD using the 2005-2009 death certificate data of Korea's National Statistical Office. The primary outcome variable was POD, and the predictive value of variables pertaining to patients and caregivers was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Most patients died in a hospital (91.5%, n=441) and age, education, preference for place of terminal care, wish to use hospice/palliative care services, terminal cancer awareness, time between diagnosis and death, and global quality-of-life subscale of the EORTC QLQ-C30 of patients, and education and preference for place of terminal care of caregivers were significant predictors in univariate analyses. On multivariate analysis, patients and caregivers who preferred hospital/palliative care as the terminal care option over home care [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.68; 95% confidential interval (CI), 1.18-7.04 and aOR: 2.65; 95%CI: 1.15-6.09 for patient and caregiver preferences, respectively] and caregivers who were highly educated (aOR, 3.19; 95%CI, 1.44-7.06) were predictors of POD. Conclusions: Most of the terminal cancer patients died in a hospital. Our findings indicate that major predictors of hospital deaths are preference of both the patient and caregiver for hospital/palliative care as the terminal care option and higher education of the caregiver.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2009

Purpose : We checked voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in patients with congenital hydronephrosis (CHN) and followed up the occurrence of urinary tract infection(UTI) in these patients. And we tried to figure out the relationship between CHN and VUR and UTI. Methods : We performed a retrospective study in 122 CHN patients who received VCUG from 2002 to 2008 at Ajou University Hospital. We executed logistic regression, chi-square test and T-test using version 16.0 SPSS package for the statistical analysis. P<0.05 was regarded as significant. Results : Most patients with CHN were male (73%) and there was a tendency of preferences for unilateral (77%) and left (84%) occurrence of hydronephrosis. The incidence of VUR was 18.9% among 122 CHN patients and no laterality difference was found to the severity of VUR or hydronephrosis. The incidences of VUR and UTI was higher in group of higher grade (III-IV) CHN patients, when compared to the lower group, respectively. When VUR was present in CHN patients, the incidence of UTI during infancy was also higher. Conclusion : The incidence of VUR was higher in patients with higher grades of CHN. The incidence of UTI during infancy was higher when VUR was present in the CHN patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.149-159
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• 2008

Background and Purpose : This study was to assess characteristics in acute stroke patients according to obesity and abdominal obesity. Methods : From1 Oct. 2005 to 31 Jul. 2007, 629 patients with a stroke were included. Patients were hospitalized within 30 days after the onset of stroke at Kyungwon University Incheon Oriental Hospital, DongGuk University International Hospital and Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Disease (Stroke Center), or Kyung Hee University Oriental Hospital. We investigated general characteristics preferences according to general obesity and abdominal obesity. Results : 629 acute stroke patients were included in the final analysis. Male, young age, hypertension, heart disease in the family history, hypertension in the past history, care of invalids or grandchildren and Taeumin in the Sasang constitution were higher among obese patients. Male, transient ischemic attack in the past history, smoker and Soyangin in the Sasangconstitution were higher among patients with abdominal obesity. The incidence of abdominal obesity corresponded to lower education level. Conclusions : In our study, we observed the general disposition of various characteristic distributions according to obesity and abdominal obesity in acute stroke patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2013

Purpose : This study was conducted to assess whether Korean medicine doctors' attire influences patients' preference (confidence, comfortability, neatness) in a university hospital. Materials and Methods : Employing a cross-sectional design, outpatients answered a questionnaire in a university hospital of Korean Medicine. Respondents were asked for completing the questionnaire to estimate their preference of doctor's attire for confidence, comfortability and neatness after watching 4 types of attire in both male and female Korean medicine doctors, including white coat, traditional attire, formal suit and casual clothes. Whether Korean medicine doctors' attire on a patients' preference is important was also asked for the respondents using a 5-point Likert scale. Results : All 175 patients were enrolled, of whom 38.9% were male respondents, 46.3% graduated from a university at least and mean age of responders was 47.1. Most had a tendency for preferring white coat followed by traditional attire and only a small portion of respondents preferred for formal suit and casual clothes. When comparing preferences in confidence between white coat and traditional attire only, male patients preferred white coat more than female patients did with statistical significance. In addition, 85.4% of respondents answered that Korean medicine doctors' attire is important to a clinical situation with higher ratio of female respondents (87.9%) than male respondents (80.9%). Conclusion : Patients preferred white coat and traditional attire mostly for the Korean Medicine doctor's attire with only small preference for formal suit and casual clothes. Also, Patients recognized that Korean medicine doctors' attire is important in the clinical situation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.26-43
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• 2019

