• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.113-133
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• 2004

Although National Health Insurance(NHI) in the South Korea has guaranteed access to health insurance coverage to virtually all the people, a significant portion of out-of-pocket spending can create substantial financial burdens for some beneficiaries, particularly those with low incomes. Previous studies have estimated the magnitude of out-of-pocket spending by types of chronic illness or in- and out-patients. Prior estimates, however, have not given a complete picture of the impact of health care costs on lower-income populations. The result from this study shows that 20 percent of beneficiaries in the lowest-income quintile spent more than twelve percent of their household equivalent income out-of-pocket health services, whether they were enrolled in a Health care services or not. In comparison, the beneficiaries in the highest-income quintile level spent only 2 percent of their income out-of-pocket on health care. Also, the regression analysis suggests that age, household income, number of chronic illness, type of hospital in addition to the number of usage may affect the size of out-of-pocket spending.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.194-204
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• 2021

This study was conducted to find out the status and factors of private health insurance subscriptions by life cycle and to identify differences in medical usage behavior by life cycle. Using the SPSS 26 program as the 12th-15th (2016-2019) data of the Korea Welfare Panel, the difference subscriptions was identified as Chi-square by demo social and health characteristics of 58,223 people, and the factors affecting subscription were analyzed by polynomial logistic analysis and average analysis was performed for medical use behavior. As a result of the analysis, the biggest factor in purchasing private health insurance was household income, private health insurance coverage is the highest in growth period, and multiple subscriptions were made depending on household income. In youth, household income, spouse, and no disability, and middle age, household income, economic activities, spouses, and health levels were largely influential factors. The rate of private health insurance coverage in old age was the lowest, and low-income households, poor health levels, and people with disabilities were lower. The increase in medical use by private health insurance subscribers also occurred during growth and youth. It is necessary to strengthen the national health insurance coverage, and the role of private health insurance to supplement it should be established in time for the life cycle to complement each other, eliminating blind spots of medical security and maximizing people's health and well-being.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.60-75
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• 2024

Research on health outcomes of environmental factors has been implemented by multiple and interacting factors, including environmental, socio-demographic, economic, and traffic aspects. There are still significant challenges and limitations in constructing databases for the connections between contributing factors and an integrated approach to environmental health research even though there has been a dramatic increase in data availability and incredible technological advance in data storage and processing. This study emphasizes the necessity of establishing a geospatial data pipeline to analyze the impact of environmental factors on health. It also highlights the difficulties and solutions related to the construction and utilization of a geospatial database. Key challenges include diverse data sources and formats, different spatio-temporal data structures, and coordinate system inconsistencies over time within the same geospatial data. To address these issues, a data pipeline was constructed with pre-processing and post-processing for the data, resulting in refined datasets that could be used for calculating geographic variables. In addition, an AWS-based relational database and shared platform were established to provide an efficient environment for data storage and analysis. Guidelines for each step of the process, including data management and analysis, were developed to enable future researchers to effectively use the data pipeline.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2024

