Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2024
ReviewDark Data in Real-World Evidence: Challenges, Implications, and the Imperative of Data Literacy in Medical Research.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world evidence (RWE) studies are crucial and complementary in generating clinical evidence. RCTs provide controlled settings to validate the clinical effect of specific drugs or medical devices, while RWE integrates extrinsic factors, encompassing external influences affecting real-world scenarios, thus challenging RCT results in practical applications. In this study, we explore the impact of extrinsic factors on RWE outcomes, focusing on "dark data," which refers to data collected but not used or excluded from the analyses. ⋯ Connecting RCTs and RWEs requires medical data literacy, enabling clinicians to decipher meaningful insights. In the big data and artificial intelligence era, medical staff must navigate data complexities while promoting the core role of medicine. Prepared clinicians will lead this transformative journey, ensuring data value shapes the medical landscape.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2024
Opioid Prescription and Long-Term Survival Outcomes in Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea.
We aimed to investigate the association between short- and long-term opioid use and long-term mortality in Korea. ⋯ Both short and long-term opioid prescriptions were associated with increased long-term mortality among the Korean adult population.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2024
Trends in Incidence and Drug Prescriptions for Croup in Children Under 5 Years of Age: A 2002-2019 Population-Based Study.
Tracking national croup trends can provide important insights for childhood health management. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and drug prescription trends in Korean children over a two-decade period. ⋯ Over the past two decades, croup incidence has risen, accompanied by increased epinephrine use and decreased antibiotic prescriptions. Longer hospitalization and higher medication use were mainly observed in primary care facilities.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Mar 2024
Observational StudySpatiotemporal Analysis of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Incidence and Survival Outcomes in Korea (2009-2021).
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health concern in Korea. Identifying spatiotemporal patterns of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and survival outcomes is crucial for effective resource allocation and targeted interventions. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Korea, with a focus on identifying high-risk areas and populations and examining factors associated with prehospital outcomes. ⋯ This study emphasized the significance of small-area analyses in identifying high-risk regions and populations using spatiotemporal analyses. These findings have implications for public health planning efforts to alleviate the burden of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Korea.