PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the impact of physical activity on healthcare utilization among Korean adults. METHODS: Drawing from the 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES IV-2), data from 6,521 adults who completed the Health Interview and Health Behavior Surveys were analyzed. Association between physical activity and healthcare utilization was tested using the chi2-test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios of using outpatient and inpatient healthcare for different levels of physical activity after adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors. A generalized linear model applying a negative binomial distribution was used to determine how the level of physical activity was related to use of outpatient and inpatient healthcare. RESULTS: Physically active participants were 16% less likely to use outpatient healthcare (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) and 23% less likely to use inpatient healthcare (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.63-0.93) than physically inactive participants. Levels of outpatient and inpatient healthcare use decreased as levels of physical activity increased, after adjusting for relevant factors. CONCLUSION: An independent association between being physically active and lower healthcare utilization was ascertained among Korean adults indicating a need to develop nursing intervention programs that encourage regular physical activity.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; *Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the effects of lower urinary tract symptoms on depression and quality of life among women in urban areas. METHODS: The participants in this study were 306 women in P city. Data were collected using a questionnaire from May 1 to June 6, 2008. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were measured with BFLUTS-SF and categorized into voiding, filling and incontinence. The data were analyzed through t-test, one-way ANOVA, Fisher exact test, and multiple regression. RESULTS: Age, filling and incontinence, and all of the subcategories of LUTS explained 16% of variance in depression. Older women, LUTS with incontinence, filling and incontinence, and all the problems including filling, voiding and incontinence lowered the quality of life. CONCLUSION: In order to develop nursing interventions for women with urinary tract symptoms, comprehensive understanding of LUTS is needed.
Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Urinary Tract ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Epidermal Cyst* ; Melanins*

Hypercalcemia is not common, and occurs more frequently in children than in adults. Left untreated, hypercalcemia could result in a profound impact on growth and development. We report a case of recurrent idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia with poor weight gain, constipation, and a renal stone. We successfully treated the infantile hypercalcemia with a low-calcium diet and intravenous pamidronate.
Adult ; Child ; Constipation ; Diet ; Diphosphonates ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Infant ; Kidney Calculi ; Weight Gain

Hypercalcemia is not common, and occurs more frequently in children than in adults. Left untreated, hypercalcemia could result in a profound impact on growth and development. We report a case of recurrent idiopathic infantile hypercalcemia with poor weight gain, constipation, and a renal stone. We successfully treated the infantile hypercalcemia with a low-calcium diet and intravenous pamidronate.
Adult ; Child ; Constipation ; Diet ; Diphosphonates ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Infant ; Kidney Calculi ; Weight Gain

Purpose: This study investigated the physical and emotional health of South Korean mothers of preterm infants in the early postpartum period. Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, the participants included 91 mothers of preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Physical health status was measured using a self-reported questionnaire, postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and guilt using a 4-item scale. Results: Fatigue had the highest score among mothers' physical health problems, followed by shoulder pain, nipple pain, neck pain. The average postpartum depression score was 11.02 points, and 44% of women had postpartum depression with a score of 12 or above. Postpartum depression significantly was correlated with physical health (r=.35, p=.001), anxiety (r=.84, p<.001), and guilt (r=.75, p<.001) and was significantly higher for women with multiple births, and preterm infants who required ventilator and antibiotic treatment. Anxiety also showed a significant difference according to preterm infants’ condition. Conclusion The significant correlations between postpartum depression and physical health, anxiety, and guilt indicate a need for nursing interventions that provide integrated management of mothers’ physical and emotional health.

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a valuable method for establishing long-term customer relationships across different business areas. CRM system stores and analyzes a vast amount of customer information and provides alternatives to meet customer expectations using data warehouse and on-line analysis processing technology. Intensified competitiveness in the healthcare industry has increased the number of healthcare centers and propelled the introduction of CRM systems to meet diverse customer satisfaction. Leading the adoption of information technology in the healthcare businesses has enabled the use of CRM technology to develop close patient-provider relationship. Especially, healthcare centers are using CRM system to provide better healthcare services as well as customer management services. This study aims to explore the current status and influential factors that will stimulate and drive the successful use of CRM system in healthcare centers. For this purpose, a survey has been conducted for CRM system users in 13 healthcare centers to investigate the current status of CRM system and the influential factors for successful use. The evaluation criteria include four categories; system quality, information quality, service quality and perceived usefulness. These criteria have been developed based on previous researches, especially DeLone & McLean information system success model. In addition, the system output is evaluated by user satisfaction, personal performance and organizational performance. The study showed that users evaluated information quality and service quality positively and to be higher than other factors in terms of influence. And the user evaluation proved that CRM system provides increased user satisfaction, organizational performance, and especially, individual performance. This is clear evidence that CRM system will improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness, which in turn, can provide competitive advantage for the healthcare centers.
Adoption ; Commerce ; Delivery of Health Care ; Efficiency, Organizational ; Health Care Sector ; Imidazoles ; Information Systems ; Nitro Compounds ; Personal Satisfaction

