• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aims to systematically examine the determinants of the intention to take herbal medicine among individuals with experience in Korean medicine. Methods : This study utilized the 3,245 respondents from the 2020 Korean Medicine Utilization and Herbal Medicine Consumption Survey who reported having used Korean medical services; the responses were selected through a complex sample analysis, and analytics techniques including frequency analysis, Rao-scott chisquare test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the responses. Results : The results of data analysis reveal that the intention to take herbal medicine in the future among these individuals was significantly influenced by factors such as enrollment in private health insurance, the facility environment of Korean medical institutions, and treatment outcomes. Conclusions : Therefore, it is imperative for Korean medical institutions to continuously try reasonable action strategies, including improving medical facilities/environments and building institutional mechanisms among medical staff and members to enhance the quality of Korean medical services. Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Welfare needs to make policy efforts to reduce patients' medical expenses, such as reducing the co-insurance rate in the pilot project of applying health insurance to herbal medicine.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.78-86
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• 2021

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate the installation rates and status of indoor smoking rooms in public facilities and to determine the level of compliance level with smoke-free policies in accordance with the National Health Promotion Act. Methods: A visiting survey was conducted on 1,206 public facilities in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and the Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province area. Researchers selected public facilities such as bars, coffee houses, and internet cafes using convenient sampling. They visited without prior notice, checked the existence of indoor smoking rooms, and recorded their status. Results: Internet cafes (110/116) had the highest installation rate of indoor smoking rooms, followed by bowling clubs (17/19) and billiard rooms (87/100). Depending on the type of business, 50-88% of smoking rooms were not completely enclosed. Coin karaoke rooms showed the least inadequacy in this regard. In addition, out of 512 smoking rooms, in 33% (n = 169) smoking indoors was observed in non-smoking areas. Only 9% of public facilities were in full compliance with the indoor smoke-free regulation. Conclusions: It was found that most of the public facilities with indoor smoking rooms did not comply with the smoke-free policy, and smoking was still observed inside some facilities. Therefore, there is a need for a policy that prohibits indoor smoking rooms completely.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.231-245
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• 2012

This study was focused on experience of adult offsprings with disabled parents, and thereby on the evaluation of their family-of-origin environment. Adult offsprings's experience and understanding of the evolution in terms of subjects were explored. This study reviewed the effects of the family-of-origin environment and the analysis of data based on qualititative research depending on Saiki Greig Hill theory. The summary of this is as follows; perception and attitudes about disables parents tended to strengthen the steps 'process of recognition about disabled parents', 'process of escape about disabled parents',' precess of integration about disabled parents'. The alternative programs of the strengthen the steps 'process of integration about disabled parents' should be developed government policy support according to age group, ADL(activity of daily life) support according to disability status and emotional support with a focused on health family support center, public health center, religion meeting. This study was to provided basic material needed to do further research on this issue by identifying the effects of family-of-origin environment on adult offsprings with disabled parents.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2023

Background: It is acknowledged that legislation acts as a motivator for organizational action on psychosocial risks. Our study aims to provide evidence on the relationship between key occupational safety and health (OSH) policy principles and organizational action on work-related stress, and, in turn, with reported employee job demands and resources and their experience of work-related stress. We focus on Italy where specific legislation and practices on work-related stress were introduced in 2008 which are underpinned by these key OSH policy principles. Methods: Secondary analysis of the Italian samples from the employer ESENER-2 and employee 6th EWCS surveys was conducted, using path analysis in structural equation modeling (SEM) linking the two datasets. Results: We found a strong statistically significant relationship between OSH policy principles and organizational action on work-related stress (C.I. = .62-.78 p < .001). The existence of an organizational action plan on work-related stress was found to be significantly associated with more reported job resources (C.I. = .02-.24, p < .05) but these were not found to be significantly associated with less work-related stress. No significant association was found between having an organizational action plan for work-related stress and reported job demands. However, job demands were significantly related to reported work-related stress (C.I. = .27-.47, p < .001). Conclusions: Findings add support to the call for specific legislation on work-related psychosocial risks and highlight how an organizational OSH culture underpinned by key OSH principles, and awareness/competence development on psychosocial risk management can have a positive effect on organizational action. However, further support needs to be provided to organizations around developing primary prevention interventions at the organizational level with the aim of reducing job demands.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.295-306
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• 2015

This study aims to examine the performance of public municipal hospitals through the analysis of data envelopment analysis, efficiency, profitability, and publicness by using panel data during period from 2006 to 2010. The main findings of the study are as follows. First, as a result of efficiency analysis during the period from 2006 to 2010, it was revealed that the number of staff by each job category, labor cost ratio, the number of operating beds need to be decreased. Second, the performance data represented by the indicators of efficiency, profitability and publicness were complementary and showed a tendency of being increased or decreased in same direction. Third, from the result of panel analysis, the efficiency was mainly influenced by the structural factors, while the profitability was influenced by managerial factors, and the publicness by medical environment. In conclusion, in order to enhance the performance of public municipal hospitals in Korea, it is important to harmonize the effort for efficiency, financial and policy support by central and local government, and the continuous participation of community residents.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2017

