Background: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting unmet healthcare needs due to physical accessibility by residential area by utilizing the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS). Methods: Andersen’s medical service behavioral model was applied to analyze the enabling factors, predisposing factors, and needs factors of unmet healthcare needs focusing on residential areas. This study used data from the KCHS (2017–2019, n=440,792). We used multivariate survey logistic regression analysis in order to identify affecting factors. Sub-group analysis was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of residential areas. Results: Some participants (2,621, 0.59%) had experienced unmet healthcare needs due to physical accessibility and 2,047 subjects (78.1%) of them lived in rural areas. Multivariate survey logistic regressions revealed that experience of unmet healthcare needs due to physical accessibility increased when people lived in rural areas (odds ratio [OR], 3.95; 95% confidence interval, 3.46–4.51). Conclusion This study showed that despite the development of transportation and efforts to alleviate medical inequality, residents in rural areas may still have higher experience of unmet healthcare needs due to physical accessibility compared to the metropolitan city regardless of any other sub-group differences (OR range, 1.90–6.31). This study suggested that government and policymakers should identify the causes of the experience of unmet healthcare needs due to physical accessibility and should develop policies to alleviate those healthcare disparities.

Background: Social support contributes directly and indirectly to maintaining physical, mental, and social well-being. The aim of the study was to identify the impact of social support on self-rated health among Korean industrial accident workers. Methods: This study used data from the panel study of workers’ compensation insurance (PSWCI). The final subjects were 2,759 workers who responded to a 2018 to 2020 PSWCI. Social support was defined as social contact with friends, neighbors, family, and social participation activities like religious activity, social activity, and club activity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate causal relationships between social support and self-rated health using a generalized estimating equation model. Results: Proportion of workers’ good self-rated health steadily increased (2018: n=1,447, 63.2%; 2019: n=1,542, 66.2%; 2020: n=1,653, 67.3%). Higher levels of social contacts with friend (worse: reference; same: β=0.442) and higher levels of social activity (yes: reference; no: β=-0.173) were especially associated with good self-rated health. Conclusion This study confirmed social support positively influenced self-rated health among the self-rated health of industrial injured workers. The results of this study suggested that recovery policies that the government served should include programs enhancing social support for improving health among industrial injured workers.

Background: Given the importance of continuous self-care for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea launched a pilot program for chronic disease management. Herein, we applied a home care pilot program to people with T1DM to investigate its effects. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single tertiary hospital (January 2019 to October 2021). A multidisciplinary team comprising doctors, nurses, and clinical nutritionists provided specialized education and periodically assessed patients’ health status through phone calls or text messages. A linear mixed model adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index was used to analyze the glycemic control changes before and after implementing the program between the intervention and control groups. Results: Among 408 people with T1DM, 196 were enrolled in the intervention group and 212 in the control group. The reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) after the program was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (estimated marginal mean, –0.57% vs. –0.23%, P=0.008); the same trend was confirmed for glycoalbumin (GA) (–3.2% vs. –0.39%, P<0.001). More patients achieved the target values of HbA1c (<7.0%) and GA (<20%) in the intervention group than in the control group at the 9-month follow-up (34.5% vs. 19.6% and 46.7% vs. 28.0%, respectively). Conclusion The home care program for T1DM was clinically effective in improving glycemic control and may provide an efficient care option for people with T1DM, and positive outcomes are expected to expand the program to include more patients.

Background: Although Korean government have been adopting several policies to expand coverage of National Health Insurance (NHI) program, the coverage rate is still below average across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries.This study was to identify public perception on appropriateness of coinsurance rate and factors associated with coinsurance rate in National Health Insurance. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 507 participants over aged 20 years were recruited from telephone surveys. Respondents experienced at least one and more visiting medical facilities due to medical problems in last 12 months. Demographic factors, socioeconomic positions, and experiences on medical utilization were measured in order to identify factors associated with perception appropriateness of coinsurance rate. Results: The 49.9% (n=209) of the public responded that the coinsurance rate of NHI program was appropriate. There were no differences in positive perception according to socio-demographic factors and experiences on medical utilization except for gender, residential area, and felt expensive when using medical services. People who felt burden of medical expenditure were more likely to perceive coinsurance rate inappropriate (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–3.58) Conclusion In spite of the relatively low coverage rate of NHI, this study identified that 49.9% of the public perceived the current coinsurance rate was adequate. However, people who felt the burden of medical expenditure were still had a negative perception of the coinsurance rate needed to decrease the coinsurance rate.

