Purpose: The study aimed to identify which digital biomarkers are collected and which specific devices are used according to vulnerable and susceptible individual characteristics in a living-lab setting. Materials and Methods: A literature search, screening, and appraisal process was implemented using the Web of Science, Pubmed, and Embase databases. The search query included a combination of terms related to “digital biomarkers,” “devices that collect digital biomarkers,” and “vulnerable and susceptible groups.” After the screening and appraisal process, a total of 37 relevant articles were obtained. Results: In elderly people, the main digital biomarkers measured were values related to physical activity. Most of the studies used sensors. The articles targeting children aimed to predict diseases, and most of them used devices that are simple and can induce some interest, such as wearable device-based smart toys. In those who were disabled, digital biomarkers that measured location-based movement for the purpose of diagnosing disabilities were widely used, and most were measured by easy-to-use devices that did not require detailed explanations. In the disadvantaged, digital biomarkers related to health promotion were measured, and various wearable devices, such as smart bands and headbands were used depending on the purpose and target. Conclusion As the digital biomarkers and devices that collect them vary depending on the characteristics of study subjects, researchers should pay attention not only to the purpose of the study but also the characteristics of study subjects when collecting and analyzing digital biomarkers from living labs.

PURPOSE: As Korea has been rapidly transformed to be a multicultural society, it becomes essential for nurses to develop cultural competency. The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess the cultural competency level of general hospital nurses and to examine its contributing factors adopting ecological model. METHOD: A convenience sample of 327 nurses from six general hospitals in Seoul metropolitan area was recruited between November 14 to 28, 2011. Cultural competency was measured using the Korean version of the Caffrey Cultural Competence in Healthcare Scale (CCCHS) and Cultural Competence Assessment(CCA). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the influence of intrapersonal, cultural-experience, and organizational factors on cultural competency. RESULTS: Mean cultural competency in this study was 2.57(+/-0.43). Cultural competency was associated with job position (p=.044) at the intrapersonal level. At the cultural experience level, foreign language classes experience (p=.005), fluency in a foreign language (p=.000), experience of working with foreign health care professionals (p=.000) were associated cultural competency. At the organizational level, training program (p=.000), job description (p=.002), health education materials (p=.016), insufficient job control (p=.000), and interpersonal conflicts (p=.011) showed significant difference. Foreign language class experience, foreign language fluency, experience of working with foreign health care professionals, and job control were the most consistent predictors of cultural competence and explained 20.4% of the total variance in the proposed ecological model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that to enhance cultural competency in general hospital nurses, cultural experience and organizational factors need to be more fully considered than intrapersonal factors.
Cultural Competency ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Education ; Hospitals, General ; Job Description ; Korea

No abstract available.
Pregnancy* ; Round Ligament of Uterus*

OBJECTIVES: To determine changes in the incidence and pattern of eclampsia in Il Sin Christian Hospital over a 46-year period. METHODS: Information was collected from medical records of the 1910 eclamptic patients among 233,613 deliveries in Il Sin Christian Hospital from Jan. 1 1953 to Dec. 31 1998. Incidence, presentation, and management of eclampsia were reviewed retrospectively, and maternal mortality rate and perinatal mortality rate were calculated. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-squared and Fisher's exact test through two by two tables looking at relative changes between each study period. RESULTS: The overall incidence of eclampsia was 81.8 per 10,000 deliveries. The incidence of eclampsia had increased from 137.3/10,000 in 1953-1962 to 278.4/10,000 in 1963-1972, but the rate had reduced to 6.5/10,000 in 1993-1998. There was a statistically significant fall in the rate of eclampsia every decade between 1973 and 1992, but there has been steady decrease in the last study period. Convulsion occurred antepartum in 54% of patients, intrapartum in 29% and postpartum in 17%. With the reduction in the proportion of antepartum eclampsia, there has been a relative increase in that of intrapartum and postpartum eclampsia. Maternal death occurred in 59 cases among eclampsia, and maternal mortality rate was 3.1%. Maternal mortality rate had significantly decresed from 11.1% in 1953-1962 to 3.8% in 1963-1972, and there has been no maternal death from eclampsia since 1986. Postpartum eclampsia had increased death risk compared with antepartum or intrapartum eclampsia. There were 280 cases of perinatal death and overall perinatal mortality rate was 144.1 per 1000 deliveries. There was a significant decrease in the rate from 243.2/1000 in 1953-1962 to 141.5/1000 in 1963-1972, but the rate has risen steadily since 1983. CONCLUSIONS: With the improvement in antenatal care and management of eclampsia, the incidence of eclampsia and its associated maternal mortality has decreased over the last 46 years. But eclampsia still remains a significant complication of pregnancy with high maternal and perinatal mortality.
Eclampsia* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Maternal Death ; Maternal Mortality ; Medical Records ; Perinatal Mortality ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures

