Effect of Occupational Noise Exposure on the Prevalence of Benign Vocal Fold Lesions: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Objectives@#. Voice abuse in noisy environments can result in voice disorders. However, insufficient studies have sought to differentiate vocal cord lesions through laryngoscopic examinations among workers in noisy environments. This study investigated the relationship between a history of noise exposure in the workplace and benign vocal fold lesions (BVFLs). @*Methods@#. We used Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2010 to 2012. The chi-square test was used to compare characteristics between two groups according to the presence or absence of BVFLs. To investigate the association between BVFLs and noise exposure in the workplace, we calculated adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression analysis. @*Results@#. In total, 10,170 participants with available laryngoscopy results were enrolled. Smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, and exposure to noise for more than 3 months at the workplace were significantly more common in participants with BVFLs. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, drinking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, income, education, and occupation as confounders, we confirmed that BVFLs were 1.52 times more likely (95% CI, 1.157–1.990) to occur in individuals with occupational noise exposure. @*Conclusion@#. Working in a noisy environment could induce BVFLs in workers through voice abuse. Social recognition that a noisy environment is a risk factor for BVFLs needs to be improved, and preventive measures should be implemented.

Effect of total intravenous versus inhalation anesthesia on long-term oncological outcomes in patients undergoing curative resection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#Propofol-based total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) improves long-term outcomes after cancer surgery compared with inhalation anesthesia. However, its effect on patients undergoing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) surgery remains unclear. We aimed to compare the oncological outcomes of TIVA and inhalation anesthesia after curative resection of early-stage NSCLC. @*Methods@#We analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with stage I or II NSCLC who underwent curative resection at a tertiary university hospital between January 2010 and December 2017. The primary outcomes were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) according to anesthesia type. @*Results@#We included 1,508 patients with stage I/II NSCLC. The patients were divided into the TIVA (n = 980) and Inhalation (n = 528) groups. The two groups were well-balanced in terms of baseline clinical characteristics. The TIVA group demonstrated significantly improved RFS (7.7 years, 95% CI [7.37, 8.02]) compared with the Inhalation group (6.8 years, 95% CI [6.30, 7.22], P = 0.003). Similarly, TIVA was superior to inhalation agents with respect to OS (median OS; 8.4 years, 95% CI [8.08, 8.69] vs. 7.3 years, 95% CI [6.81, 7.71]; P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that TIVA was an independent prognostic factor related to recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.24, 95% CI [1.04, 1.47], P = 0.014) and OS (HR: 1.39, 95% CI [1.12, 1.72], P = 0.002). @*Conclusions@#Propofol-based TIVA was associated with better RFS and OS than inhalation anesthesia in patients with stage I/II NSCLC who underwent curative resection.

Risk Factors for the Occurrence and Severity of Vertebral Fractures in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Background@#The risk of vertebral fractures is increased in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. However, whether the severity of vertebral fractures differs between IBD patients and the general population, or between patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is unknown. @*Methods@#We investigated risk factors associated with the occurrence and severity of vertebral fractures in IBD patients using The National Healthcare Insurance Service (NHIS) database. We defined the patients who underwent vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty after being diagnosed with a vertebral fracture as having a severe vertebral fracture than those with only diagnosis codes. @*Results@#From 2008 to 2018, there were 33,778 patients with IBD (24,370 UC patients and 9,408 CD patients) and 101,265 patients in the reference population. The incidence rate ratio of vertebral fractures in the IBD patients was 1.27 per 1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.27). The risk of vertebral fracture was higher in CD and UC patients than in the matched reference group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31–1.92; P < 0.001 and UC: HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.29–1.65, P < 0.001), and long-term steroid use (CD:HR, 3.71; 95% CI, 2.84–3.37; P < 0.001 and UC: HR, 3.88; 95% CI, 3.07–4.91; P < 0.001). The severity of vertebral fractures was associated with IBD (CD: HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.17–2.83; P = 0.008 and UC: HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.17–1.89; P < 0.001) and older age (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.05–1.07; P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Vertebral fractures occur frequently and more severely in IBD patients, particularly those with CD. Therefore, we suggest monitoring of bone density, regular vitamin D supply, and reducing the use of corticosteroids to prevent vertebral fractures in IBD patients who are older, female, or have comorbidities.

