The Effectiveness of Online Continuing Medical Education and Learners' Opinion about It / 대한의료정보학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate learners' opinion about the experience of online continuing medical education, and the effectiveness of it. The study was conducted on online continuing medical education courses conducted as a model case by Konggi-do Medical Association and VirtualMD Co., Ltd with the approval of Korean Medical Association, from July through December, 2002. Fifteen online multimedia courses, supported by learning management system and e-test(electronic assessment) system, were opened. Learners' internet log data, and answers to a questionnaire were collected. And a pre-test post-test design experiment was implemented to measure the effectiveness of learning. The results showed that doctors are already technically and environmentally ready to take online continuing medical education and have correct understanding about the necessity and benefits of online continuing medical education. The difference between the pre-test score and the post-test score was statistically significant(t=3.24, p<.01), and practically significant(Effect Size=.89).

The Necessity of Reorganization of Council on Ethics

No abstract available.

The Effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Hemiplegic Shoulder Subluxation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) on hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in post-acute stroke patients. METHOD: Forty-four patients who had shoulder subluxation as a consequence of their first stroke were included and randomly assigned to either a control group (22 subjects) or a study group (22 subjects). Patients in both groups received physiotherapy and used an arm sling. The study group received, FES therapy to shoulder muscles (supraspinatus and posterior deltoid) for 30 minutes, five days a week for 6 weeks. The effect of FES therapy was evaluated by assessment of the severity of subluxation using radiologic measurements before and after treatment. RESULTS: 1) The severity of subluxation was significantly increased after 6 weeks (p0.05). 2) In the group of patients with early treatment (onset duration, less than 6 months), the control group showed a significant increase in subluxation (p<0.05), but the study group showed significantly reduced (p<0.05) shoulder subluxation after treatment period. 3) In the group of patients with mild shoulder subluxation before treatment (less than 1 finger breadth), the control group showed a significant increase in subluxation (p<0.05), but the study group showed significantly reduced (p<0.05) shoulder subluxation after treatment period. CONCLUSION: The FES therapy is effective in preventing and reducing the severity of hemiplegic shoulder subluxation in post-acute stroke patients, especially if duration since stroke onset was less than six months and the severity of subluxation before treatment was mild.

A Follow-up of Neurogenic Bladder in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up urologic evaluation of neurogenic bladder in patients with spinal cord injury, 2) to define risk factors causing upper urinary tract complications, and 3) to evaluate changes of the vesicoureteral reflux grade on follow-up study. METHOD: Urodynamic studys, ultrasonographys, and voiding cystourethrographys of 90 patients with spinal cord injury who admitted to the bladder clinic of National Rehabilitation Hostpital were evaluated. Of the 90 patients, twenty four patients (27%) had upper urinary tract complication (vesicoureteral reflux or hydronephrosis). The risk factors of upper urinary tract complication were compared. The patients who had vesicoureteral reflux were devided into two main groups: conservative medical treatment group (oxybutynin, atropine intravesical instillation and intermittent catheterization) and primary surgical treatment group, and then the changes of the vesicoureteral reflux grade on follow-up study were evlauated. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of upper urinary tract complication was 27% for all patients. After bladder clinic evaluation, the patients who were recommended the change of the voiding mothods were 24%, and 58% of the patients were need management to decrease maximal detrusor pressure. 2) Maximal bladder capacity by clinical voiding chart recording ( or =trabeculation grade 2), leak point pressure (> or =40 cmH20), and maximal detrusor pressure (> or =90 cmH2O) were significantly different between patients with upper urinary tract complication and patients without that. 3) In the eight vesicoureteral reflux patients, five of six patients were cured or improved with conservative treatment and two patients were cured with surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: The periodic follow-up evaluation of neurogenic bladder of spinal cord injuredpatients was important to prevent upper urinary tract deterioration. The factors related upper urinary tract complication were clinical bladder capacity, leak point pressure, bladder wall deformity (trabeculation) and maximal detrusor pressure.

The Effect of Intra-articular Steroid Injection for Adhesive Capsulitis in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of adhesive capsulitis and the effect of intra-articular steroid injection in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Fifty spinal cord injured patients participated in this study. The risk factors of adhesive capsulitis were compared between fourteen patients with adhesive capsulitis and thirty-six patients without one. Methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg mixed with 0.5% lidocaine 2 ml was given into glenohumeral joint space in adhesive capsulitis group and their pain and range of motion (ROM) were analyzed. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of adhesive capsulitis was higher in patients with higher injury level, older age and delayed start of rehabilitation therapy. 2) 10 cm visual analogue scale scores were significantly decreased after intra-articular steroid injection (p<0.01). 3) The shoulder ROM was increased after intra-articular steroid injection. The shoulder ROM at pre-injection was 126o in flexion, 113o in abduction, 64o in external rotation and 51o in internal rotation. The shoulder ROM at 4 weeks after injection was 138o in flexion, 131o in abduction, 74o in external rotation and 77o in internal rotation. CONCLUSION: There was a trend that the incidence of adhesive capsulitis was higher in patients with higher injury level, older age and delayed start of rehabilitation therapy. Further, it was suggested that intra-articular steroid injection was effective for reducing pain and improving ROM.

