The foundation of medical practice is the doctor-patient relationship. Before the implementation of National Health Insurance in Korea, it was not easy for patients to access doctors, and the doctor-patient relationship was immature. This study aims to describe doctors' social competency and determine measures of its strength in Korea. The current status of research on doctors' social competency in Korea and other countries was reviewed. There is recognition that Korean doctors have confidence in their medical knowledge, but their leadership in the health care sector and society is insufficient. A survey of citizens' expectations regarding doctors' social competency shows that they are not satisfied with their doctors' communication, and feel their doctors have not fulfilled their leadership duties as influential members of society e main reason for respondents' dissatisfaction was the doctors' pursuit of profit. They expected that the quality of care would increase if doctors' social capabilities were strengthened and both the doctors themselves and the government were to participate in capacity building. The preferable approach to reinforcing the social ability of doctors is to include medical humanities and social science in the medical education curriculum. Then, medical students can grow as good doctors and effective leaders. Several reports from outside Korea have confirmed this. Doctors need to recognize that the concept of health is broad, encompassing societal factors as one of the determinants of health. In conclusion, the effort of the community as a whole is needed for strengthening the social competence of doctors in Korea.
Capacity Building ; Curriculum ; Education, Medical ; Health Care Sector ; Humanities ; Humans ; Korea ; Leadership ; Mental Competency ; National Health Programs ; Power (Psychology)* ; Social Sciences ; Students, Medical

BACKGROUND: Both atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia may progress to gastric dysplasia. This study aimed to analyze the factors influencing progression of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia. METHODS: People diagnosed with atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia for the first time received a follow-up endoscopy and were investigated for the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia by age, gender, smoking habit, alcohol intake, rice consumption and family history of stomach cancer. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rate increased with age, consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day and family history of stomach cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that the cumulative incidence rate of gastric dysplasia increased in subjects >61 years (RR=2.54, P=0.014), in those consuming > or =3 bowls of rice per day (RR=1.46, P=0.021) and in those with a family history of stomach cancer (RR=1.31, P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: More active management, such as intensive endoscopic follow-up examinations, lifestyle change and education regarding gastric dysplasia, are required in those older than 61 years, having a higher intake of grain or with a family history of stomach cancer.
Edible Grain ; Endoscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Metaplasia ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Fibrosis* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans

During the early phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, South Korea was among the countries affected by the novel infectious disease soon after China. A year later, South Korea is considered one of the countries to have successfully responded to COVID-19. Even though South Korea has struggled to learn how to live wisely with COVID-19, much less effort has been put into learning how to die gracefully during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning of the pandemic, the Korean government has recommended (or mandated) cremation for those who die from COVID-19 to prevent further spread of the disease. However, the World Health Organization has announced that corpses are generally not contagious and cremation should be a matter of culture choice and available resources. In South Korea, the government pays compensation to the families of the deceased because they follow the national guidelines for the cremation and disinfection of bodies. However, it is now time to discuss how to support the families of the deceased, helping them to safely grieve and honor their loved one in their own ways, rather than forcing them to wrap the deceased with a plastic bag and proceed with a hasty cremation.

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans

During the early phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, South Korea was among the countries affected by the novel infectious disease soon after China. A year later, South Korea is considered one of the countries to have successfully responded to COVID-19. Even though South Korea has struggled to learn how to live wisely with COVID-19, much less effort has been put into learning how to die gracefully during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the beginning of the pandemic, the Korean government has recommended (or mandated) cremation for those who die from COVID-19 to prevent further spread of the disease. However, the World Health Organization has announced that corpses are generally not contagious and cremation should be a matter of culture choice and available resources. In South Korea, the government pays compensation to the families of the deceased because they follow the national guidelines for the cremation and disinfection of bodies. However, it is now time to discuss how to support the families of the deceased, helping them to safely grieve and honor their loved one in their own ways, rather than forcing them to wrap the deceased with a plastic bag and proceed with a hasty cremation.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the quality of life of dying patients so that they may die with dignity, they need to receive not only the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care, but also systematic and continuous care. However, their is no adequate medical service at present. We studied terminal cancer patients'behavior patterns of health care utilization, the problems of caring for the patient, and medical services that bereaved families suggested for terminal cancer patients and their families. METHODS: From 271 patients'families who participated in our hospice program from March 1991 to February 1996, 108 bereaved families whom we able to had been contact were interviewed by three student nurses with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The terminal cancer patients received their medical care through admission to hospital(45.4%), outpatient clinic(22.2%), emergency room(16.7%), and oriental medicine(12.0%). But during their terminal phase of the illness, 32.4% of patients never received medical care including oriental medicine, and 28.7% received alternative medicine care such as intake of mushroom and elm tree. 26 bereaved families(24.1%) pointed out the indifference of the medical team as a problem receiving proper hospital care, and 22 bereaved families(20.4%) emphasized emotional strain of their helplessness with the patient's suffering as a problem of caring for the patient at home. Over 90% of bereaved families from their experience suggested needs of continuous care, hospice care, home care, and 24hr telephone service. CONCLUSIONS: There were inappropriate behavior patterns of health care utilization which resulted in large proportion of terminal cancer patients received alternative medicine never receiving proper medical care. Therefore, there is a need to develop the continuous and comprehensive care for terminal cancer patients and their family, such as hospice.)
Agaricales ; Complementary Therapies ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emergencies ; Home Care Services ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Telephone ; Ulmus ; Surveys and Questionnaires