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An Empirical Study on the Effect of CRM System on the Performance of Pharmaceutical Companies (고객관계관리 시스템의 수준이 BSC 관점에서의 기업성과에 미치는 영향 : 제약회사를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Hyun-Jung;Park, Jong-Woo
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.43-65
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    • 2010
  • Facing a complex environment driven by a decade, many companies are adopting new strategic frameworks such as Customer Relationship Management system to achieve sustainable profitability as well as overcome serious competition for survival. In many business areas, CRM system advanced a great deal in a matter of continuous compensating the defect and overall integration. However, pharmaceutical companies in Korea were slow to accept them for usesince they still have a tendency of holding fast to traditional way of sales and marketing based on individual networks of sales representatives. In the circumstance, this article tried to empirically address current status of CRM system as well as the effects of the system on the performance of pharmaceutical companies by applying BSC method's four perspectives, from financial, customer, learning and growth and internal process. Survey by e-mail and post to employers and employees who were working in pharma firms were undergone for the purpose. Total 113 cases among collected 140 ones were used for the statistical analysis by SPSS ver. 15 package. Reliability, Factor analysis, regression were done. This study revealed that CRM system had a significant effect on improving financial and non-financial performance of pharmaceutical companies as expected. Proposed regression model fits well and among them, CRM marketing information system shed the light on substantial impact on companies' outcome given profitability, growth and investment. Useful analytical information by CRM marketing information system appears to enable pharmaceutical firms to set up effective marketing and sales strategies, these result in favorable financial performance by enhancing values for stakeholderseventually, not to mention short-term profit and/or mid-term potential to growth. CRM system depicted its influence on not only financial performance, but also non-financial fruit of pharmaceutical companies. Further analysis for each component showed that CRM marketing information system were able to demonstrate statistically significant effect on the performance like the result of financial outcome. CRM system is believed to provide the companies with efficient way of customers managing by valuable standardized business process prompt coping with specific customers' needs. It consequently induces customer satisfaction and retentionto improve performance for long period. That is, there is a virtuous circle for creating value as the cornerstone for sustainable growth. However, the research failed to put forward to evidence to support hypothesis regarding favorable influence of CRM sales representative's records assessment system and CRM customer analysis system on the management performance. The analysis is regarded to reflect the lack of understanding of sales people and respondents between actual work duties and far-sighted goal in strategic analysis framework. Ordinary salesmen seem to dedicate short-term goal for the purpose of meeting sales target, receiving incentive bonus in a manner-of-fact style, as such, they tend to avail themselves of personal network and sales and promotional expense rather than CRM system. The study finding proposed a link between CRM information system and performance. It empirically indicated that pharmaceutical companies had been implementing CRM system as an effective strategic business framework in order for more balanced achievements based on the grounded understanding of both CRM system and integrated performance. It suggests a positive impact of supportive CRM system on firm performance, especially for pharmaceutical industry through the initial empirical evidence. Also, it brings out unmet needs for more practical system design, improvement of employees' awareness, increase of system utilization in the field. On the basis of the insight from this exploratory study, confirmatory research by more appropriate measurement tool and increased sample size should be further examined.