Comparison of a Tobacco-Specific Carcinogen in Tobacco Cigarette, Electronic Cigarette, and Dual Users

Background@#4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is known as a lung carcinogen. The objective of this study was to investigate associations of urine NNAL concentrations and smoking status. @*Methods@#This was a cross-sectionally designed study based on data from the 2016–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 2,845 participants were classified into past-smoker, electronic cigarette (e-cigar) only, dual-user, and cigarette only smoker groups. All sampling and weight variables were stratified and analysis was conducted accounting for the complex sampling design. Analysis of covariance was used to compare the geometric mean of urine NNAL concentrations and log-transformed urine NNAL level among smoking status with weighted survey design. Post hoc paired comparisons with Bonferroni adjustment was performed according to smoking status. @*Results@#The estimated geometric mean concentrations of urine NNAL were 1.974 ± 0.091, 14.349 ± 5.218, 89.002 ± 11.444, and 117.597 ± 5.459 pg/mL in past-smoker, e-cigar only, dualuser, and cigarette only smoker groups, respectively. After fully adjusting, log-transformed urine NNAL level was significantly different among groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the past-smoker group, e-cigar only, dual-user, and cigarette only smoker groups showed significantly higher log-transformed urine NNAL concentrations in post hoc test (all P < 0.05). @*Conclusion@#E-cigar only, dual-user, and cigarette only smoker groups showed significantly higher geometric mean concentrations of urine NNAL than the past-smoker group.Conventional cigarette, dual users, and e-cigar users can potentially show harmful health effects from NNAL.

Changes in the Clinical Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease After Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pandemic: A Database Analysis

Background@#The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Kawasaki disease (KD) has not yet been established. We investigated changes in the observed number and severity of KD cases and accompanying coronary artery complications during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. @*Methods@#This retrospective observational study included patients aged < 18 years with acute-phase KD diagnosed between March 2018 and February 2021. Data were extracted from the Clinical Data Warehouse that houses data from five affiliated university hospitals in Korea. We analyzed changes in the number of patient admissions and clinical characteristics, including cardiac complications, before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. @*Results@#A total of 475 admissions were included in the analysis. After March 2020, we observed a significant decrease of 33% in the number of hospitalizations for KD compared with the average number of hospitalizations during the previous 2 years. The number of admissions per month significantly decreased by 7.9 persons/month (95% confidence interval, −13.8 to −2.0; P < 0.05) compared with that before COVID-19. By contrast, the proportion of patients aged < 1 year with KD increased. The proportion of patients with refractory KD and the rate of cardiac complications did not change significantly. @*Conclusion@#Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total number of hospital admissions for KD has decreased in Korea. Although the proportion of admissions of infants aged < 1 year increased, no changes were observed in clinical courses and complications.

Effects of Health-Related Quality of Life on Suicidal Ideation and Depression among Older Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective@#The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and suicidal ideation among older Korean adults and the predictors of suicidal ideation. @*Methods@#We analyzed data from 5,604 Koreans aged 65 or older collected by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2012–2016, an annual national, cross-sectional, epidemiologic study of the Korean population. A chi-square test was used to assess differences in socio-demographic characteristics by suicidal ideation. Psychological variables, self-rated physical health, and the five dimensions of the Korean version of the EQ-5D (EuroQoL) were compared between four subgroups categorized according to the presence/absence of suicidal ideation and depression. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive power of health-related quality of life variables, as well as physical and psychological factors regarding suicidal ideation. @*Results@#Overall, 11.5% of the sample reported suicidal ideation, and 20.0% of the suicidal ideation group were diagnosed with depression. Respondents with suicidal ideation had significantly lower levels of health-related quality of life than those without suicidal ideation. EQ-5D self-control (OR=1.42), anxiety/depression (OR=2.32), depression (OR=2.07), and self-rated physical health (OR=1.36) were found to significantly predict suicidal ideation. @*Conclusion@#Suicidal ideation without depression was prevalent among older Koreans. Self-control, anxiety/depression of EQ-5D, selfrated physical health, and depression predicted suicidal ideation. Interventions to screen older Koreans for early detection of suicide risk and prevention strategies should consider evaluating each EQ-5D dimension.

Analysis of Pediatric Surgery Using the National Healthcare Insurance Service Database in Korea: How Many Pediatric Surgeons Do We Need in Korea?

