OBJECTIVE: Referring to the application of the NEH (Nawaz-Enscore-Ham) algorithm in flow shop scheduling, this paper proposes an optimization method of hospital medical consumables discrete scheduling based on the extended NEH algorithm, in order to obtain the optimal medical consumables discrete scheduling scheme and achieve the optimization of medical consumables discrete scheduling. METHODS: Thoroughly analyze the scheduling needs of medical consumables in hospitals, predict the demand for medical consumables in each department. Construct a discrete scheduling optimization model for medical consumables and determine the constraint conditions for building the model (residual coefficient matrix, efficiency constraint matrix, and time window function). Then, solve the discrete scheduling optimization model for medical consumables based on the extended NEH algorithm. RESULTS: By comparison the data before and after the experiment, it is found that the discrete scheduling time and cost of medical consumables in experimental departments have decreased to varying degrees, and all the differences are statistically significant ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Through experiments, it is known that the optimized medical consumables discrete scheduling scheme proposed meets the requirements of discrete scheduling time and cost, providing a better solution for hospital medical consumables discrete scheduling.
Algorithms ; Materials Management, Hospital ; Appointments and Schedules

Introduction: Frequent diabetes medication therapy adherence clinic (DMTAC) appointments may lead to more rapid glycaemic control. This study aimed to evaluate the association between appointment intervals and glycaemic control (haemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] level) along with blood pressure (BP) and lipid profile (LP) during DMTAC appointments. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed all recorded baseline and completed DMTAC data, including HbA1c level, LP and BP, of 318 eligible participants from 29 DMTACs across Perak. The participants were divided into shorter appointment interval (SAI) (≤30 days) and longer appointment interval (LAI) groups. Results: The majority of the baseline socio-demographic and clinical characteristics did not significantly differ between the SAI and LAI groups (p>0.05). Ischaemic heart disease (Odds ratio, OR=3.457; 95% CI=1.354–8.826; p=0.009) and hypertension (OR=0.521; 95% CI=0.276–0.992; p=0.044) were significantly associated with the appointment intervals. Upon completion of eight DMTAC visits, the HbA1c and FBS levels and DBP significantly improved (p<0.05). However, the mean HbA1c level (1.35±2.18% vs 0.87±2.11%, p=0.548), FBS level (1.25±4.82mmol/L vs 2.29±6.23mmol/L, p=0.538), SBP (3.28±21.82mmHg vs 3.65±18.35mmHg, p=0.343) and LDL level (0.09±0.98mmol/L vs 0.07±1.13mmol/L, p=0.246) did not significantly differ between the SAI and LAI groups. Conclusion Longer DMTAC appointment intervals had similar improvement in glycaemic controls, blood pressure and lipid profiles as compared to shorter appointment intervals. A longer interval can be scheduled for lower-risk patients to optimise the use of human resources and minimise costs.
Appointments and Schedules ; Diabetes ; Pharmacists