A Study on Forecasting Accuracy Improvement of Case Based Reasoning Approach Using Fuzzy Relation (퍼지 관계를 활용한 사례기반추론 예측 정확성 향상에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, In-Ho;Shin, Kyung-Shik
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.67-84
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    • 2010
  • In terms of business, forecasting is a work of what is expected to happen in the future to make managerial decisions and plans. Therefore, the accurate forecasting is very important for major managerial decision making and is the basis for making various strategies of business. But it is very difficult to make an unbiased and consistent estimate because of uncertainty and complexity in the future business environment. That is why we should use scientific forecasting model to support business decision making, and make an effort to minimize the model's forecasting error which is difference between observation and estimator. Nevertheless, minimizing the error is not an easy task. Case-based reasoning is a problem solving method that utilizes the past similar case to solve the current problem. To build the successful case-based reasoning models, retrieving the case not only the most similar case but also the most relevant case is very important. To retrieve the similar and relevant case from past cases, the measurement of similarities between cases is an important key factor. Especially, if the cases contain symbolic data, it is more difficult to measure the distances. The purpose of this study is to improve the forecasting accuracy of case-based reasoning approach using fuzzy relation and composition. Especially, two methods are adopted to measure the similarity between cases containing symbolic data. One is to deduct the similarity matrix following binary logic(the judgment of sameness between two symbolic data), the other is to deduct the similarity matrix following fuzzy relation and composition. This study is conducted in the following order; data gathering and preprocessing, model building and analysis, validation analysis, conclusion. First, in the progress of data gathering and preprocessing we collect data set including categorical dependent variables. Also, the data set gathered is cross-section data and independent variables of the data set include several qualitative variables expressed symbolic data. The research data consists of many financial ratios and the corresponding bond ratings of Korean companies. The ratings we employ in this study cover all bonds rated by one of the bond rating agencies in Korea. Our total sample includes 1,816 companies whose commercial papers have been rated in the period 1997~2000. Credit grades are defined as outputs and classified into 5 rating categories(A1, A2, A3, B, C) according to credit levels. Second, in the progress of model building and analysis we deduct the similarity matrix following binary logic and fuzzy composition to measure the similarity between cases containing symbolic data. In this process, the used types of fuzzy composition are max-min, max-product, max-average. And then, the analysis is carried out by case-based reasoning approach with the deducted similarity matrix. Third, in the progress of validation analysis we verify the validation of model through McNemar test based on hit ratio. Finally, we draw a conclusion from the study. As a result, the similarity measuring method using fuzzy relation and composition shows good forecasting performance compared to the similarity measuring method using binary logic for similarity measurement between two symbolic data. But the results of the analysis are not statistically significant in forecasting performance among the types of fuzzy composition. The contributions of this study are as follows. We propose another methodology that fuzzy relation and fuzzy composition could be applied for the similarity measurement between two symbolic data. That is the most important factor to build case-based reasoning model.

Vegetation Structure and Management Planning of Yongha Gugok in Woraksan National Park (월악산국립공원 용하구곡의 식생구조 및 관리방안)

  • Back, Seung-Jun;Kang, Hyun-Kyung;Kim, Sun-Hwa
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.487-497
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    • 2013
  • This study was conducted to suggest vegetation management plan for Gugok landscape maintenance and improvement by deducing the vegetation landscape factors inherent in Yongha Gugok and understanding vegetation structure through the investigate of existing vegetation and plant community structure of Yongha valley in Woraksan National Park. There were broad and flat rocks, natural layered stones, clear water, light stones, stream, valleys, waterfalls, Pinus densiflora and Acer pseudosieboldianum as a result of deducing natural factors on poetry. There were P. densiflora and A. pseudosieboldianum appeared as one of main vegetation landscape elements. The actual vegetation analysis results were as followed. The natural vegetation occupied 67.5% and it was classified as P. densiflora community, Quercus variabilis community, Q. variabilis-P. densiflora community, Q. variabilis-Q. serrata community, Q. serrata community, Q. mongolica community, Q. mongolica-P. densiflora community, Deciduous broad-leaved tree community. The artificial vegetation(18.7%) was classified as Q. serrata community-Larix kaempferi community, Q. mongolica- Castanea crenata community, L. kaempferi community, L. kaempferi-C. crenata community, fruticeta, L. kaempferi-Q. mongolica community. The grassland area(2.0%) was classified as Miscanthus sinensis community, Phragmites communis community, and other areas were classified as landscape tree planting area, farm, orchard, residential area. The representative vegetation were P. densiflora community, Q. variabilis-Q. serrata community, L. kaempferi community, Deciduous broad-leaved tree community in Yongha Gugok. The species diversity index of Shannon was 0.6274~0.9908 on the whole. Yongha Gugok, as a symbol of succession on confucianism and reverence for nature, should be preserved natural valley landscape being clean and wijungchuksa at the end of Joseon Dynasty and Japanese Colonial era. In this historical and cultural Gugok, vegetation landscape management plan is needed to landscape maintenance with P. densiflora community, density control with L. kaempferi community. And it is considered when natural disasters and artificial damages happened, P. densiflora-oriented vegetation restoration plan should be applied in order to restore.

