This study was conducted to investigate selection criteria of health information and utilization pattern of health information on the Web by the consumers. Data were collected through off-line and on-line surveys. The off-line survey was conducted with 64 white color office workers in seven companies. The on-line survey was conducted on JoongAng Ilbo 'Healthcare' and KIHASA 'Healthguide' Web sites and 216 participated in the survey. To compare the selection criteria of the consumers with that of health informatics experts, an e-mail survey was done with twenty-six health informatics experts. Selection criteria of health information rated by consumers were in order of accuracy of content, scope and depth of content, privacy and confidentiality, and readability. Experts ranked in order of accuracy of content, purpose of sites, scope and depth of content, and readability. Seventy eight percent of consumers used the Internet once a month to search health information, 60.4% visited health-related Web sites via Internet search. The majority (85%) visited 2-5 different Web sites when they searched for health information. Eighty three percent of consumers regarded the health information on Internet as reliable. Ninety percent of consumers said that the health information on Internet was useful. Consumers used the Internet 'to find disease-related information' (86.1%), 'to find information on exercise and nutrition' (77.9%), 'to get an on-line advice' (42.5%), and 'to buy products or medicine for health' (18.9%). The results of the present study suggested what the health informatics experts should consider when they provide health information on the Internet and what consumers demand when they filter quality health information.
Comprehension ; Confidentiality ; Electronic Mail ; Informatics ; Internet* ; Patient Selection* ; Privacy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify minimum datasets for ulcer assessment and to map the minimum datasets to paper-based nursing records for pressure ulcer care in homecare setting. METHODS: To identify minimum datasets for pressure ulcer assessment, the authors reviewed four guidelines for pressure ulcer care. The content validity of the minimum datasets was assessed by three homecare nurse specialists. To map the minimum datasets to nursing records, the authors examined 107 pressure ulcer events derived from 45 pressure ulcer patients who received home nursing from two hospitals in Gyeonggi Province. RESULTS: The minimum datasets for initial assessment were anatomical location, stage, size, tissue, exudate, condition of periwound skin, undermining, odor, and pain. 'Location' was recorded best, accounting for a complete recording rate of 98.1%. 'Exudate' and 'pain' showed the poorest record, accounting for 2.8% and 0%,respectively. The minimum datasets for progress assessment were wound size, tissue, and exudate, each accounted for 31.8%, 2.8%, and 4.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study concluded that data on pressure ulcer assessment was not sufficient homecare and it can be improved by adopting minimum datasets as identified in this study.
Dataset* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Gyeonggi-do ; Home Nursing* ; Humans ; Nursing Assessment ; Nursing Records* ; Odors ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Skin ; Specialization ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

A case of multiple myeloma with massive pleural effusion is reported. A 53 year-old previous known multiple myeloma patient vistited our hospital complaining of cough with sputum. Radiologic study revealed multiple osteolytic bony lesions and left side pleural effusion. The effusion were bloody exudates containing numerous atypical plasma cells. The tumor cells showed pleomorphism, eccentric nuclei, prominent nucleoli, perinuclear halo, multincleation, and chromatin patterns of occasional cart-wheel appearance. The cytological examination of pleural fluid established the malignant nature of the effusion with multiple myeloma.
Biopsy* ; Chromatin ; Cough ; Enzyme Assays* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Glycogen Storage Disease* ; Glycogen* ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; Plasma Cells ; Pleural Effusion ; Sputum

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to identify associations between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among adults aged 19 to 64 years in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area. METHODS: This study utilized data from the 2010 Community Health Survey (CHS). Health behaviors considered in this study were smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, low-salt diet, and perception of stress. The index for the health behaviors was calculated as the sum of the practice of each health behavior (range: 0-5). The analysis was weighted with a complex sampling design, and the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify the association between the practice of health behaviors and awareness of MetS. RESULTS: A total of 19.8% of the population were aware of MetS. The perception of MetS was statistically significantly associated with healthy behaviors, including nonsmoking (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14-1.56), non-high-risk drinking (aOR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.27-1.88), engagement in physical activity (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.28-1.72), and a low-salt diet (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.13-1.51). The ORs of the perception of MetS were significantly higher in patients with a health behavior index of 2 to 3 (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.01-2.66) and in those with an index of > or =4 (aOR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.51-4.04) than in those with an index of 0. Among all health behaviors, physical activity had the highest OR for the perception of MetS (aOR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.29-1.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed associations between health behaviors, especially physical activity, and awareness of MetS. Therefore, integrated health promotion programs may be needed to enhance awareness of MetS and to effectively prevent MetS and non-communicable diseases.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diet, Sodium-Restricted ; Drinking ; Health Behavior* ; Health Promotion ; Health Surveys* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Motor Activity ; Smoke ; Smoking

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) containing beta-glucans may be beneficial for human health; they have been used in the treatment of cancer, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels. The objective of this study was to determine the beta-glucan content in different sections of the fruiting bodies and mycelia of ten shiitake mushroom cultivars. The measured beta-glucan content ranged from 20.06 +/- 1.76% to 44.21 +/- 0.13% in the pileus sections, and from 29.74 +/- 1.40% to 56.47 +/- 4.72% in the stipe sections. The results of this study indicate that the variance in beta-glucan content dependent on the shiitake cultivar, and that the beta-glucan content is higher in the stipe than in the pileus.
beta-Glucans ; Cholesterol ; Fruit* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Shiitake Mushrooms*