Purpose:The objective of this study was to identify the conceptual constructs of patient centeredness from the perspective of patients and family members in Korea, and to compare them with those included in the Picker Institute framework. Methods: Two focus group discussions were conducted. Each focus group consisted of six participants who had experienced being either a patient or a caregiver. We carried out a thematic analysis, and then compared the contents of our focus group discussions with the components of patient-centered care outlined by the Picker Institute. Results: Six conceptual constructs of patient centeredness emerged from the focus group discussions. Five of these overlapped with those outlined by the Picker Institute: 1)respect for patients' values, preferences, and needs, 2) coordination and integration of care, 3) information, communication, and education, 4) physical comfort, and 5) emotional support and alleviation for fear and anxiety. A new component that was not mentioned in the Picker Institute framework emerged from this study: "ease of making a complaint." Currently, "involvement of family and friends" and "continuity and transition" were not prominent components of patient centeredness according to our focus group discussions. Conclusions: This study presents the conceptual constructs of patient centeredness, five of which overlap with those outlined by the Picker Institute, and provides a qualitative basis of the patient experience survey currently being implemented by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service in Korea.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-48
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• 2010

This study analyzes the present condition of the elements of a healing environment of the waiting rooms in outpatient clinics of children' hospitals (3 hospitals in Seoul) so as to propose a design to build a healing environment within the children' hospital. And analyzing the importance, satisfaction and preference of the healing environment in the waiting rooms, this paper has come to the following conclusions: 1)The study shows that the space structure of outpatient clinics in children' hospitals are composed of 1 story or 2 stories and designed in a duplication design or a dispersed alcove design. 2)The waiting room of the SC Hospital, with an area of 66.56$m^2$, and the waiting room of the SU Hospital, with an area of 38.78$m^2$ received the highest score for its space. 3)As most patients visit the hospital with their guardian, the waiting room should also be someplace families can rest and share information with others. 4)It is essential to build an environment that eliminates stress elements that patients may come to face by minimizing noise and elements that obstruct the view for mental stability. 5)The results show that those who took part in the survey preferred the following, respectively, healing environment design for the waiting room in the outpatient clinic at children' hospital: Pleasantness>Easiness in finding one' destination>Artificial materials>Natural materials>Environment like that at home>Co-promotion spaces>Space that supports the patients'activities>Openness>Sociality>Safety/Security>Approachability and Privacy. The results also show that healing conditions respect these preferences.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2024

Purpose: This study explored the suitability of interventions for medication interruption and intervention preferences. Methods: Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted with 18 expert panels comprising staff (or charge) nurses, nursing managers, and Quality Improvement (QI) team nurses working in a tertiary general hospital. For 47 situations involving the location of interruption, medication step, and source of interruption, the suitability of three interventions (no-interruption zone, medication safety vest, and education) was evaluated using a 5-point scale. Results: A total of 51 interventions for each situation were found appropriate by satisfying the degree of convergence and consensus. Patients or caregivers, peer nurses, doctors, telephones, and call bells were sources of interruption and were identified as appropriate for the application of interventions. 'Responding to requests and inquiries' by patients or caregivers showed high overall suitability. The nurses' preferred color for the intervention design (no-interruption zone, medication safety vest) is blue text on a yellow background. The priority groups for education related to medication interruptions were patients or caregivers, nurses, and non-nursing staff, in that order. Conclusion: Effective implementation of tailored intervention strategies that consider the specific characteristics of medication interruptions is crucial for mitigating interruptions and enhancing patient safety. Comprehensive educational programs aimed at reducing medication interruptions by improving awareness are necessary. Moreover, future research should evaluate these strategies in clinical settings to ensure their effectiveness in enhancing patient safety.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.31-33
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• 2024

