• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2013

Backgrounds: Occupations are grouped on the basis of similarity in tasks and duties performed. Standard occupational classification (SOC) is a tool for organizing all professions into a clearly defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties undertaken in the respective jobs. Objectives: The major objective of this study is to comprehensively review how a SOC system is used in occupational and safety fields such as surveillance, exposure monitoring, occupational epidemiological study, management of carcinogens and analysis of occupational accidents. Methods: We summarized the cases, policies and regulations used in SOC systems in advanced countries and as they appear in articles Results: We found that SOC systems have been widely used in various areas of occupational safety and health in the US, the UK, Finland, and the EU. In general, it is highly common to use SOC in the analysis of occupational accidents and diseases and to identify factors causing those accidents. The SOC system is also used not only for surveillance of exposure to hazardous agents and occupational health, but to manage carcinogens. In order to adjust the effects of a particular job, SOC is used in the general population health area. The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) has never used or introduced an SOC system. There have been no cases of the application of a SOC system to either the occupational safety and health field or to health surveillance for the general population in Korea. Conclusions: We suggested a need to introduce an SOC system in several occupational safety and health activities, such as work environment measurement, analysis of occupational accidents, specific physical examination and surveillance systems, etc.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.235-245
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate how wisdom tooth extraction is perceived, and to correct erroneous perceptions thereby establishing proper awareness. Methods: We conducted a survey on how wisdom tooth extraction was perceived among adults in 20 households in Seoul and Gyeonggi province starting in December, 2016. Results: A review of the factors influencing the perception of wisdom tooth extraction showed that the regression model was statistically significant and the model had an explanatory power of 8.3%. It was also found that those in their 20s or younger had saw a lower level of perceived oral health, and a higher level in perception in wisdom tooth extraction. Moreover, students, housewives, and professions showed a lower perception of wisdom tooth extraction. Conclusions: It is necessary to have an education program for adults aged 60 or older who have few opportunities for oral health education.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2016

Although the state of medicine in North Korea is of great interest, there is little information, if any, about the present state of medicine in North Korea. Even North Korea's laws and regulations on medicine are not publicly available. It is plausible that the dictator's commands or the policy of the Communist Party may be superior to the nation's constitution and laws on medical education and much more. Information is only available from a limited number of publications and mainly from the statements of refugees, which differ greatly among themselves. No one refugee could provide authoritative data or information because they were never in the position to see the larger picture or have experience over the long term. However, what is known is that the major health professions in North Korea include physicians (medical doctors), stomatologists (oral doctors), 'Koryo' doctors (doctors of Korean traditional medicine), midwives, and nurses. The names and the founding year of each of the regular medical schools are listed along with the change and restoration of names of schools. It is known that there have been quasi-physicians and semi-physicians. However, the reasons for any changes that have taken place also remain unknown. The educational system, curriculum, and even the number of years of training needed to qualify to become a physician have varied from time to time.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the history, current status, and regulation of complementary medicine in Australia. Methods : To investigate complementary medicine in Australia, we searched domestic and overseas academic databases, and websites of public and private organizations related to the Australian health care. Results : Complementary medicine consists of numerous services, among which massage and chiropractic care are significantly utilized by Australians. Since 2010, Australian healthcare practitioners, in the field of complementary medicine, have been supervised by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Those who AHPRA is responsible for managing acupuncturists, chiropractors, and osteopaths. Other professions are regulated by their own respective associations. Not only aforementioned services offered by specialists, but also consumption of oral supplements accounts for considerable portion of complementary medicine in Australia. Complementary medicine products, vitamins, and minerals are managed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). In terms of insurance policy, the reimbursement of complementary medicine expenses in Australia is covered by the public healthcare insurance system, Medicare. Medicare covers acupuncture, chiropractic, and osteopathy services. Other complementary therapies are continuously reviewed to update their coverage under this scheme. Conclusion : In Australia, practitioner qualifications, education standards, and scope of procedures related to complementary medicine are systematically managed through legal regulations of the federal and state governments.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.551-557
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• 2021