Background: The mental health issues caused by trauma can manifest differently depending on the characteristics of the traumatic event. Particularly, individuals who have experienced sexual trauma are known to have more negative mental health outcomes compared to those who have experienced non-sexual trauma. The mental health issues of individuals who have experienced sexual trauma are severe, and new forms of threats, such as digital sexual crimes, are emerging. This study aimed to investigate whether the type of traumatic event, particularly focusing on sexual trauma events, contributes to differences in mental health outcomes and to identify factors influencing suicidal ideation and potential post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk. Methods: Based on an online survey conducted nationwide among adults aged 20 to 50, participants were categorized based on the type of trauma they experienced (sexual trauma events and non-sexual trauma events). The study conducted propensity score matching (PSM) using demographic factors (sex, age group, subjective economic status, and marital status) and resilience protective factors (cognition of recoverability, social support, and protection experiences in childhood) as control variables, excluding the experience of sexual trauma events, to investigate their potential impact on mental health (suicidal ideation and potential PTSD risk). Subsequently, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing mental health. Results: Even after PSM, individuals who experienced sexual trauma exhibited more negative outcomes in terms of suicidal ideation and potential PTSD risk compared to those who experienced non-sexual trauma. The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that sexual trauma survivors were 1.9 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts (odds ratio [OR], 1.911) and 2.5 times more likely to have a potential PTSD risk (OR, 2.472). Furthermore, as resilience protective factors became more negative, the likelihood of suicidal ideation and potential PTSD risk increased. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting individuals who have experienced sexual trauma, highlighting the necessity for strategies aimed at mitigating suicidal ideation and potential PTSD risk among sexual trauma survivors, while also facilitating recovery through the promotion of resilience protective factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.240-255
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the correlates of bone mineral density of Korean adults. Methods: This study was based on the data from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010~2011) V. Among 8,473 subjects of the survey, who were adults 19 years old or over with bone mineral density data, the current study excluded those whose data include a missing study variable or the response of 'I don't know', and finally analyzed the data of 5,986 subjects (2,692 males and 3,294 females). This study employed the following statistical methods of analysis: t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and hierarchical multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: In multivariate analysis, in the case of men, the significant associated factors in bone mineral density were age, education level, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, total muscle mass, exercise, and weight control; in the case of women, the significant associated factors in bone mineral density were age, education level, economic activity, BMI, total muscle mass, exercise, weight control. fat intake, uptake female hormone, menopause, and age of menarche. Conclusion: For both sexes, the strongest modifiable factor in influencing bone mineral density was total muscle mass. Therefore, to prevent osteoporosis and promote health, active health education and interventions such as regular exercise for total muscle mass increase should be implemented from an early growth period.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2004

Objectives : Internet addiction is a newly appeared addictive phenomenon that is defined as 'difficulty in real life due to internet over-use', 'excessive time spent on the internet or replacement of genuine real relationships with superficial virtual ones' or 'weakness in self-control about internet use and if discontinued, fallen in psychological confusion and anergic state'. This study was aimed to compare the internet addiction rate, demographic factors, computer using patterns, anxiety, depression, and internet self-efficacy and outcome expectancy between Korean middle and high school students in three areas - Seoul, Cheonan, and Rural areas - that were different in economic, cultural, and geographic state. Methods : Subjects are consisted of middle and high school students in Seoul, Chunan, and Rural areas(N=1718). Self-rating questionnaire included demographic data, Korean Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Korean Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS), questions for internet-using pattern, Korean version of Internet Addiction Scale invented by K. S. Young, Internet Self-efficacy and Out-come Expectancy Scale. Results: In this study, prevalence of internet addiction was 2.9%. There was no significant difference found in prevalence of internet addiction among three areas. In all subjects, there were significant differences in anxiety, depression, internet self-efficacy and outcome expectancy, leisure style, places of internet use, internet connecting method, and insight on internee addiction. But, in addicted group, there was no significant difference among three areas. Conclusion: This study suggested that the difference in economic, cultural, and geographic state was not related to prevalence of internet addiction. Although there were significant differences in anxiety, depression, self-efficacy associated with internee use, leisure style, places of internet use, internet connecting method, insight on internet addiction among three areas, there were no significant difference in addicted group among three areas. So, we concluded that the difference in economic, cultural, and geographic state did not influence the prevalence of internet addiction, and despite the difference in economic, cultural, and geographic state, people in three areas were equally influenced by internet addiction.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.5031-5041
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• 2014

Purpose: The influence of the hoping number of children, the policy of childbirth, and the causes of reduced childbirth to the perception of childbirth, which will be the subject of future childbirth, was surveyed by health-line college students. Results: In terms of the attitude to the perception of childbirth, the quality of personal life, childcare, insufficient support of childbirth, and breeding of descendants had the largest influence on childbirth, and in terms of the attitude to the hoping number of children, economic reasons, childcare expenses, and education expenses had the largest influences. Second, when the causes of social demographic properties influencing childbirth was analyzed, sex showed significance to all the factors on the hoping number of children in terms of growing areas, to all the factors excluding childbirth policy in terms of the economic level, and hoping number of children in terms of the parents' jobs. Third, when the correlation was analyzed, a correlation was found in every area excluding the hoping number of children in terms of the causes of childbirth reduction and economy, childbirth policy in terms of the personal causes, personal factor in terms of the causes of childbirth policy, and family factor in terms of the causes of childbirth reduction and economy. Fourth, when the influences of the causes of hoping number of children, childbirth policy, and childbirth reduction to perception of childbirth were analyzed, the case hoping no or one child, the case hoping 2 or more children, childbirth policy, and childbirth reduction had a positive significant influence on the perception of childbirth. Conclusion: The childbirth rate will be improved if the following occur: childbirth policy and laws are established at the level of government, education programs are developed and operated for the formation of the value of perception of childbirth, and a new support policy is established after analyzing the current childbirth support policies. To change the perception of childbirth in college students who are future subjects of childbirth, successive studies will be needed to verify the effect of aforesaid measures.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2023

