• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.349-364
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between new-building of rural public health centers and the outpatient medical utilization. Methods : The study subjects were 141 public health centers in rural area. The data were collected from 1995 to 2001, medical utilization and local population, healthcare resources, and economic characteristics were included. In order to evaluate new-building effects, we performed paired t-tests and multivariate regression analyses. Results : The following variables are significant affecting the medical utilization of rural public health centers: urban side location of public health centers(p<0.05), pre- and post-IMF economic crisis(p<0.001), number of medical aid recipients(p<0.01), number of private clinics(p<0.05), workers of public health centers(p<0.001), financial independent level of local governments(p<0.001). In contrast, the existence of new-building and number of the aged 65 and over were not significant variables. Conclusions : We could not find out the positive relationship between the existence of new-building and the volume of medical utilization in rural public health centers. In particular the medical utilization of rural public health centers is significantly affected by IMF economic recession and number of the poor strata, the economically depressed area.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. Method: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. Results: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. Conclusion: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.599-606
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• 2016

Many people feel uncomfortable when fitness center is crowded with people in all at the same time. So we propose exercise machines reservation system for resolving the problem that people feel uncomfortable in fitness center. In this paper, we design and implement the exercise machines reservation system that allows for users to reserve fitness equipments by using a NFC-based smart band. A user can reserve exercise machine using some reservation device. he or she will receive notifications through the smart band about when and which machine she or he will have to use. The user can do exercise with a recommended program, and can use any equipments conveniently even in a peak time because no one is waiting. Also, a manager can save cost through the efficient facility management and provide customized member management. Additionally, manager don't need to purchase other exercise machines or computers.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.41-49
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• 2013

This study finds out the aged consumers' needs on the developing elderly friendly and sensitive bathtub. This bathtub focuses on enhancement of multi-senses and enhancement of health, safety & convenience during bath. The enhancing multi-senses would have four functions; therapy with color and aroma, the massage with micro water bubbles, the visual and auditory with TV & cinema, and the auditory with music and radio. Also, enhancing others of bathtub would have seven functions; emergency bell, blood-pressure check system for health condition, water temperature indicator, keeping water warm, reading a book in that, and controlling of house entrance door and a getting the phone during bath. The aged consumers' needs find throughout a questionnaire survey, and 497 data was analyzed. The main results are as follow. They consider a full bath behavior as a healthcare. They have an intention to purchase or use the elderly and friendly bathtub, and they prefer using it in common facilities to using it at home. They highly need health related function of bathtub, which are massage (64.4%), blood-pressure check system (55.1%) and aroma therapy (45.7%). The emergency bell (67.0%), keeping water warm (62.2%), and water temperature indicator (49.7%), related to safety & information function of bathtub, are needed. Also, they think tolerance for error and low physical effort in bathtub design alternative, opening door and inside sitting support, to be important.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.109-121
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to find out primary policies for reducing PM(particulate matter) as well as for improving the quality of life. Serious particulate matters cause to diverse healthcare and economy problems including business transactions. Unfortunately, until recently there are very few researches regarding the decision-making process for particulate matter policies. This study has applied the AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) method to develop cooperative policy making processes. The upper layer of this hierarchy analysis consists of four parts, i.e., transportation, production facility, living environment, and urban planning management. And each upper layer parts has their own three policies. 25 experts including policy-makers, academic researchers and industrial specialists have decided the primary policies and directions. The most significant PM policy is the mandatory reduction of air pollution and suspension of factory operation in the production industry. The results of this study can lead to guidelines for making environmental policies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.5627-5635
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to determine factors of women's satisfaction of hospital environment following childbirth. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 783 women visited at 101 hospitals for delivery and frequencies, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed. Women's satisfaction was significantly related with personal and environmental factors. Specifically, a kind of patient room, using a shared room regardless of their preference, using family delivery room, planned hospitalization, gestational week at delivery, and hospital locations significantly predicted the variance of women's satisfaction. Therefore, hospital user satisfaction should be carefully understood as a consequence of interaction of person and environment and the level of satisfaction can be represented by the degree of congruency between personal and environmental characteristics. Furthermore, healthcare providers should develop strategies to reduce gaps between personal preferences/will/control and environmental situations, contributing to women's satisfaction with hospital following childbirth.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.2609-2619
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationship among the depression, physical condition, daily living activities, and sleep state among old people at elderly care facilities. The subjects include old people aged 65 or older residing at an elderly care facility. At elderly care facilities, the depression of old people was related with the state of vision, mastication ability, quality of sleep, and sleep state. The degree of relation was high in the group with a poor vision, the one with a bad condition of teeth, the one that considered their quality of sleep to be poor, and the one with somnipathy. Their depression had negative correlations with age and positive ones with mastication ability and assessment of quality of sleep. At elderly care facilities, the depression of old people was highly connected with the state of vision, mastication ability, sleep state, and hearing ability. In short, the depression of old people at elderly care facilities is highly connected to the health state perceived individually. The findings point to the importance of close interest in individual health state and management of old people in poor vision, mastication ability in healthcare and nursing intervention.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.81-91
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to suggest strategies for advancing local-government-based accreditation systems and surveyor training in long-term care facilities in Korea. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature including research papers and official reports issued by governments from the United States, Australia, and Japan was conducted to explore domestic and international policies related to long-term care facility certification and accreditation systems. Results: The USA has two types of care quality assurance systems including mandatory certification (5-star rating system) by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and voluntary accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Australia operates a government-based mandatory accreditation system for all long-term care facilities through the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency. Japan, particularly the Tokyo district, operates a third-party evaluation system that involves the voluntary participation of long-term care facilities. Conclusion: This study provides several strategies to enhance accreditation processes and surveyors'expertise. For instance, motivating facilities to voluntarily participate in accreditation is necessary by 1) providing sufficient and continuous consultations and feedback about how to improve care quality, 2) differentiating accreditation domains and indicators from the national health insurance certification system, and 3) actively utilizing accreditation results and providing incentives.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2020

