ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare breast and cervical cancer screening rates between female cancer survivors and a population without cancer to identify factors related to cervical and breast cancer screening in cancer survivors. METHODS: We included 17,765 adults (738 cancer survivors and 17,027 individuals without cancer) in this study, all of whom who were 30 years of age or older and participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys from 2007–2012. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors related to cervical and breast cancer screening uptake in female cancer survivors. RESULTS: The screening rate for breast cancer was 56.6%, which was higher than that in the non-cancer control group (P=0.001). The screening rate for cervical cancer was 51.4%, which was not different from that of the non-cancer control group. In terms of breast cancer screening, cancer survivors showed no significant difference in the rate of screening 5 years after their cancer diagnosis. However, cervical cancer survivors were less likely to have cervical cancer screening 10 years after their cancer diagnosis. There was no significant association between cancer screening and sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSION: Breast and cervical cancer screening rates in Korean female cancer survivors are low. Secondary primary cancer screening of female cancer survivors needs to be planned in a comprehensive manner, with the consideration of influences beyond sociodemographic factors.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Diagnosis , Early Detection of Cancer , Korea , Logistic Models , Mass Screening , Nutrition Surveys , Survivors , Uterine Cervical NeoplasmsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recently, health policy making is increasingly based on evidence. Therefore, Korean Terminal Cancer Patient Information System (KTCPIS) was developed to meet such need. We aimed to report its developmental process and statistics from 6 months data. METHODS: Items for KTCPIS were developed through the consultation with practitioners. E-Velos web-based clinical trial management system was used as a technical platform. Data were collected for patients who were registered to 34 inpatient palliative care services, designated by Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, from 1st of January to 30th of June in 2009. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. RESULTS: From the nationally representative set of 2,940 patients, we obtained the following results. Mean age was 64.8+/-12.9 years, and 56.6% were male. Lung cancer (18.0%) was most common diagnosis. Only 50.3% of patients received the confirmation of terminal diagnosis by two or more physicians, and 69.7% had an insight of terminal diagnosis at the time of admission. About half of patients were admitted to the units on their own without any formal referral. Average and worst pain scores were significantly reduced after 1 week when compared to those at the time of admission. 73.4% faced death in the units, and home-discharge comprised only 13.3%. Mean length of stay per admission was 20.2+/-21.2 days, with median value of 13. CONCLUSION: Nationally representative data on the characteristics of patients and their caregiver, and current practice of service delivery in palliative care units were obtained through the operation of KTCPIS.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Caregivers , Evidence-Based Practice , Health Policy , Information Systems , Inpatients , Korea , Length of Stay , Lung Neoplasms , Palliative Care , Quality of Health Care , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Proper education of hospice professionals is essential for ensuring quality of end-of-life care. In 2005, 'End-of-life Care Task Force Team' by Ministry of Health and Welfare established '60 hours of hospice education' as basic requirement for hospice professionals. This study is aimed to determine how many of the hospice professionals meet with the criteria and whether there are significant regional variations. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 46 hospice organizations, which submitted the application to the 2008 designation program of Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs. Data included details of the educational records of each hospice professionals. RESULTS: Total 673 hospice professionals were included in the analysis. Overall, only 41.5% (279/673) met the requirement. Nurses (46.8%; 177/378) were more likely to meet the requirement than doctors (35.8%; 38/106), social workers (32.0%; 24/75) and clergies (35.1%; 40/114). Hospice professionals of the organizations in metropolitan area received more education than those in small cities or rural area (52.4% vs. 25.0% for doctors, 50.6% vs. 43.9% for nurses, 42.9% vs. 25.5% for social workers). By geographic areas, hospice professionals in southeast regions received less education than other part of Korea (28.1% vs. 43.0~48.8%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Less than half of the Korean hospice professionals has received proper amount of hospice education, and significant regional variations existed. National programs to promote the education of hospice professionals and eliminate its disparities are greatly warranted. Implementation of the 60-hour currirulum for hospice professionals, based on the train-the-trainer model, would be regarded as one potential solution.
Subject(s)
Humans , Advisory Committees , Clergy , Hospices , Korea , Palliative Care , Social WorkersABSTRACT
V. fluvialis is a gram-negative, oxidase-producing, halophilic bacterium. It is normally found in coastal waters and seafoods. There have been a few reports on Vibrio fluvialis gastroenteritis in other countries, whereas there has been no previous report of V. fluvialis infections in Korea. Reports from other countries showed that V. fluvialis was isolated mostly from infants and children. We experienced a rare case of gastroenteritis due to V. fluvialis in a 55-year-old man with liver cirrhosis who ate an ark shell. He was admitted due to mild abdominal pain and severe watery diarrhea followed by rapidly progressive dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hepatorenal syndrome for a week. This patient was not improved by intensive care and antibiotic therapy.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Infant , Middle Aged , Abdominal Pain , Arcidae , Dehydration , Diarrhea , Gastroenteritis , Hepatorenal Syndrome , Critical Care , Korea , Liver Cirrhosis , Seafood , VibrioABSTRACT
We have reported an animal model of human anterior uveitis in Lewis rats with bovine melanin associated antigen[BMAA] which has been named as experimental autoimmune anterior uveitis[EAAU]. Immunopathogenesis in this model during different clinical stages was examined by the immunohistochemical detection of CD4 , CD8 , ICAM-1 and LAF-1 which play an important role in immune and inflammatory response. After the separation of eyes, these eyes were sectioned by cryostat at 6micrometer thick sections and stored at -70degreesC. For immunohistochemical study monoclonal antibodies to CD4, CD8, ICAM-1, and LAF-1 were used. An increase of ICAM-1 expression was shown on the epithelial cells of uveal tissues before clinical sign of uveitis and followed by LFA-1 expression. And there was no staining in retinal pigment epithelium and cornea. In conclusion, the immunopathogenesis of EAAU appears to be mediated by T cells and cells expressing ICAM-1, LFA-1.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Rats , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Cornea , Epithelial Cells , Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 , Leukocytes , Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 , Melanins , Models, Animal , Retinal Pigment Epithelium , T-Lymphocytes , Uveitis , Uveitis, AnteriorABSTRACT
No abstract available.