• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.343-353
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• 2023

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in the lifestyle patterns of children and affected the patterns of pediatric injuries. This study analyzed the changing patterns of pediatric injury overall and by age groups, based on the datasets before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study is based on the data of patients who presented with injuries at 23 hospital emergency departments participating in the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The surveillance data was categorized by injury mechanism, location, activity, and severity. We analyzed the injury patterns of pediatric patients aged 0 to 15 years. Subgroup analysis was conducted by age group in children aged 7 to 15 years, 1 to 6 years, and <1 year. Results: When comparing the COVID-19 pandemic period to the pre-COVID-19 period, the total number of pediatric patients with injuries decreased by 38.7%, while the proportions of in-home injuries (57.9% vs. 67.9%), and minor injuries (38.9% vs. 39.7%) increased. In the 7 to 15 years group, bicycle riding injuries (50.9% vs. 65.6%) and personal mobility device injuries (2.4% vs. 4.6%) increased. The 1 to 6 years group also showed an increase in bicycle accident injuries (15.8% vs. 22.4%). In the <1 year group, injuries from falls increased (44.5% vs. 49.9%). Self-harm injuries in the 7 to 15 years group also increased (1.6% vs. 2.8%). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the overall number of pediatric injuries decreased, while injuries occurring at home and during indoor activities increased. Traffic accidents involving bicycles and personal mobility devices and self-harm injuries increased in the 7 to 15 years group. In the <1 year group, the incidence of falls increased. Medical and societal preparedness is needed so that we might anticipate these changes in the patterns of pediatric injuries during future infectious disease pandemics.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2001

Using the different procedures suggested by the recognized organizations including IAEA, FDA, WHO and CED, derived Intervention levels (DILs) against contamination of foodstuffs were evaluated for considerations in radiological emergency planning in Korea. Three radionuclides important in terms of the consequence due to accidents at a nuclear power plant, i.e., $^{137}Cs,\;^{90}Sr$ and $^{131}I$, were considered. Intervention level for dose based on new recommendation of the ICRP (ICRP-60) was applied. The DILs tot the same foodstuff differ by up to afactor of 10. In most cases, the DILs based on FDA and WHO approaches were more conservative than those based on IAEA and CEC approaches. A critical age group for milk was infant of 3 month for all radionuclides. In most foods except milk, a critical age group was adult, 15yr and 5yr for $^{137}Cs,\;^{90}Sr$ and $^{131}I$, respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 1984

Several detailed aspects of medical care services during one year (Aug 1, $1982{\sim}$July 31, 1983) were compared between two community health sub-centers; one (A) was served by a local clinician, the other (B) by a trainee of preventive medicine. The results were analysed as follows: 1. Total spells of medical services during the same period in 'A' sub-center was 4,087 and that in 'B' 2,347. Medicaid visitors in 'A' was 1,051 (25.7% of the total), that in 'B' was 250 (10.7%). Significant difference was observed. 2. Average number of visits for the same case in 'A' was 2.0, that in 'B' was 1.4. Average duration of service by day for the same case in 'A' was 3.9, that in 'B' 3.0. 3. Average cost of service for a case in 'A' was 6,770 won, that in 'B' 4,230 won. 4. Difference in age distribution of visitors in the two sub-centers was insignificant. $0{\sim}9$ year group was 38.5% of the total. Difference in distribution by sex (between two sub-centers) was minimal. Male utilisers more than female by ca. 10%. 5. Concerning distribution of visitors by month, utilisation in July, August and September was the highest; the sum of them was 32.7% of the total in 'A' and 32.9% in 'B'. 6. Distribution by diagnoses in 'A' in decreasing order of frequency was Respiratory system diseases (26.1%), Digestive system diseases (23.0%), Diseases of skin and subcutaneous tissue (17.4%), Accidents and poisoning (11.5%) and Diseases of musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (5.4%). That in 'B' was Respiratory system diseases (39.0%), Digestive system diseases (23.0%), Diseases of skin and subcutaneous tissue (14.2%), Accidents and poisoning (10.9%) and Infection and parasitic diseases (9.1%). 7. The 10 most frequent diagnoses comprised 68.5% of the total in 'A' and 65.5% in 'B' 8. Utilisation by accessibility to each sub-center was studied. It is shown that the nearer the distance or the easier the accessibility, the more visits to services. The distinct pattern is manifested in the utilisation in 'A'-Myun.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.61-76
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• 1969

