Objective : To develop a sham needle, which is applicable to clinical trials on acupuncture and test its credibility.
Methods : The Park Sham Needle' unit was developed. The apparatus consists of a blunt needle, the shaft of which telescopes into the handle when tapped, so that while the needle appears to have been inserted, it does not actually pierce the skin, and a Park Tube' that is composed of a standard guide tube and an oversize guide tube with a plastic flange at one end which adheres to the skin with double-sided sticky tape. The needle is held in place by the Park Tube. In a credibility test, 56 subjects received our new sham needle on the left LI-4 acupoint and were asked whether or not they felt the needle being inserted into the skin.
Results : Forty-six subjects (82%) were convinced that they received real needle insertion.
Conclusion : Park Sham Needle seems to be applicable to randomised, subject-blinded, and controlled trials on acupuncture.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare parenting stress in preterm mothers with that in fullterm infant mothers according to the developmental stages of their children. Methods: This study used the secondary data analysis approach. Ninety-one preterm infant mothers and 364 full-term infant mothers were selected from the Panel Study on Korean Children using the propensity score matching method. Parenting stress measured at the infancy, toddler, preschool, and early schoolage stages were collected with the characteristics of mothers and children such as age, education level, employment, gender, and gestational age of children. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the effect of developmental stages of children on mothers’ parenting stress. Results: Parenting stress was higher in preterm infant mothers at each developmental stage than in fullterm infant mothers. Parenting stress in preterm infant mothers increased from the infancy stage to the toddler stage but decreased afterward, while parenting stress in full-term infant mothers gradually de creased from the infancy stage to the school-age stage. The changes in parenting stress by developmental stage in preterm and full-term infant mothers were significantly different at the infancy and toddler stages (t=2.32, p=0.020). Conclusion Parenting stress showed a different pattern between preterm infant mothers and full-term infant mothers. Special consideration should be given to develop an educational intervention to assist preterm infant mothers to manage their parenting stress effectively.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting cardiovascular disease in middle-aged male workers. Methods: The participants were 137 male office workers over 40 years old and under 60 years old working in small- and medium-sized workplaces from three southern provinces of Korea. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires and health screening reports from the 2014 National Health Examination. The influencing factors included general characteristics of participants, anger expression style, and occupational stress. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis with SPSS 22.0. Results: The mean score of risk of cardiovascular disease was 6.73±4.69 and there were significant differences in exercise (t=2.13, p=.035) working time (t=-2.15, p=.034). Logistic regression analysis showed that, when adjusted for exercise and working time, the probability of becoming under a cardiovascular disease risk was 21% higher for those who anger-in (OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02~1.44, p=.027) and 12% higher for those perceived occupational stress (OR= 1.12, 95% CI=1.01~1.24, p=.030). Conclusion The results suggest developing the strategies for middle-aged male workers to encourage exercise and to decrease occupational stress, as well as an appropriate anger expression style to improve holistic aspect of health considering their demographic characteristics.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to identify a gap between consumer characteristics and utilization of health information on the Internet. METHODS: A telephone survey of nationally representative samples was conducted using structured questionnaires, and 1,000 of the 1,189 responses obtained were included in our analysis. The following variables were included in the analysis as potential predictors of health information use on the Internet: predisposing factors such as gender, age, and education status; enabling factors such as region and monthly household income; consumer need for health information; and attitude to health. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between utilization rate and the potential predictors. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of consumers had obtained health information on the Internet over a one-year period. The utilization rates were higher for consumers who were young, educated, worked in the office setting, had higher incomes, wanted health information, and were able to use the Internet. The utilization rate was 5.35 times higher in the younger group (20-30 years) than in the elderly group (95% CI=2.21-12.97); 2.21 times higher for office workers than for manual workers (95% CI=1.16-4.20); 3.61 times higher for college graduates than for middle school graduates and below (95% CI=1.07-11.59); 1.99 times higher for people with monthly household incomes over 3,000,000 won than for those with monthly household incomes below 1,500,000 won (95% CI=1.01-3.92). CONCLUSIONS: There needs to be a paradigm shift, with consideration of not only Internet accessibility in the digital age, but also consumer ability and attitudes toward utilization of health information.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Consumer Health Information/*methods ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Internet/*utilization ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors

