• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.403-426
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to compare the standards and guidelines of long-term care facilities based on the physical environments and human resources in Korea, Japan, USA, and Australia. Ultimately, this study suggests the directions for amendments of long-term care service or running of the facilities in Korea. For achieving this purpose, we reviewed the homepage of national health departments, reports and articles of long-term care service, and acts related with long-term care in each country. This comparisons were carried in terms of physical environments, human resources by long-term care related acts and legal sanctions as means of quality control. This study implies that long-term care service guidelines or standards should be revised for developing the quality of our long-term care services.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2020

The Stream/River Ecosystem Survey and Health Assessment has been carried out regarding the ecological health of the streams by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), South Korea. However, the sources of impairment of the stream ecosystem and the interactions between the sources, stressors, and the responses of impaired streams have not been taken into consideration. The purpose of this study is to propose the establishment of diagnosis systems for the impaired stream ecosystem because of the need to incorporate the same in the making of the policy to enable the recovery and improvement of the health of the impaired streams or river ecosystem. First, we define the concept of a diagnosis of the impaired stream or river ecosystem through a literature review. Second, through case studies [e.g., US CADDIS (Causal Analysis/Diagnosis Decision Information System), AUS. Eco Evidence, EU WFD (Water Framework Directive)], we try to develop the diagnosis system for the making of policy. In this study, the diagnosis system that is proposed consists of eight steps including the basic data collection, detecting or suspecting impairment, defining the impaired stream reach, identifying the biological impaired cases and listing the candidate causes, illustrating the interactive conceptual diagrams between stressors and responses, investigating the stressors-responses in the field, verifying causes and identifying the probable causes of the impaired cases, and summarizing and proposing the restoration of the streams. The results of this study will support and enable efficient decision-making for sustainable stream restoration and management based on the diagnosis of the probable causes for the impaired complex and the diverse stream ecosystem.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2018

Background: The purpose of this study is to elucidate the context of medical experience and the perception of unmet healthcare of elderly people with chronic diseases based on in-depth interview data. Methods: We carried out in-depth interviews with 10 elderly people with chronic diseases using semi-structured questionnaires based on literature review. The in-depth interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis; one qualitative research methodology, three core meaning categories, and four attributes associated with unmet healthcare were ultimately derived. Results: The context of the medical experience were based on the following three categories: (1) discomfort due to diseases and high medical needs, (2) the poor community medical environment and difficulties in accessing to metropolitan medical institutions, and (3) inconvenience caused by long waiting time and side effects of medicine. In addition, the elderly with chronic disease realized the unmet healthcare as (1) the availability related to the desired medical institutions at the right time, (2) the affordability related to their economic capacity, (3) the effectiveness of the medical services they experienced, and (4) the appropriateness related to receiving medical services in a pleasant environment. Conclusion: The perception of unmet healthcare among the elderly with chronic disease is the result of interaction of multi-level and multi-dimensional factors related with their medical experience.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.38-53
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• 2001

The price of the hospitals' services is regulated by the governmental health insurance reimbursement schedule in Korea. On the other hand, the emphasis on the quality of care of hospitals service is ever increasing. Under the environment, hospitals have to understand the effects of the activities to improve quality of care on efficiency and on financial performance so that they develop a management strategy that allows quality of care, operational efficiency, and financial achievement simultaneously. This study investigates the relationship among the concepts. The sample for the study includes 23 hospitals that have more than 300 beds. The concept of quality of care is measured by the score reported by the Hospital Standardization Survey (HSS) instituted by Korean Hospital Association. Efficiency is measured by the ratio of number of employee to the number of patients served. Financial performance is measured by the financial ratios indicating the profitability of a hospital. An analysis is performed using the multiple regression. The results show significant positive relationships between the HSS score and efficiency indicators, md between the HSS score and profit measures. However, the significant positive relationship between the HSS score and profit measures disappeared when efficiency indicators were introduced to the model. This study concludes that the structural quality of a hospital has a positive effect on efficiency of the hospital and that the structural qualify indirectly affects the financial performance of a hospital through the improvement of efficiency. Based on the findings, the implications on hospital management and health policy are discussed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.296-306
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to measure the relationships between ecological factors and Navy personnel's physical activity (PA) based on McLeroy's Ecological model. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of 184 Navy personnel working in 10 Navyships. A self-reporting questionnaire consisted of measures of intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational and community factors related to Navy personnel` s PA. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test, t-test, analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression using SPSS/WIN 17.0 programs. Results: Their mean PA level was $2,848.1{\pm}3,344.5$ MET-min/week, and mostly moderate level (50.5%). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that religion, working department, working type, perceived health status and community environment were significant PA correlates. Conclusion: Community environmental factors as well as intrapersonal factors were significantly associated with Navy personnel's PA, indicating that community health nurses should expand an approach for individual-level behavioral change to incorporate Navy personnel specific community environmental barriers into PA interventions.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.425-456
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• 2011

