Correspondence as Topic ; Editorial Policies ; Humans ; Journal Impact Factor ; Journalism, Medical ; Periodicals as Topic ; Review Literature as Topic ; Writing

We evaluated the effectiveness of text messaging versus email, as a delivery method to enhance knowledge retention of emergency medicine (EM) content in EM residents. We performed a multi-centered, prospective, randomized study consisting of postgraduate year (PGY) 1 to PGY 3 & 4 residents in three United States EM residency programs in 2014. Fifty eight residents were randomized into one delivery group: text message or email. Participants completed a 40 question pre- and post-intervention exam. Primary outcomes were the means of pre- and post-intervention exam score differences. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and multiple linear regressions. No significant difference was found between the primary outcomes of the two groups (P=0.51). PGY 2 status had a significant negative effect (P=0.01) on predicted exam score difference. Neither delivery method enhanced resident knowledge retention. Further research on implementation of mobile technology in residency education is required.
Education ; Electronic Mail* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Internship and Residency ; Linear Models ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Text Messaging* ; United States*

The editorial department of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society(JKNS) polled more than 1,210 members of the Korean Neurosurgical Society(KNS) to evaluate the present status of JKNS from a viewpoint of readers or authors. The survey form includes questions about the impressions and opinions of JKNS regarding to its contents, style, and service. The responses were collected by means of e-mail and a total of 107 replies could be gathered during 2 months. Analysis of the responses revealed that majority of members of the KNS recognized the efforts to improve the quality of JKNS during recent years. However, there was also apprehensions and discontent about the quality of articles and review process in some KNS members.
Electronic Mail

BACKGROUND: Varenicline is known to have higher effect for smoking cessation than existing pharmacotherapies, including Bupropion and Nicotine replacement therapy, however, it can also bring about adverse effects such as problems in compliance due to the complicated dosage, side effects of high frequency, and financial burden resulted from a long term treatment. Moreover, the effect for smoking cessation with group program and non-pharmacotherapy, including financial incentives, E-mails or SMS is well known, but, the study on their combination is rare. Therefore, in the present study, we tried to evaluate two things; the effect for smoking cessation with multi-modal intervention, and the compliance of Varenicline. METHODS: From July 2008 to February 2009, we conducted the multi-modal smoking cessation program for 30 volunteers in Dankook university. This program consisted short course of Varenicline, financial incentives, E-mail and short message service. RESULTS: The continuous abstinence rate for weeks 9 throught 12 was 76.7% and for weeks 9 through 24 was 43.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that duration of Varenicline treatment was significant factor affecting 12-week continuous abstinence rate. The average duration of Varenicline treatment was 17.1 (+/-10.8) days and 54.0% took Varenicline as directed. The most common adverse events were nausea (40.0%) and insomnia (23.3%). CONCLUSION: Multi-modal intervention (short course of Varenicline, financial incentive, E-mail and short message service) was effective for smoking cessation with high continuous abstinence rates in a university. We suggest multi-modal intervention because compliance of Varenicline seems to be low in real setting.
Benzazepines ; Bupropion ; Compliance ; Electronic Mail ; Motivation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nausea ; Nicotine ; Quinoxalines ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Text Messaging ; Varenicline

BACKGROUND: Varenicline is known to have higher effect for smoking cessation than existing pharmacotherapies, including Bupropion and Nicotine replacement therapy, however, it can also bring about adverse effects such as problems in compliance due to the complicated dosage, side effects of high frequency, and financial burden resulted from a long term treatment. Moreover, the effect for smoking cessation with group program and non-pharmacotherapy, including financial incentives, E-mails or SMS is well known, but, the study on their combination is rare. Therefore, in the present study, we tried to evaluate two things; the effect for smoking cessation with multi-modal intervention, and the compliance of Varenicline. METHODS: From July 2008 to February 2009, we conducted the multi-modal smoking cessation program for 30 volunteers in Dankook university. This program consisted short course of Varenicline, financial incentives, E-mail and short message service. RESULTS: The continuous abstinence rate for weeks 9 throught 12 was 76.7% and for weeks 9 through 24 was 43.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that duration of Varenicline treatment was significant factor affecting 12-week continuous abstinence rate. The average duration of Varenicline treatment was 17.1 (+/-10.8) days and 54.0% took Varenicline as directed. The most common adverse events were nausea (40.0%) and insomnia (23.3%). CONCLUSION: Multi-modal intervention (short course of Varenicline, financial incentive, E-mail and short message service) was effective for smoking cessation with high continuous abstinence rates in a university. We suggest multi-modal intervention because compliance of Varenicline seems to be low in real setting.
Benzazepines ; Bupropion ; Compliance ; Electronic Mail ; Motivation ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nausea ; Nicotine ; Quinoxalines ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Text Messaging ; Varenicline

