Faculty development: the need to ensure educational excellence and health care quality / 고신대학교의과대학학술지

The definition of faculty development has been refined and expanded over the past few decades, and various definitions have been used in higher education. Initially, faculty development was defined as activities that help teachers improve teaching skills, design better curricula, and improve the organizational environment for education. Since then, as the focus of faculty development has shifted from individual professors to institutional needs, faculty development is now defined as the personal and professional development of professors, clinicians, researchers, and managers to meet institutional goals, visions, and missions in social terms and moral responsibility to the community. Faculty development in medical education is universally needed to recognize and cope with widespread changes in education, including the traditional role of professors, advances in pedagogical theory, changes in learning styles, innovative curriculum models, and evaluation philosophy. However, critics have pointed out that most universities could not actively implement faculty development or accept professors’ various demands. In this paper, various reports related to faculty development are reviewed to summarize how faculty development has progressed and present future directions for accepting various opinions to improve educational excellence and the quality of health care.

Analysis of Educational Reality and Expectations Regarding Competencies Defined in “The Role of Korean Doctor, 2014” / 의학교육논단

The aim of this study is to determine whether the 65 competencies, defined in “the role of Korean doctor, 2014”, are suitable for basic medical education phase in Korea. It seeks to analyze the gap among the educational reality and expectation, assessment situation of the competencies above. We also try to define issues of the development, application and assessment phases of competency-based medical education (CBME) at individual medical schools. We designed survey tools based on the Miller's assessment pyramid (knowledge, explanation, demonstration, and performance) for each of the 65 competencies. The survey distributed to 41 medical schools in April 2015 and 38 replies were received (92.7%). Competencies that matched both the educational reality and expectation were numbers 1 (patient care), 33 (social accountability), and 49 (professionalism). However, all the other competencies ranked lower in current status than that of desirable level. 54 out of 65 competencies (83.07%) remained at the knowledge and explanation level when each competence were assessed. In the development, application, and assessment phases of CBME, common issues that medical schools commonly noted were difficulty linking competencies to curriculum preparation and student assessment, the lack of faculty's understanding, difficulty to reach consensus among faculties, and absence of teaching and learning methods and assessment tools that fits CBME. For the successful settle down of CBME, there is a need for efforts to develop the model of graduate outcomes, to share information and experience, and to operate faculty development program by the medical education communities.

Relationship between Coffee Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults: Data from the 2013–2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The gradually increasing demand for coffee worldwide has prompted increased interest in the relationship between coffee and health issues as well as a need for research on metabolic syndrome in adults. METHODS: Data from 3,321 subjects (1,268 men and 2,053 women) enrolled in the 2013–2014 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The subjects were divided into three groups according to their daily coffee consumption. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the coffee-drinking groups were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis by adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 15.5%, 10.7%, and 9.7% in men and 3.0%, 7.1%, and 6.5% in women according to their coffee consumption (less than one, one or two, or more than three cups of coffee per day), respectively. Compared with the non-coffee consumption group, the ORs (95% CIs) for metabolic syndrome in the group that consumed more than three cups of coffee was 0.638 (0.328–1.244) for men and 1.344 (0.627–2.881) for women after adjusting for age, body mass index, household income, education, smoking, alcohol, regular exercise, and daily caloric intake. CONCLUSION: The OR of metabolic syndrome was not statistically significant in both men and women.

Prevalence of the Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood Cancer Survivors / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors have been reported to have an increased risk of prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to the normal population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the components of metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors in a single institute. METHODS: The study included survivors who had survived for at least 5 years after off chemotherapy without evidence of recurrence. We measured body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose. RESULTS: We investigated 58 childhood cancer survivors, median age 5.4 years (range, 0.1-17.2 years) at diagnosis and median follow-up time elapsed after off chemotherapy 7.4 years (range, 4.7-18.6 years). The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 3.4%. The prevalence of each component was: obesity, 17.2%; elevated TG level, 46.6%; low HDL cholesterol, 34.5%; elevated blood pressure, 1.7%; and elevated fasting glucose, 9.3%, respectively. Sixty nine percentage of survivors had at least 1 abnormal component of metabolic syndrome. The increased TG level was found more frequently in obese subjects than normal weight subjects. CONCLUSION: We observed the high incidence of increased TG level in childhood cancer survivors. It is necessary to be closely monitored the components of metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors, in order to prevent them from cardiovascular diseases and improve their health outcomes.

