- Impact of an emergency department resident strike during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Daegu, South Korea: a retrospective cross-sectional study
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Yo Han Cho, Jae Wan Cho, Hyun Wook Ryoo, Sungbae Moon, Jung Ho Kim, Sang-Hun Lee, Tae Chang Jang, Dong Eun Lee
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J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2022;39(1):31-38. Published online August 10, 2021
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2021.01130
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Abstract
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- Background
To prepare for future work stoppages in the medical industry, this study aimed to identify the effects of healthcare worker strikes on the mortality rate of patients visiting the emergency department (ED) at six training hospitals in Daegu, Korea.
Methods We used a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter design to analyze the medical records of patients who visited six training hospitals in Daegu (August 21–September 8, 2020). For comparison, control period 1 was set as the same period in the previous year (August 21–September 8, 2019) and control period 2 was set as July 1–19, 2020. Patient characteristics including age, sex, and time of ED visit were investigated along with mode of arrival, length of ED stay, and in-hospital mortality. The experimental and control groups were compared using t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U-test, chi-square test, and Fisher exact tests, as appropriate. Univariate logistic regression was performed to identify significant factors, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results During the study period, 31,357 patients visited the ED, of which 7,749 belonged to the experimental group. Control periods 1 and 2 included 13,100 and 10,243 patients, respectively. No significant in-hospital mortality differences were found between study periods; however, the results showed statistically significant differences in the length of ED stay.
Conclusion The ED resident strike did not influence the mortality rate of patients who visited the EDs of six training hospitals in Daegu. Furthermore, the number of patients admitted and the length of ED stay decreased during the strike period.
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- Experience of operating a medical humanities course at one medical school during the COVID-19: a retrospective study
Yu Ra Kim, Hye-won Shin, Young Hwan Lee, Seong-Yong Kim Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science.2023; 40(2): 179. CrossRef
- Determining the correlation between outdoor heatstroke incidence and climate elements in Daegu metropolitan city
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Jung Ho Kim, Hyun Wook Ryoo, Sungbae Moon, Tae Chang Jang, Sang Chan Jin, You Ho Mun, Byung Soo Do, Sam Beom Lee, Jong-yeon Kim
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Yeungnam Univ J Med. 2019;36(3):241-248. Published online July 2, 2019
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2019.00248
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Abstract
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- Background
Heatstroke is one of the most serious heat-related illnesses. However, establishing public policies to prevent heatstroke remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the most relevant climate elements and their warning criteria to prevent outdoor heatstroke (OHS).
Methods We investigated heatstroke patients from five major hospitals in Daegu metropolitan city, Korea, from June 1 to August 31, 2011 to 2016. We also collected the corresponding regional climate data from Korea Meteorological Administration. We analyzed the relationship between the climate elements and OHS occurrence by logistic regression.
Results Of 70 patients who had heatstroke, 45 (64.3%) experienced it while outdoors. Considering all climate elements, only mean heat index (MHI) was related with OHS occurrence (p=0.019). Therefore, the higher the MHI, the higher the risk for OHS (adjusted odds ratio, 1.824; 95% confidence interval, 1.102–3.017). The most suitable cutoff point for MHI by Youden’s index was 30.0°C (sensitivity, 77.4%; specificity, 73.7%).
Conclusion Among the climate elements, MHI was significantly associated with OHS occurrence. The optimal MHI cutoff point for OHS prevention was 30.0°C.
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