The purpose is qualitative study on the search for professionalism in the teaching profession among students who are completing the nursing teaching profession. The participants of this study consisted of 14 students who are completing teaching positions at University H located in S city and University M located in province K. For data collection, a group was formed on the professions of public health teachers, and interviews and self-reports were prepared. The collected data were analyzed by Colaizzi's phenomenological method. As a result of analyzing the professionalism of nursing students' health teachers, 29 meaningful statements were derived from 3 categories, 7 topics, and theme clusters. The three categories were derived as 'recalling the first meeting with the health teacher', 'professional intuition of the public health teacher in the conventional wisdom', and 'professional intuition as a teacher'. The results of this study were provided to understand the professional intuition of public health teachers, and it was possible to confirm the opportunity to have various social participation as nurses. In addition, it is expected that it will be used as basic data for students' career guidance and counseling.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the report conducted in 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Welfares on influences of private insurance coverage on the use of Korean medicine. Methods : We analyzed Ministry of Health and welfares report on the use and consumption of Korean medicine to fit the purpose of this study. Comparison between private insurance holders and non-holders was made in the areas of sociodemographic characteristics, patient distribution by disorders, total number of disorders and existence of complex diseases, general perception of Korean medicine, and medical expenses and visits. Logistic regression analysis was made to verify the private insurance coverage. Results : Among sociodemographic characteristics, significant differences were observed in age distribution, education, professions, income level, and housing factors. But genders, area of residence, and marital status didn't show significant differences. Other significant differences including side effects, experience with Korean medicine, herbal medicine and acupuncture treatments, and main visiting facilities were shown between private insurance holders and non-holders. Majority of disorders treated with Korean medicine were musculoskeletal issues, and criteria of number of disorders, multiple diseases factors, and medical expenses/visits showed significant differences between the two groups. Conclusions : Summarizing above results indicate that holding a private insurance in addition to National Health Insurance contributes significant influences on the use of Korean medicine.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2024

Background: Several studies have found an association between cervical spinal mobilizations (CSMob) and cervical spinal manipulations (CSM) on pain perception, disability, and satisfaction. However, choosing the proper technique continues to be a challenge for many practitioners. Objectives: To study the effects of a single session of cervical spinal mobilization versus cervical spinal manipulation on pain, disability, and satisfaction. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Methods: 36 subjects with acute and non-specific mechanical neck pain were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (CSMob, CSM, or control). Outcome measures using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Numeric Pain Rate Scale (NPRS), and Global Rate of Change (GROC) were quantified at baseline, 5-minutes post, and 4 days post corresponding intervention. Results: The CSM group showed significant increase in GROC (p=0.025) compared to the CSMob and control groups (p=0.472 and p=0.176 respectively) over time. There was a significant decrease in NPRS for the CSM and CSMob groups (p=0.002 and p=<0.001) and a non-significant decrease in NPRS (p=0.642) in the control group over time. Similarly, there was a significant decrease in NDI for the CSM and CSMob groups (p=<0.001 and p=<0.001) and a non-significant decrease in NDI (p=0.084) in the control group over time. Conclusion: Our study findings suggest that skilled manual therapy interventions can be a viable and effective treatment option for reducing neck pain, disability, and perceived favorable change following a single session on subjects with acute, non-specific mechanical neck pain.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.43-57
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• 1997

