ABSTRACT
The extent of utilization of computers at clinics (physicians'office) setting in Korea has not yet been studied. Lack of such information hinders developing effective strategic plans for implementing Information and Communication Technology(ICT) to physicians office practice. Therefore this study was conducted to elucidate current status of computer use in physicians office practice. A mail survey was carried out to randomly selected 2,000 members of Korean Medical Association and 26.3% responded. The results showed that percent of clinics currently using computers and internet for the clinical practice was 98.0% and 85.2%, respectively. With recent gain of popularity in using computers and internet in public, more than 50% of respondents thought that transmission of sensitive medical information through internet was acceptable. Ninety six percent of respondents utilized computerized health insurance claims and electronic medical record system. However, 36.3% of respondents was keeping paper form patients medical records in addition to the computerized records to meet regulatory requirements. Overall, this study seems to indicate that physicians in practice show a strong interest in computerization, although the adaption of ICT in the field of medicine is relatively slow. In conclusion, physicians office practice can be a potential area for future ICT application.
Subject(s)
Humans , Surveys and Questionnaires , Electronic Health Records , Insurance, Health , Internet , Korea , Medical Informatics Computing , Medical Records , Physicians' Offices , Postal ServiceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to investigate prospectively the relation of lipoprotein(a)[Lp(a)],apoproteins and serum lipid parameters to restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasyt(PTCA). METHODS: One hundred and forty-five patients who received successful PTCA were enrolled and their serum levels of lipids, apoproteins and Lp(a) were measured before PTCA. After 6 months of follow-up, the patients were reevaluated for the development of restenosis by coronary angiography, treadmill test or thallium scan. RESULTS: A total 137 patients could be followed. Restenosis occurred in 71 patients(52%). Clinical parameters(e.g. age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking) and angiographic parameters(e.g. lesion site, type and degree of stenosis) were not significantly different between the group without restenosis and the group with restenosis. Lipid parameters and apoproteins were not associated with restenosis. Lp(a) and Lp(a) phenotype analysis showed no significant difference between the two gruops. CONCLUSION: Serum lipid parameters, apoproteins and Lp(a) concentration are not associated with restenosis after PTCA and cannot be used as predictios of restenosis.