No abstract available.
Intestinal Fistula*

The level of copayment increased in order to stabilize the financial condition of the health insurance on 1986. An important question regarding the policy was whether the increase in the level of copayments reduced the utilization of medical services in the poor selectively. In spite of the importance of the research question, no study has been reported. This study was designed to find out changes in nuniU rs of physician visits, to explain charac teristics influencing the difference of utilization before and after the program. Finally the interaction effect between the program and the level of income was examined for the abover question. A total of 10,421 persons from eight institutions was selected as the study sample. Research findings are as follows. 1. The number of physician visits decreased by ten percent as a result of increasing the level of copayment. 2. The decrease was remarkable in some groups such as children, rural area and large family. 3. The most important factor which explained the difference was the number of physician visits before the introduction of the new program.. The more numbers of physian visits during the last year were, the more numbers of physian visits decreased after the program. 4. The interaction term between the program and the level of income was statistically significant in the multiple regression model which explained physician visits and its coefficient was negative. It means that an increase in copayment did not reduced the number of physician visits in the poor, selectively. 5. It can be concluded that imposing adequate copayment reduces the use of medical services as well as medical costs without serious damage in access especially for the poor pule.
Child ; Humans ; Insurance, Health

No abstract available.
Voice*

No abstract available.
Neurothekeoma*

Autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone is popular ligament substitute used in anterior cruciate liga- ment(ACL) reconstructions. Fracture of the patella is a rare but serious complication unique to this type of reconstruction. We report 4 cases of patellar fracture after autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone ACL reconstruction.
Autografts* ; Ligaments ; Patella

PURPOSE: The Purposes of this study are to identify the circulating etiologic viruses of acute lower respiratory tract infection in children and to understand the relation with clinical diagnosis. METHODS: We obtained a total of 418 nasopharyngeal aspirates from children admitted for their acute lower respiratory tract infections at three tertiary hospitals in Seoul from September 2008 to March 2009. We performed multiplex RT-PCR to identify 14 etiologic viruses and analyzed their emerging patterns and clinical features. RESULTS: Average age of patients was 16.4 months old and the ratio of male to female was 1.36. Viruses were detected in 56.2% of a total of 418 samples. Respiratory syncytial virus (35%) was the most frequently detected and followed by human rhinovirus (22%), human bocavirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, influenza virus and human coronavirus. Co-infection reached 21.9% of positive patients. CONCLUSION: When we manage the patients with acute lower respiratory infectious diseases, we should remind the role of various viral pathogens, which might be circulating by seasons and by local areas.
Adenoviruses, Human ; Child ; Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronavirus ; Female ; Human bocavirus ; Humans ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Viruses

The skyrocketing inflation of medical costs has become a major health problem among most developed countries. Korea, which recently covered the entire population with National Health Insurance, is facing the same problem. The proportion of health expenditure to GNP has increased from 3% to 4.8% during the last decade. This was remarkable, if we consider the rapid economic growth during that time. A few policy analysts began to raise cost containment as an agenda, after recognizing the importance of medical cost inflation. In order to prepare an appropriate alternative for the agenda, it is necessary to find out reasons for the cost inflation. Then, we should focus on the reasons which are controllable, and those whose control are socially desirable. This study is designed to articulate the theory of medical cost inflation through literature reviews, to find out reasons for cost inflation, by analyzing aggregated data with a deterministic model. Finally to identify determinants of changes in both medical demand and service intensity which are major reasons for cost inflation. The reasons for cost inflation are classified into cost push inflation and demand pull inflation. The former consists of increases in price and intensity of services, while the latter is made of consumer derived demand and supplier induced demand. We used a time series (1983-1987), and cross sectional (over regions) data of health insurance. The deterministic model reveals, that an increase in service intensity is a major cause of inflation in the case of inpatient care, while, more utilization, is a primary attribute in the case of physician visits. Multiple regression analysis shows that an increase in hospital beds is a leading explanatory variable for the increase in hospital care. It also reveals, that an introduction of a deductible clause, an increase in hospital beds and degree of urbanization, are statistically significant variables explaining physician visits. The results are consistent with the existing theory. The magnitude of service intensity is influenced by the level of co-payment, the proportion of old age and an increase in co-payment. In short, an increase in co-payment the utilization, but it induced more intensities or services. We can conclude that the strict fee regulation or increase in the level of co-payment can not be an effective measure for cost containment under the fee for service system. Because the provider can react against the regulation by inducing more services.
Cost Control ; Developed Countries ; Economic Development ; Fee-for-Service Plans ; Fees and Charges ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Inflation, Economic* ; Inpatients ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; National Health Programs ; Urbanization

