• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.10-19
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate that the prevalence of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and occupational environmental factors that contribute to the developing of PTSD in workers who worked in emergency room in Korea. Methods: This study is a multicenter cross-sectional study that was conducted in three emergency rooms. Data was collected by self-response method through questionnaire. The Impact Event Scale-Revised was used to screen the high-risk group of PTSD. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with the developing of high-risk group of PTSD. Results: Total 211 subjects responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 170 subjects experienced psychological trauma event (PTE) in the working environment. And 60 subjects classified as high risk group of PTSD, so a prevalence of high risk group for PTSD was 28.4%. Factors related to the high risk group of PTSD were the frequency of psychological trauma events experienced over the past 1 year and the high score of QIDS-SR16. Conclusion: The prevalence of high risk group for PTSD among emergency room workers in Korea is very high. This may adversely affect the safety of patients, so early screening and intervention are necessary.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.77 no.1
• /
• pp.137-149
• /
• 2021

In engineering design, the axial equivalent elastic modulus of laminated FRP pipe was mostly calculated by the average elastic modulus method or the classical laminated plate theory method, which are based on relatively simplified assumptions, and may be not accurate enough sometimes. A new analytical calculation method for the axial equivalent elastic modulus of laminated FRP pipe was established based on three-dimensional stress state. By comparing the results calculated by this method with those by the above two traditional analytical methods and the finite element method, it is found that this method for the axial equivalent elastic modulus fits well not only for thin-walled pipes with orthotropic layers, but also for thick-walled pipes with arbitrary layers. Besides, the influence of the layer stacking on the axial equivalent elastic modulus was studied with this method. It is found that a proper content of circumferential layer is beneficial for improving the axial equivalent elastic modulus of the laminated FRP pipe with oblique layers, and then can reduce its material quantity under the premise that its axial stiffness remains unchanged. Finally, the meso-mechanical mechanism of this effect was analyzed. The improving effect of circumferential layer on the axial equivalent elastic modulus of the laminated FRP pipe with oblique layers is mainly because that, the circumferential fibers can restrain the rigid body rotations of the oblique fibers, which tend to cause the significant deformations of the pipe wall units and the relatively low axial equivalent elastic modulus of the pipe.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.60-70
• /
• 2021

Recently, with the development of technologies for the fourth industrial revolution, convergence and complex technology are being applied to aircraft, electronic home appliances and mobile devices, and the number of parts used is increasing. Increasing the number of parts and the application of convergence technologies such as HW (hardware) and SW (software) are increasing the No Defect Found (NDF) phenomenon in which the defect is not reproduced or the cause of the defect cannot be identified in the subsequent investigation systems after the discovery of the defect in the product. The NDF phenomenon is a major problem when dealing with complex technical systems, and its consequences may be manifested in decreased safety and dependability and increased life cycle costs. Until now, NDF-related prior studies have been mainly focused on the NDF cost estimation, the cause and impact analysis of NDF in qualitative terms. And there have been no specific methodologies or examples of a working-level perspective to reduce NDF. The purpose of this study is to present a practical methodology for reducing NDF phenomena through data mining methods using quantitative data accumulated in the enterprise. In this study, we performed a cluster analysis using market defects and design-related variables of mobile devices. And then, by analyzing the characteristics of groups with high NDF ratios, we presented improvement directions in terms of design and after service policies. This is significant in solving NDF problems from a practical perspective in the company.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.47-57
• /
• 2020

This paper aims to show the development pattern of the impact of artificial intelligence on the arts and culture according to the scenario analysis, and suggests the direction of the arts and culture content industry in the future. We assume four scenarios based on creativity of artificial intelligence beyond humans and controllability for them, then explore the path leading to each scenario. In addition, for the most ideal route to coexist with artificial intelligence, we propose the provision of safety system for human and artificial intelligence, innovation of the education system, and preemptive investment from now on.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.21-28
• /
• 2021

Since 2001, the Pangyo district multipurpose rural water development project has been promoted as a new target project for stable supply of agricultural water and improvement of the living environment of rural areas in Seocheon-gun. Detailed data analysis and logic must be reinforced, focusing on the items reorganized by the reorganization of the preliminary feasibility study. The purpose of this study is to promote the smooth promotion of projects by conducting a policy effect assessment following the reorganization of the preliminary feasibility study system. This study conducted a policy assessment of agricultural infrastructure improvement project for preliminary feasibility study. The policy assessment is divided into three parts: project implementation conditions, policy effects and special assessments. The newly established policy effect is to assess the job effects, living conditions impact, environmental evaluation, and safety evaluation that contribute to the quality of life. Sixteen policy assessment items were selected and evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively. The results of the study are expected to provide basic data for the comprehensive judgment of the preliminary feasibility study of agricultural infrastructure improvement project in the future.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.385-390
• /
• 2021

