standards characteristics ; Hospitals ; Health Policy

One of the requirements for proper running of a pathology laboratory is implementation of a quality assurance programme. Forensic pathology is not exempted, especially so when cases are increasing in complexity. It is not difficult to introduce a quality assurance programme even in a small forensic centre. Among the steps that can be implemented including introduction of a set of minimal standards in performance of the autopsy, timeliness and report writing, a vigorous peer review process either internally or externally and participation in external quality programmes. Proper documentation of the post-mortem process (photography, slides and blocks and various imaging modalities) is to be encouraged. There should be limits set on workload of pathologists as overburden is known to lower standards. A pleasant work environment is also essential. Personal continuous medical education should be made mandatory. Introduction of a quality assurance programme will not only improve standards but minimise possible negligence. The post-mortem reports will be seen to carry more weight in court.
Pathology processes ; quality assurance ; standards characteristics ; With quality ; participation

A study of blood pressure levels in 626 apparently healthy children aged 8 to 16 years in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea showed that blood pressure gradually increased with age, was generally higher in females and correlated positively (p less than 0.001) with age, body weight, height and an index of obesity. Body weight and height appear to be the most important predictors of blood pressure. Of the children examined, 32 (5.1%) had elevated blood pressures which were more than two standard deviations above the mean.
Age Factors ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Human ; Papua New Guinea ; Reference Standards ; Sex Characteristics

PURPOSE: The Behcet's Disease Quality of Life (BD-QoL) is a BD-specific measure developed in the UK. The aim of this study was to adapt the BD-QoL for use in Korea. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The translation was based on the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation. A total of 201 Korean patients with BD participated in this study. To evaluate the psychometric properties, internal consistency and test-retest reliability were used. Factor analysis was performed to examine the construct validity. To provide further evidence for validity, the correlation of BD-QoL with the Clinical Activity Form for Korean Patients with BD (BDCAF-K) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scales was assessed. RESULTS: The Korean version had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha, 0.93) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.835). Factor analysis of the questionnaire revealed one interpretable factor as a general health-related quality of life factor. The Korean version significantly correlated with scores of CES-D (r = 0.749, p = 0.000), self-rating scale of well-being over the past 28 days (r = 0.446, p = 0.000), and BDCAF-K score (r = 0.502, p = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Adaptation of the BD-QoL for use in Korea was successful. Together with the BDCAF-K, it may be a valuable tool for assessing the influence of interventions in BD patients and outcome in clinical trials.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Behcet Syndrome/diagnosis/*psychology/therapy ; Child ; Cultural Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires/*standards

OBJECTIVE: To determine the normal range of the 33 elements (Li, Be, B, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th and U) in human whole blood of general population in Hunan province. METHODS: Blood samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the normal range. The influences of district, gender and age to the element content in blood samples were also observed. RESULTS: The normal range of 33 elements in blood samples from general population in Hunan province were obtained. Gender was shown to statistically influence the concentrations of B, Mg, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Hg and Pb (P < 0.05), while age was shown to influence the concentrations of Co, Ni, Cs and Hg in women (P < 0.05) as well as Cu, Se and Hg in men (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Although there are variables in different districts, the normal ranges of trace element in blood of the four cities in Hunan province are established.
Age Factors ; Asian People/ethnology* ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Reference Standards ; Reference Values ; Residence Characteristics ; Sex Factors ; Trace Elements/blood*

