BACKGROUND: The automation system for blood typing and antibody screening has been developed and is now used widely. In this study, we evaluated the economic effectiveness between automation system QWALYS-3 (DIAGAST, Loos Cedex, France) and manual testing. METHODS: Clinical samples from March 2012 were used for comparison of the costs and TAT for ABO-RhD blood typing and antibody screening. The costs included those of materials (reagents and consumables), labor, and equipment depreciation. TAT was analyzed for either blood typing only for one, 16, and 32 samples or blood typing and antibody screening for the same number of samples. RESULTS: The blood typing TAT for one, 16, and 32 samples was 4.5, 35.1, and 70.1 minutes by manual and 24.0, 36.0, and 38.1 minutes by automated system. Both blood typing and antibody screening TAT for one, 16, and 32 samples was 27.5, 75.0, and 129.9 minutes by manual and 45.0, 52.0, and 54.0 minutes by automation. CONCLUSION: The blood automation system reduced TAT only for the batch test, therefore, when using the automation system, blood bank test size and emergency situation should be considered.
Automation* ; Blood Banks* ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching* ; Depreciation ; Emergencies ; Mass Screening*

A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the experiences of mothers pregnant via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Sample of nine mothers participated. Ten theme clusters emerged when the formulated meanings were organized into categories. During the infertility period, the participants were subject to self- depreciation, envy, anxiety, and depression. It changed their priorities in life from a job-oriented life to one where having a baby was the most important thing. After trying numerous alternative therapies, IVF became their last hope in having a baby. Since the success rate for IVF is low (only 20-30%), the participants for the treatment were overwhelmed with uncertainty, and it led to further anxiety, depression and despair. Success of pregnancy gave them extreme satisfaction, but they became very cautious in their day-to-day life because of their fear of abortion and early delivery. Some were even worried about the side effect of IVF during the pregnancy. Finally, the delivery of the baby gave them relief from the obligation of having a baby. Women did not have any difficulties in rearing a "test tube baby" except in the case of twins. Most women had no ethical difficulty in having a baby by IVF. However they did not wish this information to be revealed to other people. They again turned to IVF to have a son(s) when the resultory child(s) was a daughter(s). This is because of the strong preference for sons in Korean society.
Anxiety ; Complementary Therapies ; Depreciation ; Depression ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Hope ; Humans ; Infertility ; Mothers* ; Pregnancy ; Twins ; Uncertainty

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the cost of dental implant using the bottom-up approach with the current data from dental clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, direct and indirect costs required for each treatment were calculated using the bottom-up approach. In the bottom-up costing, the average monthly total cost of dental clinic includes labor and material costs, administrative expenses, medical malpractice costs, and opportunity costs of invested capital. For the dental implant cost components, those include direct costs (labor costs, laboratory costs, material costs, depreciation or other operating costs), indirect costs (administrative costs), and the opportunity costs of investment for dental clinic. RESULTS: Dental implant costs of metal crown, porcelain crown and over-denture were 1,449,000 won, 1,583,000 won, and 2,471,000 won respectively. The proportion of cost components was as follows. The labor cost were 50%, and material, administrative and other cost were 33%, 15% and 2%, respectively. For direct, indirect and investment cost, the ratio were 83%, 15% and 2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The labor costs were evaluated to comprise largest proportion (about 50%, 730,000 won). Dental implant cost using Bottom-up costing was 1,450,000 won for metal crown and 1,580,000 won for porcelain crown.
Costs and Cost Analysis* ; Crowns ; Dental Clinics ; Dental Implants* ; Dental Porcelain ; Depreciation ; Investments ; Malpractice

PURPOSE: The present study examined the joint impact of coping and rumination after trauma on posttraumatic growth (PTG) and posttraumatic depreciation (PTD) based on the PTG model. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2017 and May 2018. A sample of 253 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event in the last two years, was included. Participants completed an online self-reported survey, including demographic variables, trauma characteristics, the German Posttraumatic Growth and Depreciation Inventory - Expanded, the Brief COPE Inventory, and the Event Related Rumination Inventory. An analysis of correlation, a principal component analysis and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses were undertaken on SPSS (version 25.0; IBM, New York, USA). RESULTS: After controlling for the effects of personal and trauma characteristics, self-sufficient coping and socially supported coping were found to favor the emergence of PTG. Event-related and recent deliberate rumination were positively related to PTG. Avoidant-focused coping and recent intrusive rumination were positively associated with PTD. Overall, the final models accounted for 46% and 58% of the variance in PTG and PTD. CONCLUSION Our findings confirm the PTG model and support the central role of deliberate rumination, self-sufficient coping and socially supported coping in the development of PTG. Our results indicate that a similar model of PTD with comparable influencing factors can be assumed: if the individual is stuck in ongoing intrusive rumination and uses more avoidance-focused coping, it might lead to more reports of PTD.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depreciation ; Humans ; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the operational and financial characteristics of contract-managed high school food services in Seoul, 2) to analyze the financial performance of high school food services 3) to develop guidelines for meal pricing and facilities investment costs. From Oct to Nov 2001, questionnaires were mailed to 249 high schools that were managed by contract food service companies. A 40.2% response rate was recorded. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Student enrollment in high schools run by contract-managed food services was 1,518, with a 68.5% participation rate in the school lunch program. The average meal price was 2,141 won. 2. Based on the income statement analysis, average total sales were 410,440,504 won and average net profit was 16,098,558 won. 3. The optimum food cost per meal was 1,200-1,300 won per meal, calculating using the methods of conversion factor, RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), and nutrient exchange unit. 4. Guidelines for meal pricing were developed using the modified actual pricing method based on facilities investment cost, number of meals and food cost. The ratio of labor cost, general management expenses and ordinary profit were adopted from the schools with liability. The food cost, depreciation and interest cost were calculated based on unit meal. 5. The guideline for facilities investment was developed based on the number of meals, meal price and food cost. The guideline included the maximum facilities investment cost paid by the contract food service management company.
Commerce ; Depreciation ; Food Services ; Humans ; Investments* ; Lunch ; Meals ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to promote organ donation by active identification and proper management of brain-dead donor with collaborating network system and to assume operating expenses in the setting of independent organ procurement organization (IOPO) in Korea. METHODS: Seoul National University Hospital and Gachon University Gill Hospital worked together as regional OPO during 8 months from April to December 2008. RESULTS: We constructed cooperative network system with five base-hospitals by MOU (memorandum of understanding). We visited 138 hospitals 223 times and built up brain-dead organ donation. Among total 265 dead patients in intensive care unit (ICU), 95 (36%) patients were considered as potential organ donors, but only 14 (14.7%) donated their organs actually. During the previous 8 months, there were 67 contacts for potential donor evaluation and total 100 solid organs were actually procured from 31 brain-dead donors except 4 cases. We also established and applied a flow chart and critical pathway of potential brain-dead donor. It was worthy of notice to manage 3 brain-dead donors and successfully procured their organs without donor transportation to HOPO. Apart from operating and depreciation expenses, we could estimate the expenses loss of mean 850,000 won per organ in the current system. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed hope for success of IOPO in Korea which would be founded in the near future. Besides persistent active relationship with regional hospitals, a certain degree of financial support or other means such as increase of organ fee and medical insurance coverage should be considered.
Animals ; Brain ; Brain Death ; Critical Pathways ; Depreciation ; Fees and Charges ; Financial Support ; Gills ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; Tissue Donors ; Transportation