Background@#In the past, general surgeons (GSs) without a pediatric surgical subspecialty often performed surgery on children and, even now, GSs are performing many pediatric surgeries. We aimed to investigate the involvement of pediatric surgeons (PSs) and GSs in pediatric surgery, compare the outcomes of surgery in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and estimate the appropriate PS workforce in Korea. @*Methods@#We used surgical data from the National Health Insurance Service database that was collected from patients under the age of 19 years in hospitals nationwide from January 2002 to December 2017. In this database, we found 37 hospitals where PSs worked by using the index operation (congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, Hirschsprung's disease, abdominal wall defect, jejunoileal atresia, malrotation, anorectal malformation, and biliary atresia). It was assumed that the surgery in the 37 hospitals was performed by PS and that the surgery in other hospitals was performed by GS. Mortality was analyzed to compare the outcomes of acute abdominal surgery in the NICU. We estimated the number of PS currently needed in Korea for each situation under the assumption that PS would perform all operations for the index operation, main pediatric diseases (index operation + gastroesophageal reflux disease, choledochal cyst, inguinal hernia, and appendicitis), acute abdominal surgery in the NICU, and all pediatric surgeries.Additionally, we estimated the appropriate number of PS required for more advanced pediatric surgery in the future. @*Results@#The number of pediatric surgeries from 2002 to 2017 increased by 124%.Approximately 10.25% of the total pediatric surgeries were performed by PSs, and the percentage of the surgery performed by PSs increased from 8.32% in 2002 to 15.92% in 2017. The percentage of index operations performed by PSs annually was 62.44% in average. It was only 47.81% in 2002, and increased to 88.79% in 2017. During the last 5 years of the study period, the average annual number of surgeries for main pediatric diseases was approximately 33,228. The ratio of the number of surgeries performed by PS vs. GS steadily increased in main pediatric diseases, however, the ratio of the number of surgery performed by PS for inguinal hernia and appendicitis remained low in the most recent years. The percentage of the number of acute abdominal surgery performed by PS in the NICU was 44% in 2002, but it had recently risen to 89.7%. After 30 days of birth, mortality was significantly lower in all groups that were operated on by PS, rather than GS, during the last 5 years. In 2019, 49 PSs who were under the age of 65 years were actively working in Korea. Assuming that all pediatric surgeries of the patients under the age of 19 years should be performed by PS, the minimum number of PS currently required was about 63 if they perform all of the index operations, the main pediatric surgery was about 209, the NICU operation was about 63, and the all pediatric surgeries was about 366. Additionally, it was determined that approximately 165 to 206 PS will be appropriate for Korea to implement more advanced pediatric surgery in the future. @*Conclusion@#The proportion of the pediatric surgery performed by PS rather than GS is increasing in Korea, but it is still widely performed by GS. PSs have better operative outcomes for acute abdominal surgery in the NICU than GSs. We believe that at least the index operation or the NICU operation should be performed by PS for better outcome, and that a minimum of 63 PSs are needed in Korea to do so. In addition, approximately 200 PSs will be required in Korea in order to manage main pediatric diseases and to achieve more advanced pediatric surgery in the future.

Analysis of Pediatric Surgery Using the National Healthcare Insurance Service Database in Korea: How Many Pediatric Surgeons Do We Need in Korea?

