No abstract available.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Leptospira interrogans* ; Leptospira*

PURPOSE: Though web-based tests have many advantages, they do not become the main test form in medical education because of their many technical or operational limitations. We have developed a new web-based test system to overcome these limitations and, ultimately, to replace conventional paper and pencil tests. METHODS: We developed a web-based test system using a windows 2000 server, mySQL, visual basic 6.0 and ASP script as developing tools. We applied this system to formal examinations. The system was modified and optimized based on users' demands and problems identified during testing. RESULTS: Since web-based testing was first administered in 2003 to the third-year students during their clinical practice examinations, it has been used in 51 examinations at the College of Medicine in Chungbuk National University. In 2004, it was used in more than a half of the regular examinations at our medical college. At the beginning, lecturers were reluctant to adopt a new test system because of unfamiliarity and fear of additional workload. Shortly, however, they found that they were able to handle the multimedia contents more easily and obtain much information from results analysis without additional work. Examinees also favored web-based tests in presenting multimedia data but had some difficulties in focusing on the test. Overall, examinees' preference for web.based tests was comparable to conventional tests. According to user demand, we improved this test system by verifying question formats and making test analysis. CONCLUSION: Web-based tests can replace paper and pencil tests in medical education. Improvement of this testing system is expected with serious and continuous concerns from examiners.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Education, Medical* ; Humans ; Multimedia ; Viperidae

Ninety forensic (judicial) autopsies were performed in Chungju and Eomseong provinces during 3 years (1998-2000). On the other hand, postmortem external examinations for administrative purposes were done in only 2 bodies during the same period. In this paper the reasons for small proportion of the postmortem external examination for administrative purposes compared with that for judicial autopsies were discussed. The following results might offer us significant suggestions for improving the postmortem investigation and examination system in Korea. 1. Reconsideration on the importance of postmortem external examination. 2. Reestablishment of the definitions and a guiding principle in postmortem investigation system for judicial and administrative purposes. 3. Education on the necessity for augmentation of medicolegal autopsy rate among postmortem investigation cases for administrative purposes.
Autopsy ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Education ; Hand ; Korea

PURPOSE: Perceived barriers to exercise were investigated for adults. METHOD: A total 1266 subjects were selected by a quota sampling method with age, gender, and residence. Perceived barriers were categorized under 4 groups: knowledge, psychological, physical, and external factors. All 23 items of perceived barriers were responded on a dichotomous (yes/no) scale. RESULT: Mean number of perceived barriers was 4.61 and 87.9% subjects perceived at least one barrier which prevented involvement in exercise. External barriers ranked highest, followed in order by psychological, knowledge, and physical barriers. Most factors of perceived barriers were found to be different by age, gender, and residence, in that, the younger, female, living in Daejeon subjects were found to respond with more barriers than the older, male, living in Chungju or Seoul. CONCLUSION: Perceived barriers to exercise are differenct by age, gender, and residence. Therefore, it is recommended that age, gender, and residence of subjects must be considered in order to develop exercise programs and public campaigns.
Adult* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the relationship between community-based social support and psychosocial distress in workers. METHODS: The study subjects were 596 workers recruited from 11 companies in Chungju city. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, job stress, work-based social support, community-based social support and level of psychosocial distress. RESULTS: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that workers with no chronic disease, exercise and sufficient sleep had a higher score of psychosocial distress than those with chronic disease, no exercise, and not enough sleep. Coworker's work-based social support and community-based social support were negatively associated with psychosocial distress. The R square value of total independent variables on psychosocial distress was 0.409, and that of community-based social support on psychosocial distress was 0.052. CONCLUSION: This study showed that community-based social support served as a protective factor against psychosocial distress in some workers. We recommend the establishment of a worksite stress reduction program in occupational level as well as community-based social support.
Chronic Disease ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Questionnaires ; Workplace

