• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.10
• /
• pp.4775-4782
• /
• 2016

Background: Cancer incidence data are vital for cancer control planning in any nation. This retrospective study was conducted to compare the cancer incidence of all sites between the first cancer registry report and the most recent example in Nepal. Material and Methods: The cases in the first (2003) and latest (2013) national cancer registry reports, accumulated by all the hospital based cancer registries in Nepal were taken for the research. The frequencies, crude incidences and age specific incidences (per 100,000) of the five major cancers were calculated for both males and females. Result: The most common cancer type for males in both years 2003 and 2013 was lung. Stomach was the third most common cancer in 2003 while it was the second in 2013. Similarly, the first four major cancers (cervix, breast, lung and ovary) did not change between 2003 and 2013 in females. The total cancer incidence rate increased from 12.8 in 2003 to 30.4 per 100,000 in 2013 for males and from 15.1 to 33.3 in females. Conclusion: The most common cancers in males in 2003 and 2013 were the bronchus and lung. Similarly, the most common cancer in females was cervix at both time points. The cancer incidence rate in females was higher than in males both in 2003 and 2013.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.17.1-17.4
• /
• 2020

The amount of content on social media platforms such as Twitter is expanding rapidly. Simultaneously, the lack of patient information seriously hinders the diagnosis and treatment of rare/intractable diseases. However, these patient communities are especially active on social media. Data from social media could serve as a source of patient-centric knowledge for these diseases complementary to the information collected in clinical settings and patient registries, and may also have potential for research use. To explore this question, we attempted to extract patient-centric knowledge from social media as a task for the 3-day Biomedical Linked Annotation Hackathon 6 (BLAH6). We selected amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis as use cases of rare and intractable diseases, respectively, and we extracted patient histories related to these health conditions from Twitter. Four diagnosed patients for each disease were selected. From the user timelines of these eight patients, we extracted tweets that might be related to health conditions. Based on our experiment, we show that our approach has considerable potential, although we identified problems that should be addressed in future attempts to mine information about rare/intractable diseases from Twitter.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.45-57
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The study tried to suggest the ways to improve the national disability welfare information projects with evaluating the present condition of the projects. Method: Firstly, the study analyzed the disability information system and disability websites. Secondly, the study found out the problems of the registration of disability and management system through the situation analysis. Finally, the study conducted a survey of the disabled and the information system workers and performance evaluation of the information system. Result: The study offered a proposal of The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) for the disability registration and management. When the disabled visit the hospital or the public health center, their information is registered automatically in The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS), which helps not to miss out the disability registration. Through this system, they are given the proper service which they need, and the information can be shared with the facilities providing the service for the disabled. Conclusion: The Disability Unity Management System(DUMS) contributes significantly in avoiding the repetition of the support for the disabled and improving the quality of service.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.472-478
• /
• 2010

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. Education is at the core of cancer prevention activities, especially programs targeting empowering existing public health workforce. In the past 10 years, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have been building the Global Health Network Supercourse project, a library of over 4500 online lectures and a network of nearly 50000 public health professionals in 174 countries. As of November 2010, the overall number of Supercourse participants from Asia exceeds 7000 participants. The Supercourse network has been investigating methods for Internet based recruitment of cancer prevention professionals in order to network cancer experts locally and globally, including the use of mHealth technologies for cancer research education and for NCD registries. Supercourse is a tool that can offer a solution to the challenges of information sharing, especially in the field of NCDs and cancer. In this paper, we highlight the need for the development of Cancer Supercourse with Satellite in Asia and encourage faculty members from Asia to join the network.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8659-8663
• /
• 2016

In Nepal, while no population based cancer registry program exists to assess the incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of cancer, at the national level a number of hospital based cancer registries are cooperating to provide relevant data. Seven major cancer diagnosis and treatment hospitals are involved, including the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer hospital, supported by WHO-Nepal since 2003. The present retrospective analysis of cancer patients of all age groups was conducted to assess the frequencies of different types of cancer presenting from January 1st to December 31st 2012. A total of 7,212 cancer cases were registered, the mean age of the patients being 51.9 years. The most prevalent age group in males was 60-64 yrs (13.6%), while in females it was 50-54 yrs (12.8%). The commonest forms of cancer in males were bronchus and lung (17.6%) followed by stomach (7.3%), larynx (5.2%) and non Hodgkins lymphoma (4.5%). In females, cervix uteri (19.1%) and breast (16.3%), were the top ranking cancer sites followed by bronchus and lung (10.2%), ovary (6.1%) and stomach (3.8%). The present data provide an update of the cancer burden in Nepal and highlight the relatively young age of breast and cervical cancer patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.127-136
• /
• 2012