The July issue of Clinical Endoscopy deals with selected articles covering the state-of-the-art lectures delivered during the 50th seminar of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) on March 30, 2014, highlighting educational contents pertaining to either diagnostic or therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, which contain fundamental and essential points in GI endoscopy. KSGE is very proud of its seminar, which has been presented twice a year for the last 25 years, and hosted more than 3,500 participants at the current meeting. KSGE seminar is positioned as one of premier state-of-the-art seminars for endoscopy, covering topics for novice endoscopists and advanced experts, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy. The 50th KSGE seminar consists of more than 20 sessions, including a single special lecture, concurrent sessions for GI endoscopy nurses, and sessions exploring new technologies. Nine articles were selected from these prestigious lectures, and invited for publication in this special issue. This introductory review, prepared by the editors of Clinical Endoscopy, highlights core contents divided into four sessions: upper GI tract, lower GI tract, pancreatobiliary system, and other specialized topic sessions, including live demonstrations and hands-on courses.
Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Lectures ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Publications ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Social networks are useful in the study of relationships between individuals or entire populations, and the ties through which any given social unit connects. Those represent the convergence of the various social contacts of that unit. Consequently, the term "social networking service" (SNS) became extremely familiar. Similar to familiar SNSs, International Digestive Endoscopy Network (IDEN) 2014 was based on an international network composed of an impressive 2-day scientific program dealing with a variety of topics for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which connects physicians and researchers from all over the world. The scientific programs included live endoscopic demonstrations and provided cutting-edge information and practice tips as well as the latest advances concerning upper GI, lower GI, and pancreatobiliary endoscopy. IDEN 2014 featured American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy-Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE-KSGE)-joint sessions prepared through cooperation between ASGE and KSGE. Furthermore, IDEN 2014 provided a special program for young scientists called the 'Asian Young Endoscopist Award Forum' to foster networks, with many young endoscopists from Asian countries taking an active interest and participation.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Awards and Prizes ; Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans

Acquired progressive lymphangioma is a rare, benign cutaneous tumor of lymphatic endothelial cells. We report a case of acquired progressive lymphangioma in a 24-year-old man who presented a 1 X 1cm sized erythematous papule on his chin over a long period. Histopathologic examination revealed irregularly dilated vascular channels in the papillary dermis and anastomosing cleft-like vascular spaces in the lower dermis with a dissection of collagen. The cells lining the channels showed focal hobnail appearance but no atypia or mitotic figures. Immunohistochemically, they were not stained with factor VIII-related antigen, CD34, and CD31.
Chin ; Collagen ; Dermis ; Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; von Willebrand Factor ; Young Adult

Clinical Endoscopy (CE) is an official open access journal published bimonthly by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE, http://www.gie.or.kr) and is listed on PMC, PubMed and SCOPUS. The KSGE was established on August 14, 1976, and the journal of the KSGE was published in Korean for the first time in November 1981. The journal was then titled the "Korean Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy" and was published in Korean untill the July 2011 issue. The journal was published in English from the September 2011 issue under the official title of CE. In this review, the past and present of CE are discussed and future perspectives are introduced. In addition, the efforts to progress to a "first come, first served journal" in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy and to be indexed in Science Citation Index will be described.
Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal*

In this July issue of Clinical Endoscopy, state-of-the-art articles selected from the lectures delivered during the 52nd Seminar of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (KSGE) on March 29, 2015 are covered, focusing on highlighted educational contents relevant to either diagnostic or therapeutic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Our society, the KSGE, has continued to host this opportunity for annual seminars twice a year over the last 26 years and it has become a large-scale prestigious seminar accommodating over 4,000 participants. Definitely, the KSGE seminar is considered as one of the premier state-of-the-art seminars dealing with GI endoscopy, appealing to both the beginner and advanced experts. Lectures, live demonstrations, hands-on courses, as well as an editor school, which was an important consensus meeting on how to upgrade our society journal, Clinical Endoscopy, to a Science Citation Index (Expanded) designation were included in this seminar. The 52nd KSGE seminar consisted of more than 20 sessions, including special lectures, concurrent sessions for GI endoscopy nurses, and sessions exploring new technologies. This is a very special omnibus article to highlight the core contents divided into four sessions: upper GI tract, lower GI tract, pancreatobiliary system, and other specialized sessions.
Consensus ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Humans ; Lectures ; Lower Gastrointestinal Tract ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Based on the unexpected Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Korea, it was established that the virus can spread easily, MERS exposure in hospitals carries an extreme risk for infection as well as mortality, and the sharing of information was essential for infection control. Although the incidence of exogenous infections related to contaminated endoscopes is very low, the majority of published outbreaks have been caused by various shortcomings in reprocessing procedures, including insufficient training or awareness. Ever since the inauguration of "Clinical Endoscopy" as an English-language journal of the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in 2011, it has published several articles on disinfection of the endoscope and its accessories. Many Science Citation Index journals have also emphasized high-level disinfection of the gastrointestinal endoscope. Many papers have been produced specifically, since the outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in 2013. The recent review papers concluded that quality control is the most important issue among all the aspects of procedural care, including the efficiency of the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit and reprocessing room. Thorough reprocessing of endoscopes using high-level disinfection and sterilization methods may be essential for reducing the risk of infection.
Disease Outbreaks ; Disinfection* ; Endoscopes* ; Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal ; Endoscopy* ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Incidence ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Middle East ; Mortality ; Quality Control ; Sterilization