We investigated the diversity of the foliar endophytes of Korean ginseng. Endophytic fungi were isolated from healthy leaves of mountain-cultivated ginseng (MCG) and field-cultivated ginseng (FCG) at 4 sites in Chungbuk Province. A total of 24 species of fungal endophytes were identified using molecular approaches. Additionally, the diversity of these endophytic fungi was compared between MCG and FCG. The major isolated endophytes were Edenia gomezpompae and Gibberella moniliformis in the MCG and FCG samples, respectively. The results suggest that ginseng endophytes have different community structures in different environments, and this understanding may prove useful in ginseng cultivation.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Endophytes ; Fungi* ; Gibberella ; Moniliformis ; Panax*

PURPOSE: It is known that size of the prostate increases with age, but there is no guideline of size of the prostate to be applied to Korean men. This study reports the size change of prostate with age in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine the prostatic size, 645 volunteers(539 normal group and 106 BPH group) from Chungbuk province underwent transrectal ultrasonography (Scanner 200, Pie Medical, Netherlands). Size of the prostate was estimated as a weight by the elliptical method. RESULTS: The mean prostate weight was 22.4+/-8.4gm(range 7~83gm). The relationship between prostate volume and age was statistically significant in 645 volunteers(r=0.17, p<0.0005). Also, between normal group and benign prostatic hyperplasia group, there was significant correlation with age(r=0.16, P<0.0005), while results were insignificant with size(r=0.13, p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Size and rate of growth of the prostate were smaller compared to the western society, nevertheless, prostate size increased with age. For accurate and reasonable age-specific size of the prostate of Korean male, community based multicenter study will be needed with more accurate measurement techniques such as step-section planimetry for the prostatic volume estimation.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Ultrasonography

A total of 190 ticks collected from the Chungju area of Korea was examined for the presence of Spotted Fever Group(SFG) Rickettsia using a PCR assay. Twenty-five (13.2%) Haemaphysalis ticks were found positive of the groEL gene of SFG Rickettsia. The prevalence rate of R. japonica in these 25 Haemaphysalis ticks was 72% (18 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia). The prevalence rate of R. conorii and new SFG rickettsia in these 25 Haemaphysalis ticks was 4% (1 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia) and 24% (6 out of 25 SFG Rickettsia), respectively. These results suggest that R. japonica was the highest infection frequency among in Haemaphysalis ticks SFG Rickettsia, and that R. conorii and new SFG Rickettsia are also present in the Chungju area.
Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Fever* ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Rickettsia* ; Ticks*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between moral distress, physical symptoms, and burnout among clinical nurses. METHODS: Data were collected by self-report questionnaires targeting 140 nurses from a university hospital in Chungju. The data were analyzed by, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS: Moral distress due to the general characteristics of the participants showed a statistically significant difference at the current working department (χ2=36.01, p<.001). Hospital nurses' moral distress had a statistically significant correlation with burnout (r=.358, p<.001) and physical symptoms (r=.440, p<.001). Factors influencing hospital nurses' burnout, pro were physical symptoms, moral distress, and marital status, accounting for 36% of the variance. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that moral distress and physical symptoms influence burnout among hospital nurses. Therefore, interventions for burnout among hospital nurses should include an empowerment program to reduce physical symptoms and moral distress.
Burnout, Professional ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Marital Status ; Power (Psychology)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between self-leadership, team trust, organizational commitment and identify the influencing factors on organizational commitment. METHODS: The subjects in the study were 296 conveniently selected general nurses at 2 general hospitals in Chungbuk Province. The measurements included the self-leadership, organizational trust inventory (OTI), and organizational commitment. RESULTS: The mean score for self-leadership was 3.40, the mean score for OTI was 3.61, and the mean score for organizational commitment was 3.07. There were significant correlations among self-leadership, team trust and organizational commitment. Self-leadership had significant correlation with team trust (r=.25, p<.001). Also, self-leadership (r=.34, p<.001) and team trust (r=.31, p<.001) showed significant correlation with organizational commitment. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, age, self-leadership and team trust were included in the factors affecting organizational commitment of clinical nurses. These variables explained 20% of organizational commitment. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that nurses' self-leadership and team trust affects significant influences on organizational commitment. Accordingly, in order to enhance nurses' organizational commitment, it is necessary to build effective strategies to enhance self-leadership and team trust for nurses. Such strategies will be able to improve the goal achievement of nursing unit.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Hospitals, General ; Leadership ; Nursing ; Personnel Management