PURPOSE: The pollen calendar is the simplest forecasting method for pollen concentrations. As pollen concentrations are liable to seasonal variations due to alterations in climate and land-use, it is necessary to update the pollen calendar using recent data. To attenuate the impact of considerable temporal and spatial variability in pollen concentrations on the pollen calendar, it is essential to employ a new methodology for its creation.METHODS: A pollen calendar was produced in Korea using data from recent observations, and a new method for creating the calendar was proposed, considering both risk levels and temporal resolution of pollen concentrations. A probability distribution was used for smoothing concentrations and determining risk levels. Airborne pollen grains were collected between 2007 and 2017 at 8 stations; 13 allergenic pollens, including those of alder, Japanese cedar, birch, hazelnut, oak, elm, pine, ginkgo, chestnut, grasses, ragweed, mugwort and Japanese hop, were identified from the collected grains.RESULTS: The concentrations of each pollen depend on locations and seasons due to large variability in species distribution and their environmental condition. In the descending order of concentration, pine, oak and Japanese hop pollens were found to be the most common in Korea. The pollen concentrations were high in spring and autumn, and those of oak and Japanese hop were probably the most common cause of allergy symptoms in spring and autumn, respectively. High Japanese cedar pollen counts were observed in Jeju, while moderate concentrations were in Jeonju, Gwangju and Busan.CONCLUSIONS: A new methodology for the creation of a pollen calendar was developed to attenuate the impact of large temporal and spatial variability in pollen concentrations. This revised calendar should be available to the public and allergic patients to prevent aggravation of pollen allergy.
Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Busan ; Climate ; Corylus ; Cryptomeria ; Forecasting ; Ginkgo biloba ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Methods ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons

PURPOSE: There are no established statistical data available for the comparison of different surgical methods adopted for the resection of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This study investigates the present status related to BPH surgery in Korea for the past 8 years. METHODS: National-level data from the National Health Insurance Service and National Statistical Office were analyzed in this study. From 2010 to 2017, the trends of surgeries for BPH were reviewed according to the procedure code including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), or high-power potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), and this trend also analyzed by age, geographic distribution, and hospital type. RESULTS: Over the past 8 years, there was not much change in the total number of BPH-related surgeries (range, 10,393– 11,072). Although there was not much alteration in the number of conventional TURP (from 6,801 in 2010 to 6,645 in 2017), the number of HoLEP has dramatically increased (from 278 in 2010 to 3,805 in 2017). The number of HoLEP surgeries after 2011 exceeded the number of surgeries using KTP, and the gap is anticipated to rise. The number of surgeries by age group was most common in the 70s and the total number of surgeries is decreasing in all age groups; for HoLEP, the trend is steadily increasing over the age of 60 years. Most of the BPH surgeries were performed in metropolitan areas, such as Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, and Busan, and in larger hospitals compared to smaller hospital settings. CONCLUSIONS: Through the data of the National Health Insurance Service, we could apprehend the present status of BPH-related surgery in Korea. Then, we could know about the trend according to several factors and we think these results will be valuable as academic references as well.
Busan ; Delivery of Health Care ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Lasers, Solid-State ; National Health Programs ; Potassium ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Seoul ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate

The 34th Annual Meeting of Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) was held in Busan, Korea from 26 to 27 April. Around 460 Korean and international clinicians gathered in Busan to share and discuss their latest work and key issues of gynecologic oncologic research and treatment. The scope of this meeting included recent clinical trials and updates in gynecologic oncology, advances in ovarian cancer treatment, targeted therapy and immunotherapy in gynecologic cancer, management of hereditary gynecologic cancer, and newly revised staging of cervical cancer. As expected, the ongoing debate regarding the recent clinical trial on minimally invasive surgery for early-stage cervical cancer was addressed throughout the congress and the initial outline of the KSGO position statement was open for discussion. The meeting was an opportunity for all participants to come together and explore scientific insights of gynecologic cancer.
Busan ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship of physical and psychological symptoms to exercise adherence in patients with heart failure. METHODS: The participants in this study were 186 patients with heart failure in two hospitals located in Busan. The measures included questions about general and disease characteristics, physical symptoms, psychological symptoms, self-efficacy for exercise, and exercise adherence. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, simple and multiple regression using Baron and Kenny steps for mediation. RESULTS: There were significant differences in age, gender and comorbidity on exercise adherence. There were also significant correlations among physical and psychological symptoms, self-efficacy for exercise, and exercise adherence. Self-efficacy for exercise showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between physical symptoms and exercise adherence. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, the enhancement of self-efficacy for exercise may positively affect the exercise compliance of the patients with health failure, even while they are experiencing physical symptoms. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective strategies to enhance self-efficacy for exercise.
Busan ; Comorbidity ; Compliance ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Humans ; Negotiating

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to construct and test a hypothetical model of clinical decision-making ability of nurses based on the Decision Making Process model and the Cognitive Continuum theory. METHODS: The data were collected from nurses working at 11 hospitals in Busan, Daejeon, and South Gyeongsang Province from June 30 to August 1, 2017. Finally, the data from 323 nurses were analyzed. RESULTS: The goodness-of-fit of the final model was at a good level (χ²/df=2.46, GFI=.87, AGFI=.84, IFI=.90, CFI=.90, SRMR=.07, RMSEA=.07) and 6 out of 10 paths of the model were supported. The clinical decision-making ability was both directly and indirectly affected by task complexity and indirectly affected by experiences, autonomy, and work environment. Specifically, it was strongly directly affected by analytical competency but was insignificantly affected by intuitive competency. These variables accounted for 66.0% of clinical decision-making ability. CONCLUSION: The nurses' clinical decision-making ability can be improved by improving their analytical competency. Therefore, it is necessary to organize nursing work, create a supportive work environment, and develop and implement various education programs.
Busan ; Clinical Competence ; Clinical Decision-Making ; Decision Making ; Education ; Intuition ; Nursing

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) before and after orthodontic treatment (orthodontic-tx) using the modified Oral Impact on Daily Performance (OIDP) questionnaire. METHODS: Ninety-six subjects (32 males, 64 females; 48 ranging between 12–17 years, 48 ranging between 18–29 years) who completed orthodontic-tx in two dental clinics in Busan from May to December 2013 participated in this study. The participants self-reported their OHQoL on the Korean translated version of the OIDP before and during orthodontic-tx when the brackets were removed from their teeth. The OHQoL was again measured 1 month later. The visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (never) to 10 (definitely yes) was used to quantify the OHQoL. The physical, psychological, and social effects of the orthodontic-tx on daily performance were analyzed according to age and gender. RESULTS: The OHQoL score was lower during the orthodontic-tx (7.49±0.19) than before (5.51±0.18), but the final OHQoL score, after orthodontic-tx (9.39±0.07), was higher than the score before treatment. The trend was the same over all sub performances. Before orthodontic-tx, the OHQoL score related to psychological performance (6.98±0.22) was the lowest compared to physical and social performance. During orthodontic-tx, the scores related to physical performance, especially in the older (0.7 times) and female (0.62 times) groups, decreased the most compared to before treatment. Psychological performance, especially in the older (1.81 times) and female (1.66 times) groups, increased the most after orthodontic-tx. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that orthodontic-tx affects the OHQoL according to age and gender. Specific approaches, classified by age and gender, are needed to improve the quality of life of orthodontic dental patients.
Busan ; Dental Clinics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Health ; Orthodontics ; Quality of Life ; Tooth