This study aims to provide primary data for R&D on rollator-walking frame through researching the usability test of the rollator-walking frame and the effect of rollator-walking frames on the lives of senior citizens. This study surveyed 60 senior citizens living in Sungnam City in South Korea. As the result of the usability test, we can find users' dissatisfaction with the folding, weight, shape of backrest and material of chair. The survey shows that the frequency of outdoor activity is mostly increased by the convenience of product. However, the inconvenience while using facilities, such as elevators or public transportations, gave a significant impact on the decrease in going out experiences. Therefore, for better outside lifestyle of senior citizens, it is important to improve the function of the product, however, we need to make improvement of urban infrastructure.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.101-113
• /
• 2022

The intensification and acceleration of severe competition among companies due to the advancement of the service industry have raised the quality level of services required by consumers, and these circumstances also have a significant impact on the public fields' service provision environment, which has to take into account the rapidly changing technologies along with the special situation of COVID-19. Thus, this study examines the applicability of the educational material based on the framework for public service quality management in accordance with 『ISO18091:2019』 developed by MOIS(the ministry of interior and safety), through a survey after training workers in public institutions. This study also provides some implications and guidelines that should be considered to increase the level of public service quality from the following three perspectives: i) data utilization and verification, ii) broadness of public services, and iii) the size and capability of service provider according to the results of field studies conducted with public sector employees who participated in actual improvement activities.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.2230-2243
• /
• 2022

The tin tailing processing industry in Malaysia has operated with minimal regard and awareness for material management and working environment safety, impacting the environment and workers in aspects of radiation and heavy metal exposure. RIA was conducted where environmental samples were analyzed, revealing concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K between the range of 0.1-10.0, 0.0-25.7, and 0.1-5.8 Bq/g respectively, resulting in the AED exceeding UNCEAR recommended value and regulation limit enforced by AELB (1 mSv/y). Ra_eq calculated indicates that samples collected pose a significant threat to human health from gamma-ray exposure. Assessment of heavy metal content via pollution indices of soil and sediment showed significant contamination and enrichment from processing activities conducted. As and Fe were two of the highest metals exposed both via soil ingestion with an average of 4.6 × 10^-3 mg/kg-day and 1.4 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day, and dermal contact with an average of 5.6 × 10^-4 mg/kg-day and 6.0 × 10^-4. mg/kg-day respectively. Exposure via accidental ingestion of soil and sediment could potentially cause adverse non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health effect towards workers in the industry. Correlation analysis indicates the presence of a relationship between the concentration of NORM and trace elements.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.164-172
• /
• 2022

Background: The purpose of this study was to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on emergency departments (EDs) in patients under the age of 18 years with respiratory disease. Also, we analyzed similarities and differences in patients including revisit before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study population was respiratory patients under the age of 18 years who visited all 403 EDs in Korea between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020, using the National Emergency Department Information System Database. The primary outcome was the number of respiratory patients according to age, sex, the type of EDs, season, Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) levels, the result of ED, and length of stay. The secondary outcome was the number of revisit respiratory patients within 72 hours. We calculated the risk-adjusted revisit rates according to the KTAS level using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: The number of ED visits decreased from 274,526 in 2019 to 79,007 in 2020; this number was 71.2% lower than that before COVID-19. In spring 2020, this number was 90.1% lower than during the same period in 2019. For the revisit rate in the study population, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.22 (1.05-1.41) in 2019 and 1.39 (1.07-1.81) in 2020. Conclusion: Implementing appropriate emergency care policies in severe respiratory patients would have contributed to improving the safety of reducing in revisit rate.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.272-281
• /
• 2022

Background: The constant consumption of chemical products owing to expanding industrialization has led to an increase in public interest in chemical substances. As the production and disposal processes for these chemical products cause environmental problems, regional information on the hazard level of chemical substances is required considering their effects on humans and in order to ensure environmental safety. Objectives: This study aimed to identify hazard contribution and spatiotemporal characteristics by region and chemical by calculating a hazard-based result score using pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) data. Methods: This study calculated the chemical discharge and hazard-based result score from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, analyzed their spatiotemporal patterns, and identified hotspot areas where chemical discharges and high hazard-based scores were concentrated. The amount of chemical discharge and hazard-based risk scores for 250 cities and counties across South Korea were calculated using PRTR data from 2011 to 2018. Results: The chemical discharge (high densities in Incheon, Daegu, and Busan) and hazard-based result scores (high densities in Incheon, Chungcheongnam-do, and some areas of Gyeongsangnam-do Province) showed varying spatial patterns. The chemical discharge (A, B) and hazard-based result score (C, D) hotspots were identified. Additionally, identification of the hazard-based result scores revealed differences in the type of chemicals contributing to the discharge. Ethylbenzene accounted for ≥80% of the discharged chemicals in the discharge hotspots, while chromium accounted for >90% of the discharged chemicals in the hazard-based result score hotspots. Conclusions: The RSEI hazard-based result score is a quantitative indicator that considers the degree of impact on human health as a toxicity-weighted value. It can be used for the management of industries discharging chemical substances as well as local environmental health management.