Korean family's crisis analysis and function evaluation

BACKGROUND: Since the winter of 1997, Korea has been in an economic crisis. During this period family-the most important and basic social unit- faoed many problems. The purpose of this survey was to assess Korean family's functional status and emphasize family as a social support unit. METHODS: During April- May 1998 Nationwide Telephone survey was done. Sampling was done by Multi State Stratified Random Sampling technique. We questioned subjects on 5 categories of present family problems and used Modified Faces -III Questionnaire for the evaluation of family function. RESULTS: By 5 point scale, the impact of present ecanomic problems to the family showed the highest score(3.7). Other causes had a score range of 1.7-2.1. Economic impact was greater in 4th and 5th life cycle step, those with low income, and those in bereavement. Family type was divided in to 3 groups; extreme type 20%, mid-range 50%, and balanced 30%. Among extreme groups chaotic adoption and enmeshed cohesion type were the most common(10.8%). CONCLUSIONS: In the Korean family 1998, economic problem seems to be the most important impact factor and the proportion of extreme type family is high.

Resident's Knowledge and Attitude towards Cancer Pain Management

BACKGROUND: Pain is among the most prevalent symptoms experienced by patients with cancer. Severe pain is incompatible with quality of life. Although cancer pain can be effectively treated in 70-90% of patients with the principle of pain management, between 60% and 70% of cancer patients pain is inadequately treated. Both knowledge and attitudes of medical professionals are important for effective pain management. This study was designed to survey residents knowledge and attitudes toward cancer pain management in order to offer the basic data for researching the problems and education program of cancer pain management. METHODS: In February 1997, we surveyed 116 residents practising in 7 departments of one university hospital, including physicians and surgeons, with a case-oriented questionnaire assessing knowledge and attitudes toward cancer pain management. RESULTS: The percentage of residents choosing the correct answer for knowledge about pain management was, pain in the drug abuser(42.2%), equianalgesic dosing(47.4%), physical dependence(50.9%), WHO analgesic ladder(61.2%), neuropathic pain(62.9%), around the clock dosing(69.8%). The percentage of residents choosing answer for attitude toward cancer pain management ; upper limit to opioid prescription(46.5%), reluctance to prescribe morphine(45.7%), need of education for pain management(99.1%). Fear of side effects was the most frequent reason of their reluctance to prescribe opioids(80.4%.) Physicians had higher level of knowledge than surgeons(P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the presence of barriers to adequate pain control in Korea as identified in other countries. There is the lack of konwledge about cancer pain management and doctors are reluctant to prescribe because of negative attitudes towards pain management. This suggests a need for not simply offering knowledge but problemsolving education and training of pain management.

A survey of family medicine residency training programs in Korea

No abstract available.