The Study on the College Students' Career Reasons Affecting on Self-efficacy and Entrepreneurial Intention (대학생의 직업선택 동기가 창업에 대한 자아효능감과 창업의지에 미치는 영향에 대한 연구)

  • Lee, Woo Jin
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.113-124
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    • 2013
  • The government strives to create venture ecosystem for realizing creative economy, at the same time, the Mistry of Education is spending huge resources and efforts to spread entrepreneurship education to universities in Korea. Since entrepreneurship education gives motivation to individuals and creates market innovation and these connect to the growth of national economy through increased efficiency, entrepreneurship education is becoming increasingly more important for realizing creative economy. Based on the importance, entrepreneurship education in the universities is now spreading rapidly. However, college students' entrepreneurial intention has still not been improved comparing to spreading entrepreneurship education. To overcome the poor improvement, entrepreneurship education needs to be driven more systematic direction through the study on the effect of students' motivation and environment. In this study, entrepreneurship as a part of careers perspectives, is analyzed on students' career reasons with entrepreneurial intention. For this study, 918 surveys was collected from 7 universities having entrepreneurship courses in Seoul and Gyeonggi regions in 2012 and analyzed 858 surveys in order to prove the hypothesis. The results disclosed the relationship between students' career reasons and entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention. Motivation factors of self-realization, innovation and role model have positive effect on entrepreneurial self-efficacy following by increased entrepreneurial intention, unlike the common notion financial success and independence factors are not significant with entrepreneurial intention of students. Based on these results having meaningful implication to Korea entrepreneurship education, this study is expected to have contribution to the successful promoting the creative economy realization of our government.

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Non-farming family's Food Habits and Health Behavior Compared with Farming Family living in Rural, Korea (농촌 거주 비농업 종사 가족의 식습관과 건강 행동)

  • Chung Kum iu;Cho Sook Ja;Cho Young Sook;Park Dong yean;Won Hyang Rye;Rhie Seung Gyo
    • The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.139-157
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    • 2005
  • In rural area, as the source of family income is related with the agriculture works, the living condition of non-farming family used to be lower except some family groups with a little higher income. In order to find out the improvement in rural life, data about the health behavior and diet habits of non-farming family were observed. This study evaluated the health behavior and diet habits of non-farming families by comparing them with those of the farming families in rural area. The survey was made by trained interviewers and a total of 1,870 subjects from 9 provinces were questioned to collect the data through sampling probability proportional to size. The non-farming families were $29.6\%$ of the total and they were with no spouse($38\%$), low number of family members(2.86), and aged husband(66.8 years) or wife(58.5 years). $83.1\%$ of the non farming families were having breakfast however, $95.1\%$ of the farming families were doing it. And the number of side dishes in non farming families was low(1-2 kinds: $17.7\%$). Out of non farming families, $47.3\%$ took no nutritional supplements and out of the farming families it was 40.8 $\%$ With regard to having snacks, $22\%$ of non-farmers had snacks daily and it was greater than that of farmers($16.6\%$). But the ratio of non-snack taking of the non-farmers($29.6\%$) was higher than that of farmers($24.5\%$). The sorts of snacks also varied and for farmers it used to be fruit and noodles and for non-farmers it was bread and milk. Instant foods were often selected by $35.6\%$ of non-farmers. Dining out with a frequency of once per month was reported in $23.2\%$ of non-farming families, but $47.6\%$ of them did not dine out at all. In case of food production for family consumption, small portion of non-farmers cultivated pepper($13.3\%$), Korean cabbage ($16.2\%$), and sesame($6.2\%$) but almost all of the farmers cultivated such crops. However, non-farmers produced soybean sprouts($0.7\%$), soybean curd($0.2\%$), and eggs($7.2\%$) and it was compared with the fact that farmers produced soybean sprouts($9.7\%$), soybean curd ($4.6\%$), and eggs($5.1\%$). Non-farmers stocked the fermented foods: Doenjang ($57.8\%$), Kochujang ($56.1\%$), Kanjang ($53.6\%$), Kimchi ($77.9\%$) and Jangajji ($37.2\%$), and this ratios were smaller than those of farmers: Doenjang ($93.6\%$), Kochujang ($92.9\%$), Kanjang ($87.9\%$), Kimchi ($97.7\%$) and Jangajji ($66.7\%$). As to health behavior of the subjects, non-farmers had less medical examinations and bathing than farmers did. Non-farmers and their wives used public bath facilities more often and it may be due to the low condition of bathing facilities. And the ratio of daily alcohol consumption was $15\%$ and it was higher than that of the farmers. Most of the spouse of the farmers did not drink($78\%$), but the wives of the non-farmers were drinking more frequently. More farmers smoked than non-farmers and $45\%$ of male farmers were smokers.

