BACKGROUND: Lifetime health maintenance program (LHMP) is designed for individualized disease prevention and health promotion through regular health check-ups and improving risk factors. This study aimed to investigate patients' satisfaction of lifetime health clinic (LHC) in a tertiary hospital and to evaluate associated factors in order to support primary health care strengthening policy. METHODS: We conducted surveys for patients, who visited LHC in a department of family medicine at a tertiary hospital from March 1st 2016 to December 31st 2016. We analyzed proportions and characteristics associated with patients, who were willing to recommend LHC. The relationship between willingness to recommend LHC and associated factors were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among the patients who answered the questionnaires, 83.7% responded that they would recommend LHC to others. Results from multivariate analyses suggested that patients living in provinces (odds ratio [OR] 4.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-13.02), patients who were recommend by others to visit LHC (OR 3.99, 95% CI, 1.29-12.35), and those who had a large number of medical service preference items (OR 5.91, 95% CI, 1.48-23.58) were significantly associated with willingness to recommend LHC. CONCLUSIONS: LHC pursues the goal of primary care. Findings highlight the fact that high quality health service should be provided in small and municipal hospitals to improve patients' satisfaction. Furthermore, it is essential to establish family physician networks and health service infrastructure that can reflect various opinions.
Health Promotion ; Health Services ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care ; Risk Factors ; Tertiary Care Centers*

PURPOSE: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex surgery associated with high morbidity, mortality, and cost. Municipal hospitals have their important role in the public health and welfare system. The purpose of this study was to identify the feasibility as well as the cost-effectiveness of performing PD in a mid-volume municipal hospital based on 13 years of experience with PD. METHODS: From March 2003 to November 2015, 183 patients underwent PD at Seoul Metropolitan Government - Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center.. Retrospectively collected data were analyzed, with a particular focus on complications. Hospital costs were analyzed and compared with a national database, with patients divided into 2 groups on the basis of medical insurance status. RESULTS: The percentage of medical aid was significantly higher than the average in Korean hospitals. (19.1% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.002). Complications occurred in 88 patients (44.3%). Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) occurred in 113 cases (61.7%), but the clinically relevant POPF was 24.6% (grade B: 23.5% and grade C: 1.1%). The median hospital stay after surgery was 20 days (range, 6–137 days). In-hospital mortality was 3.8% (n = 7), with pulmonary complications being the leading cause. During the study period, improvements were observed in POPF rate, operation time, and hospital stay. The mean total hospital cost was 13,819 United States dollar (USD) per patient, and the mean reimbursement from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) to health care providers was 10,341 USD (74.8%). The patient copayment portion of the NHIS payment was 5%. CONCLUSION: Performing PD in a mid-volume municipal hospital is feasible, with comparable results and cost-effectiveness.
Health Personnel ; Hospital Costs ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitals, Municipal* ; Humans ; Insurance Coverage ; Length of Stay ; Local Government ; Mortality ; National Health Programs ; Pancreatic Fistula ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy* ; Postoperative Complications ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; United States

PURPOSE: It is well known that a terminal cancer condition affects not only patient themselves but their family members because the patients experience a variety of symptoms. This study was aimed to investigate modifiable factors that influence family caregivers' quality of life, depression, and anxiety. METHODS: From January 2015 through May 2015, a survey was conducted with 61 family caregivers of hospice patients who were hospitalized in two university hospitals and one municipal hospital in Busan. The questionnaire was consisted of characteristics of family caregivers and patients, the Korean version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC-K), Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and patient's symptom controlling scores rated by family caregivers. RESULTS: Family caregivers' depression was associated with religion. Quality of life and depression of family caregivers were also influenced by monthly household income. Patient age was inversely related to family caregiver's quality of life (rs=-0.259, P=0.043). Family caregivers' quality of life was associated with patient's anxiety (r=0.443, P=0.001). Family caregivers' depression was affected by patient's constipation (r=0.276, P=0.046), anxiety (r=0.508, P<0.001), and daytime drowsiness (r=0.377, P=0.005). And family caregivers' anxiety was influenced by patients' sleep disturbance (r=0.276, P=0.046), depression (r=0.297, P=0.031), and anxiety (r=0.357, P=0.009). CONCLUSION: According to our findings, family caregivers had higher quality of life and less depression and anxiety when symptoms in hospice patients were well controlled.
Anxiety* ; Busan ; Caregivers ; Constipation ; Depression* ; Family Characteristics ; Hospices* ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Quality of Life* ; Sleep Stages

