• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2020

Background: Residential and commercial cleaning is a part of our daily routine to maintain sanitation around the environment. Health care of professionals involved in such cleaning activities has become a major concern all over the world. The present study investigates the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in professional cleaners involved in floor mopping tasks. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 132 mopping professionals using a modified Nordic questionnaire. The Pearson correlation test was implemented to study the association of perceived pain with work experience. The muscle strain and postural risk were evaluated by means of three-channel electromyography and real-time motion capture respectively of 15 professionals during floor mopping. Results: Regarding musculoskeletal injuries, risk was reported majorly in the right hand, lower back, left wrist, right shoulder, left biceps, and right wrist of the workers. Work experience had a low negative association with MSDs in the left wrist, right wrist, right elbow, lower back, and right lower arm (p < 0.01). Surface EMG showed occurrence of higher muscle activity in upper trapezius and biceps brachii (BB) muscles of the dominant hand and flexor carpi radialis and BB muscles of the nondominant hand positioned at the upper and lower portion of the mop rod, respectively. Conclusion: Ergonomic mediations should be executed to lessen the observed risk of musculoskeletal injuries in this professional group of workers.

• Healthcare Informatics Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2018

Objectives: This paper describes an experience of implementing seamless service trials online and offline by adopting Internet of Things (IoT) technology based on near-field communication (NFC) tags and Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) beacons. The services were provided for both patients and health professionals. Methods: The pilot services were implemented to enhance healthcare service quality, improve patient safety, and provide an effective business process to health professionals in a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. The services to enhance healthcare service quality include healing tours, cancer information/education, psychological assessments, indoor navigation, and exercise volume checking. The services to improve patient safety are monitoring of high-risk inpatients and delivery of real-time health information in emergency situations. In addition, the services to provide an effective business process to health professionals include surveys and web services for patient management. Results: Considering the sustainability of the pilot services, we decided to pause navigation and patient monitoring services until the interference problem could be completely resolved because beacon signal interference significantly influences the quality of services. On the other hand, we had to continue to provide new wearable beacons to high-risk patients because of hygiene issues, so the cost increased over time and was much higher than expected. Conclusions: To make the smart connected hospital services sustainable, technical feasibility (e.g., beacon signal interference), economic feasibility (e.g., continuous provision of new necklace beacons), and organizational commitment and support (e.g., renewal of new alternative medical devices and infrastructure) are required.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.237-245
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• 2008

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to conduct assessments of health education status and needs in health education programs in child daycare centers. Methods: An 11-subject instrument was developed to assess health education for children. The Cronbach's alpha of the importance and implementation were found to be .904 and .862. A survey was conducted by mail using a sample of 337 teachers who were working in 71 child daycare centers in a district in Seoul. Results: 26.5% of the respondents reported that they teach health education regularly, and 19.3% of them reported never teach health education. Deficits of material, knowledge, and skill were the principal reasons for difficulties in health education. All of the respondents identified a need for health education, and also that health professionals are the most appropriate people to teach health education. The priorities of needed health education were, in order: sex education, information on community health, and mental health. Conclusion: Health education programs for preschoolers should be developed by health professionals. In health education programs, environmental health should be included, as well as health and illness education.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.5-9
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• 1988

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

Background: Health care professionals (HCPs) are at high risk of contracting blood-borne infections due to their occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs). The incidence of these infections among HCPs are higher in low income countries such as Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of occupational exposure to BBFs and its associated factors among HCPs in Bahir Dar town, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used from October 1, 2012 to October 30, 2012. Three hundred and seventeen HCPs were included in the study using a simple random sampling technique. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the factors related to exposure to BBFs. Results: Two hundred and nine (65.9%) HCPs were exposed to BBFs in the past year, of which 29.0% were needlestick injuries. Work experience [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-10.91], inconsistent use of gloves (AOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.04-3.43), and not complying with standard precautions (AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.00-3.22) were the factors associated with occupational exposure to BBFs. Conclusion: A high proportion of HCPs was exposed to BBFs in this study. Occupational exposure to BBFs was determined by the use of gloves and not complying with standard precautions. Ensuring the availability of gloves, training about standard precautions, and motivation of HCPs to implement standard precautions should be emphasized to avoid such exposures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2015