Background@#In the past, general surgeons (GSs) without a pediatric surgical subspecialty often performed surgery on children and, even now, GSs are performing many pediatric surgeries. We aimed to investigate the involvement of pediatric surgeons (PSs) and GSs in pediatric surgery, compare the outcomes of surgery in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and estimate the appropriate PS workforce in Korea. @*Methods@#We used surgical data from the National Health Insurance Service database that was collected from patients under the age of 19 years in hospitals nationwide from January 2002 to December 2017. In this database, we found 37 hospitals where PSs worked by using the index operation (congenital diaphragmatic hernia, esophageal atresia, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, Hirschsprung's disease, abdominal wall defect, jejunoileal atresia, malrotation, anorectal malformation, and biliary atresia). It was assumed that the surgery in the 37 hospitals was performed by PS and that the surgery in other hospitals was performed by GS. Mortality was analyzed to compare the outcomes of acute abdominal surgery in the NICU. We estimated the number of PS currently needed in Korea for each situation under the assumption that PS would perform all operations for the index operation, main pediatric diseases (index operation + gastroesophageal reflux disease, choledochal cyst, inguinal hernia, and appendicitis), acute abdominal surgery in the NICU, and all pediatric surgeries.Additionally, we estimated the appropriate number of PS required for more advanced pediatric surgery in the future. @*Results@#The number of pediatric surgeries from 2002 to 2017 increased by 124%.Approximately 10.25% of the total pediatric surgeries were performed by PSs, and the percentage of the surgery performed by PSs increased from 8.32% in 2002 to 15.92% in 2017. The percentage of index operations performed by PSs annually was 62.44% in average. It was only 47.81% in 2002, and increased to 88.79% in 2017. During the last 5 years of the study period, the average annual number of surgeries for main pediatric diseases was approximately 33,228. The ratio of the number of surgeries performed by PS vs. GS steadily increased in main pediatric diseases, however, the ratio of the number of surgery performed by PS for inguinal hernia and appendicitis remained low in the most recent years. The percentage of the number of acute abdominal surgery performed by PS in the NICU was 44% in 2002, but it had recently risen to 89.7%. After 30 days of birth, mortality was significantly lower in all groups that were operated on by PS, rather than GS, during the last 5 years. In 2019, 49 PSs who were under the age of 65 years were actively working in Korea. Assuming that all pediatric surgeries of the patients under the age of 19 years should be performed by PS, the minimum number of PS currently required was about 63 if they perform all of the index operations, the main pediatric surgery was about 209, the NICU operation was about 63, and the all pediatric surgeries was about 366. Additionally, it was determined that approximately 165 to 206 PS will be appropriate for Korea to implement more advanced pediatric surgery in the future. @*Conclusion@#The proportion of the pediatric surgery performed by PS rather than GS is increasing in Korea, but it is still widely performed by GS. PSs have better operative outcomes for acute abdominal surgery in the NICU than GSs. We believe that at least the index operation or the NICU operation should be performed by PS for better outcome, and that a minimum of 63 PSs are needed in Korea to do so. In addition, approximately 200 PSs will be required in Korea in order to manage main pediatric diseases and to achieve more advanced pediatric surgery in the future.

Effects of Multicomponent Exercise on Cognitive Function in Elderly Korean Individuals

Background@#and Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of multicomponent exercise on cognitive function, depression, and quality of life in elderly individuals. @*Methods@#This study prospectively recruited 605 participants, and constructed an exercise pyramid comprising even distributions of daily physical activities, aerobic exercise, musclestrengthening exercise, flexibility exercise, balance exercise, and activities that subjects could perform while sitting down. The exercise program was divided into six stages according to the participant’s level of frailty. The 12-week exercise program intervention was conducted once yearly. @*Results@#The exercise regimen was followed by 402 of the 605 enrolled participants, giving a dropout rate of 33.6%. The 27-month exercise program was completed by 60 participants.The scores for the Mini Mental State Examination for dementia screening (MMSE-DS), short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), fear of falling, handgrip strength, and walking speed were improved after the exercise intervention. The analysis of frailty revealed that participants in the frail group showed greater improvements for the MMSE-DS, WHOQOL-BREF, IPAQ, fear of falling, handgrip strength, and walking speed. @*Conclusions@#Individually customized, multicomponent exercise programs lead to improved levels of cognitive function, depression, and quality of life, especially among those who are more frail.

A Study on User Satisfaction regarding the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for Medication / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: Many medication errors can occur when ordering and dispensing medicine in hospitals. The clinical decision support system (CDSS) is widely used in an effort to reduce medication errors. This study focused on the evaluation of user satisfaction with the CDSS for medication at a university hospital. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing user satisfaction and to examine user requirements in order to further improve user satisfaction and drug safety. METHODS: The study was based on survey data from 218 users (103 doctors, 103 nurses, and 15 pharmacists) at a university hospital that uses the CDSS. In order to identify the factors influencing user satisfaction with the CDSS, a multiple linear regression was performed. In order to compare the satisfaction level among the professional groups, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. RESULTS: The reliability of information, decision supporting capability, and departmental support were significant factors in influencing user satisfaction. In addition, nurses were the most satisfied group, followed by pharmacists and doctors according to the ANOVA. Areas for further improvement in enhancing drug safety were real time information searching and decision supporting capabilities to prevent adverse drug events (ADE) in a timely manner. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the CDSS users were generally satisfied with the system and that it complements the nationwide drug utilization review (DUR) system in reducing ADE. Further CDSS evaluation in other hospitals is needed to improve user satisfaction and drug safety.