This study aims to examine the performance of public municipal hospitals through the analysis of data envelopment analysis, efficiency, profitability, and publicness by using panel data during period from 2006 to 2010. The main findings of the study are as follows. First, as a result of efficiency analysis during the period from 2006 to 2010, it was revealed that the number of staff by each job category, labor cost ratio, the number of operating beds need to be decreased. Second, the performance data represented by the indicators of efficiency, profitability and publicness were complementary and showed a tendency of being increased or decreased in same direction. Third, from the result of panel analysis, the efficiency was mainly influenced by the structural factors, while the profitability was influenced by managerial factors, and the publicness by medical environment. In conclusion, in order to enhance the performance of public municipal hospitals in Korea, it is important to harmonize the effort for efficiency, financial and policy support by central and local government, and the continuous participation of community residents.
Hospitals, Municipal* ; Korea ; Local Government

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports on neonates with milk allergy in a neonatal ward. This type of allergy is mostly categorized as a non-IgE-mediated food allergy. Although most cases of milk allergy occur in the first few months of life, the differences in clinical characteristics between premature and full-term neonates are still unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the differences in clinical characteristics of milk allergy between premature and full-term neonates. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 2,116 neonates admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Chiba Kaihin Municipal Hospital, between 2001 and 2007. RESULTS: We identified 24 neonates strongly suspected of having milk allergy because of symptoms, such as bloody stools, repeated vomiting, diminished sucking and abdominal distension, as well as objective laboratory findings of eosinophilia in stool cytology and/or positive results for a rectal milk challenge test. Twelve of these 24 neonates were premature (median gestational age, 31 ± 3 weeks; median birth weight, 1,656 ± 592 g) and the other 12 were full-term (median gestational age, 38 ± 1 weeks; median birth weight, 2,760 ± 560 g). There were no differences in symptoms and time to start of feeding between premature and full-term neonates, but there was a significant difference in the median postnatal age at onset (premature neonates: 23 days; vs. full-term neonates: 3.5 days; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: All premature neonates developed a milk allergy after 32 weeks of corrected gestational age, suggesting that the development of milk allergy requires a certain degree of immunological maturation.
Age of Onset ; Birth Weight ; Eosinophilia ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Gestational Age ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; Milk ; Neonatology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the plasma LDL particle size and blood lipid profile, dietary factors and anthropometric values (body mass index, waist circumference and waist/hip ratio). The subjects were 173 adults aged 23 to 81 years, selected from the Outpatient Clinic and Cardiovascular Department of the Seoul Municipal Hospital. Dietary data were obtained using a 3-day food record and analyzed using Korean and US nutrient databases. The subjects were divided into three groups by LDL particle size:type A (large buoyant LDL, > 25.5 nm, n = 96), type I (Intermediate LDL, 25.2 < or = - < or = 25.5 nm, n = 18), and type B (small dense LDL, < 25.2 nm, n = 59) groups. The type B group had higher age, waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio (WHR) than the type A and type I groups. Serum concentration of triglyceride, Apo B, LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio and atherogenic index were significantly higher in the type B group as compared to those in the other two groups. HDL cholesterol level and Apo A-I/Apo B ratio were significantly lower in the type B group than the other two groups. The plasma LDL particle size was highly correlated with triglyceride (r = -0.450), Apo B (r = -0.402) and HDL cholesterol (r = 0.418). However, there was no correlation between plasma LDL particle size and dietary intakes. This study showed that small dense LDL was an important biochemical risk factor that was associated with other risk factors.
Adult* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Apolipoproteins B ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Particle Size* ; Plasma* ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Pertussis was long considered a childhood illness. However, in the last two decades, it has been reported as a cause of prolonged cough in adolescents and adults in other countries. Infection of Bordetella pertussis was prospectively searched among adults with a persistent cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients, who visited either the outpatient clinic of a municipal hospital or a university health service center due to cough of more than six days' duration without underlying pulmonary disease, from September 2002 to May 2003, were enrolled. The culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for confirming of B. pertussis infection. RESULTS: 102 adult patients with persistent cough were evaluated. 3 (2.9%) patients were PCR positive for B. pertussis. There were no patients with positive culture. All patients with positive PCR had one or more classic symptoms of pertussis and their cough persisted for 3-7 weeks. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the morbidity of pertussis in Korean adults with persistent cough. Pertussis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of chronic cough in adults.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Bordetella pertussis ; Cough* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prospective Studies ; Student Health Services ; Whooping Cough*