This study was performed to assess the recurrence rate and the factors related with the recurrence of leprosy and to use the data obtained from the present study for the basis for the prevention of leprosy, among those leprosy patients who were registered and managed by a Catholic Skin Clinic located in the Taegu metropolitan city between January of 1960 to October of 1999. We conducted the present study with 1,245 leprosy patients except 31 who were being treated for active leprosy. Using a structured record sheet, the data were collected using the chart of the patient, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS program ver 9.0 and Fisher's exact test and chi-square-test was performed. Among 1,245 subjects, the sex distribution was 690 males (55.4%) and 555 females (44.6%). The age at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was the most prevalent in patients' teen years with 528 patients(42.3%) followed by in their 20's with 366 patients (29.3%). The most prevalent type of leprosy at the initial occurrence of leprosy was type L with 730 patients(58.6%), and the condition of the bacteria at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was negative in 509 patients(40.8%) and positive in 285 patients(22.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 13.2%. According to gender, males showed the recurrence rate of 15.7% and females 10.1%, showing a higher recurrence rate in males. The recurrence rate according to the type of leprosy was 31.6% of I type with the most prevalence. Among those patients who were initially diagnosed with mycobacterium leprae, 21.1% showed recurrence, and the recurrence rate was significantly higher than in negative mycobacterium leprae patients with 3.3%. The recurrence rate according to the age of initial occurrence of leprosy was the highest in those patients who developed leprosy in their teen years with 17.2%, followed by those who had leprosy in between 20-29 years with 13.4%. According to the administered medication, among those 152 patients who took DDS alone, showed 90.8% recurrence rate; among 1,009 patients took in DDS and switched to MDT, 2.5% showed recurrence; and among patients who were treated with MDT, only 1.2% showed recurrence with the lowest level of recurrence rate. With these results, in the case of DDS treatment cases, in male patients, the positive mycobacterium leprae patients at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy, the type of leprosy being I, and the age of the initial occurrence of leprosy being low; it is important to raise the compliance through education and follow-up. In the future, extensive and in-depth studies are needed to be done in the recurrence of leprosy to elucidate the factors of recurrence and the plans to prevent recurrence need to be established from the public health and policy areas.
Adolescent ; Bacteria ; Compliance ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Recurrence* ; Sex Distribution ; Skin

