• 한국병원경영학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

This study aims to examine the effect of integrated health and welfare(IHW) services on medical use and medical expenses in Korean Veteran Hospitals. Data on the volume of medical use and medical expenses were collected from two patient groups of 5 Veterans' Hospitals: the beneficiary group who has received IHW services and the non-beneficiary group who has not. Each group was composed of 265 patients respectively. The results of the study revealed that the volume of home nursing services, home rehabilitation services, ambulatory services have increased significantly, whereas the average length of stay, number of using emergency services, and average medical expenses have decreased after receiving integrated health services in the beneficiary group. In contrast, the non-beneficiary group showed much more increase both in the volume of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as the average medical expenses, compared to those of the beneficiary group. This results imply that the provision of IHW services have positive impacts on the enhancing the effectiveness of the medical resources utilization for the veteran patients.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.243-252
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• 2023

This paper aims to introduce Korea's total current health expenditure (CHE) and National Health Accounts of the year 2021 and their 2022 preliminary figures constructed on the basis of the System of Health Accounts 2011. As CHE includes expenditures for prevention, tracking, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compensation for losses to medical institutions from 2020, the details are also introduced. Korea's total CHE in 2021 is 193.3 trillion won, which is 9.3% of gross domestic product (GDP). The preliminary figure in 2022, 209.0 trillion won, exceeded the 200 trillion won line for the first time, and its "ratio to GDP" of 9.7% is expected to exceed the average of Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development member countries for the first time. Korea's health expenditures, which were well controlled until the end of the 20th century, have increased at an alarming rate since the beginning of the 21st century, threatening the sustainability of national health insurance. The increase in health expenditure after 2020 is partly due to a temporary increase in response to COVID-19. However, when considering the structure of Korea's health insurance price hike, where the ratchet effect of increased medical expenses works particularly strongly, it is unlikely that the accelerating growth trend that has lasted for more than 20 years will stop easily. More aggressive policies to control medical expenses are required in the national health insurance which not only constitutes the main financing sources of the Korean health system but also has the most powerful policy means in effect for changes in the health care provision.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제16권sup1호
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• pp.89-112
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• 2022

An accurate assessment of the recommended calcium (Ca) intake may contribute to reducing the risk of fractures and chronic diseases, ultimately improving quality of life. This review was performed to summarize key findings of Ca studies, investigate the effect of Ca intake on health outcomes, and determine the adequacy of evidence to revise the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) for Ca in 2020. Databases were searched for intervention studies that assessed health outcomes by providing Ca in diets or as supplements. The framework of the systematic review comprised conducting literature searches, data extraction, quality assessment of the literature, and summarizing key findings relevant to set the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for Ca for the 2020 KDRI. The final search was performed in June 2019. A total of 13,309 studies were identified through databases and manual search. Sixtyfive studies were included in the final quality assessment and were summarized according to health indicators. As bone health was used as an indicator of the EAR for Ca, literature reports on bone health were further categorized by the life-cycle stage of the participants. This systematic review did not find new evidence that could be applied to the general Korean adult population, including postmenopausal women, for defining a new EAR for Ca in the 2020 KDRIs. Evidence in most of the reviewed literature was considered weak; however, some evidence was found that could improve the criteria on how the EAR for Ca was determined in children and adolescents. A review of the literature for the 2020 KDRIs for Ca did not find strong evidence in order to change the recommended values of the 2015 KDRIs. More clinical interventions are required among Koreans to strengthen the body of evidence to warrant the revision of the KDRIs.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.102-115
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• 2015

Objectives: A learning organization was designed and implemented on the basis of the selection criteria and essential elements of knowledge translation theory. Methods: The learning organization was designed on the basis of biosafety harmonization criteria and risk management strategy and was implemented as the learning organization for biosafety management by the National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The effect of knowledge translation in the research institutions by evidence-based policy was verified. Results: The result of applying the knowledge translation theory involving all stakeholders showed a positive reaction in establishing and implementing biosafety management strategy and embodied risk assessment criteria and evoked sympathy with the necessity of learning and using of expert knowledge about risk assessment and risk management. All stakeholders initiated voluntarily action toward new human-network construction and communication between similar organizations. The learning organization's capability expanded the base of knowledge translation. Conclusion: These results showed that a learning organization could enhance the autonomous safety management system by diffusion of knowledge translation.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2002