Prevalence of the Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Childhood Cancer Survivors / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors have been reported to have an increased risk of prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to the normal population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the components of metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors in a single institute.METHODS: The study included survivors who had survived for at least 5 years after off chemotherapy without evidence of recurrence. We measured body mass index (BMI), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose.RESULTS: We investigated 58 childhood cancer survivors, median age 5.4 years (range, 0.1-17.2 years) at diagnosis and median follow-up time elapsed after off chemotherapy 7.4 years (range, 4.7-18.6 years). The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 3.4%. The prevalence of each component was: obesity, 17.2%; elevated TG level, 46.6%; low HDL cholesterol, 34.5%; elevated blood pressure, 1.7%; and elevated fasting glucose, 9.3%, respectively. Sixty nine percentage of survivors had at least 1 abnormal component of metabolic syndrome. The increased TG level was found more frequently in obese subjects than normal weight subjects.CONCLUSION: We observed the high incidence of increased TG level in childhood cancer survivors. It is necessary to be closely monitored the components of metabolic syndrome in childhood cancer survivors, in order to prevent them from cardiovascular diseases and improve their health outcomes.

The Effect of a Short-Term Family Psychoeducation Program for Schizophrenia on Family Burden and Emotions Towards Patients / 대한정신분열병학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate continuously on how a short-term family psychoeducation program for schizophrenia would change the emotional stress and the knowledge of the family members. METHODS: Subjects were the family members who participated in the short-term family psychoeducation program for schizophrenia. The participants were asked to fill out self-reporting forms for 3 times-before commencing the 6-week family education, immediately after completing the program, and 3 months after completing the program respectively. RESULTS: A total of 46 subjects participated, and 20 of them responded to all questionnaires. Three months after the completion of psychoeducation, depression and anxiety subscale score among the General Health Questionnaire-28 decreased by 2.60 (p=0.04) and 2.20 (p=0.04) respectively. In caregiver burden criterion, the score decreased by 9.45 (p=0.04) in 3 months after completing the education. In knowledge about schizophrenia test, the score increased by 2.60 score (p<0.001), and this result was maintained after 3 months. CONCLUSION: It was found that a short-term family education program for schizophrenia was effective not only in improving the knowledge on the disease but also in reducing anxiety and depression, and this effect was maintained immediately after the psychoeducation and so was it as time passed as well.

Prevalence of Late Effects by Designed Health Promotion Program in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Cancer / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: We prospectively investigated the incidence and features of late organ complications in long-term childhood cancer survivors (LTCCS) who took part in a specially designed health promotion program (HPP). METHODS: We developed our own HPP for LTCCS based on the Children's Oncology Group (COG) program, by modifying the adult HPP in Hanyang University Medical Center. The study included survivors who had received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for childhood cancer and had survived for at least 4 years after the end of treatment without evidence of recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 38 survivors were enrolled in the study. One or more abnormal findings were identified in 33 (87%) of the survivors, and two or more abnormal findings were present in 16 (42%) of the survivors. The most frequent type of abnormality was identified by thyroid ultrasonography, which detected benign nodules or cysts in 17 (45%) of the survivors. High-risk posttraumatic stress disorder needing medical treatment was detected in 1 of 17 survivors who were examined by psychological questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Most (87%) of childhood cancer survivors have at least 1 major or minor late effect. They must be continuously monitored after completion of treatment for early detection of late effects as well as cancer recurrence. Nationally integrated research is needed to provide standardized and comprehensive HPP for LTCCS considering domestic circumstances in Korea.

Prevalence of Late Effects by Designed Health Promotion Program in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Cancer / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: We prospectively investigated the incidence and features of late organ complications in long-term childhood cancer survivors (LTCCS) who took part in a specially designed health promotion program (HPP).METHODS: We developed our own HPP for LTCCS based on the Children's Oncology Group (COG) program, by modifying the adult HPP in Hanyang University Medical Center. The study included survivors who had received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for childhood cancer and had survived for at least 4 years after the end of treatment without evidence of recurrence.RESULTS: A total of 38 survivors were enrolled in the study. One or more abnormal findings were identified in 33 (87%) of the survivors, and two or more abnormal findings were present in 16 (42%) of the survivors. The most frequent type of abnormality was identified by thyroid ultrasonography, which detected benign nodules or cysts in 17 (45%) of the survivors. High-risk posttraumatic stress disorder needing medical treatment was detected in 1 of 17 survivors who were examined by psychological questionnaire.CONCLUSION: Most (87%) of childhood cancer survivors have at least 1 major or minor late effect. They must be continuously monitored after completion of treatment for early detection of late effects as well as cancer recurrence. Nationally integrated research is needed to provide standardized and comprehensive HPP for LTCCS considering domestic circumstances in Korea.