PURPOSE: Social media (SM), a virtual place where people can share, exchange, and communicate their ideas and knowledge, has become the new trend in communication and learning. This study aims to explore Saudi Arabian medical students' usage of SM and to discover the most common resources used in medical education. Furthermore, it aims to illustrate students' belief about the influence of SM on their learning. METHODS: This cross-sectional study administered validated questionnaires to medical students from different universities in Saudi Arabia, via emails, Twitter, Facebook, and short message service. A non-probability sampling technique was utilized and a sample size of 381 students was arrived at, using 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error, since the total number of medical students in Saudi Arabia is approximately 36,000. The total respondents were 657 students from 23 different Saudi Arabian medical schools (females: 60.5%, n=397; males: 39.5%, n=260). RESULTS: The questionnaires of 21% of the students (n=139) were excluded from the analysis since they were incomplete. The most common website used by both genders was YouTube (42.3%, n=185); however, males preferred using Twitter and Wikis (p=0.001). With regard to utilizing SM for learning, 95.8% (n=419) of the students believed that it is beneficial. Females stated that SM helps them link basic and clinical science (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: Medical schools need to improve the utilization of SM by their faculty and students by developing activities and encouraging the usage of SM in education.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education* ; Education, Medical ; Electronic Mail ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Male ; Sample Size ; Saudi Arabia* ; Schools, Medical ; Social Media* ; Students, Medical* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Text Messaging

The corresponding author's name and E-mail address have been corrected. This article was corrected online. The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience cause.
Electronic Mail ; Rupture

OBJECTIVES: The number of healthcare institutions adopting smartphones continues to increase, implying that their utilization is undoubtedly gaining attention. Understanding the needs of smartphone users will provide a greater opportunity for successful information technology acceptance by expanding the scope of its utilization. This study focuses on how smartphones are accepted and utilized in hospitals and analyzes the factors influencing users' attitude, social influence, and intention of use. METHODS: For the study model, the researcher has mainly adopted the Theory of Reasoned Action and further modified and used the models of Technology Acceptance and Information Systems Success. To test the model empirically, a survey was conducted with 122 professionals on information development teams in Korean tertiary hospitals. RESULTS: The common smartphone usage modes were Internet searching, e-mail, scheduling, and social networking in consecutive order. Phone calls consisted of 51.4% of work-related purposes, while other functions, such as text message, Web browser, and scheduling, were mostly used for personal purposes. Costs, contents quality, innovation, ease of use, and support were shown to have statistically significant effects on user attitude, and social influence, portability, security, content quality, and innovation were significant. User attitude and social influence were both statistically significant with respect to intention of use, with user attitude greater than social influence. CONCLUSIONS: The participating staff were analyzed as having strong personal faith and principles, independent from their external environment. Timely information exchanges among medical staff will facilitate appropriate communication and improved health services to patients in need.
Consumer Health Information ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Mail ; Health Information Management ; Health Services ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Intention ; Internet ; Medical Staff ; Smartphone ; Telecommunications ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Text Messaging ; Web Browser ; Wireless Technology

The results of a nationwide survey performed in July 2009 for all the members of the Korean Society of Endoscopic&Laparoscopic Surgeons (KSES) about the terminology for this new technology are available. Seventy-eight (10.9%) of 716 members responded to an E-mail survey, which consisted of combined multiple choice and open questions. Of the all names, SPLS was the majority (26/78, 33.3%) and it was followed by SILS, 21/78 (26.9%). Others preferred the name such as SPA (10/78, 12.8%), 5 (6.4%) preferred OPLS (one port laparoscopic surgery) and 3 preferred SPoTS and so on. Although industry driven names have been prevalent thus far in this new emerging technology and many laparoscopic surgeons are used to it, we need an international consensus name for it for various lesions. According to my survey, I would like to recommend the nomenclature as the single port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) at this moment, based on the opinion of the active members of the KSES.
Consensus ; Electronic Mail ; Korea ; Laparoscopy

PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to identify plastic surgeons' views on the effects of online communication between doctors and patients. METHODS: Cross-sectional online survey of members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons was made to identify their evaluation on the accuracy and the relevance of the internet health information and their perceptions of the effects of discussing the information with the patients on time-efficiency, requests for specific interventions, health outcomes, and the doctor-patient relationship. A questionnaire with 25 items was sent to the surgeons' e-mails, and 111 replied. SPSS Win version 12.0 was used to analyze the statistical differences and meanings among data. RESULTS: The percentage of the plastic surgeons who were experiencing the online communication was 65.8%, and the most frequent medium used was homepage of the clinic/hospital. Even though the percentage of the plastic surgeons who were using the online communication for their everyday practice was high, the percentage of patients who visited the clinic/hospital after using the website of the clinic/hospital was relatively low. The effects of online communication on doctor-patient relationship were neutral in 40(36.0%) and positive in 39(35.1%). The effects on the efficiency of the practice was positive in 45(40.5%), and the effects on the quality of care and the patients' outcome were positive in 46(41.4%) respectively. CONCLUSION: The ratio of surgeons who are experiencing the online communication is relatively high, whereas the ratio of patients who are using online communication is low. Most of plastic surgeons are positive on the effects of the online communication on doctor-patient relationship, quality of care, and patients' outcome.
Electronic Mail ; Humans ; Internet ; Surveys and Questionnaires