Wireless Clinical Trial of Data Capture using a Personal Digital Assistant / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have the potential to improve clinical trial data collection; however, most current PDA-based clinical data collection systems typically collect and store data in the offline mode, and then transfer the data to an operational database. The purpose of this study was to explore the usefulness of a wireless clinical data collection system for an irritable bowel syndrome trial compared with the traditional paper based data collection. METHODS: We have developed a PDA-based data capture system for clinical trials, and tested it in a double-blind trial. Sixty four patients with irritable bowel syndrome were randomly selected and divided into a control group that used the standard paper report forms (CRF) and an intervention group that used the electronic report forms (e-CRF), daily for five weeks. There were 630 data sets consisting of six questions each, and thus 3,570 data points total were collected. RESULTS: The response rate of the control group was significantly higher than that of the intervention group. However, the completeness of the response in the intervention group was higher and the number of input errors per person for the PDA group was lower than in the paper group. CONCLUSION: A PDA based electronic diary improved the response rate and decreased input errors in an IBS trial. We conclude that mobile devices can be very useful, especially when the proposed design and connectivity aspects have been taken into account.

A Study on the Improvement of Blood Donor Health Questionnaire / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: For the safety of blood resources, the Blood Donor Health Questionnaire (DHQ) should be modified and improved allowing donors to answer questions with further accuracy. To accomplish this, it is essential to identify any part of this questionnaire that is donors find inconvenient. METHODS: The problems of the current DHQ were examined through a poll of donors at the Korean Red Cross and other hospital blood service centers from November 2008. We also compared the structure and contents of the Korean DHQ to similar document in eight other countries. RESULTS: Donors thought that the current DHQ was too complicated, took too much time (27.3%) and probed too much into a donors private life (51.2%), making it difficult to answer honestly. The Korean DHQ focuses on a deferral period and uses special medical terminology in order for an interviewer to make easy decisions regarding donor eligibility. In contrast, other questionnaires tend to focus on a donor's recall of memory, use simple vocabulary, and emphasize donor's duties, and therefore, these documents are easy for donors to understand and complete CONCLUSION: Donor-oriented DHQs using simply terminology, help donors with memory recall and emphasize a donor's duty. Also, such a document allows donors to answer frankly. Therefore donor-oriented DHQs provide a great degree of blood resource safety than interviewer-oriented DHQs.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Suicide Ideation and Attempts in Korean College Students

OBJECTIVE: Suicide is a leading cause of death in college age students. Identification of the associated risk factors has important implications for how to prevent and respond to this population; however, few studies have been performed on this topic in this age group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with suicide ideation and attempts in college students. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-eight college students participated in this cross-sectional observational study. The recent (over two weeks) suicide ideation and lifetime suicide attempts were defined according to Moscicki's suicide behavior index. Sociodemographic variables were assessed and psychopathology measured using the Beck Depression Inventory, the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. A hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the significant risk factors related to suicide ideation and attempts. RESULTS: The two-week prevalence of suicidal ideation was 9.8%, and the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was 3.3%. The univariate analysis showed that students who had more severe depression (p<0.001), a higher probability for bipolar disorder (p<0.001) and decrement of academic achievement (p<0.005) were more likely to have suicide ideation. Those with factors such as severe depression (p<0.05), a higher probability of bipolar disorder (p<0.001), a low socioeconomic status (p<0.001), who lived alone (p<0.01), and were female (p<0.05) had a higher risk for suicide attempts. The most important predictors of suicide ideation, by the logistic regression analysis, were depression, probability for bipolar disorder and academic achievement, and the risks identified for suicide attempts were socioeconomic status and probability of bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION: Suicide ideation and attempts were common in college students. The results of this study suggest that early identification and management of mood disorders and other sociodemographic risk factors may have implications for intervention and prevention.