Purpose: Music therapy helps alleviate anxiety, depression, and pain for cancer patients, contributing to stress relief. With such advantages, music therapy is applied across a broad spectrum of treatment areas, including mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and conditions affecting the elderly. It has been shown to enhance the quality of life for terminally ill cancer patients. Recent research has revealed its positive effects in boosting immune function and resilience. In light of these findings, the author conducted a study to investigate patient satisfaction with music listening. Materials and Methods: First, a survey was conducted with 30 individuals to inquire about the perceived necessity of listening to music in a waiting area. Next, participants were asked whether listening to music could contribute to psychological stability. Finally, preferences for music genres and satisfaction with music listening were assessed with a sample of 20 individuals. Results: In terms of the perceived necessity of listening to music in the waiting area, 28 out of 30 individuals, or 93%, expressed agreement. Regarding the belief that music listening could contribute to psychological stability, 28 out of 30 individuals, or 93%, believed that it would indeed help with stability. When it comes to preferred music genres, 4 individuals (13%) favored classical music, 2 individuals (6%) preferred traditional Korean music, 2 individuals (6%) enjoyed trot music, and 20 individuals (66%) had no specific genre preference. As for music listening satisfaction, 17 out of 20 individuals, or 85%, reported being satisfied. Conclusion: When patients visit the hospital, stress can increase due to concerns about their medical conditions. To address this, providing a variety of music genres at the hospital has been effective in reducing patient stress and promoting psychological stability.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1982

Presently, there is increasing demand for geriatric nursing care due to increasing proportion of elderly population and extended age. And, of particular importance in deforming the effectiveness of nursing care given to the elderly is the attitude of nursing personnel toward the elderly patient. This study was intendent to investigate the attitudes of baccalaureate nursing students toward the elderly, and to investigate any possible correlation between these attitudes and the following variables: the students' levels (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), their preferences for var-ious fields of specialization in nursing after graduation, their clinical experiences with geriatric-patients, their personal experience with elderly family members, their educational experience of the elderly's health problems and geriatric nursing, and their experience with relatives and acquaintances over 60 years of age. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compile basic data about the attitudes of nursing students toward the elderly in order to contribute to the improvement of geriatric nursing. The subjects for this study were 259 nursing students: 163 in the College of Nursing at E-womans University., and 96 in the Department of Nursing in K. College. Data was collected from the 11th of Sep., to the 8th of Oct., 1981, using the Tuckman-Lorge Attitude Questionnaire which contained 131 items excepting 6 items. The attitudes toward the elderly was scored by the use of mean and standard deviation. The relations between attitudes toward the elderly and six independent vairables were analysed by T-test. The results which were obtained are as follows : 1. The attitude score of nursing students was M=71.67 S.D= 16.18. Nursing students agreed with 54.8% of the stereotypic statements, and they had stereotypic attitudes toward the elderly relatively. (P<0.01). 2. There was a significant difference between the attitudes of nursing students toward the elderly, and sophomores had a less stereotypic attitudes than juniors and seniors (P<0.01). 3. There was significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the preferences for various fields of specialization in nursing after graduation, and nursing students those who wanted maternity fields had a more stereotypic attitudes than others (P<0.05, p<0.01). 4. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the clinical experience with the geriatric patients (P>0.05). 5. There was no significant difference between the attitude3 toward the elderly and the personal experience with elderly family members (F>0.05). 6. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the educational experience of the elderly's health problems and geriatric nursing (P>0.05). 7. There was no significant difference between the attitudes toward the elderly and the experience with relatives and acquaintances over 60 years of age (P>0.05).

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.381-391
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to validate the Korean version of autonomy preference index (K-API) for chronic patients. Participants were 569 chronic patients. Construct validity and reliability of K-API were examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and Cronbach's α test. Original API was translated to Korean, and we conducted contents validity test, and pilot test. The K-API consisted of 10 items divided into two domains: (i) Decision making preference (DMP); (ii) Information seeking preference (ISP). K-API explained 53.4% of autonomy preference; the two-factor structure showed an acceptance fit. Cronbach's α was. 77 for DMP, and. 75 for ISP. Validity and reliability of the K-API were established, and this study provides additional evidence for the usage of the API in Asian region.