OBJECTIVES: Korea has one of the most advanced information technology (IT) infrastructures in the world, and the application of IT in health systems is rapidly progressing from computerization to information systems, ubiquitous systems, and smart systems. This study aims to analyze Korean environments in regards to the development of their u-Health industry and propose directions for u-Healthcare services based on this analysis. METHODS: This paper reviews the background, progress history, and current status of u-Health in Korea, and suggests strategies for the u-Health industry based on an analysis of its barriers and obstacles. RESULTS: When u-Health was introduced to Koreans, their policies and approaches focused mainly on environmental factors, yet these efforts have not progressed further to impact the u-Healthcare service industry itself. To develop the u-Healthcare industry, four points need to be considered: the development and support of the practical service model, institutional support, support of core technology and industry, and the institutionalization of health management service. CONCLUSIONS: Korea is at a strategic point to start building u-Healthcare service delivery models. u-Healthcare is a healthcare service that provides added value through u-Health environments. By identifying critical success factors in u-Healthcare, we can strengthen the u-Health industry and implement policies to coordinate our efforts in the process of value chains to which we belong.
Consumer Health Information ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Information Management ; Information Systems ; Institutionalization ; Korea ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine ; Wireless Technology

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the factors related to the bone mineral density (BMD) in male and female adults aged 50 years or older. The factors included were socio-demographics, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood lipids, and health habits. METHODS: As a secondary data analysis, this study used raw data from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and selected 2,295 adults aged over 50 years who participated in the survey and had BMD values. The T-score of the femoral neck was evaluated for BMD. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and multiple regression. RESULTS: The factors influencing the BMD in men were age (β=−.029, p<.001), BMI (β=.100, p<.001), triglyceride (β=−.001, p=.001), and calcium (β=.001, p=.003), and the suggested regression equation explained 25.6% of the variance in BMD (F=16.32, p<.001). The factors related to BMD in women were age (β=−.060, p<.001), BMI (β=.091, p<.001), total cholesterol (β=−.002, p=.028), HDL cholesterol (β=.009, p=.001), and calcium (β=.001, p=.004), and the suggested regression equation explained 47.0% of the variance in BMD (F=61.72, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, the modifiable factors, such as BMI, blood cholesterol, and calcium, should be targeted to improve the BMD in both men and women.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Male ; Miners* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Osteoporosis ; Sex Characteristics ; Statistics as Topic ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: (a) To examine geographical distribution of childhood allergic diseases in Korea and (b) to identify geographical and sociodemographic risk factors for allergic diseases. METHODS: Data on doctor-diagnosed asthma during lifetime and allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis during the past 12 months of 8,631 children (< or = 18 years) were obtained from the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, along with information on housing type and presence of an indoor smoker. The SaTScan program identified geographical case clusters of allergic diseases, and multiple logistic regression determined risk factors, including geographical case clusters, for each allergic disease. RESULTS: Prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis was 3.2%, 13.2%, and 15.5%, respectively. Older children (10-18 years) were more likely to have allergic rhinitis whereas younger children were more likely to have atopic dermatitis. It is noteworthy that children living in areas of geographical risk for asthma and atopic dermatitis were more likely to develop the respective allergic disease than children living in other areas (odds ratio [OR] = 3.47 for asthma, and OR = 9.74 for atopic dermatitis). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the areas in which children live may influence the development of certain allergic diseases. Implications include the need to assess geographical location of children with allergic diseases and to develop community-based preventive programs for children with allergic diseases.