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke(ETS) increases the risk of lung cancer and other diverse health effect for nonsmokers. Health risk assessment of nonsmokers related to ETS exposure requires large and exact data of ETS exposure to nonsmokers. This study presented the data of ETS exposure to workers at three category of restaurants(Korean restaurant, coffee shop, wine shop) in Seoul. Markers of ETS exposure measured in this study were area and personal NO$_2$, area and urine nicotine, area respiratory suspended particulate(RSP) and urine cotinine. The mean concentration of RSP and nicotine of all restaurant indoor samples was 177.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥(range:75.3~317.0$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥) and 7.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥(range:0~57.3$\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥). The mean concentration of urine cotinine measured for the biomarker of ETS exposure was 77.3ng/mL(range:17.3~174.6ng/mL). In all measurements, the concentration of ETS markers at the wine shop was higher than those at other restaurants. The correlation coefficient among the ETS markers measured in the study was significant between area RSP and nicotine concentration and between area NO$_2$and nicotine concentration.

• 보건의료산업학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives : Medical service specialization could have positive effects on their profits and medical service quality. This study was to examine the relationship between medical service specializations and operational performance in hospitals. Methods : We used the National Inpatient Sample data provided by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2010 to 2013. The hospital operational performance was determined by measuring the specialization level of the hospital based on DRGs. Results : The information theory index was 2.38 in 2010, 2.38 in 2011, 2.37 in 2012, and 2.37 in 2013. A multiple regression model was constructed which showed that if the specialization level becomes higher, it decreases the length of stay per case with an increase in medical expense. Conclusions : Differentiation and concentrated medical service specialization strategy have had a positive effect on the operational performance of hospitals.

• 한국시스템다이내믹스연구
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.25-45
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to estimate the effects of healthy city policies on residents' walking. In order to estimate promotion of walking rates by healthy cities policies, it developed System dynamics(SD)-based model which showed causal relationships among urban design, public health policies, and walking levels. SD technique is useful for future forecast and policy impact assessment. The spatial units of the SD-based system for policy impact assessment included 66 cities, counties, and communities in Seoul Metropolitan Area. The system simulation was planned to be run for 21 years from 2009 to 2030. For this study, 3 alternatives were proposed with combinations of length of bike lanes, number of bus routes, crime rates, self-reported good health status rates, and obesity rates. As a result of simulations, residents' participation rates for walking were increased from 1.00% to 9.98%. This study contributes to better understanding the benefits of healthy cities that are associated with individual walking. It further provided useful insights into planners' role in promoting health. The paper concluded with a discussion on future research opportunities and implications for public policies in urban and transportation and public health.

• 임상간호연구
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.323-332
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the terminal care stress of nurses in intensive care units in terms of their death perception, attitude toward terminal care, and mental health. Methods: This descriptive study collected data from 118 nurses in intensive care units in one tertiary referral hospital and three general hospitals. The instruments used in the study were the Terminal Care Stress Assessment Tool, the View of Life and Death Scale, the Frommelt Attitudes toward Nursing Care of the Dying Scale (FATCOD), and the Mental Health Assessment Tool. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between terminal care stress and death perception (r=.31, p<.001). The factors significantly influencing the terminal care stress of the participants included gender (β=.33, p<.001), religion (β=.24, p=.004), and death perception (β=.35, p<.001), and the overall explanatory power was 23.1% (F=12.73, p<.001). Conclusion: To decrease terminal care stress among nurses, establishing the death perception of nurses based on value clarification about death may be necessary. Furthermore, this study suggests an intervention study examining the effect of an education program on terminal care stress among ICU nurses.

• 한국대기환경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국대기환경학회 2006년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.565-566
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• 2006

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.261-270
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• 2009

To make measurable regulatory decisions of chemicals, it is necessary to consider their effect on the human health and ecosystem. In principle, this is based on relevant toxicity studies conducted by accepted guidelines. However, current regulatory programs in various countries confront challenges related to risk assessment of large numbers of chemicals within the restricted resources and time. Therefore there is a need for more efficient approach to limit the number of tests to be conducted. This promotes the development of powerful nontesting methods (e.g. (Q)SARs) and permits to use the predicted data for regulatory purpose. In this article, current status of non-testing methods in various chemical regulatory programs was reviewed in terms of their application and research activity on them. Finally, their usefulness associated with development of domestic regulatory program was suggested.