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) have become a major problem in urinary tract infections (UTIs). The purpose of this study was to compare the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants of FQ resistant UPEC between 1989 and 2010-2014. A total of 681 strains of UPEC clinical isolates was collected from Korean healthcare facility in 1989 (123 strains) and in 2010-2014 (558 strains). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of FQs were determined by agar dilution method. QRDRs (gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE) and PMQR determinants (qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr and qepA) were analyzed polymerase chain reaction and sequencing method. Among 681 isolates, FQ resistant UPEC were 3 strains (2.4%) in 1989 isolates and 220 strains (39.4%) in 2010-2014 isolates. The rate of the FQ resistant UPEC strains in 2010-2014 isolates was increased than that of in 1989 isolates. UPEC isolates from 1989 and 2010-2014 were shown to carry mutations in gyrA (Ser83 and Asp87), gyrB (Ser464 and Thr469), parC (Ser80 and Glu84) and parE (Glu460, Ser458, Ile464 and Leu445). The most common mutations of QRDRs in 1989 isolates were Ser83Leu and Asp87Gly in gyrA and Ser80Ile in parC (2 strains: 66.7%) while those in 2010-2014 isolates were Ser83Leu and Asp87Asn in gyrA and Ser80Il2 and Glu84Val in parC (88 strains: 40.0%). PMQR determinants were detected only in 2010-2014 UPEC strains (47 strains: 21.4%).

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2009

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the needs for hospital-based home care nursing medical services in elder care institutions by analyzing the details and frequency of medical services provided by, and the needs for, hospital based home care nursing in select institutions in Korea. Methods: Seventy-seven staffs at elderly care institutions located throughout the country completed self-report questionnaires between February 1 and May 31, 2009. SPSS ver. 14.0 was used for data analysis regarding frequency and percentage, mean and standard deviation. Results: Forty-eight hospital-based home care nursing medical services in eight domains were identified as being needed in elderly care institutions. The most commonly used medical services were providing instruction in oral drug administration, checking drug beneficial/adverse effects, and administering blood glucose test, while the most needed medical services requiring hospital based home care nursing were complex pressure ulcer care, followed by diabetic foot ulcer management and nutrient injection. Conclusion: The present results should provide fundamental data for better healthcare services with hospital based home care nursing at elderly care institutions as part of a 'win-win' strategy through which medical expenses are reduced, insurance costs are kept stable, and safe and high-quality medical services are provided for residents of elder care institutions. Political decisions intended to promote visits by hospital based home care nurses to elder care institutions would be a prudent course.