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the validity of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index Short Form (WOMAC-SF) for the assessment of musculoskeletal disorders. We evaluated whether WOMAC-SF correlated with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 12 (WHODAS-12) and Kaigo-Yobo questionnaires for assessing health-outcomes in Korea.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Namgaram-2 cohort. WOMAC, WOMAC-SF, WHODAS-12, and Kaigo-Yobo questionnaires were administered to patients with musculoskeletal disorders, including radiology-confirmed knee osteoarthritis (RKOA), sarcopenia, and osteoporosis. The relationships among WOMAC-SF, WHODAS-12, and Kaigo-Yobo scores were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression analysis.RESULTS: WOMAC-SF was associated with the WOMAC questionnaire. The results of confirmatory factor analysis for the hypothesized model with two latent factors, pain and function, provided satisfactory fit indices. WOMAC-SF pain and function were associated with RKOA. Kaigo-Yobo was associated with WOMAC-SF pain (B=0.140, p=0.001) and WOMAC-SF function (B=0.042, p=0.004). WHODAS-12 was associated with WOMAC-SF pain (B=0.679, p=0.003) and WOMAC-SF function (B=0.804, p<0.001).CONCLUSION: WOMAC-SF was validated for the evaluation of low extremity musculoskeletal disorders and health-related quality of life in a community-based population. Furthermore, we confirmed that WOMAC-SF were reflective of disability and frailty, which affect health outcomes.
Appointments and Schedules ; Arthritis ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Korea ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Osteoporosis ; Quality of Life ; Sarcopenia ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: This study was conducted using the theory of planned behavior to analyze factors influencing mothers' intention to vaccinate their children against hepatitis A (HA). METHODS: This descriptive study used a questionnaire. The participants were 100 mothers with children under 19 years. The collected data were analyzed by the t-test, analysis of variance, and the Mann-Whitney U test. The Pearson's correlation was used to test the correlations among variables. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify factors related to HA vaccination intention. RESULTS: The attitude of mothers with children under 19 to HA vaccination were quite positive (6.2 of 7), and their perceived behavioral control (5.73 of 7), subjective norm (5.54 of 7), and vaccination intention (5.96 of 7) were relatively high. Attitude toward HA vaccination was the strongest influencing factor, followed by subjective norm. The explanatory power of attitude and subjective norm for HA vaccination was 84%. CONCLUSION: HA vaccination is very important for preventing HA. Mothers' positive attitudes toward HA vaccination were an important factor influencing their children's HA vaccination. Providing education on the benefits of HA vaccination and the vaccination schedule may foster positive attitude toward vaccination.
Appointments and Schedules ; Child ; Education ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Intention* ; Mothers ; Vaccination

Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, is one of the newly developed direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). In recent times, it has been increasingly used in the prevention of pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. This report describes a case of epidural hematoma in an elderly patient who underwent combined spinal epidural anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty; the patient received rivaroxaban postoperatively for 7 days to prevent pulmonary embolism. Additionally, the epidural hematomas developed on the 5th postoperative day but the patient recovered well with conservative treatment. Although rivaroxaban has a low need for monitoring and is easily administered, the guidelines should be carefully checked for the postoperative administration schedule in patients undergoing regional anesthesia. In addition, rivaroxaban should be used with caution, especially in elderly patients.
Aged ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anticoagulants ; Appointments and Schedules ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee* ; Factor Xa ; Hematoma* ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Humans ; Orthopedics ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Rivaroxaban*

OBJECTIVE: To critically compare the benefits and risks of labor induction versus spontaneous labor in uncomplicated nulliparous women at 39 or more weeks of gestation. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, observational study of 237 nulliparous women who were at 39 or more weeks of a singleton pregnancy with vertex presentation and intact membranes. We compared maternal outcomes including the Cesarean section rate and neonatal outcomes in the induced labor and spontaneous labor groups. RESULTS: Among the 237 women, 199 delivered vaginally (84.0%). The spontaneous labor group and induced labor group had a similar incidence of Cesarean delivery (17.7% vs. 12.3%, P=0.300). The length of stay and blood loss during delivery were also similar between the groups (4.3±1.5 vs. 3.9±1.5 days and 1.9±1.3 vs. 1.8±1.0 mg/sL, respectively; all P > 0.05). Regarding neonatal outcomes, the rate of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, and intubation rate were similar between the groups (18.9% vs. 24.7%, 7.9% vs. 4.1%, and 6.1% vs. 4.4%, respectively, all P > 0.05). Only the neonatal intensive care unit admission rate was significantly lower in the induction group than in the spontaneous labor group (28.0% vs. 13.2%, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Maternal adverse outcomes of labor induction at 39 weeks of gestation were similar to those in a spontaneous labor group in uncomplicated nulliparous women. Neonatal adverse events were also similar between the groups. It may be acceptable to schedule labor induction as long as 7 days before the estimated date, even when the indication is only relative.
Amniotic Fluid ; Apgar Score ; Appointments and Schedules ; Cesarean Section ; Delivery, Obstetric ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Intubation ; Labor, Induced ; Length of Stay ; Membranes ; Observational Study* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies* ; Risk Assessment*

Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease associated with orbital inflammation and fibrosis which can result in lid retraction, soft tissue swelling, and proptosis. Treatment should rely on a thorough assessment of the activity and severity of GO. Control of risk factors for GO progression and topical treatments for dry eye are recommended for all patients. In mild GO, a careful observation is usually sufficient. In moderate-to-severe and active GO, high-dose intravenous glucocorticoids can be considered an initial treatment. The most common schedule for intravenous glucocorticoids is a cumulative dose of 4.5 g of methylprednisolone, divided into 12 weekly infusions (6 weekly infusions of 0.5 g, followed by 6 weekly infusions of 0.25 g). Orbital radiation has been shown to be an effective secondary treatment in patients with active GO unresponsive to intravenous glucocorticoids. Rehabilitative surgery is needed in patients with GO when the disease is associated with a significant impact on quality of life or visual function after the disease has been inactive for at least 6 months.
Appointments and Schedules ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Exophthalmos ; Fibrosis ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Methylprednisolone ; Orbit ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the serum hepcidin levels in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients that were newly diagnosed with no history of psychotropic drugs. METHODS: A total of 70 ADHD patients and 69 healthy controls were enrolled in our study. During the diagnosis, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime version were applied. The sociodemographic data form, Turgay DSM-IV-Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale, and Conners’ Rating Scales-Revised: Long Form were used for the clinical evaluation. Serum hepcidin levels were measured and compared between the groups. RESULTS: No significant difference between the groups in terms of age (p=0.533) and gender (p=0.397) was determined. In addition, the groups did not differ significantly for the other sociodemographic variables recorded. Serum hepcidin levels were found to be significantly higher in the patients with ADHD than healthy controls (p=0.019). CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the total serum hepcidin levels in ADHD patients. Our study findings may suggest that high levels of hepcidin may cause iron dysregulation in ADHD patients. However, further studies are required to establish a definite conclusion.
Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent ; Appointments and Schedules ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Hepcidins ; Humans ; Iron ; Mass Screening ; Mood Disorders ; Psychotropic Drugs ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the pain perception and anesthetic efficacy of 2% lignocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, buffered lignocaine, and 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine for the inferior alveolar nerve block. METHODS: This was a double-blind crossover study involving 48 children aged 5–10 years, who received three inferior alveolar nerve block injections in three appointments scheduled one week apart from the next. Pain on injection was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces pain scale and the sound eye motor scale (SEM). Efficacy of anesthesia was assessed by subjective (tingling or numbness of the lip, tongue, and corner of mouth) and objective signs (pain on probing). RESULTS: Pain perception on injection assessed with Wong-Baker scale was significantly different between buffered lignocaine and lignocaine (P < 0.001) and between buffered lignocaine and articaine (P = 0.041). The onset of anesthesia was lowest for buffered lignocaine, with a statistically significant difference between buffered lignocaine and lignocaine (P < 0.001). Moreover, the efficacy of local analgesia assessed using objective signs was significantly different between buffered lignocaine and lignocaine (P < 0.001) and between lignocaine and articaine. CONCLUSION: Buffered lignocaine was the least painful and the most efficacious anesthetic agent during the inferior alveolar nerve block injection in 5–10-year-old patients.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Appointments and Schedules ; Buffers ; Carticaine ; Child ; Cross-Over Studies ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Lidocaine ; Lip ; Mandibular Nerve ; Pain Perception ; Tongue

In 2016, 9-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been newly introduced in Korea, thus the need to develop recommendations for the vaccine has raised. Until we decide to develop a guideline, no further studies on the bi-valent or quadri-valent HPV vaccine have been announced. We searched and reviewed the literatures focused on the efficacy of 9-valent HPV vaccine, the ideal age of 3-dose schedule vaccination, the efficacy of 9-valent HPV vaccine in middle-aged women, the efficacy of the 2-dose schedule vaccination, the safety of 9-valent HPV vaccine, the possibility of additional 9-valent HPV vaccination, and cross-vaccination of 9-valent HPV vaccine. So, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) developed a guideline only for 9-valent HPV vaccine.
Appointments and Schedules ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Vaccination