• Health Policy and Management
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.132-160
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• 1995

This study purported to acquire information necessary to improve the management of general hospitals. It tried to determine major indices which represent managerial performance of general hospitals and to identify the managerial characteristics of general hospitals which affect the major financial indices. Eighty-eight hospitals were chosen from 188 hospitals which were subject to standardization audit by the Korean Hospital Association. The results of a discriminant analysis are summarized as followings. First, when a single index was used to measure managerial performance of the sample hospitals, the ration of net profit to total capital was the best index and its discriminant power was 58.14%. The ratio of the number of boardmen((M. D.) and average daily medical cost were highly related to this index. Second, when two indices were used, income growth rte and the ration of net profit to total capital had the highest discriminant distinction ability. Their discriminant power was 61.9%. In this case, the ratio of the number of boardmen(M. D.) was significantly and highly related to the indices. Third, when all three indices-income growth rate, the ration of net profit to total capital and quick ratio - were used together, a discriminant function was statistically insignificant. Therefore, using all three indices was not useful in measuring managerial performance of the sample hospitals. In conclusion, using two indices-income growth rate and the ration of net profit to total capital-was better in measuring manegerial performance of general hospitals than using a single index. The independent variable which affected these indices was the ration of the number of boardmen. The discriminant function was : $D_{GI}=2.77+4.832\times(the ratio of the number of boardmen)$ *G=growth index(income growth rate) *I=profit index(the ration of net profit to total capital)

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.398-404
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a non-elastic fixation belt on the balance ability and fall prevention in elderly women. Elderly women experience reduced balance ability and an increased risk of falls due to a weakening of the surrounding sacroiliac joint and pelvic muscles during childbirth and menopause. On the other hand, specific studies are still needed. The subjects were allocated randomly to two groups: control (n=20) and experimental (n=20). The experimental group used a non-elastic fixation belt, whereas the control group had no fixation belt. The balance ability and the fall index were measured in all subjects using a balance measurement device, and the low abdominal muscle thickness was determined in the experimental group using ultrasound imaging for the exact application of the non-elastic fixation belt. The following statistical analysis was performed: an independent t-test for the general characteristics of the subjects, $2{\times}2$ analysis of variance with repeated measures for the balance and fall index score, and a paired t-test for the abdominal muscle thickness. The group ${\times}$ time interaction effect showed significant improvement in the General Stability Index (F1,38=47.24, p=0.001), Fourier Harmony Index (F1,38=88.83, p=0.001), Weight Distribution Index (F1,38=50.21, p=0.001), and Fall Index (F1,38=21.59, p=0.001). The thicknesses of the transverse abdominal (p=0.001) and internal oblique (p=0.001) muscles were increased significantly in the experimental group after using the non-elastic fixation belt. Overall, the application of a non-elastic fixation belt could be effective in improving the balance ability and fall prevention in elderly women.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.79-87
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the effects of lumbar dysfunction and balance when office workers with chronic back pain performed the abdominal drawing-in maneuver. Methods: A total of 16 office workers with chronic low back pain were included in this study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the general and abdominal drawing-in maneuver groups. The intervention was applied for 6 weeks, 3 times a week, 70 min per day. Participants in the general exercise group(n=8) performed the general physical therapy and lumbar flexibility exercise, whereas those in the abdominal drawing-in maneuver group(n=8) performed the general physical therapy and lumbar stabilization exercise using abdominal drawing-in maneuver(3 times/week for 6 weeks). All tests, were the Korean Oswestry disability index (KODI) and balance ability, were completed pre and post-intervention. Results: Significant improvements in the KODI and balance ability test were observed in the abdominal drawing-in exercise group (p<.05), whereas no significant changes (p>.05) were observed in the general exercise group. Conclusion: This study revealed that abdominal drawing-in maneuver can effectively improve the lumbar dysfunction and balance ability of office workers with chronic back pain.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of the Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (K-WISC-IV) and General Ability Index (GAI) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: The GAI and Full Scale IQ (FSIQ) in K-WISC-IV were compared for a group of 79 children with ADHD and 234 normal children. The mean differences within each group were testified by the t-test and Cohen's d. The Wechsler's descriptive classifications for each GAI and FSIQ score were analyzed in the children with ADHD. Additionally, the critical value for the difference between the means of the FSIQ and GAI was calculated in the normal children. Results: The score on the GAI was higher than that on the FSIQ in the children with ADHD, with a mean difference of 2.19 points. The implications of these findings are discussed regarding the cognitive characteristics of the children with ADHD. According to Wechsler's descriptive classification, the application of the GAI showed a lower (7.59%), equal (61.65%) or higher (60.76%) prevalence of ADHD compared to the application of FSIQ. Conclusion: The implications of these findings are discussed regarding the cognitive characteristics of the children with ADHD. The GAI reflecting the attention and behavioral problems in children with ADHD could be utilized as an alternative global intelligence estimate that considers their potential for development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2019

