PURPOSE: As our society ages, a disease like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are increasing and needs consequent management. Recently, through the expansion of the communication infrastructure and terminals, a network services can be provided. However, the concern about distant medical management is increasing. We introduce here the Personal BPH Control Program (PBCP) and its application to clinical patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have asked BPH patients to input the variable elements on the digital survey through the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) once a week. We used the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the average flow rate as the variable elements. We have used an algorithm to determine the patients condition. With this, we have developed a program that helps patients to adjust their visits to the hospital. RESULTS: According to the input elements, we have determined that the patients' condition was good (visit the hospital every 3 months) when the IPSS decreased, compared with the baseline and when the average flow rate was up above 2ml/sec. The patients' condition was a warning (visit the hospital every 2 months) when the IPSS was increased to below 3 and the average flow rate was down below +/- 2ml/sec, and the patients' condition was urgent when the IPSS increased to above 4 and the average flow rate was down above 3ml/sec. CONCLUSIONS: We expect that the PBCP has great socioeconomic utility when applying it to patients. A portable personal apparatus for measuring the flow rate is now being developed. When sufficient examples of applying the symptom algorithm have accumulated, we are going to report afterward the prospects of using the PBCP in the future.
Computers, Handheld ; Humans ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Telecommunications

Telemedicine is described as combination of topics from the fields of telecommunication, medicine, and information and literally telemedicine means medicine at a distance. In this study, we present a web based real-time telemedicine application(WEBRETA) that was designed for patients who needs diagnosis on the Internet. The WEBRETA system is supporting transmitting of MPEG-4 video format(640*480)that was appropriate for Internet and designed with ActiveX controls technology that is also suitable for telecommunication link such as ADSL, VDSL and Cable modem which are very popular communication link in Korea. To improve the reliability and the usefulness of this prototype we involved the PSNR method and subjective score measuring from doctors. Futhermore, we will evaluate the WEBRETA with various communication network environment to improve how this system can contribute the diagnosis of patients and to analysis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Modems ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Telemedicine is a useful tool for remote education to overcome limitations of location. We have shared medical knowledge by the use of a real-time, high quality digital video transfer system (DVTS). The study aim was to evaluate the use of the DVTS by viewer questionnaire. METHODS: After an endoscopic live demonstration using DVTS and satellite broadcasting system (SBS), questions were provided for the degree of satisfaction about image and sound of the presentation. A questionnaire was composed of 11 questions concerning factors such as a comparison of image quality between the two systems. The preference between DVTS with SBS was analyzed. RESULTS: For image quality, SBS was more preferable than DVTS (65.6% versus 16.7%). However, 16.7% found no difference between the use of DVTS and SBS. For the time delay between the image and sound, 62.5% preferred SBS and 11.5% preferred DVTS. The satisfaction for combining DVTS with SBS were 68% as good and 22% as very good. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated the feasibility of telemedicine by the demonstration of a satisfactory teleconference, although DVTS was utilized as an assistant tool. DVTS should prove to be a promising tool as a useful and economic means to provide remote medicine.
Education, Medical ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Future major disasters require the development of socially transparent and rational-decision-making procedures. Recent reports indicate that the frequency of human disasters are decreasing while natural disasters and social disasters are becoming more frequent. The creation of a disaster communication network, which is essential in protecting the life and property as well as providing a sense of societal security. Standards for a modern disaster communication network must be developed at the national level, with national state support for a 3rd generation partnership project such as a Public Safety-LTE that allows the construction of an effective national disaster network plan. Compliance and certification standards to ensure interoperability of communications and other equipment are necessary for the creation of a modern national disaster network that allows more efficient management of disaster situations. It can be expected that our efforts and example can help other countries to build a standard protocol for managing the national disasters.
Certification ; Compliance ; Disaster Planning ; Disasters* ; Humans ; Medical Assistance* ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to develop telesurgical conference system by establishing a gigabit broad-banded network between hospitals in Korea and Japan using Digital Video Transport System(DVTS) on internet protocol, and to audit performance of this system through questionnaire study. METHODS: The Korea Advanced Research Network(Korean side), the Fukuoka Gigabit Highway(Japanese side), and the Korea-Japan Cable Network(international line)were used for assuring a high speed network connectivity. DVTS streaming was propagated with 30 M bps bandwidth for two channels on IPv4 network. Network security was built with virtual private network solution to guarantee protecting patient's privacy. Technological performance and satisfaction of users were evaluated following the events. RESULTS: The teleconference sessions and live surgery transmission with DVTS on internet protocol using advanced research network were performed successfully. Bandwidth of 60 Mbps for two-line transmission was maintained throughout the conference. The quality of the transmitted pictures had no frame loss with the rate of 30 frames per second. The sound was also clear and the time delay was less than 0.3 sec. Effectiveness of telesurgical conference using advanced network was felt beneficial for 94% of the attendants in questionnaire study. CONCLUSION: Establishing an international telesurgical conference system with high quality digital video transmission over internet protocol using international gigabit network was performed successfully. With the improvement of network engineering, this system is expected to contribute penetration of medical skills and knowledge through network infrastructure.
Internet ; Japan ; Korea ; Privacy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rivers ; Telecommunications*