The challenge facing the Korean National Health Insurance includes what to spend money on in order to elevate the 'value for money.' This article reviewed the changing issues associated with quality of care in the Korean health insurance system and envisioned a picture of an effective pay-for-performance (P4P) system in Korea taking into consideration quality of care and P4P systems in other countries. A review was made of existing systematic reviews and a recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development survey. An effective P4P in Korea was envisioned as containing three features: measures, basis for reward, and reward. The first priority is to develop proper measures for both efficiency and quality. For further improvement of quality indicators, an electronic system for patient history records should be built in the near future. A change in the level or the relative ranking seems more desirable than using absolute level alone for incentives. To stimulate medium- and small-scale hospitals to join the program in the next phase, it is suggested that the scope of application be expanded and the level of incentives adjusted. High-quality indicators of clinical care quality should be mapped out by combining information from medical claims and information from patient registries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7401-7407
• /
• 2015

Cervical cancer continues to be a serious public health problem in the developing world, including China. Because of its large population with geographical and socioeconomic inequities, China has a high burden of cervical cancer and important disparities among different regions. In this review, we first present an overview of the cervical cancer incidence and mortality over time, and focus on diversity and disparity in access to care for various subpopulations across geographical regions and socioeconomic strata in China. Then, we describe population-based cervical cancer screening in China, and in particular implementation of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Program in Rural Areas (NACCSPRA) and the challenges that this program faces. These include low screening coverage, shortage of qualified health care personnel and limited funds. To improve prevention of cervical cancer and obtain better cancer outcomes, the Chinese government needs to urgently consider the following key factors: reducing disparities in health care access, collecting accurate and broadly representative data in cancer registries, expanding target population size and increasing allocation of government funding for training of personnel, improving health education for women, enhancing quality control of screening services and improving a system to increase follow up for women with positive results.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.4209-4214
• /
• 2012

The current situation of cancer registration in China was systematically reviewed. So far, cancer registration in China has been making a great progress in the following aspects: the number of cancer registries and covered population have increased dramatically; a registration network has been established and completed gradually; regulations and rules improved remarkably; more attention is being paid by every level of government; a lot of registration software has been created and financial support ensured. However, we are still facing some problems and challenges, such as no stable groups of registrars, shortage of training opportunities, poor data quality, insufficient utilization and lack of multidisciplinary mechanisms, so that the cancer registration system still needs to be enhanced and improved. Along with the development of economy, science and information technology, methods and patterns of cancer registration is changing. It is to be expected that cancer registration will be automatic, nationwide and integrated with community healthcare in the near future.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2017

Health care big data is thought to be a promising field of interest for disease prediction, providing the basis of medical treatment and comparing effectiveness of different treatments. Korean government has begun an effort on releasing public health big data to improve the quality and safety of medical care and to provide information to health care professionals. By studying population based big data, interesting outcomes are expected in many aspects. To initiate research using health care big data, it is crucial to understand the characteristics of the data. In this review, we analyzed cases from inside and outside the country using clinical data registry. Based on successful cases, we suggest research method for evidence-based Korean medicine. This will provide better understanding about health care big data and necessity of Korean medicine data registry network.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.4939-4942
• /
• 2013

The absolute necessity of cancer registration for cancer control planning is well accepted. The registry at the national or local level can provide not only essential data for cancer incidence, mortality and survival but may also point to risk and protective factors and efficacy of interventions by conducting epidemiological research. Timely publication of research findings in PubMed indexed journals is of the essence, especially in examples that allow free access so that the widest dissemination of information can be achieved. The present commentary covers the scope of research in Asia or using Asian data the period 2008-2013, nearly 40% of a total of over 300 papers being published in the APJCP. In order to reach its full potential the registry should incorporate many skills. Cooperation for this purpose, whether it be national, regional, Asia-wide or international, is a high priority and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, together with the National Cancer Institute in Thailand and the APOCP/APJCP are staging an Asian Cancer Network Forum in Bangkok in February of 2014 to allow discussion of ways forward. It is hoped that representatives from all regions of Asia will decide to attend and a l so contribute country reports for publication in a special supplement of the APJCP.