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.275-288
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• 2023

Background: When basic local governments want to improve their air quality management policies, they need fundamental evidence, such as the effectiveness of current policies or scenario results. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to lay the groundwork for a process to calculate air pollutant reduction from basic local government air quality policies and provide numerical estimates of PM_2.5 concentrations following improved policies. Methods: We calculated the amount of air pollutant reduction that can be expected in the research region based on the Gyeonggi-do Air Environment Management Implementation Plan issued in 2021 and guidelines from the Korean Ministry of Environment. The PM_2.5 concentration variations were numerically simulated using the CMAQ (photochemical air quality model). Results: The research regions selected were Suwon, Ansan, Yongin, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong in consideration of population, air pollutant emissions, and geographical requirements. The expected reduction ratios in 2024 compared to 2018 are CO (3.0%), NO_x (7.9%), VOCs (0.7%), SO_x (0.1%), PM₁₀ (2.4%), PM_2.5 (6.1%), NH₃ (0.05%). The reduced PM_2.5 concentration ratio was highest in July and lowest in April. The expected concentration reduction of yearly mean PM_2.5 in the research region is 0.12 ㎍/m³ (0.6%). Conclusions: Gyeonggi-do is now able to quickly provide air pollutant emission reduction calculations by respective policy scenario and PM_2.5 simulation results, including for secondary aerosol particles. In order to provide more generalized results to basic local governments, it is necessary to conduct additional research by expanding the analysis tools and periods.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.259-267
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• 2015

Objectives: This study evaluated the regional and seasonal concentrations of ambient hazardous heavy metals in an industrial complex area in Daegu City. Methods: A total of 64 SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter) samples were collected in non-industrial and industrial areas during 2014 and were analyzed for hazardous heavy metals elements (As, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb) with ICP after acid extraction. Results: SPM and hazardous heavy metals concentrations showed regional (industrial complex area>non-industrial complex area) and seasonal (spring, winter>fall, summer) variations. All of the hazardous heavy metals were influenced by anthropogenic sources. The pollution index of hazardous heavy metals was very low, showing roughly one-quarter of the level of the air quality guidelines of WHO. The correlation analysis among SPM and hazardous heavy metals indicated that components of non-industrial complex areas were more related to each other than those of industrial complex areas, and the correlation in the winter was higher than in other seasons. Conclusion: It is necessary to control air pollution sources and establish related policy because hazardous heavy metals from industrial areas can influence residential areas.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.59-67
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• 2023

This review examined the current administrative policies and guidelines for management of reclaimed soils after remediation processes and proposed practical strategies to improve the potential value of the remediated soil as a resource. Three management practices are proposed to facilitate more efficient recycling of remediated soil; obligatory use, quality certification, and tracking of the remediated soils. If properly implemented in utilization of remediated soil, these strategies could contribute to enhancing public safety by assuring soil quality. Such administrative tools, for both suppliers and demanders, are expected to mitigate potential risks associated with the transactions of remediated soil. To enhance the quality assurance process, a soil quality certification combined with the soil health assessment index was proposed. The systematic integration of the suggested practices with soil health assessment can allow to produce optimal results, encompassing affordability, efficiency, and accessibility, which helps establishing more robust 'Remediated Soil Recycling Management System (RSRMS)'. Subsequent researches should be conducted to develop more effective policies that incorporate soil health assessment tools. The proposed management practices for remediated soil, coupled with soil health assessment, can be a pioneering effort to achieve such goals. By fostering an environmentally friendly policies, the sustainable utilization of remediated soil can be attained. Overall, the proposed strategies can provide a sound framework for responsible and sustainable soil management practices.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2021

Background: The purpose of this study is to identify factors that affect work dissatisfaction and turnover intention for dedicated nurses working in emergency departments of vulnerable areas of health care. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors related to the working environment that influence job dissatisfaction and intention to turnover among dedicated nurses working in emergency rooms in areas of medical vulnerability. Methods: We conducted a survey of nurses working in emergency rooms in vulnerable areas of medical care, and the survey was conducted for two consecutive years. A logistic regression analysis was performed with the working environment variable as the independent variable and the work environment dissatisfaction and turnover intention as dependent variables, respectively. Results: The variables that significantly affected both dissatisfactions with the working environment and turnover intention at the current institution were age, overlapping work in other departments, and the total work experience of nurses. Annual salary, the average number of double-duty (continuous work) per month, type of work, and work experience of nurses at the current institution had a significant effect only on dissatisfaction with the working environment. Conclusion: The results of this study are thought to be of great help if the government takes reference when establishing medical policies in vulnerable areas in the future.