• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-41
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• 2002

This study is designed to offer basic materials necessary for the instruction of effective clinical practices and the establishment of relationship with patients by means of making an analysis of the characteristics of patients affecting the behavior of students majoring in dental hygiene avoiding patients and countermeasures. With this in mind, the researcher worked with sophomores and juniors exposed to clinical practices during the period ranging from October 22, 2001 to November 9, 2001. The researcher came to the following conclusions on the basis of the findings of this survey. 1. The characteristics of patients influencing the behavior of avoiding them were categorized into appearance characteristics, personality characteristics, treatment-cooperative characteristics, and speech and behavior characteristics. Speech and behavior characteristics(4.26) turned out to be the most influential factor of all, which was followed by treatment-cooperative characteristics(3.68), personality characteristics(3.62) and appearance characteristics(3.42) in the right order. 2. The survey shows that foul breath and obnoxious oral(3.94) cavity were the worst factors of appearance characteristics and that using abusive language and being too aggressive(4.41) were the worst factors of personality characteristics. The study reveals that not putting faith in trainees(4.02) was the highest factor of treatment-cooperative characteristics and that using abusive language(4.50) was the highest factor of speech and behavior characteristics. 3. There was a significant positive relation between the domains of the characteristics of avoiding patients. The study indicates that the more subjects avoided the characteristics of patients, the more they avoided appearance characteristics(r =.444, p<.001) and that the more subjects avoided treatment-cooperative characteristics, the more they avoided appearance characteristics(r=.324, P<.001) and personality characteristics(r=.691, p<.001), and that the more they avoided speech and behavior characteristics, the more they avoided appearance characteristics(r=.265, p<.001) and personality characteristics (r=.531, p<.001). 4. The study shows that there was a significant difference between appearance characteristics and the growth areas of the subjects(p<.05) and that there was a significant difference between the satisfaction of clinical practices(p<.05) and health status(p<.05) in terms of personality characteristics. 5. The subjects avoided preschoolers, whose age ranged from 4 to 6(33.5%), most and avoided boys(71.4%) more than girls. They avoided those who were bereft of jobs(62.9%). And they avoided handicapped persons most in terms of special patients and avoided infant patients(31.0%). 6. The subjects turned out to have negative and passive countermeasures against those patients that had ever been avoided. So the researcher would like to suggest that theoretic education and training programs should be conducted in this respect by incorporating this mailer into the hygiene curriculum.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2005

Purpose: This study was done to examine the sleep pattern of ICU patients, as well as characteristics of, and factors related to sleep disturbances, and state anxiety. It was done to provide the basic data fur effective nursing interventions to improve quality of sleep for these patients. Methods: The participants were 104 patients who were admitted to the surgical ICU in a hospital in Seoul. To measure sleep patterns, the Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale and the Sleeping Scale developed by Oh et al.(1998) were used. Characteristics of sleep disturbances were measured using the Sleep characteristics scale developed by Park(1999). To measure factors related to sleep disturbances, thirty items developed by Oh(1998) were used. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the sleep patterns according to the general characteristics of the patients. The characteristics of sleep disturbances showed statistically significant differences in general and specific characteristics of sleep patterns but there was no statistically significant difference according to the general characteristics of the patients. There were significant negative correlations between factors related to sleep disturbances and general and specific characteristics of sleep patterns but there were no statistically significant difference according to the general characteristics of the patients. Conclusion: The results showed that the majority of patients staying in the surgical ICU experienced sleep disturbances and that the physical factor was the major factor of sleep disturbances.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2013

This study intends to identify the characteristics of cancer in-patients and those of cancer patients who defected to other medical institutions based on the summary of hospital discharge information of a university hospital for the purpose of improving work efficiency and maximizing the number of patients. The study used data on cancer patients registered in the database of C University Hospital in Gyeonggi Province for a period of one year between January 1 and December 31. The analysis results suggest that the commonalities of the cancer patients who defected to other medical institutions include no specific job, old age, and hospitalization through emergency room. In conclusion, hospitals need to identify the characteristics of cancer patients classified as patients who are prone to defect and the defection factors through this prediction model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.191-194
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• 2007