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the effects of standardized peristomal skin care (SPSC) and crusting technique (CT) on the peristomal skin of ostomates. SPSC was developed by a consensus among the expert group based on a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and hospital protocols. METHODS: A randomized controlled pilot trial with 2 parallel arms was used. A total of 81 ostomates, who were recruited from a tertiary hospital, completed the baseline, 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month follow-up (SPSC group, n=45; CT group, n=36). SPSC consisted of water cleansing and direct application of ostomy appliances. CT involved crusting hydrocolloid powder and patting with water sponge or protective barrier liquid film. The outcomes of the study were assessed by skin problems, such as discoloration, erosion and tissue overgrowth; the domains of the evaluation tool used in examining the peristomal skin. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the effects according to time and group. RESULTS: In both SPSC and CT groups, the likelihood of occurrence of discoloration (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.61-2.46), erosion (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.55-2.25) and tissue enlargement (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.36-2.77) increased with time. There was no significant difference in discoloration between the groups, whereas the probability of erosion (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.16-0.89) and tissue overgrowth (OR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.02-0.55) was lower in the SPSC group than in CT group. CONCLUSION: SPSC was sufficient in preventing peristomal skin problems of ostomates compared to the CT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Ostomy/*nursing ; Skin Care/instrumentation/*methods/standards ; Wounds and Injuries/etiology/prevention & control

PURPOSE: Most childhood diabetes mellitus (DM) is usually thought of as type 1 DM (T1DM), but the incidence of type 2 DM (T2DM) in childhood is increasing. Sometimes, it might not be easy to determine which type of DM a patient has and to choose the best treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of autoantibody test and clinical characteristics for the specific diagnosis of DM in childhood. METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 42 patients who were diagnosed with DM and followed at the department of pediatrics, Dankook University Hospital from January 2002 to October 2010. RESULTS: The patients were grouped as T1DM, T2DM, or T1.5DM (unclassified) according to the clinical and laboratory findings. T1DM had an earlier onset age compared to T2DM. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was the presenting symptom in 57% of T1DM, but there was no DKA in T2DM. Initial serum insulin and C-peptide levels were lower in T1DM than T2DM. Thirty nine percent and 70% of the patients had a family history of DM, respectively. The average body mass index (BMI) in T2DM was higher than that in T1DM. At least one of autoantibodies was positive in 80% of T1DM. But no antoantibody was detected in T2DM. During follow up, higher levels of HbA1c and more frequent microalbuminuria were detected in the female adolescents. CONCLUSION: We can confirm that the autoantibody test is very valuable in diagnosing specific types of DM. And adolescent period was thought as a very vulnerable period to manage the diabetes requiring more intensive emotional support including family cooperation.
Adolescent ; Age of Onset ; Autoantibodies ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide ; Child ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insulin ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Neonatal seizures are one of the most common neurologic manifestations in neonates and could be the important clinical sign of underlying brain disorders. The aim of this study is to review the clinical characteristics and to find the prognostic factors related to the outcomes of neonatal seizures. METHODS: We reviewed medical records retrospectively in 23 patients with neonatal seizures who admitted to Dankook University Hospital from July 2007 to June 2009. RESULTS: During the study period, neonatal seizures were diagnosed in 23/1,474 (1.56%) neonates. Nineteen of them (82.6%) were term and 4 were preterm. The main cause of neonatal seizures was hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (n=8, 35%). Other various causes included metabolic disorders (n=4, 17%, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 deficiency, severe hypernatremic dehydration, prolonged severe hypoglycemia, and pyridoxine dependent seizure), intracranial hemorrhages (n=2, 9%), congenital brain anomaly (callosal dysgenesis, hemimegalencephaly) (n=2, 9%), and infection (congenital syphilis, early neonatal sepsis, n=2, 9%). Among nineteen neonates (82.6%) who were treated with anticonvulsants, we could not stop the anticonvulsants in six of them (32%). They had severe HIE, prolonged severe hypoglycemia with residual encephalomalatic changes, sinovenous thrombotic hemorrhages due to antithrombin III deficiency, congenital brain anomaly, and septic shock, respectively. CONCLUSION: Approximately one third of neonatal seizures were caused by HIE, and moderate to severe HIE had more serious outcomes. Neonatal seizure could be a significant clinical sign indicating specific underlying etiologies such as stroke, metabolic disturbances or congenital brain anomalies. Therefore, intensive workup and prompt management for neonatal seizures should be considered for better outcomes.
Anticonvulsants ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Carnitine ; Dehydration ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Infant, Newborn ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Medical Records ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prognosis ; Pyridoxine ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures* ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic ; Stroke ; Syphilis ; Transferases