Arden Syntax as a standard expression language for medical knowledge / 대한의료정보학회지

The Arden Syntax is a language for expressing computable medical decisions. It was developed and published under the direction of Health Level Seven, Inc (HL7), and is a standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It is used to construct executable Medical Logic Modules (MLMs) that represent individual clinical decisions. The authors introduced brief explanation of the Arden Syntaxand gave an example to help readers understand it with easy. Although Arden Syntax is the HL7 standard, there are problems related to the adoption of Arden Syntax as the standard tool for describing medical logic: the curly-braces problem, and the compiler problem. GELLO as well as virtual Medical Record based on the HL7 Reference Information Model (RIM) may provide solutions to the former problem. The latter problem would be resolved by introducing XML based expression of Arden Syntax, the ArdenML: the next generation of Arden Syntax. Unfortunately, Korean hospital information systems are not yet ready to adopt clinical decision support system including Arden Syntax. However, when Arden Syntax version 3.0 (ArdenML) with Korean rule-base engines is introduced into the hospital information system, it would be easier to build up clinical decision support system in Korea.

Key Aspects of Using Web-based Diabetes Telemedicine Systems in Multiple Clinical Settings / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: Even though abundant studies and models have tried to explain and predict the adoption and use of new information systems, the research on the adoption of Diabetes Management Systems in multiple clinical settings is relatively scarce. This paper addresses this issue by outlining Georgetown University's experience with implementing its MyCareTeam diabetes telemedicine application, which is a web.based, interactive diabetes management application. METHODS: Case study is used to explore the influencial factors on web.based diabetes telemedicine systems in multiclinical setting. The experience of the Georgetown University deploying MyCareTeam system in six different geographical areas was analyzed by secondary literature review and interviews. RESULTS: This study finds several problems and possible resolutions to expand the telemedicine systems of single institution into the multiple clinical settings. The application systems must be able to transfer data from diverse medical devices and integrate with web.based diabetes management application. Therefore, the system needs to support diverse data transfer type, diverse cable, and different network environment. In addition, there is a need for more dedicated technical and operational support, to prevent frequent turnover among the overburdened nurses who currently interact remotely with telemedicine patients. CONCLUSIONS: To apply currently developed telemedicine technology into the real clinical settings, the proposed technical as well as organizational infrastructure should be established. The findings of this study will be guideline for multi.center diabetes management system in Korea.

Comparison of the Perception on Health Information Privacy Protection for Electronic Health Record among Patients, Healthcare Providers and Administration Groups / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVE: As the accelerated development and use of Electronic Health Record have grown exponentially, the possible disclosure of patient healthcare information is increased. The purpose of this study is to examine the perception gap on disclosure of EHR information among the patient/guardian group, healthcare provider group, and administration group. METHODS: A questionnaire survey from a hospital located in Incheon City of Korea was conducted and over 200 responses were collected. Outcome measures include healthcare information protection, disclosure of unidentifiable information, possible losses from the disclosure of healthcare information, and the ownership of healthcare information. RESULTS: Regarding healthcare information protection, three groups have a general consensus over some issues. In contrast, the healthcare providers and the administration group have a higher consideration regarding possible losses resulting from the disclosure of healthcare information than the patient group. In addition, the healthcare provider group considered the ownership of healthcare information to belong to the hospital in contrast with the patients' view that the ownership and disclosure rights belong to the patient. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the high level of interest and concern that our results revealed, suggests that more attention should be directed toward designing and developing policy, organization and legislative systems.

Information Sources and Knowledge on Infant Vaccination according to Online Communities / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To explore the information sources and knowledge on infant vaccinations of pro-vaccination community members and anti- accination community members on the internet. METHODS: An online survey of 245 parents from three pro-vaccination communities and 92 parents from one antivaccination community was conducted from June 7 to June 23, 2006. RESULTS: Parents from pro-vaccination communities usually gained the information regarding vaccination efficacy and risk mainly from healthcare providers (49.8%) and mass media (47.7%). Pro-vaccination community members considered healthcare providers as the most credible sources of information on vaccination, whereas the anti-vaccination community members usually gained their information regarding vaccine efficiency and risk from Internet child-care cafes and online vaccination communities. Parents of the anti-vaccination community considered the internet as the most credible information source (77.6% for efficacy, 94.8% for risk). In addition, the major reason why anti-vaccination community members didn't vaccinate and, will not vaccinate, was concern about possible side effects of the vaccine. The knowledge level on infant vaccination, education and economic status was higher in the anti-vaccination community. CONCLUSIONS: On-line communities concerned with vaccination are getting popular. The influence of antivaccination parents on the Internet is expected to be high. The government and healthcare providers need to increase their efforts to improve the credibility of information about vaccination. Our findings suggest that online communication regarding vaccinations needs to be considered as a means to increase vaccination rates.