Objective : Homeless patients probably have epidemiologic features that are different from those of general population. However, there have been no published articles about clinical characteristics of neurosurgical homeless patients. The authors tried to assess the clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of homeless neurosurgical patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiological films of 76 homeless patients and 72 non-homeless patients following head trauma who were admitted to our neurosurgical department between June 2001 and June 2005. We compared two groups of the patients with the demographics, the clinical and laboratory characteristics. Also, 3D-day mortality was determined according to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Results : Age of homeless patients was younger than that of non-homeless patients. Homeless patients had previous craniotomy evidences in skull x-rays more frequently (10.5% vs. 1.4%). Acute subdural hematoma was the most common type of head injury in the two groups. Moderate and severe head injury, based on GCS score on admission was more frequent in homeless patients (64% vs. 39%). Fifty percent of homeless patients underwent operation for traumatic head injury. However, 3D-day mortality according to GCS score was not significantly higher in homeless patients. Conclusion : Most homeless neurological patients were relatively young men. Also, moderate or severe brain injuries were observed more frequently. However, mortality rate of homeless patients in neurosurgical field is not significantly higher in the present study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the patient characteristics significantly affecting nursing outcomes and their predictability in gastrointestinal surgery patients. Method: The subjects were 149 abdominal surgery patients from 3 general surgical nursing units of 3 general hospitals. Two instruments were used to measure nursing outcomes and acuity of the subjects. The nursing outcomes were measured at post-operation 4 and 7days using review of patients' records, observation of patients, and interviews with patients by a trained nurse. For data analysis, T-test or ANOVA, Pearson Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression were done. Result: Age, severity score, diagnosis, cancer or not, operation site were the subjects' characteristics that were significantly related to the nursing outcomes in both post-operation 4 and 7days. Cancer or not, age, diagnosis and severity score were the significant predictors for the scores of nursing outcome in post-operation 4days and the predictability was 34.9%. The predictability of cancer or not was highest, 22.6%. Age, diagnosis and cancer or not were the significant predictors for the scores of nursing outcome in post-operation 7days and the predictability was 27.8%. The predictability of age was highest, 17.3%. Conclusions: The patient characteristics affecting nursing outcomes should be considered when nursing care is planned and provided. Especially, careful attention should be given to the patients with cancer and older age. And, these patient characteristics should be adjusted for correct estimation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions on nursing outcomes.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2024

This study aimed to analyze whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected the characteristics of first-visit patients with peripheral facial palsy (PFP) and observe changes in their characteristics. This study analyzed the electronic medical records of 2,310 first-visit patients with PFP who visited the Facial Palsy Center, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021, in terms of demographic characteristics, disease phase, residence locations, hospital visit route, and patient care. During COVID-19, the proportion of acute patients increased by 5.3%, the proportion of visits by residents in Seoul increased by 3.8%, and the proportion of patients receiving only outpatient treatments increased by 12.8%. Significant relationships were present between the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of patients by disease phase (p = 0.043), residence locations (p = 0.003), and patient care (p = 0.003). Thus, several differences in the characteristics of first-visit patients with PFP visiting a Korean medicine hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of demographic characteristics, disease phase, residence locations, and patient care.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2011

Background: Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS) is characterized by the clinical triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia, and is considered a variant form of Guillain-Barre syndrome. Although some cases of delayed-onset facial palsy in MFS have been reported, the characteristics of this facial palsy are poorly described in the literature. Methods: Between 2007 and 2010, six patients with MFS were seen at our hospital. Delayed facial palsy, defined as a facial palsy that developed while the other symptoms of MFS began to improve following intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, was confirmed in four patients. The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of delayed facial palsy in MFS, as observed in these patients, are described here. Results: Four patients with delayed-onset facial palsy were included. Delayed facial palsy developed 8-16 days after initial symptom onset (5-9 days after treatment). Unilateral facial palsy occurred in three patients and asymmetric facial diplegia in one patient. The House-Brackmann score of facial palsy was grade III in one patient, IV in two patients, and V in one patient. None of the patients complained of posterior auricular pain. Facial nerve conduction studies revealed normal amplitude in all four patients. The blink reflex showed abnormal prolongation in two patients and the absence of action potential formation in two patients. Facial palsy resolved completely in all four patients within 3 months. Conclusions: Delayed facial palsy is a frequent symptom in MFS and resolves completely without additional treatment. Thus, standard treatment and patient reassurance are sufficient in most cases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.128-146
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• 2006