Background: Organizations in the pharmaceutical industry are highly dependent on the institutional environment. The introduction of pharmacoeconomics to the decision-making on the price and reimbursement decisions became strong constraints to pharmaceutical companies in Korea. As little is known about the issue on organization-environment interaction in the healthcare field, this study aimed to figure out how pharmaceutical companies adapted to the environmental changes. Methods: A multicase study method was used, selecting eight cases among multi-national pharmaceutical companies in South Korea. In-depth interviews were conducted with the managers of these organizations, and secondary data were reviewed to complement the interviews. Results: Pharmaceutical companies viewed the new policies as a big threat and sought for actions against them. One of the most distinguishing organizational changes was to construct a Market Access department. Other strategies managing the environment such as co-optation, forecasting, and bargaining were also implemented. These changes were consistent with the predictions of Resource Dependency Theory and Institutional Theory. Conclusions: The interactions between pharmaceutical companies and institutional environments in healthcare were first explored. This study presents a new perspective on how organizations change and the motives for the changes. The findings of this case study will form the basis of further empirical studies.

• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.113-134
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• 2015

In new housing demand, proportion of occupied multi-housing is 89.9% (statistics from 2013). In this way, with many generations living together, apartment noise disputes between the neighbors are continuously rising. The apartment noise problem in Korea is at a very serious level worldwide (about 88% of the population is experiencing stress due to apartment noise). On the other hand, the government has strengthened the regulations (such as the thickness of the floor and floor impact sound reduction performance, etc.) and promoted a resolution of its own for each multi-housing estates for mediating disputes on apartment noise. However, such physical regulations and passive management policies still presents a limit to the dispute mitigation of apartment noise. Also, in order to improve the quality of life in living spaces, policy on health effects of apartment noise should be provided. Therefore, we investigated a case study of the noise exposure-human body reaction to analyze the effect of noise on health. On the basis of this, the health effects according to the exposure period of apartment noise were considered.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2024

Objective: The introduction of government support programs for small businesses in 1993 aimed to enhance awareness and capabilities in industrial health management among small business proprietors, marking a continuous expansion over the past three decades. Despite this growth, there has been a conspicuous absence of comprehensive evaluations regarding the efficacy of these initiatives. In response, this study endeavors to conduct a thorough policy evaluation. Method: Through a meticulous approach, we conducted an analysis of in-depth interviews with eight individuals possessing expertise in the administration of government support programs for small businesses. These interviews were sourced from personnel affiliated with government ministries and public agencies. Results: In the analysis, it was found that small-scale business government support programs operate primarily based on quantity rather than receiving support from business owners regarding their necessity or utility. Consequently, these programs have failed to yield substantial effects on altering the perception of business owners or improving the working environment within the businesses. Conclusion: This study assumes significance in its capacity to discern intricate procedural challenges in program implementation, which often elude quantitative scrutiny. Furthermore, it provides pivotal insights for enhancing government support programs.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.324-338
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• 2021

Background: We hypothesized that the growing demand of Korean workers for work-life balance would change the factors influencing job satisfaction. We sought to verify our hypothesis by conducting a conjoint analysis based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS). Methods: We analyzed the raw data of the KWCS, conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute from 2006 to 2017. To complete the analysis, we counted on a conjoint model of analysis, typically used in the analysis of customer satisfaction. The dependent variable was the satisfaction of workers with their working conditions, and the independent variables were the job quality indicators identified by Eurofound. Results: The factors that have the greatest impact on working conditions satisfaction are summarized as follows: "physical environment" for the first wave, "adverse social behavior" for the second wave, "occupational status" for the third and fourth waves, and "management quality" for the fifth wave. "Earnings" were not a major factor in determining employee job satisfaction, and the relative importance index is decreasing. Conclusion: According to the results of the analysis of the tendencies of Korean workers, the factors that affect the satisfaction with the working conditions have changed over time. It is crucial to identify factors that affect working conditions to assure the health and productivity of workers. The results of this study demonstrate that policymakers and employers are required to attentively consider human relations and social environment at work to improve working conditions in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of being aware of the physical and psychosocial environment of the school on subjective feeling of happiness in Korean middle and high school students. Methods: The data of "Health and lifestyle Survey (2019)" conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute were analyzed after receiving approval though the website. A total of 5,311 middle and high school students were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way ANOVA, pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were executed using SAS 9.4. Results: The mean score of subjective feeling of happiness was 6.92±0.56 out of 10. From the univariate analysis, the more positive the perception of the physical school environment was, such as classrooms, restrooms, exercise facilities, catering facilities, health facilities, other school facilities and school uniform, the higher the subjective feeling of happiness was (p for all <.001). In addition, the psychosocial environment of the school was significantly related to the happiness of adolescents (p<.001). After controlling for gender, school level, school grade, socio-economic status, and stress, positive perception of classrooms (B=0.04, p<.001), catering facilities (B=0.01, p=.021), health facilities (B=0.08, p<.001), and the psychosocial environment of the school (B=0.18, p<.001) was significantly associated with happiness of the students. Conclusion: Positive perception of the school environment was found to increase happiness in adolescents. Therefore, efforts should be made to make classrooms, catering facilities, and health facilities a pleasant space as well as to create a school atmosphere that values health.