Asthma ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Geography ; Housing ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: Services based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have emerged in various business environments. To enhance health service quality and maximize benefits, this study applied an IoT technology based on NFC and iBeacon as an omni-channel service for patient care in hospitals. METHODS: Application of the IoT technology based on NFC and iBeacon was conducted in a general hospital during August 2015 through June 2016, and the development and evaluation results were aligned to an action research framework. The five phases in the action research included diagnosing, planning action, taking action, evaluating action, and specifying learning phases. RESULTS: During the first two phases, problems of functional operations in a hospital were diagnosed and eight service models were designed by using iBeacon and NFC to solve the problems. Service models were applied to the hospital by installing beacons, wearable beacons, beacon scanners, and NFC tags during the third phase. During the fourth and fifth phases, the roles and benefits of stakeholders participating in the service models were evaluated, and issues and knowledge of the whole application process were derived and summarized from technological, economic, social and legal perspectives, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: From an action research perspective, IoT-based healthcare services were developed and verified. IoT-based services enable the hospital to acquire lifelog data for precision medicine and ultimately be able to go one step closer to precision medical care. The derived service models could provide patients more enhanced healthcare services and improve the work efficiency and effectiveness of the hospital.
Commerce ; Computer Communication Networks ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Services ; Health Services Research* ; Hospital Communication Systems ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Internet* ; Learning ; Patient Care ; Precision Medicine ; Telemedicine ; Wireless Technology

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the knowledge of and attitude toward breastfeeding among medicalstaff working in the neonatal intensive care unit and obstetric unit. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was used. The questionnaire focused on participants’ knowledgeof and attitude toward breastfeeding and their characteristics. A total of 123 participants, including nursesand physicians working in the neonatal intensive care unit and obstetric unit, completed the questionnaire.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and Spearman correlationcoefficient. Results: One-third the of participants reported that they had obtained formal education related to breastfeedingwithin the last year, 44% of participants obtained information related to breastfeeding from books,while 30.9% of participants learned from coworkers. Over 93% of the participants reported a need forformal breastfeeding education. The rate of correct answers for breastfeeding knowledge was 59.2%, andthere were no significant differences between the nurse and physician groups. Breastfeeding attitude waspositive with a score of 60.0, and nurses working in the obstetric unit scored higher than other nurse orphysician groups (p=0.014). A significant correlation between knowledge of and attitude toward breastfeedingwas found in medical staff attending to preterm infant mothers (p<0.001). Conclusion Consistent information and positive support regarding breastfeeding need to be provided tomedical staff so that they can help preterm mothers initiate and continue breastfeeding. Further study isneeded to develop an interprofessional education program to increase breastfeeding knowledge and enhancepositive attitude of medical staff attending to preterm mothers.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes an experience of implementing seamless service trials online and offline by adopting Internet of Things (IoT) technology based on near-field communication (NFC) tags and Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) beacons. The services were provided for both patients and health professionals. METHODS: The pilot services were implemented to enhance healthcare service quality, improve patient safety, and provide an effective business process to health professionals in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The services to enhance healthcare service quality include healing tours, cancer information/education, psychological assessments, indoor navigation, and exercise volume checking. The services to improve patient safety are monitoring of high-risk inpatients and delivery of real-time health information in emergency situations. In addition, the services to provide an effective business process to health professionals include surveys and web services for patient management. RESULTS: Considering the sustainability of the pilot services, we decided to pause navigation and patient monitoring services until the interference problem could be completely resolved because beacon signal interference significantly influences the quality of services. On the other hand, we had to continue to provide new wearable beacons to high-risk patients because of hygiene issues, so the cost increased over time and was much higher than expected. CONCLUSIONS: To make the smart connected hospital services sustainable, technical feasibility (e.g., beacon signal interference), economic feasibility (e.g., continuous provision of new necklace beacons), and organizational commitment and support (e.g., renewal of new alternative medical devices and infrastructure) are required.
Commerce ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emergencies ; Hand ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Inpatients ; Internet ; Korea ; Mobile Applications ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Patient Safety ; Pilot Projects* ; Radio Frequency Identification Device ; Seoul ; Smartphone ; Tertiary Care Centers