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Development of a Thermoplastic Oral Compensator for Improving Dose Uniformity in Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer (두경부암 방사선치료 시 선량 균일도 향상을 위한 Thermoplastic 구강 보상체의 개발)

  • Choi, Joon-Yong;Won, Young-Jin;Park, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Jong-Won;Moon, Bong-Ki;Yoon, Hyong-Geun;Moon, Soo-Ho;Jeon, Jong-Byeong;Suh, Tae-Suk
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.269-278
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    • 2012
  • Aquaplast Thermoplastic (AT) is a tissue-equivalent oral compensator that has been developed to improve dose uniformity at the common boundary and around the treated area during radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. In order to assess the usefulness of AT, the degree of improvement in dose distribution and physical properties were compared to those of oral compensators made using paraffin, alginate, and putty, which are materials conventionally used in dental imprinting. To assess the physical properties, strength evaluations (compression and drop evaluations) and natural deformation evaluations (volume change over time) were performed; a Gafchromic EBT2 film and a glass dosimeter inserted into a developed phantom for dose verification were used to measure the common boundary dose and the beam profile to assess the dose delivery. When the natural deformation of the oral compensators was assessed over a two-month period, alginate exhibited a maximum of 80% change in volume from moisture evaporation, while the remaining tissue-equivalent properties, including those of AT, showed a change in volume that was less than 3%. In a free-fall test at a height of 1.5 m (repeated 5 times as a strength evaluation), paraffin was easily damaged by the impact, but AT exhibited no damage from the fall. In compressive strength testing, AT was not destroyed even at 8 times the force needed for paraffin. In dose verification using a glass dosimeter, the results showed that in a single test, the tissue-equivalent (about 80 Hounsfield Units [HU]) AT delivered about 4.9% lower surface dose in terms of delivery of an output coefficient (monitor unit), which was 4% lower than putty and exhibited a value of about 1,000 HU or higher during a dose delivery of the same formulation. In addition, when the incident direction of the beam was used as a reference, the uniformity of the dose, as assessed from the beam profile at the boundary after passing through the oral compensators, was 11.41, 3.98, and 4.30 for air, AT, and putty, respectively. The AT oral compensator had a higher strength and lower probability of material transformation than the oral compensators conventionally used as a tissue-equivalent material, and a uniform dose distribution was successfully formed at the boundary and surrounding area including the mouth. It was also possible to deliver a uniformly formulated dose and reduce the skin dose delivery.