The aim of this study is to suggest the method for image enhancement of digital chest radiograph and evaluate clinically the quality of the resultant image. A nonlinear iterative filter was developed in order to reduce quantum noise preserving edge. Dynamic range was adjusted and adaptive image enhancement was performed based on the property of anatomic region and the degree of compatibility with neighboring pixels. The lung fields were enhanced appropriately to visualize effectively vascular tissue, bronchus and lung tissue with the desired mediastinum enhancement. Clinic evaluation was performed by three radiologists with at least 8 years experience. The anatomic regions of 11 in PA and 9 in Lateral were observed carefully in each 100 radiographs according to ITU (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation 500 protocol. The result showed the mean 3.4 between good and adequate. This means that the clinical utility of the image quality is enough. In this study, image enhancement was carried out considering image display device and human perceptual system to prevent the loss of useful anatomic information. In order to increase the diagnostic accuracy in digital radiograph, the continuous study on image enhancement is needed.
Bronchi ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Lung ; Mediastinum ; Noise ; Telecommunications ; Thorax

This article shows a new design of telerehabilitation system for balance function assessment and training in our laboratory. The system is based on C/S network architecture, and realizes the telecommunication through socket network communication technology. It implements the teletransmission of training data and assessment report of sit-down and stand-up, online communication between doctors and patients, and doctors'management of patient information. This system realizes remote evaluation and telerehabilitation of patients, and brings great convenience for the patients.
Humans ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; Postural Balance ; Rehabilitation ; Telecommunications

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prompted a shift from standard in-person consultation to non-patient contact methods such as telemedicine. To our knowledge, there was no published a priori evaluation of the telemedicine readiness and acceptance among the medical staff of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) before implementing the institution’s telemedicine program. The lack of this vital pre-implementation step is understandable given the unprecedented crisis. However, if telemedicine programs will continue in the post-quarantine period, it is crucial to determine the facilitators and barriers to the use of telemedicine. Objective: This study determined the level of readiness and acceptance for telemedicine as an alternative method for patient consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-enhanced community quarantine period among PGH medical staff (consultants, residents, fellows). Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2020 to July 2021. Medical staff from the 16 clinical departments of the PGH were selected by systematic random sampling. Inclusion criteria included appointment as medical staff in PGH or University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM), voluntary informed consent, internet access, and technical capacity to access e-mail and SurveyMonkey™. The online survey consisted of two questionnaires. It collected data on the demographic profile and outcomes of interest (e.g., telemedicine readiness and acceptance). Technological readiness was determined through the 16-item modified version of Technological Readiness Index (TRI) version 2.0, while telemedicine acceptance was determined through the modified version of the 19-item Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed at a 95% confidence interval. Results: The study had an 87% response rate with 205 respondents, 62% of whom were physicians in training (resident physicians and fellows). The respondents had a median age of 33 years and were mostly males. Only 19% had telemedicine experience before the pandemic. The majority (51%) learned telemedicine on their own. The most common devices used for telemedicine were mobile or smartphones (53%) and laptops (38%). The primary source of internet for telemedicine was mobile broadband (e.g., cellular data) (40%). The majority practiced telemedicine at their home or residence (51%), followed closely by the hospital or clinic (47%). The mean score of the respondents on TRI was 3.56 (very good technological readiness), and 4.00 (very good telemedicine acceptance) on UTAUT (behavioral intention to use the system). Performance expectancy (p = 0.02), effort expectancy (p = 0.03), and self-efficacy (p = 0.02) were significantly directly related to telemedicine adoption, while anxiety (p = 0.03) was significantly inversely related. Conclusion The PGH medical staff were found to have very good telemedicine readiness and acceptance. This suggests a willingness to use telemedicine during the pandemic. Further studies on the organization and technical support system of the telemedicine program in the PGH are strongly recommended. The quality and efficiency of the program will strongly influence the continued use of telemedicine by the medical staff even after the pandemic.
Health Services Administration ; Telemedicine ; Telecommunications ; Remote Consultation ; COVID-19

OBJECTIVES: Through telehealth, medical services have expanded beyond spatial boundaries and are now available in living spaces outside of hospitals. It can also contribute to patient medical knowledge improvement because patients can access their hospital records and data from home. However, concepts of telehealth are rather vague in Korea. METHODS: We refer to several clinical reports to determine the current clinical status of and obstacles to telehealth in Korea. RESULTS: Patients' health conditions are now reported regularly to doctors remotely, and patients can receive varied assistance. Self-improvement based on minute details that are beyond medical staff's reach is another possible benefit that may be realized with the help of a variety of medical equipment (sensors). The feasibility, clinical effect, and cost-benefit of telehealth have been verified by scientific evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients will be able to improve their treatment adherence by receiving help from various professionals, such as doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and sports therapists. This means that the actual treatment time per patient will increase as well. Ultimately, this will increase the quality of patients' self-administration of care to impede disease progression and prevent complications.
Disease Progression ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Korea* ; Nutritionists ; Remote Consultation ; Sports ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the current telemedicine of the Korea and the telemedicine of the other countries. METHODS: This study reviewed several documents on telemedicine and summarized the documents on the initiation of the telemedicine of the Korea, the recent regulations of the government, the analytical research results, and the telemedicine of foreign countries. RESULTS: One of recent demonstration trials of telemedicine began in July 2015 in the Korea. The plan was to conduct an emergency telemedical treatment trial among the cooperative medical service centers until the end of February 2016. No telemedical services were provided at the level of local primary care clinics, and there was 1.2% provision at the hospital level. The Europe Union and the United States had more active telemedical services in comparison to the Korea. CONCLUSIONS: The introduction and usage of telemedicine in the Korea was behind those of other countries. It is necessary to develop a proactive support policy for telemedicine through a government implemented trial.
Emergencies ; Europe ; Korea* ; Primary Health Care ; Social Control, Formal ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine* ; United States