Purpose: This study was conducted with a focus group interview that drew out experiences, limitations, and difficulties in the workplace according to the employment conditions of visiting nurses in the public health centers. Methods: A total of 12 visiting nurses are those working in the public sector in Seoul and Gyeonggi province who were willing to participate in the interview. Analysis categories and coding were divided into three categories: compensation system, occupational status, and opinions to improve their treatment. Using the content analysis method, the current working status and compensation system of visiting nurses were described. Results: The main themes derived from the significant statements of visiting nurses were ‘Ten years of frozen salary system’, ‘Full-time workers of their own league’, ‘Excluded from performance benefits’, ‘Every visiting nurses are virtually precarious’, ‘Experience of exclusion and discrimination’, and ‘Reasons and barriers to be a full-time worker’. All of the visiting nurses working in the community insisted on having equal treatment for work of equal value. Visiting nurses in the public health sector wanted to be set to the same payment system and the fair allowance system as well. It is necessary to continuously seek solutions to the problems left in insisting on the civil service of visiting nurses. Conclusion Visiting nurses who were working in a precarious job position felt job insecurity, and experienced discrimination, alienation, and exclusion. Legal and institutional reform is needed to improve the treatment of visiting nurses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate medical comorbidities and needs for medical and rehabilitation services of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred fifty-four adults with CP were enrolled in the study between February 2014 and December 2014. Information was obtained from participants regarding functional status, demographic and socioeconomic data, medical problems, and requirements for and utilization of medical and rehabilitation services. RESULTS: The participants included 93 males and 61 females with a mean age of 40.18±9.15 years. The medical check-up rate of adults with CP was lower than that of healthy adults and the total population with disabilities (53.2% vs. 58.6% vs. 70.4%). A quarter of the subjects failed to visit the hospital during the past year, and the main reason was the financial burden. Due to a cost burden and lack of knowledge, more than one-third of the subjects had unmet needs for rehabilitation services; the majority reported needs for rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy for pain management. CONCLUSION: The medical check-up rate was lower in the adults with CP, even though their medical comorbidities were not less than those of healthy people. Several non-medical reasons hindered them from receiving proper medical and rehabilitation services. Such barriers should be managed effectively.
Adult* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Pain Management ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation*

Falls and fall-related injuries are important issue among polio survivors. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of, and consequences and factors associated with falls among Korean polio survivors. A total of 317 polio survivors participated in this study. All participants completed a questionnaire including fall history, symptoms related to post-polio syndrome and other information through a telephone interview. Among them, 80 participants visited our clinic for additional physical measurements and tests. Of the 317 respondents, 68.5% reported at least one fall in the past year. Of the fallers, 42.5% experienced at least one fall during one month. Most falls occurred during ambulation (76.6%), outside (75.2%) and by slipping down (29.7%). Of fallers, 45% reported any injuries caused by falls, and 23.3% reported fractures specifically. Female sex, old age, low bone mineral density, the presence of symptoms related to post-polio syndrome (PPS), poor balance confidence, short physical performance battery and weak muscle strength of knee extensor were not significantly associated with falls. Only leg-length discrepancy using spine-malleolar distance (SMD) was a significant factor associated with falls among Korean polio survivors. Our findings suggest that malalignment between the paralytic and non-paralytic limb length should be addressed in polio survivors for preventing falls.
Accidental Falls/*statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/etiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interviews as Topic ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome/*pathology ; Postural Balance ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the relationships among job stress, job satisfaction, and mental health in marine officers. METHODS: The researchers gathered data on marine officers working at a harbor in Chungcheong Province, South Korea, using a self-reported questionnaire. Mental health was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90-R), and general characteristics including socioeconomic factors, job stress, and job satisfaction were measured by structured questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationships among job stress, job satisfaction, and mental health status according to the symptom dimensions of the SCL-90-R. RESULTS: Among the marine officers, obsessive-compulsive behavior, depression, and somatization were the most problematic symptoms. Those who reported poor health, low job satisfaction, and high job stress had a higher prevalence of psychoticism, somatization, depression, anxiety, and phobic anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: An occupational health system should be introduced that would regularly check the mental health of marine officers in charge of ships and sailors, in order to help reduce their stress levels, enhance their job satisfaction, and thereby improve their mental health.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Military Personnel ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence ; Ships ; Socioeconomic Factors

