• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.678-687
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• 2015

In order to prevent aspiration pneumonia, oral hygiene care is important; thus proper tips for oral hygiene care should be distributed among hospitals and care facilities for elderly. Malpractice of oral hygiene itself may cause aspiration pneumonia. For efficient and effective oral hygiene care, engagement of professionals such as dentists or dental hygienists is essential. At the point where necessity of systemized dental $professionals^{\circ}{\phi}$ involvement at care facilities for elderly is being emerged, it is important to determine less risky approaches for oral health care tailored to elderly. Among many approaches, oral health care practice without usage of water is considered safe, reducing risk of possibility of aspiration. Since this practice is quite easy to implement, many dental professionals may utilize it when practiced at care facilities for elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.106-128
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• 2007

The Korean health care system is under great controversy. Over the last 30 years, main goal of health policies was to pursue equal access of health care services. However, another goal of health policies laid on efficiency and Quality of care, it had lower priorities. Superficially, controversy stems from priority setting among goals of health care system, equity, efficiency and quality. At a deeper level, arguments arise from disagreement and confusion about the values of Korean health care system. One of the value spectrums believes that health care is the basic right of human beings, therefore it should be produced and distributed on need approach, and needs are known to be decided by professionals. If we accept need approach, health care is a pubic good. Another value of spectrums considers that health care should be distributed on demand approach. Demand approach means that health care is a consumption good on the positive economics, while normative judgement believes that health care is a public good. In equity aspect, health care is considered as a public good. Over the last several years, some of scholars proposed health care reform based on the principle of competition which is based on demand approach. Others argue that the competition principle based on demand approach is not appropriate for the reform proposal, because health care has to be approached on need base. If we do not make explicit values we should adopt, consensus building for reform is nearly impossible. From this perspective, this article will review an ideology and reality in health policies in Korea.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.153-164
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• 2024

The second National Patient Safety Comprehensive Plan was developed in 2023. In this, national-level patient safety education is designated as the fifth core task, with the establishment of an educational system for preliminary healthcare professionals included as a detailed task. The foundation for providing patient safety education to preliminary healthcare professionals has now been established. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) published standard guidelines for patient safety education for healthcare professionals. This study introduces the WHO's 'Patient Safety Curriculum Guide: Multi-professional Edition' and shares the experiences and cases of patient safety education conducted for nursing students-that is, future nurses-according to these guidelines. The patient safety and nursing course was designed as an elective in the second semester of the third year. Before the class was conducted, only 6.9% of the students were familiar with the concept of patient safety. Of the 11 WHO topics, this course covers nine (excluding infection control and medicine safety) and is divided into seven modules. Three modules consist of lectures only, whereas the remaining modules involve practical training. To practice patient safety, it is essential for all healthcare professionals to acquire knowledge regarding patient safety during their undergraduate curriculum. This study aimed to provide foundational information regarding patient safety education for nursing and other healthcare students who have not yet undergone patient safety training.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.573-582
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• 2006

Purpose: To find out whether the self-care ability measurement used for visiting health care provide an appropriate standard to select service methods using a Delphi survey and to offer basic data that can improve the measurement. Method: A Delphi survey was done with 39 people consisting of theoretical professionals, field managers, and practitioners engaged in visiting health care. Result: It was found that items and weighted points in the currently used self-care ability measurement needed adjustment. Therefore, a modified evaluation standard was presented by domains, items and detailed items. Finally, the self-care ability measurement is composed of 4 domains, 11 items and 19 detailed items. Conclusion: This study is significant in that it presented an evaluation standard applicable directly to business practice by supplementing problems in the existing self-care ability measurement. This study suggests the need to develop various measurements for elderly households based on community.

• 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.

• 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.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.339-346
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• 2018

Background: Workplace bulling is a pervasive phenomenon with negative consequences for the health of victims and the productivity of organizations. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence and forms of workplace bullying among employees working at the public health-care sector of Cyprus using the Greek version of Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror (LIPT) instrument. Methods: A translation process was followed from the French to the Greek version of LIPT questionnaire. Test-retest reliability expressed by Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.98 indicating excellent reproducibility. Internal consistency reliability assessed by Cronbach ${\alpha}$ coefficient was 0.87 suggesting high reliability. LIPT instrument was distributed among 403 employees working at the primary health-care setting and at the largest public hospital of Cyprus with response rate of 73.4%. Results: Women comprised the majority of participants (71.4%). Mean age was 43.3 years. Prevalence of workplace bulling according to Leymann's definition was 5.9%. Most common forms of bullying were "Being continuously interrupted" (17.2%) and "continuously being given new work assignments" (13.5%). Women were significantly more often exposed to at least one mobbing behavior than men within the previous year (49% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.038), whereas nurses were significantly exposed to at least one mobbing behavior as compared to physicians (53.3% vs. 31.4%, p = 0.004). Conclusion: This was the first study that examined the prevalence of workplace bullying in the public health-care sector by elaborating the Greek version of LIPT instrument. Results showed that workplace bullying is a common and complex phenomenon among health-care organizations.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the recognition on center-based child care health programs for parents with ill children. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study with convenient sampling method was used and 136 parents were recruited from two university hospital outpatient departments and hospitalized wards, and they completed a structured questionnaire. Results: Majority (57.4%) of parents experienced a leaving work early or being absent from their work due to children's illness. Most dissatisfying factors in child care centers were child health management. Most of parents agreed on the need for a center-based child care health program, and wanted a better management of health care by health professionals in child care centers. Conclusion: These results support that there is a great demand for center-based child care health programs. These special programs are needed for reducing a child rearing burden for working mothers and overcoming the low birthrate in Korea. Health-care programs in child-care settings can help parents meet the health needs of their children while reducing absenteeism from work, thereby contributing to job stability. These results suggest discussions of the related policy with child care centers responsible and national health and educational authorities.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.182-201
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• 2001

This Study has attemped to compare the health care systems of South and North Korea. There has been a wide difference in the health care System between the South and North of Korea. In this paper, I have also shown that each health care system has its own unique response to the social, political, and economic conditions of the country. Therefore the author analyzed and summarized the important difference of health care system between the South and the North of Korea as follows. 1. Compared with the Laissez-faire health care system of South Korea, North Korea has the state socialistic health care system which provide health care services to the people free of charge. And the North Korea is marking positive efforts toward the scientification and systemization of Oriental Medicine which is called Dongui-Hak in the North-on the basis of Ju-Che idea. 2. North Korea's health care system appears to be strongly geared toward extensive and preventive treatment and launched the massive sanitary propagation campaign. which have resulted in a great success. North Korea has a system of universal comprehensive care for its population. The government has a central role in planning and regulating health care. 3. The government also employs physicians, nurses, and other professionals to provide health care to patients at public expense. In North Korea, health professionals are government employees. They work for a salary and the system is funded through general taxation. 4. In the North Korea, health services area system of the cities and countre's unit is strictly conducted along with the doctor's area responsibility system. And so without referal card, patients can not use the upper-grade medical facilities. The health care delivery system of North Korea is made up of the fourth level procedue unlike South Korea. 5. General office of Oriental Medicine, Academy of Oriental Medical Science and Guidance Bureau of Oriental Medicine are established in the organization of the Department of Health in the North Korea. And nowadays much emphasis are equally placed on the Oriental Medicine as well as Western Medicine. Both South and North Korea have faced with a critical moment of developing a mutually agreeable and acceptable system of health care for the unified nation.