A review has been made of mortality trends in Korea from 1958 to 1967 analyzing the data by sex, age and cause of death. The crude death rates and age specific death rates were estimated by the model of N. Keyfitz life table which had been developed by the data of the 1960's national census. The cause specific death rates shown in this article are based on the following: all deaths occurring in the death-registration are expressed as a numberator, while the denominator was estimated from the regular national census data by interpolation method. It is estimated that only an average of about 40% of deaths which occurred during a year were registered during 1958 to 1967. The validity and the reliability of the diagnosis of causes of death seem to be extremely poor in this country. Therefore the cause specific death rates in this article are aimed to reveal trends of causes of registered death ana not for the actual level of death rates. For 10 years very interesing mortality trends were observed : 1. The trend in the crude death rates was downward slowly. 2. The estimated death rate for the infant in 1960 was still high up to 100 per 1,000. 3. The rates for mortality attributed to such infectious diseases as pneumonia, bronchitis, gastroenteritis and measles decreased an average 40-60%. 4. The death rates for over-all tuberculosis decreased only 9.8%. 90% of the decrease was contributed by those in the less-than-15 year age group. 5. The death rates for chronic diseases, such as vascular diseases affecting the central nervous system, malignant neoplasm, major heart diseases and all accidents rose about 40-60%. 6. The rank order of the 10 leading causes of death showed large changes over the years, except for pneumonia and tuberculosis which occupyed 1st and 2nd places respectively. Vascular diseases affecting the central nervous system moved from 5th to 3rd place and malignant neoplasm from 6th to 4th place, The major heart diseases moved from 10th to 6th place and all accidents from 10th to 7th place. On tile other hand, gastroenteritis moved from 3rd to 5th place and influenja from 4th to 8th place.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.747-754
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare inter-regional accident modes using the National Hospital Discharge Patient Injury Survey. In order to determine economic status of each region, 234 cities and counties were categorized as 5 groups according to their financial self-reliance ratio. The main results are as follows. First, transport accidents had increased by the age group of 25 to 44 but decreased thereafter. Second, the frequency of car accidents was the highest among several types of transport accidents. Most common site of transport accidents was roads and highways. Third, there was significant difference in the modes of transport accident among regions. Fourth, emergency admission rate was quite different according to regional groups but it was no significant difference by economic status. Lastly, there was significant difference in injury patterns by region groups. In regions which were high economic status, there were relatively less serious injury patterns such as sprain, strain, dislocation while regions which were in low economic status had experienced serious injury including fracture, stab wound, and open fracture. We could find the difference in accident modes by regional economic status. Therefore, health authority should consider different accident prevention strategies by regional groups.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2003

Objectives: Traffic accidents often occur to power tillers without reflective light in the dawn, evening and night. Because of this reason, there has been a 'campaign to attach reflective lights' to power-tillers in recent years. Therefore, the authors investigated the relationship between reflective light and traffic accidents involving power-tillers. Methods: We defined traffic accidents of power tillers as those cases of rear-end collision by a car in the dawn, evening or night. According to our definition, four cases were confirmed in Hyungok-myeon, Gyeongju and five cases in Gigye-myeon, Pohang. We selected a control group from people in the same village with similar age, sex, driving history and education. Results: The study group contained 9 accidents and 36 non-accidents. Power tillers with reflective light were 32 cases (72.7%) of 44 cases (excluded one case due to death). Of those, the status of reflective light was 'clean' in 18 cases (56.3%). The recognition that reflective light can prevent accidents was 'Yes' in 26 cases of 44 cases (59.1%). The recognition of the 'campaign to attach reflective lights' to power tillers was 'Yes' in 38 cases of 44 cases (86.4%). The recognition about the safety regulation of driving power-tillers was 'Yes' in 32 cases of 44 cases (72.7%). Odds ratio of traffic accidents for no reflective light was 7.00 (95% CI: 1.06-58.37). Conclusions: Although the 'campaign to attach reflective lights' to power tillers are going on, its effectiveness may unknown. Therefore, more extensive epidemiologic study is needed into the relationship between reflective light and power tiller traffic accidents, with effective administration of the government and the attention of medical persons.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.467-479
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• 1999

The mortality and morbidity caused by injury and poisoning has been major public health problem in Korea. This study was carried out to get information indispensable in developing prevention srategies peculiar to korean rural area. In this study 1.499 people of 496 households. who are living in five rural villages of Chooncheon City. Kang-Won Province. were interviewed in accordance with structured questionaire in 1996. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The age-standardized annual incidence rates of injury and poisoning per 100 persons surveyed were 4.2 in males and 1.9 in females. The difference between sex was statistically significant. 2. The places where most of injuries and poisonings occurred were road 66.7% among males. road 31.6% among females. 3. The occurrence of the injuries and poisonings were clustered in intensive farming season in both males and females. 4. The laceration and stab wound were the most frequent nature of injuries in males and the fracture was the most frequent nature of injuries in females. The fracture. sprain were more frequent among males but sprain and contusion were more frequent among females. 5. Incidence rates of injuries and poisoning by cause were higher in traffic accidents among males. though falls among females. The cause specific incidence rate by age was high in traffic accident for 30-59 year age group. and for the aged people older than 60 years. 6. In the management pattern, 78.8% of the injuries and poisoning were received medical care in hospitals and clinics, and the duration of the treatment over 4 weeks in 37.0%. The results obtained indicate that organized community effort is urgently required to prevent injuries and poisonings in rural area.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.174-184
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• 1991