PURPOSE: This research compares the predictive value of the abdominal obesity indicator, waist circumference (WC), and the overall obesity indicator, body mass index (BMI), among men and women with regard to type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data collected from 4,400 households selected by a stratified multistage probability sampling method during the 2001 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The final study sample included 4,684 subjects over 30 years of age who had completed the health examination required for the analysis of the health interview and health behavior surveys. RESULTS: Both men and women showed significant differences in fasting blood glucose (FBG) or HbA1c levels based on abdominal obesity irrespective of BMI. However, the presence of overall obesity among men with abdominal obesity was not significantly correlated with FBG or HbA1c levels, while the presence of overall obesity among women with abdominal obesity was significantly different in regard to FBG or HbA1c levels. CONCLUSION: Both WC and BMI emerged as a measures of risk factors for type 2 diabetes among women while only WC emerged as a risk factor for diabetes among men.
Adult ; Blood Glucose/*analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*drug therapy ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated/metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin/*administration & dosage/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity/blood/*complications ; Obesity, Abdominal/blood/*complications ; ROC Curve ; Republic of Korea

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results and recovery of sports activity in patients who received meniscal allograft transplantation. From December 1999 to May 2009, we selected 36 cases out of 38 cases who received meniscal transplantation using fresh frozen allograft. The mean age was 33.8 years (range: 17-50 years) and the mean follow up was 68.8 months (range: 12-142 months). Clinical results were evaluated with knee assessment scoring system (KASS), Lysholm knee score and International knee Documentation Committee. The information of quadriceps and hamstrings strength recovery was obtained using Tegner activity scale, Tegner activity score and Biodex system II (Biodex, USA), and it was used to evaluate the recovery of sports activity. The average KASS score was increased from 61.7 preoperatively to 83.8 postoperatively. The average Lysholm score was increased from 77.7 preoperatively to 87.7 postoperatively. Also, Tegner activity scale, Tegner activity score and the recovery of quadriceps and hamstrings increased at 1year after surgery. In knee joint position sense, the proprioception increased compared to preoperational count. We propose the meniscal allograft transplantation is one of a proper treatment after subtotal or total meniscectomy, which can significantly relieve pain and improve function of the knee joint.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Proprioception ; Sports ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants

The IS(Information System) strategic planning must be based on objectives and strategic planning of the organization. The IS strategic planning for a hospital is not different from other organizations. Perhaps it can be more important than other types of organizations. Hospitals possess unique characteristics which hinder implementation of the IS. Therefore when the objectives and the focus of IS are clear, the resources can be allocated effectively and integrated IS can be applied. This study will suggest general objectives and strategic planning of the hospital. Thereby we will propose the strategic planning and development planning model of IS for hospitals. Suppose that the objectives of a hospital are the quality service and effective costs reduction. To achieve these objectives we will propose the strategies such as procurement of qualified physician and personnel, maximization of productivity, maintenance of good services and comfortable environments, and redesign of business process. Thus strategic planning of IS for hospital organizations is established as the follows: 1. The objectives of the IS for a hospital are to monitor the outcome of medical services and hospital performance, and to deliver the doctor's order in order to provide the quality services to patients. Therefore the IS design strategy for the hospital should be planned to achieve these objectives. To establish these goals all hospital data should be computerized and the IS should be able to monitor the performance of the hospital. Direct dat input environment is essential for the system. 2. The direction of master plan of the IS for a hospital is the integrated system. The methods of approach for the integrated system is selected to cover the all primary data from medical services rather than functional units. 3. The objectives of development of medical service information system, first phase of master plan, include : on-line input and delivery system of all doctor's orders, inquiry about all test in any time at any places in the hospital, automated scheduling of nursing work at nurse station, hospital billing, and ancillary services. 4. In order to achieve the goal, CSFs(critical success factors) to be resolved are : doctors must enter their own orders, the employee consents to replace the manual paper work with IS, the system is maintained with rapid response even though peak time, many functions must be constructed in the short period. 5. Therefore development strategic planning of IS is suggested to maximize user's convenience, specially, for doctors, to apply several data servers with independent functions, and to introduce client-server system, and to use the commercial DBMS.
Commerce ; Efficiency ; Hospital Information Systems* ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Nursing ; Nursing Stations ; Social Change* ; Social Planning