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of a vestibular stimulation training program on the walking ability of chronic stroke patients over a six month period. METHODS: Forty stroke patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided randomly into a control group (n=20) and experimental group (n=20). A general exercise program was applied to Group I and vestibular stimulation training was applied to Group II(30 min, three times a week for six weeks). The changes in straight walking ability, curved walking ability, and functional walking ability were measured using a 10 m walking test figure-of-eight-walking test, and dynamic gait index, respectively. The measures before and after the program were compared using a paired t-test for a comparison of each group and an independent t-test for a comparison between groups. RESULTS: The changes in each group were examined according to the measurement period. The Experimental group showed significant functional improvement in all three tests after the vestibular stimulation training program, but the control group did not show significant improvement in any of the tests after the general exercise program. A comparison of the changes between groups revealed the experimental group to show significantly higher improvement than the control group in all tests. CONCLUSION: The vestibular stimulation training program helps improve the gait function of stroke patients. Based on the results of this study, it is expected that various vestibular stimulation training programs will be developed and applied in a range of places.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.171-176
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• 2012

Objective: The goal of this study was to assess work ability of Korean workers in the shipbuilding industry. Background: Old age is associated with inevitable time-dependent losses in physical capabilities. However the maintenance of physical capabilities is essential for continuing independence in old age. The work ability index(WAI) was constructed to reveal how well a worker is able to perform his or her work. Method: The WAI is a kind of survey methods developed to estimate the work capacity of aged workers by the Finish Institute of Occupational Health(FIOH) in 1998. The difference of the WAI between groups in each category was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the relationship between the WAI and the workers' ages was tested by the Correlation test. Results: This study surveyed 2,709 persons working in the shipbuilding industry in Korea. The average WAI score for all workers was 40.0 denoting a Good Level. Also, workers in the shipbuilding industry had lower work ability, as compared to the results of other industries. The WAI was analyzed for different age groups(${\leq}29$; 30~34; 35~39; 40~44; 45~49; 50~54; ${\geq}55$). The results of Kruskal-Wallis test showed that significant difference was identified on the effect of aging(p<0.05). Conclusion: Advanced countries like the Finland showed decreasing tendency in good and excellent levels as aged, but there was no decreasing tendency in Korean population. The results may be attributable to the general characteristics of Korean society, such as poor social security and burden caused by role of the patriarch. It may bring forth higher work ability in aged population even their physical condition is getting worse. Application: This finding could be used for developing more accurate assessment tool of work ability for working environment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Purpose : This study examined the effects of balance training using virtual reality program on sitting balance ability and activities of daily living (ADL) in stroke patients. Method : In the study, 20 patients with hemiplegia were divided into two groups: experiment group (EG) of 10 patients and control group(CG) of 10 patients. The two groups received general occupational therapy for 30 minutes, per day, at a rate of 5 times per week for 6 weeks. The EG was additionally conducted which was performed virtual reality balance training and the CG was conducted general occupational therapy balance training for 30-minutes, once a day, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. Result : The evaluations of this study included: limit of stability(LOS), modified Functional Reach Test(mFRT), and modified Barthel Index(MBI). The patients were evaluated before and after their six week training programs. Significant differences in the LOS, mFRT, MBI were found between pretest and posttest scores in both the EG and CG groups(p<.05). Also, LOS, mFRT, MBI were significant different between the groups at post-test(p<.05). Conclusion : The study findings suggest that virtual reality balance training can improve sitting balance and ADL ability in stroke patients.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.5683-5692
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• 2014

