Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

Background: We examined the relationship between average weekly work hours and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in workers with diabetes. Methods: Data of 1,556 workers with diabetes mellitus (DM) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2016 were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis (SAS v9.4) was used to assess the correlation between average weekly work hours and HbA1c level. Results: Using 40–52 hours per week as the reference range, workers who worked more than 52 hours per week had significantly higher HbA1c levels (β: 0.2514; P=0.0087). This association remained significant (β: 0.2286; P=0.0308) among those working >52 hours in daytime shifts compared to than among those working standard 40–52 hour schedules. However, the correlation was not observed among other subgroup members who performed evening, night, regular, and irregular shifts. Conclusion Workers with DM who worked long hours were prone to significant increases in HbA1c levels. To mitigate this risk, workplaces should adhere to legal work-hour limitations and offer part-time options for employees with diabetes. Additionally, health education programs may help workers with diabetes manage their condition more effectively.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

The reprocessing of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories, including pre-cleaning, cleaning, high-level disinfection, rinsing, drying, and storage, is essential for preventing infections during endoscopic procedures. The risk of infection is significantly minimized when these processes are performed properly. However, the reprocessing environment in primary care settings differs from that in endoscopy centers, and ongoing advancements in medical practices and reprocessing technologies highlight the need for updated, context-specific guidelines. The Korean Academy of Family Medicine has developed these guidelines, tailored to the unique conditions of primary care settings, through a comprehensive review of both international and local standards, as well as systematic reviews of relevant literature. This guideline presents step-by-step procedures and key principles for effective endoscope reprocessing, with a focus on the needs of primary care institutions. By adhering to these guidelines, primary care physicians can maintain the highest standards of safety and effectiveness, minimize infection risks, and promote optimal clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Fertility preservation (FP) is an important issue for young survivors of breast cancer. Although international guidelines recommend pre-treatment fertility counseling for women with breast cancer, there is no standardized protocol or referral system for FP in South Korea. There are also barriers to discussing FP that make patient-centered decision making difficult. This study aimed to develop a shared decision making program for FP and compare the rates of FP procedures between the usual care and shared decision making groups. We hypothesized that multidisciplinary shared decision making for FP would increase the rate of FP procedures and patient satisfaction. Methods The multidisciplinary shared decision making for FP in young women with breast cancer (MYBC) is a multicenter, clustered, stepped-wedge, randomized trial. A total of 1100patients with breast cancer, aged 19–40 years, from nine hospitals in South Korea, will be enrolled. They will be randomized at the institutional level and assigned to usual care and shared decision making groups. Four institutions, each of which can recruit more than 200 patients, will each become a cluster, whereas five institutions, each of which can recruit more than 50 patients, will become one cluster, for a total of five clusters. The shared decision making groups will receive multidisciplinary programs for FP developed by the investigator. The primary outcome is the rate of FP procedures; secondary outcomes include fertility results, satisfaction, and quality of life. Outcomes will be measured at enrollment, treatment initiation, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-ups after starting breast cancer treatment.Discussion: A multidisciplinary shared decision making program for FP is expected to increase fertility rates and satisfaction among young patients with breast cancer. This study will provide the evidence to implement a multidisciplinary system for patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Directly measured low density lipoprotein cholesterol (DLDLC) has been reported to be more accurate than calculated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (CLDLC) using the Friedewald equation. However, some limitations of DLDLC have been reported. In this study, we evaluated differences between CLDLC and DLDLC measured using HiSens reagents. METHODS: Data were collected from 582 persons undergoing routine physical examinations at a general hospital. LDLC measurements were made directly or estimated using the Friedewald formula, and were classified according to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. The relationship between these differences and other clinically relevant factors, such as triglyceride (TG) levels, were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The DLDLC and CLDLC were strongly correlated according to simple linear regression analysis (r=0.917, P<0.001) but the mean difference between measurements was -11.0+/-15.3 (-62 to 90.5) mg/dL (P<0.001). For more than 10 mg/dL of their absolute differences, the DLDLC was typically lower than the CLDLC. The highest discrepancies in LDLC measurements occurred when LDLC was more than 160 mg/dL and less than 190 mg/dL. Differences in LDLC measurements were prone to striking negative and positive biases dependent on CLDLC and TG concentrations, respectively (all r>0.5). CONCLUSION: Unlike other studies, DLDLC was significantly lower than CLDLC and the large differences in LDLC concentrations were not dependent on TG concentration. Our work suggests that verification of DLDLC accuracy is needed and differences in LDLC measurements should be accounted for in making clinical decisions.
Adult ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, LDL* ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents* ; Linear Models ; Logistic Models ; Physical Examination ; Strikes, Employee ; Triglycerides