• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.78-96
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to analyze the emergency health care utilization using status according to income class. The target was the 2011 data out Korea Health Panel's raw data. 2011 data composed of total 17,035 people from total 5,741 households. This study set total 1,101 adults over full-20-years old having used an emergency health care utilization as its analysis target. In order to find out the number of emergency health care utilization use according to income class and the influential factors on emergency health care utilization cost, this study conducted the multiple regression analysis. And in order to more accurately analyze the emergency health care utilization use status depending on the income class and the features of emergency health care utilization use status, this study developed Models. As the result, this study found following findings. First, as the income class was lower, the gender was male, the age was lower, and the user has spouse, the user was not a business owner or a paid worker, the user is a house owner, the emergency medical facility type was a clinic, the means of transportation was others rather than 119 ambulance, the reason visiting emergency medical facility was belonged to others rather than accidents or poisoning, then the number of emergency was increased. Second, as the user was in higher income class, received the health insurance benefits, the using medical facility was general hospital, used 119 ambulance more often, stay days in emergency was shorter, then health care utilization cost was increased. In this study investigating the data out of Korea Health Panel, it was found that while the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased in the lower income class, but the emergency health care utilization cost was increased for higher income class. It is considered that this finding was caused from the facts that lower income class was more often exposed to dangers for physical health, so the number of emergency health care utilization use was increased, but their health care utilization cost was decreased because of their economic burdens against various examinations and their difficulties to pay such costs, comparing to that of higher income class. Therefore, in order to solve unequal problem of emergency health care utilization use between lower and higher income classs, it is required to set suitable solutions like the disease prevention effort by facilitating national health check-up programs, the enhancement of public health services in quantity and quality, the emergency health care utilization securing policy at using medical facilities, the promotional, educational activities about emergency health care utilization delivery system, the enhanced accessibility of emergency health care utilizations and emergency medical facilities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 1977

This study attempts to examine the performances of Myun Health Workers-the frontline workers in the Korean rural health care delivery system. The time-activity approach was mainly utilized as a measuring tool. This study was undertaken in September 1976 with 35 Myun Health Workers at the Kang Wha County. The pretested time-activity approach sheets were filled out daily for one month by those Myun Health Workers themselves. Statistical means and variances of analysis were utilized for statistical method in comparing some activities and functions converged into time distribution Findings: 1. The workers's average working hours derived in this study is 8 hours and 48 minutes per day, which takes half an hour longer than normal schedule. 2. They spend 56% working hour for direct services, in other words, the main function, 22% for supportive function, and 22% for other activities, the unrelated health services. 3. Considering the total working hours of main function, out-center activity is far more than in-center services with the ratio of 70% to 30% respectively, which proves, therefore, that the main activity of the workers is home visiting. 4. It takes 20 minutes purely for home visiting and takes 14 minutes for transportation. 5. This research also indicates that such factors as characteristics of the health workers and myun influence in shaping the structures of the worker's function and activity: a. The workers whose working site is located in myun office spend 15% among total working hours in carring out official myun activities, which is incidentally unrelated to health services, while the health subcenter have no rooms for administrative jobs for myun office. b. The workers whose office is in health subcenter contribute much time in doing main function and those working in special project distribute more time in performing supportive function. c. The types of workers are another dominant factor to influence the components of worker's functions and activities. MCH workers and MPW I spend much time for manipulating main function. d. MPW II, whose function is reorganized by special project in 2 myuns shows different pattern of time distribution compared to the TB worker orFP worker in the ordinary area. MPW II distributes their time evenly in performing MCH program, T.B. Program, F.P. program and education activity, while the unipurpose workers engage in carring out only their dominant role. e. Another variables which involve the variation of the worker's activity can be illustrated with the variables like target population, size of myun and convenience for transportation, among which the latter two are remarkable factors in determining the time for out-center service.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.423-440
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to prepare the department creation and the staff increase of education institution by forecasting the demand of health and welfare workers according to execution of the elderly's long-terms treatment insurance system in July, 2008. We estimated confirmors of the elderly's long-terms treatment and the demand of professional workers of health and welfare field due to the increase of care insurance users in facilities treatment organization, care at home service facilities, and family allowance facilities for 2010-2030. The numbers of social welfare professional worker are estimated as 16,624 workers in 2020 and 24,688 workers in 2030. The numbers of nurses are forecasted as 11.287 in 2020 and 16,624 in 2030, we expect that the increase of the demand be accelerated. The demand of necessary care probation worker is 44,824 in 2009, but we already trained over around 500,000 workers in 1,078 education institutions through one year in Aug. 31, 2009, which excesses over the numbers of workers demanded as much as 10 times.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate human health risk assessment of indoor air pollutants at small-sized public-use facilities (e.g., daycare centers, hospital and elderly care facilities) that the susceptible population is mainly used. Methods: To assess indoor air quality (IAQ), the concentrations of indoor air contaminants such as HCHO, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, PM-10, CO, $NO_2$ and $O_3$ in air samples were measured according to the Indoor Air Quality Standard Method. By conducting the questionnaire survey, the major factors influencing IAQ were identified. Human health risk assessment was carried out in the consideration of type of use (user and worker) at 75 daycare centers, 34 hospitals and 40 elderly care facilities. Results: As a result of measurement of indoor air contaminants, the average concentration of HCHO and TVOCs in hospitals was higher than daycare centers and elderly care facilities, about 8.8 and 23.5% of hospitals were exceeded by IAQ standard. In human health risk assessment, for the user of daycare centers and elderly care facilities, the mean carcinogenic risk of HCHO inhalation was higher than acceptable value. Except for HCHO, other values were determined under acceptable risk. Similarly, for the worker of hospitals, the mean carcinogenic risk of HCHO inhalation was higher than acceptable value and other values were evaluated under acceptable risk. In contrast, the risk levels of other contaminants measured in elderly care facilities were acceptable. In the determination of factors influencing IAQ, the construction year, building type, ventilation time, and the use of air cleaner were identified. Conclusions: This study provides the information for establishing the plans of public health management of IAQ at small-sized public-use facilities that have not yet been placed under the regulation. The findings suggest the consideration of human health risk assessment results for the IAQ standards.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2016