Effects and Side Effects of Chemodenervation According to Neurolytic Agents

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects and side effects of chemodenervation according to the neurolytic agents, injection techniques and treatment indications. METHOD: One hundred and seventy three cases of chmodenervation were reviewed. They were classified into three groups(phenol, b otulinum toxin, mixed) according to the neurolytic agents and into three groups(nerve trunk block, motor point block, both) according to the injection technique and nine gruoups(cervical dystonia, elbow flexor spasticity, wrist and hand spasticity, hip adductor spasticity, stiff knee gait, ankle plantar flexor spasticity, sustained ankle clonus, rear foot varus, toe clawing) according to the treatment indications. The rate of suboptimal results and side effects was descriptively measured. RESULTS: 1) The suboptimal results were observed in 19% of phenol blocks and 17% of Botulinum toxin injections. But the side effects were more frequently observed in phenol blocks(25%) than Botulinum toxin injections(2%). 2) In terms of phenol injection techniques, a nerve trunk injection was more successful(88%) than a motor point injection(69%). In case of simultaneous injections into the nerve trunk and motor point, the effects were very promising(100%). But the side effects were more frequently observed in the nerve trunk injections(26%) than the motor point injections(12%). 3) In terms of treatment indications, suboptimal results were observed in 44% of stiff knee gaits, 38% of cervical dystonias and 27% of toe clawing cases. Side effects were observed in 33% of toe clawing cases, 25% of sustained ankle clonus cases and 21% of elbow flexor spasticity cases. CONCLUSION: The suboptimal results were slightly higher in botolinum toxin injections than in phenol blocks. The side effects were more frequently observed in phenol blocks than in botulinum toxin injections.

Effect of Facilitation and Averaging on Side-to-Side H Reflex Amplitude Ratio

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of facilitation on H reflex side-to-side amplitude ratio and to determine the effect of averaging under the assumption that an averaging could further stabilize the amplitude ratio in a facilitated condition. METHOD: FCR H reflex amplitude ratios of direct and averaged potentials were measured in fifty asymptomatic subjects under three conditions, during rest, during a constant 5 pound isometric contraction under the hand-dynamometer monitoring, and during a moderate constant isometric contraction under the electromyographer's verbal guidance. RESULTS: The lower limits of the amplitude ratios that encompass 97.5% of subjects by the percentile method under three conditions were as follows; (1) during the rest (n=37); 0.47 (direct) and 0.50 (average), (2) during the constant 5 pound isometric contraction under the hand- dynamometer monitoring; 0.47 (direct) and 0.48 (average), and (3) during the moderate constant isometric contraction under the electromyographer's verbal guidance; 0.48 (direct) and 0.46 (average), respectively. CONCLUSION: There seems to be no definite effect of facilitation and averaging on H reflex amplitude ratio. H reflex amplitude ratio measured in facilitated condition without averaging is still useful for the diagnosis of unilateral radiculopathy.

The Path of Center of Pressure(COP) of the Foot during Walking

Variations in the distribution and the magnitude of the forces in the foot may reflect painful conditions and abnormalities of structure or function. By tracking the path of the instantaneous COP(center of pressure) during stance phase, the balance and pattern of progression can be determined, but parameters on COP have not been standardized nor widely applied to clinical settings yet. To quantify the COP parameters and to evaluate the clinical applicability of COP, within subject experimental design was used. Twenty six subjects with age of sixties who had no history of foot problems were recruited. Foot contact and COP parameters were measured and compared between flat foot, low heel and high heel shod walking. 1) Gait cycle parameters, 2) foot contact parameters such as total contact area, contact length, contact width, and 3) COP parameters such as initial contact COP, mean COP, anteroposterior and mediolateral displacement of COP, slope of COP, velocity of COP during each functional rocker were measured with F-scan pressure sensitive insole system. In normal flat foot walking, COP of initial contact and mean COP were anatomically correspond to the center of the heel and to the center of the sole respectively. COP displacements corresponded to 83% of foot contact length anteroposteriorly and 18% of forefoot contact width mediolaterally. Slope of COP was about 6 degrees inwardly directed. Velocities of the COP during each functional rocker action were even and about 22-27 cm/sec around. In high heel shod walking, COP of initial contact was displaced 1.73 cm anteriorly and mean COP was displaced 0.31 cm medially and 1.89 cm anteriorly. Anteroposterior displacement of COP was also reduced. Velocity of the COP during heel rocker was faster and velocity during ankle rocker was slower compared to flat foot walking, which suggests excessive heel rocker and reduced ankle rocker action in high heel shod walking. In conclusion, COP parameters measured by pressure sensitive insole system may reflect the biomechanical alteration of the foot quantitatively and may be useful in assessing the biomechanical function of the foot.

A Case Report of Osler-Rendu-Weber Syndrome

The Osler-Rendu-Weber syndrome is characterized by multiple telangiectasic lesions usually involving the mucous membranes, face and distal extremities. It is a congenital malformation inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and the lesions usually appear during adulthood. The major symptoms are recurrent epistaxis and gastrointestinal bleeding, but they may cause intracranial hemorrhage at the white matter of the brain stem, cerebellum and diencephalon. We report a case of typical autosomal dominant trait Osler-Rendu-Weber syndrome associated with intracranial hemorrhage at the right basal ganglia.