Background: This study was conducted to analyze the impact of having a usual source of care on health behaviors of the middle aged and the elderly, in order to investigate the potential effect of enhancing primary health care in a Korean context. Methods: This study constructed a balanced panel of middle-aged and elderly samples using the Korea Health Panel 2016–2018, and fixed-effect models were used to analyze the data. Results: Among three sets of dependent variables (physical activity, smoking, drinking), statistically significant results were found only in physical activity. Subgroup analysis showed that this effect was not observed in the late elderly (aged 75 and older) and those without chronic diseases. Conclusion Results of the study implied that enhancing primary health care among middle age and the elderly may have an effect on improving health behaviors. Moving forward to person-centered primary health care from disease-focused primary health care should be considered in high-risk groups such as the middle aged and the elderly with chronic diseases.

Background: By applying the suggested criteria for needs-based chronic medical care and long-term care delivery system for the elderly, the current status of delivery system was identified and regional delivery systems were categorized according to quantity and quality of delivery system. Methods: National claims data were used for this study. All claims data of medical and long-term care uses by the elderly and all claims data from long-term care hospitals and nursing homes in 2016 were analyzed to categorize the regional medical and long-term care delivery system. The current status of the delivery system with a high possibility of transition to a needs-based appropriate delivery system was identified. The necessary and actual amount of regional supply was calculated based on their needs, and the structure of delivery systems was evaluated in terms of the needs-based quality of the system. Finally, all regions were categorized into 15 types of medical and care delivery systems for the elderly. Results: Of the total 55 regions, 89.1% of regions had an oversupply of elderly medical and care services compared to the necessary supply based on their needs. However, 69.1% of regions met the criteria for less than two types of needs groups, and 21.8% of regions were identified as regions where the numbers of institutions or regions with a high possibility of transition to an appropriate delivery system were below the average levels for all four needs groups. Conclusion In order to establish an appropriate community-based integrated elderly care system, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of the regional delivery system categories and to plan a needs-based delivery system regionally.

A 56-year-old male underwent a screening colonoscopy. An 8-mm sessile polyp was removed from the descending colon using snare polypectomy. Histology showed Langerhans cells and eosinophil infiltration of the submucosa. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for S-100 protein and CD1a antigen, which confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans-cell histiocytosis. On further workup, there was no evidence of involvement of any other organs. Here, we report a very rare case of colonic Langerhans-cell histiocytosis presenting as an isolated polyp.
Antigens, CD1 ; Colon ; Colon, Descending ; Colonoscopy ; Eosinophils ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; Humans ; Langerhans Cells ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Polyps ; S100 Proteins ; SNARE Proteins

Purpose: To analyze the overall knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers regarding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine recommendations for pregnant women and factors affecting these opinions in Korea. Methods: We conducted a nationwide survey study of obstetricians and gynecologists registered in the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The knowledge, attitude, and factors affecting COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women were investigated. Results: Among 258 participants, 182 (70.5%) answered that they recommended COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women, while 76 (29.5%) answered that they did not. The administrative district of the physician's healthcare center and knowledge regarding adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine were factors affecting opinions on vaccine recommendation. Physicians working in metropolitan cities were 7.3 times more likely to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to pregnant women than those working in Seoul. Physicians aware of the COVID-19 vaccine safety profiles in pregnant women were 25.36 times more likely to recommend vaccines than those who were not. A significantly higher proportion of the recommended group provided vaccine information to pregnant women compared to the nonrecommended group and also recommended booster shot vaccination. Guidelines from academic societies (70.9%) and from government and public centers (64.8%) were important factors in the recommendation group, while additional study results (57.1%) were important factors in the nonrecommendation group. This information will be useful for future reference regarding vaccine recommendations. Conclusion Providing guidelines and recent data regarding COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant populations to healthcare providers will promote obstetricians and gynecologists to recommend vaccination to pregnant patients and will thereby contribute to achieving herd immunity in Korea.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Although polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution is commonly used for colonoscopic bowel preparation because of its safety and effectiveness, its salty taste decreases patient's compliance. The aim of this study was to compare the sugared PEG solution with the standard PEG solution in regard to the quality of bowel preparation and patient's compliance. METHODS: From January through June in 2012, 100 patients who underwent colonoscopy in Gangneung Asan Hospital were prospectively enrolled. They were randomly assigned to receive either standard PEG solution or sugared PEG solution. The quality of bowel preparation was assessed by a doctor's questionnaire and the patient's compliance was assessed by a patient's questionnaire. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the quality of bowel preparation (4.2+/-2.0 vs. 4.1+/-1.5, p=0.783), and endoscopist's satisfaction score (8.2+/-1.8 vs. 8.5+/-1.3, p=0.253) between two groups. However, The degree of disgust was lower in the sugared PEG group than the standard PEG group (6.4+/-2.3 vs. 3.9+/-2.9, p=0.000). The willingness to repeat same regimen was higher in the sugared PEG group than the standard PEG group (2.0+/-0.6 vs. 2.3+/-0.7, p=0.004). There was no difference in side effects between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The sugared PEG solution as a bowel preparation method revealed a higher patient's compliance and was effective as the standard PEG solution. When the patient dislike the taste and saltness of the standard PEG solution, the sugared PEG solution will be good alternative method.
Adult ; Aged ; Carbohydrates/*chemistry ; *Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance/psychology ; Physicians/psychology ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry/*diagnostic use ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires ; Therapeutic Irrigation