Recently in the health service the globalization and opening their market to foreigners are realized in Korea. So, it becomes necessary for the health service institutes to execute their management to focus on service quality to satisfy their customers. We examined the customer orientation of the individual health professional rather than the market orientation concept based on the health institute. For the market orientation of the health institute should require the individual health professional worked there. The hypotheses for the effect of the role conflict, ambiguity, and job satisfaction of the health professionals to their customer orientation were established based on the literature review and previous researches and tested to the 250 health professionals such as health technician, nurse, radiologist, and management clerk in D hospital located in Busan, in summer 2008. First, the hypothesis 'The role conflict between the individual health professionals might effect to the customer orientation' was rejected. Second, the hypothesis 'The role ambiguity of the individual health professional might effect to the customer orientation' was accepted. Third, the hypothesis 'The satisfaction of the individual health professional might effect to the customer orientation' was rejected. and the multiple regression analysis was taken with the dependent variables as each construct of customer orientation-responsiveness, empathy, tangibility, and reliability, and independent variables as role conflict, role ambiguity, and job satisfaction. With these analysis, we found also the role ambiguity effected to the customer orientation.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.287-299
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• 1995

A 15-minute questionnaire on breast-feeding was administered to the obstetric and pediatric residents and nurses in metropolitan academic training programs in Korea to assess their attitudes to and knowledge about breast-feeding and their confidence in managing breast-feeding problems. The questionnaires were self-administered and confidential and the participants was 279. Overall, the study participants indicated a supportive attitude toward breast-feeding. Nurses had a highest supportive attitude than obstetric and pediatric residents. Their self-confidence in this area was inappropriately high with 48% of total, 49% of obstetric, 42% of pediatric and 58% of nurses describing themselves as "confident" or "very confident" to manage common breast-feeding problems to compare their knowledge level answering only 46% of the questions correctly. However, nurses who did have continuing education about breast-feeding had significantly high in knowledge level. These health care professionals have extremely limited knowledge of breast-feeding management compared to their reported confidence. To be truly supportive of breast-feeding, health care professionals should receive didactic and clinical training to breast-feeding management.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.49 no.10
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• pp.609-617
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• 2011

The geriatric population is the most rapidly growing part of the general population, which leads to an increase of chronic conditions and illnesses that will influence both oral and systemic health. The most common chronic diseases in elderly population are arthritis, hypertension, heart diseases, diabetes, and cognitive impairment. Chronic impairments such as visual, hearing, orthopedic, and speech disorders are also prevalent among older adults. All these chronic conditions have potential oral complications and the treatments of systemic diseases also has implications for the maintenance of oral health. Therefore, oral health care professionals should catch up with increasing knowledge in this field and can modify the treatment strategy for older adults. In addition, oral health care professionals should understand the changing need of oral health problems in this age and prepare the future demand.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-31
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop the qualification system for training of Quality improvement professionals who work for improving patients' safety and healthcare quality. Methods : Based on the various laws and regulations, and the operational status of other professionals' qualification systems, a basic plan of professional qualification system of QI was drawn. And through meetings with QI experts, the final scheme of the concrete qualification system was developed. Results : For management of professionals's certification or qualification, fairness and reliability are important. To do this, setting the official standard, providing a standardized training program and having appropriate qualification test are required. In order to operate the qualification system strategically, 1) the introduction step, 2) dissemination and expansion step, and 3) fusing step should be considered. As a governing body for QI specialists' qualification, 'QI professionals' qualification Center (tentative)' must have the committee to assure fairness, professionalism, and reliability. In addition, 'QI Experts Certification Department (tentative)" to develop standards for the qualification tests and conduct the tests program,' QI experts Education Department (tentative name)" must be able to operate and maintain the QI training for professional qualifications. QI professional qualification exam must be taken by everyone regardless of age, gender, race, occupation, education, and work experience. The examination should include management, leadership, strategic planning and design, quality management, health care information, patient safety culture. Practical training courses can have three step programs; beginning, intermediate and special level. Conclusion : The QI qualification system need strategic approaches for the experts working for healthcare quality improvement and patient safety. It should include the program of standardized contents and test, and operating protocol of the qualificaton system.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2023

Background: The globalization of the healthcare industry and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the global healthcare industry have opened up opportunities for specialized biotech healthcare professionals to seek overseas employment and career advancement. Objects: This study aimed to develop educational content essential for the overseas employment of digital bio-health professionals. Methods: A survey was conducted among 196 participants. Google Forms (Google) were utilized to create and administer the survey, employing purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling method. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 25.0 (IBM Co.), including Cronbach's α and independent sample t-tests to assess significant differences. Results: About half of college students are interested in overseas employment and international careers, while the other half had not. The most common reason for wanting to work or go overseas was "foreign experience will be useful for future activities in Korea." Students who had experience taking courses from the Bio-health Convergence Open Sharing University preferred overseas programs more than those who did not have that experience. In terms of the degree of desire for overseas education courses provided by universities, contents related to human health were the highest, followed by bio-health big data. Conclusion: Many students wanted to work and go overseas if there is sufficient support from the university. The findings in this study suggest that universities are necessary to play an important role in supporting students' aspirations to work or go overseas by providing language education, education and training programs, information on overseas jobs, and mentoring programs.