The purpose of this study was to verify the validity of the Patient Severity Classification Tool by examining the correlations between the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool and to propose admission criteria to the ICU. The instruments used for this study were the APACHE III developed by Knaus and thePatient Severity Classification Tool developed by Korean Clinical Nurses Association. Data was collected from the 156 Medical ICU patients during their first 24 hours of admission at the Seoul National University Hospital by three trained Medical ICU nurses from April 20 to August 31 1999. Data were analyzed using the frequency, X2, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Spearman rho. There was statistically significant correlations between the scores of the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool. Mortality rate was increased as patients classification of severity in both the APACHE III and the Patient Severity Classification Tool scored higher. The Patient Severity Classification Tool was proved to be a valid and reliable tool, and a useful tool as one of the severity predicting factors, ICU admission criteria, information sharing between ICUs, quality evaluations of ICUs, and ICU nurse staffing. 1) This paper was awarded the first prize at the Seoul National Hospital Nursing Department Research Contest.
APACHE* ; Awards and Prizes ; Classification* ; Humans ; Information Dissemination ; Mortality ; Nursing ; Seoul

We studied the seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc and the vaccination histories among health care workers (HCWs) at a large suburban referral hospital in Korea. The purpose of this study was to determine the immune status of HCWs against hepatitis B virus and we also wanted to prepare a practical guideline to protect HCWs from occupational exposure. During December, 2003, 571 HCWs (56 physicians, 289 nurses, 113 technicians and 113 aid-nurses) aged between 21 and 74 yr were included in the surveillance. The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 2.4% (14/571) and 76.9% (439/571), respectively. The positive rate of anti-HBs was lower in the physician group, and this was associated with the male gender and older age. Of the 439 anti-HBs positive cases, 320 cases (73.1%) were anti-HBc negative and this was significantly associated with a past history of HBV vaccination. The distribution of the anti-HBs levels was not associated with age (except for HCWs in their sixties), gender or occupation. Our study revealed that the seroprevalence rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs in HCWs in Korea were not different from those of the general population. Based on this surveillance, we can make reasonable decisions in case of occupational exposure to hepatitis B virus.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral/blood ; Female ; *Health Personnel ; Hepatitis B/*epidemiology/virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B virus/immunology ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology/virology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Vaccination/statistics & numerical data

PURPOSE: It is known that heat production in breast cancer is caused by hypermetabolism, hypervascularization and hyperperfusion in the affected regions of the breast. The object of this study is to detect the heat production in breast cancer of Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 240 patients with breast cancer and benign mass were examined by digital infrared thermographic system from January 1991 through December 1995. The heat production was detected when there was a hot spot on clinically palpable breast mass area on the breast thermogram. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 130 with breast cancer and 110 with benign mass, as control group. 118 (90.8%) of 130 patients with breast cancer had the heat production, but only 12 (10.9%) of 110 patients with benign mass had the heat production (p<0.0001). The sensitivity of breast thermogram was 90.8% and the specificity was 89.1%. 16 (64%) of 25 breast cancer of which size was smaller than 2 cm had the heat production. But all of 45 breast cancer of which size was larger than 4 cm had the heat production (p<0.0001). 103 (79.2%) of breast cancer had greater than 2degrees C in thermal difference (delta T), and 120 (92.3%) had greater than 1degrees C. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is heat production in breast cancer. And also the heat production in breast cancer could be detected by the breast thermography. We suggest that further studies of mechanism about heat production in breast cancer is necessary.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Female ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thermogenesis* ; Thermography

Purpose: This study examined the research trends using G-power centered on major Korean registered sites and presents the research trends of studies with a high level of evidence.Method: This study selected three research journals listed in the Korea Research Foundation among physical therapy journals in the field of physiotherapy. The selected papers were classified according to the following: 1) study type, 2) study level, and 3) quality of the study.Result: Sixty-nine articles were selected and classified according to the study type. The musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, and others comprised 73.91% (n=51), 17.39% (n=12), and 8.7% (n=6), respectively. The results were classified into 62 experimental studies, four observational analytic studies, and three descriptive studies. The experimental studies included 22 randomized controlled trials (level 2) and 40 non-randomized trials (level 3). Sixteen randomized controlled trials were classified for a qualitative evaluation, and 12 papers with a score of six or more (good) were found. Conclusion Many high-level studies were found in G-power, and the quality of the study was also good. Therefore, the effective number of samples obtained using G-power is one of the ways to enable high-quality research.

Purpose: This study examined the research trends using G-power centered on major Korean registered sites and presents the research trends of studies with a high level of evidence.Method: This study selected three research journals listed in the Korea Research Foundation among physical therapy journals in the field of physiotherapy. The selected papers were classified according to the following: 1) study type, 2) study level, and 3) quality of the study.Result: Sixty-nine articles were selected and classified according to the study type. The musculoskeletal system, central nervous system, and others comprised 73.91% (n=51), 17.39% (n=12), and 8.7% (n=6), respectively. The results were classified into 62 experimental studies, four observational analytic studies, and three descriptive studies. The experimental studies included 22 randomized controlled trials (level 2) and 40 non-randomized trials (level 3). Sixteen randomized controlled trials were classified for a qualitative evaluation, and 12 papers with a score of six or more (good) were found. Conclusion Many high-level studies were found in G-power, and the quality of the study was also good. Therefore, the effective number of samples obtained using G-power is one of the ways to enable high-quality research.