To evaluate the usefulness of the admission ECG, we studied 626 patients admitted to department of internal medicine.
We attempted to determine the frequency of added information by ECG, the nature and benefit of that information, and what kinds of clinical characteristics could be used to predict the yield of the admission ECG.
The results are as follows.
1) There were 300(47.9%) men and 326(52.1%) women with male to female ratio of 1:1.1.
2) In non-screening group, the number of normal ECG was 20(16.5%) and that of abnormal ECG was 101(83.5%).
3) In screening group, the number of normal ECG was 254(50.3%) and that of abnormal ECG was 251(49.7%).
4) In the 27 findings of 352 abnormal ECGs, the results are as follows: sinus tachycardia 91(18.5%), sinus bradycardia 57(11.6%), LVH 47(9.6%), non specific ST-Tchange 44(9.0%), LAD 31(6.3%), low voltage 26(5.3%), and above 16 ECG findings outnumber 91% of total performed cases.
5) 91(14.5%) admission ECGs Among 626 cases added information; 60(9.5%) influenced to patient's treatment directly, 10(1.6%) need to follow up or other studies and 21(3.4%) had normal ECG finding in clinically suspicious cardiac abnormality.
6) Increased age and cases with a clinically suspicious cardiac abnormality yielded added information.
7) Among patients with suspicious cardiac abnormality, ECG yield was 62.8%.
8) Among patients without suspicious cardiac abnormality, ECG yield was 3.0%
9) So careful selection is necessary in order to promote cost effective medical performance.

To assess the family function which provides further information for family members and better docter-patient relationship, the following 5 variables such as demographic characteristics, family type, family life cycle(FLC), psychosocial stressors & family resources were evaluated by family APGAR. Total 451 objectives were asked to fill family APGAR questionnaires part I & II designed by Smilkstein (1978). This study was performed at Guro Hosp. & Pohang Gatholic Hosp. From Feb. 1987 to Aug. 1988.
Total 451 objectives were composed by neurotic patients(246 persons) and control(205 persons). Male was 190(42.1%) and female was 261(57.9%). The mean age of objectives was 19.0 yearof age. The mean family APGAR score was 5.40±2.42, which means moderate dysfunction.
The resulting family APGAR score following above 5 variables are as follow;
1. Demographic characteristics : The family APGAR xcore aws higher tendency in group of age above 50 years, male sex, married status, higher education and higher income. The significantly lowest family APGAR score was found in neurotic group, especially in 3rd decade age group(4.73±2.77, p-value 0.05).
The variable suah as age, educated level & economic status were correlated significantly to family APGAR score.
2. Family type : The lower family APGAR score was found in extended family type of neurotic group(4.88±2.72, p-value 0.05). The severe dysfunctional family was more found in extended family type of neurotic group(35.4%) than of control group(16.3%), significantly.
3. Family life cycle : The highest family APGAR score was found in FLC stage II of both ovjective groups. But the lowest family APGAR score was found on FLC stage I in neurotic group and found on FLC stage V in control group.
4. Psychosocial stressors : The family APGAR score was significantly lowered by conjugal problems in neurotic group and lowered by financial problem in control group. The frequent stressors were interpersonal(54.1%), occupational(20.7%), financial(19.5%) & conjugal(15.5%) in neurotic group and occupational(33.7%), physical illness or injury(20.9%) & financial(12.2%) in control group.
5. Family resources : Mostly(69.8%), the problem was resolved within family. The commonly selected extrafamilial resources were the relatives(53.5%) & the friends(40.9%) in neurotic group and the friends(72.1%) & the relatives(11.5%) in control group. The family APGAR score was lower in group resolving the problems with extrafamilial resources and was correlated, significantly.

Abdominal pain is a frequently encountered symptom not only in emergency room of university hospitals but to family physicians in primary care.
A total of 1561 patients with abdominal pain admitted Severance Hospital for one year were analyzed to assess the role of family physicians in emergency care and to describe diagnostic content and range of family physicians with disease associated with abdominal pain at a primary care level.
The results are as follows.
1. Most of the patients admitted with abdominal pain of different disease entities did not differ significantly with repeat to their location of pain, associated symptoms and result of the laboratory findings.
2. Admission rates of patients with abdominal pain were 1.7 times greater than the rate of the total number of patients admitted.
3. Most of the patients had disease that could be diagnosed at a primary care level.
4. There were many instances where surgery was indicated such as appendicitis and ectopic pregnancy.
In summary, family physicians having the knowledge and skills to differentiate patients with abdominal pain are required to play an active role as a coordinator not only in a primary care setting but in any emergency situation, and which necessitates surgical therapy emphasizing the need of firm relationships with doctor in surgical fields.