Background: This study aims to investigate the effect of restrictions on oral health-related activities of young adults, middle-aged, and elderly in Korea on the quality of life and contribute to the development of intervention strategies to improve the quality of life by improving the importance of oral health care and healthy lifestyle habits of adults. Methods: The 8th National Health and Nutrition Survey was used, targeting adults categorized into three age groups: young adults aged 19 to 29, middle-aged adults aged 30 to 49, and prime-aged adults aged 50 to 64. Demographic characteristics and EQ-5D, HINT-8 and oral-related toothache experience, chewing problems, speaking problems, and complaint of discomfort to chew analyzed. T-test and one-way ANOVA were performed to find out the difference in quality of life according to the restrictions on oral activities of adults, and linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of adults. Results: The differences between EQ-5D and HINT-8 according to the restrictions on oral health-related activities of young, middle-aged, and prime-aged were statistically significant in all oral activity restriction variables(p ≦0.05). Factors affecting EQ-5D of all adults were statistically significant in all variables such as region, gender, household monthly income, education level, basic living status, economic activity, subjective oral health status, toothache experience, chewing problem, speaking problem, and complaint of discomfort to chew(p ≦0.05). Factors affecting HINT-8 of all adults were statistically significant in variables such as gender, household monthly income, education level, basic living status, economic activity, toothache experience, chewing, speaking, and complaint of discomfort to chew(p ≦0.05). Conclusions: Various measures are needed to improve the quality of life in old age by allowing adults to face physically, mentally, and socially prepared old age. Based on the results of this study, an adult oral health program should be developed to improve the oral health and quality of life of adults.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

Objectives : The aims of this study were to know the frequency and the nature of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics, and to reveal influencing variables on it. Methods : From eighty type 2 diabetics (42 males and 38 females), demographic and clinical data were obtained by structured interviews. Cognitive functions were measured using the MMSE-K (Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) and the Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) tests. Severity of depression was evaluated by the Korean Version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS). Results : 1) Among eighty type 2 diabetics, 13.75% were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 38.8% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. 2) The total scores and subtest scores of the MoCA-K including visuospatial/ executive, attention, language, delayed recall and orientation were significantly lower in type 2 diabetics with cognitive dysfunction (N=31) than those without cognitive dysfunction (N=49) (p<0.001, respectively). 3) There were significant difference between type 2 diabetics with and those without cognitive dysfunction in age, education, economic status, body mass index, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS, the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K (p<0.05, respectively). 4) The total scores of the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, education, body mass index, family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS (p<0.05, respectively). 5) The risks of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics were significantly influenced by sex, education, fasting plasma glucose and depression. Conclusions : The cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics seemed to be related to multiple factors. Therefore, more comprehensive biopsychosocial approaches needed for diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.159-167
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with sexual debut among Korean middle school students. Methods: From the database of the Eighth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS), the researchers selected 37,297 middle school students aged 12-15 years. Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results: The proportion of middle school students who had a sexual debut was 2.1% of boys and 1.5% of girls. In multiple regression analysis, economic status, experience of part time work, smoking, drug use and depression were associated with an increased proportion of sexual intercourse for both boys and girls. Living with parents, drinking alcohol and suicidal ideation were associated with sexual debut for boys only. By contrast, formal sexual education was associated with a reduced risk of sexual debut. Conclusion: The results of this study show the factors associated with sexual debut among Korean middle school students. Gender-related interventions should be taken into consideration in school sexual education programmes, because of differences in related factors according to gender.