Hyung Kook Yang

Impact of perceived social support on the mental health and health-related quality of life in cancer patients: results from a nationwide, multicenter survey in South Korea

We investigated whether and how perceived social support is associated with depression and quality of life among patients with various cancer diagnoses.

Discordance among patient preferences, caregiver preferences, and caregiver predictions of patient preferences regarding disclosure of terminal status and end-of-life choices

The complexity of end‐of‐life (EOL) communication in cancer care is often increased by family caregivers, who frequently affect the information and decision‐making process. We assessed cancer patient preferences (PP), family caregiver preferences (FCP), and family caregiver predictions of patient preferences (FCPPP) regarding the disclosure of terminal status, family involvement in the disclosure process, and EOL choices, and we evaluated the concordances among them.

Guilt, censure, and concealment of active smoking status among cancer patients and family members after diagnosis: a nationwide study

We aimed to identify the prevalence of feelings of guilt, censure, and concealment of smoking status among cancer patients and their family members who continued to smoke after the patients diagnosis.

Association of cardiovascular health screening with mortality, clinical outcomes, and health care cost: A nationwide cohort study

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screening program is associated with CVD-related health conditions, incidence of cardiovascular events, mortality, healthcare utilization, and costs. METHODS Cohort study of a 3% random sample of all Korea National Health Insurance members 40years of age or older and free of CVD or CVD-related health conditions was conducted. A total 443,337 study participants were followed-up from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010. RESULTS In primary analysis, the hazard ratios for CVD mortality, all-cause mortality, incident composite CVD events, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage comparing participants who attended a screening exam during 2003-2004 compared to those who did not were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.53-0.63), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.60-0.64), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78-0.85), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75-0.93), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79-0.89), and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67-0.80), respectively. Screening attenders had higher rates of newly diagnosed hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, lower inpatient days of stay and cost, and lower outpatient cost compared to non-attenders. CONCLUSIONS Participation in CVD health screening was associated with lower rates of CVD, all-cause mortality, and CVD events, higher detection of CVD-related health conditions, and lower healthcare utilization and costs.

Attitudes Toward Family Involvement in Cancer Treatment Decision Making: The Perspectives of Patients, Family Caregivers, and Their Oncologists.

To investigate how cancer patients, family caregiver, and their treating oncologist view the risks and benefits of family involvement in cancer treatment decision making (TDM) or the degree to which these perceptions may differ.

Treatment Gap in the National Health-screening Program in Korea: Claim-based Follow-up of Statin Use for Sustained Hypercholesterolemia

Participation in a screening program by itself may not improve clinical outcomes. Treatment gaps in the program may limit its full benefit. We evaluated statin prescription rates for subjects with sustained hypercholesterolemia to assess the treatment gaps in the National Health Screening Program (NHSP) in Korea. A retrospective, random cohort was established among National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) members. Finally, we examined 465,499 individuals who attended the NHSP from 2003 to 2010 without any history of dyslipidemia, statin prescription, or hospitalization for cardiovascular events until the end of 2002. The subsequent statin prescription rates were identified from the NHIC medical service claim database from 2003 to 2011. Descriptive data and odds ratio from multivariate logistic analyses on statin prescription rates and the corresponding correlations were evaluated. The NHSP detected 114,085 (24.5%) cases of newly diagnosed hypercholesterolemia. However, only 8.6% of these received statin prescription within 6 months of diagnosis. For cases of sustained hypercholesterolemia determined in the next screening visit by the NHSP, the statin prescription rate increased, but only to 12.2%. Statin prescriptions were more common among females, older individuals, and hypertension or diabetes patients. Furthermore, the statin prescription rates had increased over the study period. The NHSP exhibited low statin prescription rate which has been improving. For the NHSP to be effective, it would be worthwhile to decrease the gap between the diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia and the following treatment. Graphical Abstract

Medical Costs and Healthcare Utilization among Cancer Decedents in the Last Year of Life in 2009

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cancer care cost during the last year of life of patients in Korea. Materials and Methods We studied the breakdown of spending on the components of cancer care. Cancer decedents in 2009 were identified from the Korean Central Cancer Registry and linked with the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database. The final number of patients included in the study was 70,558. Results In 2009, the average cancer care cost during the last year of life was US

Comparison of hypertension management between cancer survivors and the general public.

15,720. Patients under age 20 spent US

The Economic Burden of Cancer in Korea in 2009

53,890 while those 70 or over spent US

Terminal Versus Advanced Cancer: Do the General Population and Health Care Professionals Share a Common Language?

11,801. Those with leukemia incurred the highest costs (US