This study was performed to assess the recurrence rate and the factors related with the recurrence of leprosy and to use the data obtained from the present study for the basis for the prevention of leprosy, among those leprosy patients who were registered and managed by a Catholic Skin Clinic located in the Taegu metropolitan city between January of 1960 to October of 1999. We conducted the present study with 1,245 leprosy patients except 31 who were being treated for active leprosy. Using a structured record sheet, the data were collected using the chart of the patient, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS program ver 9.0 and Fisher's exact test and chi-square-test was performed. Among 1,245 subjects, the sex distribution was 690 males (55.4%) and 555 females (44.6%). The age at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was the most prevalent in patients' teen years with 528 patients(42.3%) followed by in their 20's with 366 patients (29.3%). The most prevalent type of leprosy at the initial occurrence of leprosy was type L with 730 patients(58.6%), and the condition of the bacteria at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy was negative in 509 patients(40.8%) and positive in 285 patients(22.9%). The overall recurrence rate was 13.2%. According to gender, males showed the recurrence rate of 15.7% and females 10.1%, showing a higher recurrence rate in males. The recurrence rate according to the type of leprosy was 31.6% of I type with the most prevalence. Among those patients who were initially diagnosed with mycobacterium leprae, 21.1% showed recurrence, and the recurrence rate was significantly higher than in negative mycobacterium leprae patients with 3.3%. The recurrence rate according to the age of initial occurrence of leprosy was the highest in those patients who developed leprosy in their teen years with 17.2%, followed by those who had leprosy in between 20-29 years with 13.4%. According to the administered medication, among those 152 patients who took DDS alone, showed 90.8% recurrence rate; among 1,009 patients took in DDS and switched to MDT, 2.5% showed recurrence; and among patients who were treated with MDT, only 1.2% showed recurrence with the lowest level of recurrence rate. With these results, in the case of DDS treatment cases, in male patients, the positive mycobacterium leprae patients at the time of initial occurrence of leprosy, the type of leprosy being I, and the age of the initial occurrence of leprosy being low; it is important to raise the compliance through education and follow-up. In the future, extensive and in-depth studies are needed to be done in the recurrence of leprosy to elucidate the factors of recurrence and the plans to prevent recurrence need to be established from the public health and policy areas.
Adolescent ; Bacteria ; Compliance ; Daegu ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Leprosy* ; Male ; Mycobacterium leprae ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Recurrence* ; Sex Distribution ; Skin

No abstract available.
Osteomyelitis*

No abstract available.
Infection Control* ; Seoul*

BACKGROUND: As information technology evolves rapidly computer-based surveillance systems for nosocomial infection have been developed. Well designed computerized system could provide an opportunity for improving, enlarging, and conducting hospital-wide surveillance more efficiently in the situation with limited resources. Recently, we launched a new computerized monitoring system in a hospital where digital medical information system has been operated without paper chart. METHODS: We developed a new surveillance program based on the total Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Numerous critical medical information can be easily accessible through this system without further work. This includes major demographic data, essential information from the inpatient medical record, the laboratory information system, and the pharmacy information, Comprehensive Clinical Data Repository (CDR) system was also developed. CDR is potentially very useful to conduct a hospital-wide surveillance by integrating all the available information. RESULTS: This system consists of several programs in the EMR and the CDR environment. In the EMR system, inquiry for patients with fever, case ascertainment and registration of nosocomial infections, inquiry for patients with indwelling devices, microbiological reports, and data on antibiotic prescriptions were included. The CDR has integrated comprehensive inquiries for frequency of major pathogens in clinical isolates and their trends of antibiotic resistance, nosocomial infection rates based on the duration of the devices or hospitalization, and the history of antimicrobial usage based on defined daily dosage. Data obtained from the EMR and the CDR systems could be easily accessed by infectious diseases specialists and healthcare workers of infection control services at any place within the hospital. A new reporting system has been built up to facilitate identification of notifiable diseases among the list of diagnoses on the EMR. In addition, the "Alert" notice was designed to highlight isolation precautions for indicated cases. CONCLUSION: This new computerized surveillance program might be a valuable model to which other hospitals can refer to develop newer version of programs in the future.
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems ; Communicable Diseases ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diagnosis ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Electronic Health Records* ; Fever ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Information Systems ; Inpatients ; Medical Records ; Pharmacy ; Prescriptions ; Specialization

Agenesis of the dorsal pancreas is one of the rare congenital anomalies of the pancreas. Six cases of them have been reported. We have experienced an autopsy case of agenesis of the dorsal pancreas associated with fetal death in the uterus. Grossly, the body and tail of the pancreas and uncinate process were not found and those were partially replaced by adipose tissue. No abnormality was noted in the other organs. Microscopically, pancreatic tissue with autolytic change was identified only in the head portion of the pancreas.