Violence in Korean medical dramas

PURPOSE: Although violence occurs frequently in Korean television dramas, its description or definition is unusual. Many studies have shown that TV dramas have a powerful effect on society and the violence shown in medical dramas helps in comprehension of hospital violence occurring in real life. Therefore, this study will cover the types and levels of violence. METHODS: We selected five recent Korean medical dramas. These five dramas, which consisted of 94 episodes and were broadcast from 2007 to 2011, are analyzed. Violence is limited to the occurrence inside the hospital; violence that occurs outside of the hospital is excluded. Media violence is analyzed within PAT (perpetrator-action-target). In addition, the violence levels and violence relationships are analyzed. RESULTS: Among the types of violence, 88.5% is verbal abuse, 3.5% is physical threat, and 8.0% is physical violence. In comparison of the violence relationship, violence between a doctor and a doctor forms the highest rate of 72.6%. In the level of violence, 0 level of violence caused by verbal abuse is the highest (88.5%); however, 5 level of violence level, which is death, is not observed. There are 1475 minutes of violence scenes from 6243 minutes, which is 23.6% of total time. CONCLUSION: Frequency of violence in Korean medical dramas is higher than that of normal dramas. Considering the powerful influence of the mass media, the violence of medical dramas should be controlled. To resolve the problem, the role of advisory doctors seems important.

The Use of Vapocoolant Spray for the Treatment of Minor Trauma in the Hospital Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Vapocoolant spray is used as an agent to relieve localized pain due to sport injury or intravenous cannulation. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of vapocoolant spray in the treatment of minor trauma in a hospital emergency department. METHODS: We carried out a prospective randomized controlled trial of alert patients with minor trauma who visited our emergency department. The total of 90 participants, all over 14 years old, were divided into 3 groups: a 'NSAIDs IM' group (n=30), 'Vapocoolant spray' group (n=30), and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group (n=30). Patients rated their pain and satisfaction of treatment using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). We assessed pain by VAS 4 times: first upon arrival, and then at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after treatment. We also assessed their treatment satisfaction utilizing VAS at the point of discharge. In addition, we calculated the time between subject arrival and initial treatment. RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in terms of age or sex distribution. The mean of the VAS score did not differ significantly among the groups upon their arrival (p=0.885) and were observed as follows: 'NSAIDs IM' group 44.80+/-12.70 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 45.20+/-10.49 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 46.17+/-9.54 mm. At 15, 30 and 60 min after treatment, the mean reduction in VAS score significantly differed between groups (p<0.05). At 15 min after treatment the results were as follows: 'NSAIDs IM' group 5.27+/-3.26 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 15.17+/-7.17 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray'group 14.57+/-4.07 mm. At 30 min after treatment the results were: 'NSAIDs IM' group 13.57+/-7.86 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 19.47+/-9.96 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 21.20+/-6.52 mm. At 60 min after treatment the results were: 'NSAIDs IM' group 25.73+/-8.07 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 20.90+/-9.88 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 28.93+/-6.66 mm. Satisfaction of treatment and initial treatment time differed between groups (p<0.05). For satisfaction of treatment, the median of VAS significantly differed between the 'NSAIDs IM' group and the 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group [46.50(41-52) mm vs. 57.00(51-62) mm, p<0.0167]. Initial treatment time significantly differed between the 'NSAIDs IM' group and the other groups [22.50(13-34) min vs. 10.00(7-20) min and 13.00(7-20) min, p<0.0167]. CONCLUSION: Vapocoolant spray is effective in reducing pain with minor trauma in the hospital emergency department. We can simultaneously improve the patient treatment satisfaction and reduce initial treatment time by using the vapocoolant spray.

The Use of Vapocoolant Spray for the Treatment of Minor Trauma in the Hospital Emergency Department

PURPOSE: Vapocoolant spray is used as an agent to relieve localized pain due to sport injury or intravenous cannulation. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of vapocoolant spray in the treatment of minor trauma in a hospital emergency department. METHODS: We carried out a prospective randomized controlled trial of alert patients with minor trauma who visited our emergency department. The total of 90 participants, all over 14 years old, were divided into 3 groups: a 'NSAIDs IM' group (n=30), 'Vapocoolant spray' group (n=30), and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group (n=30). Patients rated their pain and satisfaction of treatment using a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). We assessed pain by VAS 4 times: first upon arrival, and then at 15, 30 and 60 minutes after treatment. We also assessed their treatment satisfaction utilizing VAS at the point of discharge. In addition, we calculated the time between subject arrival and initial treatment. RESULTS: Groups did not differ significantly in terms of age or sex distribution. The mean of the VAS score did not differ significantly among the groups upon their arrival (p=0.885) and were observed as follows: 'NSAIDs IM' group 44.80+/-12.70 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 45.20+/-10.49 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 46.17+/-9.54 mm. At 15, 30 and 60 min after treatment, the mean reduction in VAS score significantly differed between groups (p<0.05). At 15 min after treatment the results were as follows: 'NSAIDs IM' group 5.27+/-3.26 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 15.17+/-7.17 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray'group 14.57+/-4.07 mm. At 30 min after treatment the results were: 'NSAIDs IM' group 13.57+/-7.86 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 19.47+/-9.96 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 21.20+/-6.52 mm. At 60 min after treatment the results were: 'NSAIDs IM' group 25.73+/-8.07 mm, 'Vapocoolant spray' group 20.90+/-9.88 mm, and 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group 28.93+/-6.66 mm. Satisfaction of treatment and initial treatment time differed between groups (p<0.05). For satisfaction of treatment, the median of VAS significantly differed between the 'NSAIDs IM' group and the 'NSAIDs IM with Vapocoolant spray' group [46.50(41-52) mm vs. 57.00(51-62) mm, p<0.0167]. Initial treatment time significantly differed between the 'NSAIDs IM' group and the other groups [22.50(13-34) min vs. 10.00(7-20) min and 13.00(7-20) min, p<0.0167]. CONCLUSION: Vapocoolant spray is effective in reducing pain with minor trauma in the hospital emergency department. We can simultaneously improve the patient treatment satisfaction and reduce initial treatment time by using the vapocoolant spray.