Educational goals of SPH were two-fold : One was to train a health professions who should take charge of a leading roles, another were to educate the researchers of public health. There were strong demands to evaluate whether these goals had been effectively achieved through the master's course of SPH or not. According to the educational goals of SPH, public health is an applied science to be applicable to health-related fields. The curriculum of SPH has to be built under this principle and be evaluated by someone regularly. Who evaluates that? The most pertinent appraiser is the graduates of public health currently working at health-related jobs. It was the purpose of the study to let the graduates evaluate their education and the curriculum that they had undertaken during master's course at SNU. If the results of the evaluation by the graduates were not satisfactory, we should find the actual causes of low scored apraisal and reform the curriculum of SPH as the process of problem solving. During September and October 1996, a postal survey was undertaken of the 293 SNU graduates of public health who had been engaged in the health related jobs. As 198 graduates answered out of 293, the response rate was 67.6%. The questionnaire was designed to ascertain how well the SNU master's course of public health had helped their practice. The SAS package was used for statistical analysis and $x^2$-test as a test of statistical significance. Major findings of the study were summarized as follows: $\cdot$ The health related abilities consisted of three categories, which were health administration abilities composed of 14 items, health education abilities composed of 5 items, health research abilities composed of 10 items. $\cdot$ The respondents had acquired 'Worldwide trends of health policy', 'evaluation concepts of health projects', 'interpersonal relationships in professional life', and 'communication through writings' moe than other detailed items in the category of health administration abilities. $\cdot$ 'Establishment of educational and learning golas' was the most acquired item of 5 detailed items of health education abilities. $\cdot$ Respondents indicated that they had acquired ability 'to search reference', ' to understand health problems', 'to establish study plannings', and 'to collect health related data' more than other detailed items in the category of health research abilities.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2016

Background: Shift work and/or sleep quality may affect health. We investigated whether shift work and sleep quality, separately and jointly, were associated with abnormal levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), and low-and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in 360 police officers (27.5% women). Methods: Triglycerides, TC, and high-density lipoprotein were analyzed on the Abbott Architect; low-density lipoprotein was calculated. Shift work was assessed using City of Buffalo payroll work history records. Sleep quality (good, ${\leq}5$; intermediate, 6-8; poor, ${\geq}9$) was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. A shift work + sleep quality variable was created: day plus good sleep; day plus poor sleep; afternoon/night plus good; and poor sleep quality. Mean values of lipid biomarkers were compared across categories of the exposures using analysis of variance/analysis of covariance. Results: Shift work was not significantly associated with lipids. However, as sleep quality worsened, mean levels of triglycerides and TC gradually increased but only among female officers (age- and race-adjusted p = 0.013 and 0.030, respectively). Age significantly modified the association between sleep quality and TC. Among officers ${\geq}40$ years old, those reporting poor sleep quality had a significantly higher mean level of TC ($202.9{\pm}3.7mg/dL$) compared with those reporting good sleep quality ($190.6{\pm}4.0mg/dL$) (gender- and race-adjusted p = 0.010). Female officers who worked the day shift and also reported good sleep quality had the lowest mean level of TC compared with women in the other three categories (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Sleep quality and its combined influence with shift work may play a role in the alteration of some lipid measures.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2019

Background: Police officers' stress perception, frequency of stressful events (stressors), and police work characteristics may contribute to poor sleep quality through different mechanisms. Methods: We investigated associations of stress severity (measured by stress rating score) and frequency of stressors with sleep quality and examined the influence of police work characteristics including workload, police rank, prior military experience, and shift work on the associations. Participants were 356 police officers (256 men and 100 women) enrolled in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study from 2004 to 2009. A mean stress rating score and mean frequency of stressors occurring in the past month were computed for each participant from the Spielberger Police Stress Survey data. Sleep quality was assessed using the global score derived from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index survey. Linear associations of the stress rating score and frequency of stressors with sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index global score) were tested. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking status were selected as potential confounders. Results: The stress rating score was positively and independently associated with poor sleep quality (${\beta}=0.17$, p = 0.002). Only workload significantly modified this association (${\beta}=0.23$, p = 0.001 for high workload group; p-interaction = 0.109). The frequency of stressors was positively and independently associated with poor sleep quality (${\beta}=0.13$, p = 0.025). Only police rank significantly modified the association (${\beta}=0.007$, p = 0.004 for detectives/other executives; p-interaction = 0.076). Conclusion: Both police officers' perception of stress severity and the frequency of stressors are associated with poor sleep quality. Stress coping or sleep promotion regimens may be more beneficial among police officers reporting high workloads.