OBJECTIVE: To obtain information on the socioeconomic, medical, and functional status of polio survivors, and to use these results as the preliminary data for establishing the middle-aged cohort of polio survivors. METHODS: The subjects were recruited based on the medical records of multiple hospitals and centers. They were assessed through a structured questionnaire over the phone. Post-poliomyelitis syndrome (PPS) was identified according to the specified diagnostic criteria. Differences between polio survivors with or without PPS were evaluated, and the risk factors for PPS were analyzed by the odds ratio (OR). RESULTS: Majority of polio survivors were middle-aged and mean age was 51.2+/-8.3 years. A total of 188 out of 313 polio survivors met the adopted criteria for PPS based on the symptoms, yielding a prevalence of 61.6%. Mean interval between acute poliomyelitis and the development of PPS was 38.5+/-11.6 years. Female gender (OR 1.82; confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.06), the age at onset of poliomyelitis (OR 1.75; CI 1.05-2.94), the use of orthoses or walking aids (OR 2.46; CI 1.44-4.20), and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance (OR 2.62; CI 1.52-4.51) represented independent risk factors for PPS. CONCLUSION: We found that the majority of Korean polio survivors entered middle age with many medical, functional, and social problems. Female gender, early age of onset of poliomyelitis, the use of orthoses or walking aids, and the history of medical treatment for paralysis, pain or gait disturbance were identified as the significant risk factors for PPS. A comprehensive and multidisciplinary plan should be prepared to manage polio survivors considering their need for health care services and the risk factors for late effects, such as PPS.
Age of Onset ; Cohort Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Gait ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic* ; Medical Records ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Orthotic Devices ; Paralysis ; Poliomyelitis* ; Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Social Problems ; Survivors* ; Walking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical features according to the presence of anisometropia in refractive accommodative esotropia patients. METHODS: Forty-five refractive accommodative esotropia patients were divided into 2 groups : patients who had anisometropia of more than 1.00D (anisometropia group), and patients who had anisometropia of less than 1.00D (isometropia group). Age at onset, age when glasses were first worn, the initial and final angle of esotropia with or without hyperopic correction, the recovery time to orthophoria after hyperopic correction, the degree of stereoacuity and the frequency of amblyopia, the prevalence of deterioration, and the ratio of accommodative-convergence to accommodation were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between the 2 groups in the frequency of amblyopia, the prevalence of deterioration, and the ratio of accommodative-convergence to accommodation at the initial and final visit. The angles of deviation with hyperopic correction at the 1-month follow-up visit in the anisometropia group and the isometropia group were 8.80 +/- 5.63 PD for near, 8.67 +/- 5.42 PD for distance, and 4.54 +/- 6.59 PD for near 5.19 +/- 6.7 PD for distance, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.042). The recovery time to orthophoria after hyperopic correction in patients associated with anisometropia was 2.20 +/- 1.01 months, significantly longer than 1.47 +/- 0.86 months in patients associated with isometropia (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: In refractive accommodative esotropia patients associated with anisometropia, the recovery time to orthophoria after hyperopic correction was significantly prolonged but there were no statistical differences in other clinical manifestations.
Amblyopia ; Anisometropia ; Esotropia ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To report a case of periorbital infantile capillary hemangioma treated with propranolol as a single therapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 3-month-old girl with a growing red-purple mass on the right lower eyelid visited our clinic. The patient was diagnosed with capillary hemagioma by imaging studies. The mass had grown rapidly, and the visual axis was obscured in the follow-up. Oral propranolol therapy was initiated at a starting dose of 0.17 mg/kg at 8-hour intervals. After 2 doses, the propranolol was doubled, and after another 2 doses, the daily dose of 0.67 mg/kg divided into 3 was maintained. Three days after the initiation of the treatment, the color of the hemangioma had changed from red-purple to light purple, and the hemangioma had softened. The hemangioma continued to respond well with no side effects in the following 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that oral propranolol treatment as a possibility of an effective and safe option for the vision-threatening periorbital capillary hemangioma as a single therapy.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Capillaries ; Eyelids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; Humans ; Infant ; Light ; Propranolol