The objective of this paper is to examine the proportion and characteristics of non-emergent patients at emergency departments. The observational survey was conducted using a structured form used by emergency medicine specialists or senior residents on June 7-20, 2005. 1,526 patients at ten emergency centers took part in this study. The structural form contained type of insurance, route and means of emergency department (ED) visit, triage based on the Manchester Triage Scale(MTS)-modified criteria, emergency level based on the government defined rule, type of emergency centers (Regional Emergency Medical Center; REMC, Local Emergency Medical Center; LEMC, Local Emergency Agency; LEA), as well as patient's general information. Data were analyzed using SAS statistical program(V.8.2). Descriptive analysis was performed to describe the magnitude of non-emergent patients. ${\chi}^2-analysis$ and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the nonurgent patients' characteristics. In the MTS-modified criteria, we found a 15.3% rate of non-emergent patients. This rate differed from that of non-emergent patients obtained using government's rule. In particular, there were inaccuracies in the definition of government rule on non-emergent patients, so it is necessary to apply the new government rule regarding classification of non-emergent patients. There were significant differences in the rate of non-emergent patients according to type of ED, means of ED visit, time to visit, and insurance. Non-emergent patients are more likely to visit a D-type ED(LEA having less than 20,000 patients annually), not to use ambulance, to have 'Automobile Insurance, Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, or pay out-of-pocket'. Non-emergent patients tend to visit ED due to illness rather than injury. Further studies on the development' of triage scale and reexamination of the government's rule on emergency visits are required for future policy in this area.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was implemented to investigate perceived illness intrusiveness in stroke patients by the characteristics of primary caregivers. Method: Retrospective cross-sectional survey design was used. The subjects were 225 stroke patients and their primary caregivers. Demographic variables, relationship variables, burden, depression and support were measured as primary caregivers' characteristics. Data were analyzed with SPSS win 14+. T-test, ANOVA and correlation test were used depending on variables. Result: Demographic variables such as age, gender, relation with patients, and living status were not related significantly with illness intrusiveness. But primary caregivers' burden, depression and support were related significantly with perceived illness intrusiveness of stroke patients. That is, burden, depression and quantitative support of primary caregivers were significantly positively correlated with perceived illness intrusiveness of stroke patients. On the other hand, qualitative support was negatively correlated with perceived illness intrusiveness. Conclusion: Primary caregivers' characteristics such as burden, depression and support were found to be correlated with stroke patients perception such as illness intrusiveness. So, it is recommended that nursing intervention targeting burden, depression and support of primary caregivers must be developed to reduce illness intrusiveness of stroke patients.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.351-356
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the gait characteristics in Parkinson's disease patients. Specifically, the total stance time and the ratio of each stance phase (heel strike, mid-stance, propulsion) are analyzed from the foot-pressure measurement system which requires low cost and small space compared to the conventional gait analysis system. The gait characteristics were analyzed in 23 Parkinson's disease patients (before and after L-dopa medication), 34 elderly (sixties) normal subjects and 21 young (twenties) normal subjects. Bradykinesia global score (self-developed score of slowness of body movement) of patients before medication was determined to see the relationship between the score and the gait characteristics. The total stance time was greater in the erde. of patients, elderly, youngs (p<0.05). The phase ratio of heel strike and propulsion was smaller and that of mid-stance was greater in the order of patients, elderly, youngs (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the above gait characteristics of patients before and after medication. There was a tendency, though statistically non-significant, that the total stance time is longer and the propulsion phase ratio is shorter in patients with greater Bradikinesia global scale, and this tendency was relieved after medication.