OBJECTIVES: Workplace incivility is experienced by dental hygienists, who perform a variety of tasks and roles in dentistry. Therefore, to enhance the performance of dental and medical institutions, it is necessary to identify dental hygienists experiencing incivility that affects the organizational performance. METHODS: Over a two-month period from May 1 to June 30, 2015, dental hygienists from 30 dental and medical institutions in Busan, the North and South Gyeongsang Provinces, Daegu, Seoul, and the Gyeonggi Province were convenience sampled. Data, from a total of 344 participants, were analyzed using the SPSS and AMOS statistical analysis software. RESULTS: Emotional exhaustion had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between patient incivility and job performance, a full mediating effect in relation to job satisfaction, and a partial mediating effect on the association with turnover intention. Meanwhile, emotional exhaustion had a full mediating effect on the relationships between superior incivility and job performance, as well as turnover intention, while a partial mediating effect in relation to job satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: An in-depth review of interventions that can enable a mutually respectful working environment, and promote a healthy culture among dental hygienists in dental and medical institutions is needed.
Busan ; Daegu ; Dental Hygienists ; Dentistry ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intention ; Job Satisfaction ; Negotiating ; Seoul ; Work Performance

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate differences between the elderly living alone and those living with others in frustrated interpersonal needs and life satisfaction. Also, we explore the effects of frustrated interpersonal needs on life satisfaction in the elderly living alone. METHODS: The participants include 572 elderly people aged over 60 in Busan, Korea. Life satisfaction were evaluated by the Life Satisfaction Self-Rating Scale (LSRS) and frustrated interpersonal needs were measured by the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire-Revised (INQ-R). RESULTS: The overall LSRS scores were significantly lower in the elderly living alone (106.2±20.1) than living with others (115.3±13.9, p<0.001). The total INQ-R score was significantly lower in the elderly living alone (73.8±12.1) than those living with others (76.9±12.0, p<0.05). As a result of multiple regression analysis, we came to know that frustrated interpersonal needs were factors affecting life satisfaction in living alone group. CONCLUSION: The results of present study suggest that the elderly living alone are more likely to have poor life satisfaction and frustrated interpersonal needs. Also, frustrated interpersonal needs are related to life satisfaction. Thus, it is necessary to establish the social support system such as social isolation prevention and interpersonal relationship development.
Aged ; Busan ; Humans ; Korea ; Social Isolation

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare scaling rates in 16 cities and provinces using data from the Community Health Survey (CHS) and National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). METHODS: This study involved cross-sectional secondary data analysis. A total of 16,646,190 subjects who participated in the CHS and 218,184 subjects in the NHIS were included in the final analysis. The dependent variable was the scaling rate, and the independent variables were sex, age, and 16 regions. The study included individuals aged 19 years or older who received scaling between August 2014 and August 2015 in the past year in the CHS and codes U2232 (scaling) and U2233 (scaling before periodontal treatment) in the NHIS. The total scaling rates were compared between the CHS and NHIS. The differences in scaling rates according to sex, age, and 16 regions were analyzed. RESULTS: The CHS (42.6%) scaling rates were 17.5% higher than the NHIS (25.1%) scaling rates in 16 regions in 2015. The median in the CHS data was in Busan (41.5%), while that in the NHIS data was in Jeonbuk (23.5%). There was no significant difference between scaling rates above and below the median region in the CHS and NHIS. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that CHS data, which show a higher rate, should be used to assess and monitor the dental needs of community residents. NHIS data should be used to evaluate community oral health projects. It is necessary to develop health indicators for the community oral health project of input, process, and outcome evaluation.
Busan ; Dental Scaling ; Health Surveys ; Jeollabuk-do ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of self-esteem as a moderator of the factors influencing suicidality among middle-schoolers. METHODS: Moderated multiple regression analysis was applied to assess the influence of happiness, depression, and hostility on suicidality and to determine the degree to which self-esteem served as a moderator of those relationships. Data were collected from 268 students at a middle school in Busan, Korea, using a self-administered structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Happiness, depression, and hostility had significant direct effects on suicidality. Self-esteem showed no direct effect, but had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between hostility and suicidal behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that various interventions, such as counseling programs, should be designed to alleviate hostility and depression and to enhance happiness and self-esteem among early adolescents.
Adolescent ; Busan ; Counseling ; Depression ; Happiness ; Hostility ; Humans ; Korea