This study examined the correlation among the Korean language ability, health promotion behaviors and health status of immigrant women by marriage. Data on the subjects of 148 immigrant women were collected from September to December, 2013. Constructed self-administered questionnaires were used to gather information on the general characteristics of the immigrant women, their Korean language ability, health promotion behaviors and emotional health status. The health examination results of the subjects were used for information on their health status. There were significant differences in the Korean language reading ability, drinking habits, total cholesterol and body mass index between the diseased group and the intact group. An analysis of the relationship between the Korean language ability and health conditions revealed a significant positive correlation between the total cholesterol and neutral fat, but negative correlations between the density of hemoglobin and the total cholesterol, the neutral fat and body mass index. There was a significant negative correlation between the Korean language ability and the level of stress. Based on these results, a program was suggested and developed to decrease the rate of drinking, cholesterol and body mass index of immigrant women and to promote their ability to understand health information and express their diseases properly in the Korean language.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2011

Objectives : This study conducted to investigate oral care abilities in diabetic patients to find a good dental method which may efficiently control diabetes. Methods : The diabetic group consisted of 40 patients with type 2 diabetics, while the non-diabetes were 34 persons with no signs of diabetics, who had visited a Public Health Center and dental clinic of a general hospital in Gwangju city from Dec. 2008 to Sep. 2009. Periodontal disease, gingivitis, dental caries, tongue plaque and halitosis between diabetic group and non-diabetic group were examined and at the same time a questionnaire survey was conducted. The data were analyzed with chi-square, t-test, pearson correlation coefficients using the SPSS WIN 15.0 program. Results : The mean values of both the community periodontal index and the gingival index of diabetic group were 2.18 and 1.75, respectively, and those were higher than those (1.79 and 1.50) of non-diabetic group with no statistical significance. The mean saliva secretion of non-diabetics was 16.74 mL, which was higher than 13.90 mL of diabetic patients(p<0.05). The oral care ability(mean 3.10) acquired from plague index in diabetic group was worse than in non-diabetic(mean 2.33). Conclusions : The high blood sugar concentration in diabetic patients causes low saliva secretion and high saliva viscosity, with the results halitosis and periodontal disease take place. This study suggested that good oral care ability of diabetic patients was very helpful to prevent periodontal disease and halitosis. In addition to this, it may reduce complications of diabetic patients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.216-223
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors affecting the assessment of objective and subjective masticatory ability in the elderly, and to evaluate masticatory ability assessment more accurately. Methods: A total of 112 participants were recruited after oral examination in senior citizen welfare facilities. The participants' masticatory ability was evaluated objectively (Mixing ability index; MAI), and subjectively (Key food intake ability; KFIA). Participants' general characteristics and oral health-related variables were also recorded. Based on masticatory ability assessment, participants were classified as either high or low. IBM SPSS Statistics Ver.23.0 was used for all analyses, including descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rank correlation, and Logistic regression analysis. Results: Higher masticatory ability was positively correlated with higher scores on MAI and KFIA. Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between MAI and KFIA. When analyzing factors affecting objective and subjective masticatory ability assessments, Functional tooth units (FTUs) were revealed as a related factor. In subjective masticatory ability assessment, oral moisture, difficulty in chewing, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) were also influential factors. Conclusions: In order to accurately assess masticatory ability, it is necessary to use both objective and subjective measures. Additionally, to improve the masticatory ability in the elderly, treatment should be provided to improve overall oral health and satisfaction.