To determine the incidence rate of accidents and its associated factors, a prospective survey was carried out in a rural area of a total of 1,360 residents for 1 year from January 1 to December 31, 1988 in Shin-am Ri, Jungdong Myun, Sangju Kun, Kyungpook Province. Data for accidents were collected by the community health practitioner who is working at Primary Health Post in Shin-am Ri. A total number of accident cases was 85 among 1,360 persons during one year study period, and annual incidence rate was 62.5 per 1,000 persons. The highest incidence rate of accident was observed in the age group of 30-39 was 179.8. The incidence rate of accident in male was 86.5 which was about 2 times that in female. In male, the highest incidence rate was seen in 30-39 age group and in female, 60-69 age group. The highest incidence rate of accident was observed in spring(29.4%) and summer(29.4%), and the lowest in fall(17.7%). The highest incidence rate of accident was observed in Friday(24.5%) by day of week, and between 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. by time zone. The most frequent use of medical facilities was Primary Health Post(51.8%) and the next was clinic(38.8%). Mean duration of treatment was 9.8 days. The accident occured in the room and kitchen(23.5%), in the yard and barn(23.5%), on the road(22.4%). and in the rice field and dry field(20.0%). The causes of accident were motor vehicle accident(20.0%), piercing or cutting(20.0%), collision or fighting(12.9%), and poisoning(11.8%) in order of frequency. The most common type of injury was open wound which was 43.5%. The most common tool of accident was farm machine which was 23.5%. The most common injuried part of body was extremity(55.3%).

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2019

Background: This study was conducted to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of internal fixation using a Polarus humeral nail for treatment of a humeral shaft fracture according to fracture types. Methods: From 43 patients, 13 were excluded and 30 patients were included. The 30 patients were divided into 2 groups: 15 in group I (Orthopaedic Trauma Association/Arbeitsgemeinschaft $f{\ddot{u}}r$ Osteosynthesefragen classification type A and B) and 15 in group II (type C). The mean age was 63.1 years (range, 20-87 years), and mean follow-up period was 2.3 years (range, 1.0-6.1 years). The causes of injuries were as follows: 12, traffic accidents; 14, simple slips; 2, simple falls; 2, contusions after lower energy trauma. Radiological and clinical evaluations were performed. Results: Radiological union was confirmed by plain anteroposterior and lateral radiographs on average of 5.0 months in group I, and 8.4 months in group II, respectively. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p<0.01). The clinical union value was 1.6 in group I, and 2.0 months in group II, but these values did not differ significantly (p=0.441). The mean Korean shoulder scoring system scores were 89.7 and 90.6, which did not differ significantly (p=0.352). Conclusions: Intramedullary nailing using the Polarus humeral nail is considered to be a good treatment modality for all types of humeral shaft fractures. Additionally, the Polarus humeral nail can be an optimal choice for the treatment of complex type fractures such as segmental or comminuted humeral shaft fractures.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.186-195
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• 2021

Purpose: The current status and rationale of industrial accidents needs to be examined to develop scientific and systemic preventive measures. Methods: The aim of this study is to analyze the current data on industrial accidents provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and categorize work-related deaths by types of industries and annual report. Results: First, the highest number of deaths occurred in industries that had less than 50 people. Second, in the manufacturing industry, the highest death rate was found in workers in the age group 50-59 years. In the construction industry, workers aged 50 and above had the highest number of deaths. In other industries, workers aged 60 and above had the highest number of deaths. Third, the highest number of deaths occurred in workers with less than one year of experience in any industry Fourth, in most industries, the highest work-related deaths occurred during weekdays (Monday~Friday). In 2015, the warehouse delivery industry had 33% higher work-related deaths on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday) as compared to other industries. Fifth, in most industries, the highest work-related deaths occurred from 8 AM to 6 PM. The warehouse delivery industry had higher work-related deaths from 10 PM to 8 AM as compared to other industries. Conclusion: In order to increase the efficacy of industrial accident prevention, it is necessary to establish an effective health management system and apply strict safety management activities.