PURPOSE: To report a case of periorbital infantile capillary hemangioma treated with propranolol as a single therapy. CASE SUMMARY: A 3-month-old girl with a growing red-purple mass on the right lower eyelid visited our clinic. The patient was diagnosed with capillary hemagioma by imaging studies. The mass had grown rapidly, and the visual axis was obscured in the follow-up. Oral propranolol therapy was initiated at a starting dose of 0.17 mg/kg at 8-hour intervals. After 2 doses, the propranolol was doubled, and after another 2 doses, the daily dose of 0.67 mg/kg divided into 3 was maintained. Three days after the initiation of the treatment, the color of the hemangioma had changed from red-purple to light purple, and the hemangioma had softened. The hemangioma continued to respond well with no side effects in the following 10 months. CONCLUSIONS: The authors suggest that oral propranolol treatment as a possibility of an effective and safe option for the vision-threatening periorbital capillary hemangioma as a single therapy.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Capillaries ; Eyelids ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; Humans ; Infant ; Light ; Propranolol

Marssonina coronaria associated with apple blotch disease causes severe premature defoliation, and is widely distributed in Korea. Thirteen isolates were collected from orchards located in Gyeongbuk Province from 2005~2007. All isolates displayed over 99.6% and 99.2% sequence similarity to each other in internal transcribed spacer regions and partial sequences of 28S rDNA, respectively. The isolates were phylogenetically closely related to Chinese isolates. Selected isolates did not differ in their pathogenicity. The optimum conditions for fungal growth were 20degrees C and pH 6 on peptone potato dextrose agar (PPDA). Peptone and mannose were the best nitrogen and carbon source, respectively. Fungal growth was better on PPDA than on common potato dextrose agar. This study provides valuable information for integrated disease management program and facilitates the routine culturing of M. coronaria.
Agar ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carbon ; Diazonium Compounds ; Disease Management ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Mannose ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Phylogeny ; Pyridines ; Solanum tuberosum

The purpose of this study was to obtain the basic information for the improvement of dental environment by investigating the presence of methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or VRSA) isolated from dental health care workers (DHCWs) and environment of the Chosun University Dental Hospital (CUDH) and a private dental clinic (control group). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was isolated from anterior nares of 42 DHCWs and 38 sites, unit chairs, x-ray devices, computers, etc., at 10 departments of the CUDH and 20 DHCWs and 11 sites at the private dental clinic. S. aureus was isolated on mannitol salt agar plate and confirmed by PCR with S. aureus species-specific primer. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of clinical isolates of S. aureus against several antibiotics including methicillin (oxacillin) was performed by investigating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using broth microdilution assay. In addition, PCR was performed to detect the methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant gene. The data showed that one strain of S. aureus was isolated from DHCWs of the CUDH and three strains of S. aureus was isolated from 3 samples of the private dental clinic, respectively. All of the isolates from the CUDH and the private dental clinic had resistance to penicillin G, amoxicillin and vancomycin and susceptibility to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin. The S. aureus strains were already obtained the resistance to penicillin G and amoxicillin. These results suggest that two dental clinics were under relatively safe environment.
Agar ; Amoxicillin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ciprofloxacin ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dental Clinics ; Mannitol ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Oxacillin ; Penicillin G ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Vancomycin