Time Resolution Improvement of MRI Temperature Monitoring Using Keyhole Method (Keyhole 방법을 이용한 MR 온도감시영상의 시간해상도 향상기법)

  • Han, Yong-Hee;Kim, Tae-Hyung;Chun, Song-I;Kim, Dong-Hyeuk;Lee, Kwang-Sig;Eun, Choong-Ki;Jun, Jae-Ryang;Mun, Chi-Woong
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.31-39
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    • 2009
  • Purpose : This study proposes the keyhole method in order to improve the time resolution of the proton resonance frequency(PRF) MR temperature monitoring technique. The values of Root Mean Square (RMS) error of measured temperature value and Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR) obtained from the keyhole and full phase encoded temperature images were compared. Materials and Methods : The PRF method combined with GRE sequence was used to get MR temperature images using a clinical 1.5T MR scanner. It was conducted on the tissue-mimic 2% agarose gel phantom and swine's hock tissue. A MR compatible coaxial slot antenna driven by microwave power generator at 2.45GHz was used to heat the object in the magnetic bore for 5 minutes followed by a sequential acquisition of MR raw data during 10 minutes of cooling period. The acquired raw data were transferred to PC after then the keyhole images were reconstructed by taking the central part of K-space data with 128, 64, 32 and 16 phase encoding lines while the remaining peripheral parts were taken from the 1st reference raw data. The RMS errors were compared with the 256 full encoded self-reference temperature image while the SNR values were compared with the zero filling images. Results : As phase encoding number at the center part on the keyhole temperature images decreased to 128, 64, 32 and 16, the RMS errors of the measured temperature increased to 0.538, 0.712, 0.768 and 0.845$^{\circ}C$, meanwhile SNR values were maintained as the phase encoding number of keyhole part is reduced. Conclusion : This study shows that the keyhole technique is successfully applied to temperature monitoring procedure to increases the temporal resolution by standardizing the matrix size, thus maintained the SNR values. In future, it is expected to implement the MR real time thermal imaging using keyhole method which is able to reduce the scan time with minimal thermal variations.

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Recent Progress in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Research - A Review of papers Published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering in 1998 and 1999 - (공기조화, 냉동 분야의 최근 연구 동향 - 1998년 1999년 학회지 논문에 대한 종합적 고찰 -)

  • 이재헌;김광우;김병주;이재효;김우승;조형희;김민수
    • Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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    • v.12 no.12
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    • pp.1098-1125
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    • 2000
  • A review on the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigerating Engineering in 1998 and 1999 has been done. Focus has been put on current status of research in the aspect of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation and building environment. The conclusions are as follows. 1) A review of the recent studies on fluid flow, turbomachinery and pipe-network shows that many experimental investigations are conducted in applications of impingement jets. Researches on turbulent flows, pipe flows, pipe-networks are focused on analyses of practical systems and prediction of system performance. The results of noise reduction in the turbomachinery are also reported. 2) A review of the recent studies on heat transfer analysis and heat exchanger shows that there were many papers on the channel flow with the application to the design of heat exchanger in the heat transfer analysis. Various experimental and numerical papers on heat exchanger were also published, however, there were few papers available for the analysis of whole system including heat exchanger. 3) A review of the recent studies on heat pump system have focused on the multi-type system and the heat pump cycle to utilize treated sewage as the heat source. The defrosting and the frosting behaviors in the fin-tube heat exchanger is experimentally examined by several authors. Several papers on the ice storage cooling system are presented to show the dynamic simulation program and optimal operation conditions. The study on the micro heat pipes for the cooling of high power electronic components is carried out to examine the characteristics of heat and mass transfer processed. In addition to these, new type of separate thermosyphon is studied experimentally. 4) The recent studies on refrigeration/air conditioning system have focused on the system performance and efficiency for new alternative refrigerants. New systems operating with natural refrigerants are drawing lots of attention. In addition to these, evaporation and condensation heat transfer characteristics of traditional and new refrigerants are investigated for plain tubes and also for microfin tubes. Capillary tubes and orifice are main topics of research as expansion devices and studies on thermophysical properties of new refrigerants and refrigerant/oil mixtures are widely carried out. 5) A review of the recent studies on absorption cooling system shows that numerous experimental and analytical studies on the improvement of absorber performance have been presented. Dynamic analysis of compressor have been performed to understand its vibration characteristics. However research works on tow-phase flow and heat transfer, which could be encountered in the refrigeration system and various phase-change heat exchanger, were seemed to be insufficient. 6) A review of recent studies on duct system shows that the methods for circuit analysis, and flow balancing have been presented. Researches on ventilation are focused on the measurement of ventilation efficiency, and variation of ventilation efficiency with ventilation methods by numerous experimental and numerical studies. Furthermore, many studies have been conducted in real building in order to estimate indoor thermal environments. Many research works to get some information for cooling tower design have been performed but are insufficient. 7) A review on the recent studies on architectural thermal environment and building mechanical systems design shows that thermal comfort analysis is sitting environment, thermal performance analysis of Korean traditional building structures., and evaluation of building environmental load have been performed. However research works to improve the performance of mechanical system design and construction technology were seemed to be insufficient.