BACKGROUND: Pertussis was long considered a childhood illness. However, in the last two decades, it has been reported as a cause of prolonged cough in adolescents and adults in other countries. Infection of Bordetella pertussis was prospectively searched among adults with a persistent cough. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients, who visited either the outpatient clinic of a municipal hospital or a university health service center due to cough of more than six days' duration without underlying pulmonary disease, from September 2002 to May 2003, were enrolled. The culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for confirming of B. pertussis infection. RESULTS: 102 adult patients with persistent cough were evaluated. 3 (2.9%) patients were PCR positive for B. pertussis. There were no patients with positive culture. All patients with positive PCR had one or more classic symptoms of pertussis and their cough persisted for 3-7 weeks. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the morbidity of pertussis in Korean adults with persistent cough. Pertussis should be considered as a differential diagnosis of chronic cough in adults.
Adolescent ; Adult* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Bordetella pertussis ; Cough* ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prospective Studies ; Student Health Services ; Whooping Cough*

PURPOSE: The prognosis after potentially curative resection for stage IV gastric cancer, according to the 5th edition of AJCC/UICC classification, is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the curative resection in patients with stage IV gastric cancer, which were considered potentially curable cases. METHODS: From November 1991 to June 1996, 91 patients were confirmed as having stage IV gastric cancer at Seoul Boramae Municipal Hospital. Of these 91 patients, 30 who were potentially curative resected including at least D2 type lymph node dissections were reviewed retrospectively. The average numbers of totally dissected and positive lymph nodes were 43.0 (range: 26~74) and 23.1 (range: 2~47), respectively. RESULTS: The overall 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates of patients were 60.0%, 36.7%, 13.3%, respectively. In comparison with stage IIIb (N=20), no significant difference in survival rate was observed (P=0.1178). In univariate analysis, we found that the presence of a recurrence (P=0.0121) and a P (positive lymph nodes)/R (total dissected lymph nodes) >0.6 were correlated with poor survival rates. Long- survivors (N=12, more than 24 months postoperatively) had a tendency to be younger, less recurrent (P=0.017) and less involvement of histological perineural invasion (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that stage IV patients without distant metastasis may indeed be cured by potentially curative surgery.
Classification* ; Gastrectomy* ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach* ; Survival Rate ; Survivors

The purposes of this research were to assess dietary fatty acid patterns and to elucidate the relationship between the serum cholesterol levels and dietary fatty acid patterns, plasma fatty acid compositions, BMI (body mass index), and other lipid profile. The subjects were 151 adults aged 23 to 80 years, selected from the Outpatient Clinic and Cardiovascular Department of the Seoul Municipal Hospital. Dietary data were obtained using three day food records. Sixteen dietary fatty acids were analyzed using Korean and US nutrient databases. The subjects were divided into three serum cholesterol levels: desirable (< 200 mg/dl, N = 44), borderline-risk (> or = 200 - < 240 mg/dl, N = 35), and high-risk (> or = 240 mg/dl, N = 72) groups. The high-risk group had higher BMI, waist, and waist to hip ratio (WHR) than the desirable and borderline-risk groups. Serum concentrations of triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio were significantly higher in the high-risk group as compared to those in the other two groups. The serum cholesterol levels were highly correlated with BMI (r = 0.435), triglyceride (r = 0.425) and LDL/HDL cholesterol (r = 0.870) ratio. The highest fatty acid intake was from oleic acid (33 - 34% of total fatty acid intakes), which was followed by linoleic acid (27%), palmitic acid (19%), and stearic acid (7%). There was no correlation between the serum cholesterol levels and the dietary fatty acid intakes, polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated fatty acids (P/M/S) and omega6/omega3 ratios. The correlation between plasma fatty acids such as myristic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid and serum cholesterol levels was also weak.
Adult* ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Cholesterol* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Fatty Acids* ; Hospitals, Municipal ; Humans ; Linoleic Acid ; Myristic Acid ; Oleic Acid ; Palmitic Acid ; Plasma* ; Seoul ; Triglycerides ; Waist-Hip Ratio