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to reexamine underlying dimensions of attitudes toward the elderly held by undergraduate nursing students. A secondary purpose was to investigate characteristics of nursing students associated with attitudes toward elders. METHODS: A survey was performed using self-report questionnaire completed by nursing students from a total of 10 nursing schools or departments each selected randomly from one province of Korea. Students' responses (N=366) were analyzed using factor analysis, correlation coefficients, t-test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: Three attitudinal dimensions explaining 35.29% of the variance were extracted: vitality, generosity and flexibility. From a neutral point of 4.0 in the range of 1 to 7, only generosity (4.47) was evaluated positively, whereas vitality (3.31) and flexibility (2.91) were evaluated negatively. The mean scores of the vitality and generosity dimensions were significantly different by students' level of communication with the elderly, experience living with the elderly, and interest in elders or in issues related to elders. Interest in elders/elder issues was the only characteristic affecting significant mean score difference in flexibility. CONCLUSION: Educational process should increase students' exposure to healthy elderly to modify negative attitudes toward the elderly among nursing students.
Adolescent ; Adult ; *Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Communication ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/standards ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Geriatric Nursing/education ; *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Negativism ; Nursing Education Research ; Nursing Methodology Research ; *Prejudice ; Questionnaires ; Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data ; Stereotyping ; Students, Nursing/*psychology

PURPOSE: The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among community-dwelling older women in Korea is not well known. This study examined the prevalence of UI and UI-related knowledge among community-dwelling Korean women aged 55 and over. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted. Data were collected from 276 women aged 55 and over in a metropolitan city using a structured questionnaire. RESULT: Of 276 respondents, 28.3% (n = 78) reported experiencing UI. More than 50% of respondents incorrectly agreed with the statement that UI is the result of normal aging, with only 20.9% realizing that there is an exercise that can control urine leaks when one coughs, sneezes, or laughs. Older women who had sought treatment had higher mean score for UI-related knowledge. CONCLUSION: This study revealed substantial misconception about UI among community dwelling older women, demonstrating that comprehensive educational programs need to be developed to increase knowledge of UI.
Age Distribution ; *Aged/psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Attitude to Health ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Educational Status ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Needs Assessment ; Patient Education as Topic/*standards ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Residence Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Self Care ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Urban Population/statistics & numerical data ; *Urinary Incontinence/epidemiology/etiology/prevention & control ; Women/*education/psychology

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminthes (STH) infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the most deprived communities. Adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) prevents environmental contamination, thereby preventing transmission of STH. Cognizant of this, WASH education was implemented in rural Dembiya to reduce intestinal parasitic infections. This study was, therefore, conducted to assess the impacts of the intervention on households' WASH conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. METHOD: An uncontrolled before-and-after intervention study was used. Cross-sectional studies were done before and after the intervention. Two hundred twenty-five and 302 under five children were recruited randomly at the baseline and endline, respectively. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and observational checklists. Direct stool examination and Kato-Katz methods were used to identify parasites in the stool. We used percent point change and prevalence ratio (PR) to see the effects of the intervention on WASH conditions and prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections respectively. Pearson chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to test for statistically significant percentage point changes of WASH conditions. The effect of the intervention on intestinal parasitic infections was statistically tested on the basis of PR with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The baseline prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 25.8%, and the endline prevalence was 23.8%. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was not significantly decreased at the endline compared with the baseline [PR = 0.92, 95% CI = (0.62, 1.38)]. Ascaris Lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasitic infection both at the baseline and endline. The proportion of children who had good hygienic condition increased from 1.3% at the baseline to 34.4% at the end line (p <  0.05). The percentage of mothers/care givers who washed hands at different pick times was significantly increased from 24.4% at the baseline to 68.2% at the endline (p <  0.001). The proportion of households who practiced home-based water treatment was significantly increased from 7.6% at the baseline to 47% at the endline (p <  0.001). The proportion of households who used sanitary latrine was increased from 32% at the baseline to 49% at the endline (p <  0.05). CONCLUSION This before-and-after intervention study found that households' WASH performance was significantly improved at the endline compared with the baseline. The endline prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was slightly lower than the baseline prevalence; however, the reduction was not statistically significant. The local health office needs to strengthen the WASH education program, mobilize the community to construct WASH facilities, and support the community to sustain households' WASH performance.
Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking Water ; parasitology ; standards ; Ethiopia ; epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Feces ; parasitology ; Female ; Health Behavior ; physiology ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Helminthiasis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hygiene ; education ; Infant ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sanitation ; Soil ; parasitology ; Surveys and Questionnaires