Background: A job-specific Worker's Health Surveillance (WHS) for hospital physicians is a preventive occupational health strategy aiming at early detection of their diminished work-related health in order to improve or maintain physician's health and quality of care. This study addresses what steps should be taken to determine the content of a job-specific WHS for hospital physicians and outlines that content. Methods: Based on four questions, decision trees were developed for physical and psychological job demands and for biological, chemical, and physical exposures to decide whether or not to include work-related health effects related to occupational exposures or aspects of health reflecting insufficient job requirements. Information was gathered locally through self-reporting and systematic observations at the workplace and from evidence in international publications. Results: Information from the decision trees on the prevalence and impact of the health- or work-functioning effect led to inclusion of occupational exposures (e.g., biological agents, emotionally demanding situations), job requirements (e.g., sufficient vision, judging ability), or health effects (e.g., depressive symptoms, neck complaints). Additionally, following the Dutch guideline for occupational physicians and based on specific job demands, screening for cardiovascular diseases, work ability, drug use, and alcohol consumption was included. Targeted interventions were selected when a health or work functioning problem existed and were chosen based on evidence for effectiveness. Conclusion: The process of developing a job-specific WHS for hospital physicians was described and the content presented, which might serve as an example for other jobs. Before implementation, it must first be tested for feasibility and acceptability.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.127-140
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• 2012

This study involved an investigation of perception of dental hygienists based on a self-reported survey of a sample of 230health care personnel working at long-term care hospitals located in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. The primary objective was to provide basic data for establishing various policies related to building up a positive image of dental hygienists as a profession. The results were as follows. 79.1% of the respondents recognized dental hygienists as a profession. Among the titles for a dental hygienist, "teacher" was the most common with 47.4% of all. Female respondents and respondents who were able to discern between dental hygienists and nursing assistants were more likely to perceive dental hygienists positively than male respondents and ones who were not, respectively. Among social perceptions of dental hygienists was there a negative finding, that is, there was no appropriate title to address dental hygienists. This negative finding indicates that there is a vital need to enhance the perception of who are dental hygienists as a professionals level at the individual as well as institutional level.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.585-598
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the trend of national health insurance service use with relation to pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium among pregnant and postpartum women older than 35 over the last decade. A descriptive analysis was conducted, using the data which were drawn from the "nationwide claim database of Korean National Health Insurance Corporation(NHIC)". Data were composed of the total cases related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (International Classification of Disease, $10^{th}$revision [ICD-10] codes O00-O99) from 2001 to 2008. During 2001-2008, the number of pregnant and postpartum women older than 35 had continuously increased and the percentage of them also had increased in both hospital and ambulatory care. There are similar trends in their total use of national health insurance service and total expenditure. According to demographic characteristics, there was the biggest increase of the percentage in residents in large cities, self-employed workers, ones in the highest income level. According to ICD-10 codes, there was the biggest increase of the percentage in O10-O16 (oedema, proteinuria and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium). According to the major prevalent disease, there was the biggest increase of the percentage in O60 (preterm labor and delivery). Throughout the past decade, the necessity has been emphasized of supporting pregnant and postpartum women older than 35. But in maternal and child health care, they are in an early stage of development. The findings of this study would be helpful in developing the support programs for the aged pregnant and postpartum women.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2010

Objectives: To evaluate the policies on 2009 influenza pandemic in Korea at the end of first wave. Methods: The main policies and the estimation of these were described according to the progress of 2009 influenza pandemic. Results: The public health measures for containment were estimated to be successful in the early stage. The preparedness of antiviral agents and vaccines before the pandemic, risk-communication on pandemic influenza and policies of government including vaccines, and the education of health care worker and support of health care institutions was not enough to respond to the pandemic. Conclusions: The additional evaluation should be performed at the end of the pandemic in various aspects including health and socioeconomic effects.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.791-803
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• 2017

Objectives: Oral health management is important to improve the quality of life among the elderly. This study investigated the performance of elderly oral health management among some care workers in long-term-care hospitals. Methods: The study subjects were 174 care workers in 10 long-term-care hospitals. Data on general characteristics of care workers, attitude, recognition and knowledge of elderly health, performance of elderly oral health management were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed through descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and multiple regression analysis by using a SPSS version 23.0 statistical program. Results: The performance score of oral health management was $4.34{\pm}0.64$ on the 5-point Likert scale. The subjects who exercised more than 2 times a month were significantly higher in their performance of elderly oral health management compared to subjects who did not exercise (${\beta}=0.232$, p=0.035). And, the subjects who cared 10-19 persons were significantly higher in performance of elderly oral health management compared to subjects who cared more than 20 elderly (${\beta}=0.246$, p=0.020). The oral health behavior of care worker (${\beta}=0.271$, p<0.001) and the knowledge of oral health care (${\beta}=0.055$, p=0.008) were positively related to the performance of elderly oral health management. Conclusions: The educational program designed to improve knowledge of care workers in accordance with the standard textbook for training care workers should be developed, and the long term education program should be reinforced to improve the performance for elderly oral health care. If care workers can care a proper number of old persons, they will give oral health care to them.