A Study on Facilitators and Inhibitors to the Introduction of Outsourcing in the Hospital Information Systems in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the current status of outsourcing in Korean hospital information systems and the factors influencing its introduction. METHODS: The authors surveyed 136 hospitals located in Seoul and its surrounding vicinities from June 7 to June 23, 2006. The facilitators and inhibitors to outsourcing in hospital information systems were derived from literature and expert reviews. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the major influencing factors on outsourcing in hospital information systems. RESULTS: Eighty-six (63.2%) of the 136 hospitals surveyed, which were mainly tertiary hospitals, responded to using outsourcing for their hospital information systems. "Hardware and software maintenance and support," "application development," and "management of service and staff" were the major areas of outsourcing. Outsourcing had been employed for 4~7 years by 45.5% of the hospitals and the proportion of the budget used for outsourcing was less than 20%. A need for an extension in outsourcing was agreed on by 76.5% of the hospitals. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that both consumer satisfaction and security risk have an influence on hospital information system outsourcing. CONCLUSIONS: Outsourcing in hospital information systems is expected to increase just as in other industries. One primary facilitator to outsourcing in other industries is consumer satisfaction. We found that this was also a facilitator to outsourcing in hospital information systems. Security risk, which is usually considered an inhibitor to information technology outsourcing, was proven to be an inhibitor here as well. The results of this study may help hospital information systems establish a strategy and management plan for outsourcing.

Obesity and Physical Activity Related to Colorectal Adenoma by Anatomic Sites in Korea / 한국역학회지

Although the etiology of colorectal adenoma is not yet clear, numerous epidemiologic studies of colorectal adenoma(precursors of cancer) have shown a positive association with obesity and an inverse association with physical activity. The difference of the possible association of colorectal adenoma with body mass index(BMI= wt(kg)/ht2(m2) and physical activity(kcal/day) according to anatomic sites and gender was investigated in this case-control study. Between July 1994 and october 1998, 345 cases of patients(male 181, female 164) with pathologically confirmed incident colorectal adenoma and 1655 control subjects(male 598, female 1,057) were collected from Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. After colonoscopy, self-reported weight and height, together with measures of intensity and time of exercise and lifetime job activity was obtained by the interviewers. Site- and gender-specific odds ratios relative to the lowest tertile of BMI and physical activity were determined using unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared with subjects in the lowest terile of body mass index, multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of right colon for male and female in highest tertile were 1.49(95% CI:0.74-3.01) and 1.96(95% CI:0.93-4.15), respectively. Compared with subjects in the lowest tertile of physical activity, multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of right colon for male and female in highest tertile were 0.66(95% CI:0.35-1.26) and 0.83(95% CI:0.50-1.39), respectively. These results support a positive association between body mass index and occurrence or progression of adenoma in left colon and physical activity is associated with an elevated risk of right colon.

Incorrect Disease Coding in Medical Insurance Claims and the Effect of Official Intervention: Based on Medical Insurance Claims of 6 Notifiable Acute Communicable Diseases / 한국역학회지

BACKGROUND: Because of their large size and excellent computerized records of illness and services rendered, the importance of national insurance program is getting much attentions from the public health researchers and the national and local health authorities. In reality, however, most health records from medical insurance program suffer very much from inaccurate disease coding, and therefore, they are practically in no use. METHODS: Pattern of incorrect disease coding of 6 Notifiable Acute Communicable Diseases that believed not to have been occurred in Korea lately was reviewed. The reasons of such incorrect codings in different level of medical institutions were studied. This study also attempted to see how an official intervention asking the medical institutions to correct their coding behavior works by comparing the frequencies of incorrect disease coding before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Study results showed that more incorrect disease codings came from clinics than hospitals, and non-physician personnel in clinics and hospitals seemed to be responsible for most of the incorrect disease codings. Most frequent diseases coded incorrectly such as cholera and poliomyelitis were the ones that physicians and non-physician personnel in the clinics and hospitals had been familiar with for a long time period. CONCLUSION: Even a simple official intervention asking the clinics and hospitals to correct their coding behavior was very effective : total number of incorrect disease codings before intervention (398 cases from 144 institutions) dramatically decreased (14 cases from 8 institutions) after intervention. Significant decrease in incorrect disease coding was found more in small institutions such as clinics and public health facilities than large institutions.