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Performance Status of Sanitary Management of School Food Service in the Jeonnam Area (전남지역 학교급식의 위생관리 실태)

  • 고무석;정난희;이전옥
    • Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.51-67
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    • 2004
  • This study analyzed the effects of nutrition technicians' hygiene education on cooking workers' performance of hygiene management in order to ensure the security of school meals. The situation of cooking workers' disposition in subject schools was elementary school(51.1%) and middle school(48.9%) and the type of meals was rural area type(54.2%), urban type(36.5%). and island and isolated area type(9.3%). The methods of meals management were single cooking(88.2%) and joint cooking and management(11.8%). The type of distributing meals was distributing in a dining room(93.5%), in a classroom(3.7%), and in both dining room and classroom(2.8%). Nutrition technicians' employment form included regular(53.5%) and daily(88.2%). Their education was junior college graduate(50.2%), university graduate(44.8%). and graduate school students(5.0%). Cooking workers' employment form included daily(88.2%) and regular (11.1%). suggesting that most were regular. Most cooking workers(77.4%) had at least high school certificate. Regarding the situation of cooking workers' disposition in subject schools, the number of student per one cooking worker was found as 91-120(37.2%), 61-90(22.6%). 60 and under(21.l %). 121-15006.7%). and 151 and over(2.5%). Cooking workers' level of performance of hygiene management was post-working stage(66.37/75 marks), pre-working stage(64.22/75 marks). and working stage(20.34/25 marks), The counting of meals articles in a pre-working stage(20.34/25 marks). temperature and required time in a working stage(18.78/25 marks), and machinery equipment and hygiene in a pre-working stage(21.40/25 marks) showed lowest of performance, which suggest poor service of hygiene. Cooking workers' performance of hygiene management by working stage showed the significant difference with school class(p<.001), type of schools with meals(p<.05). state of cooking workers' employment(p<.001), and cooking worker's disposition(p<.05). A working stage showed the significant difference with type of schools with meals(p<.05). A post-working stage showed the significant difference according to type of schools with meals(p<.05), and the methods of meals management(p<.05), and cooking workers' disposition(p<.05). In the execution of hygiene education, individual hygiene was highest(94.8%), followed by the management of machinery equipment and tools(89.7%), food poisoning and microorganism(94.7%), and the method of food treatment(76.4%). A yearly plan of hygiene education included established(83.9%) and not established(l6.1%). Regular education included not executed(25.1%), 2-3 times a month(l6.1%), and more than 4 a month(4.0%) and occasional education was not executed(57.0%), 1-3 times a month(26.3%), and more than 4 a month(l5.7%). In the methods for hygiene education, oral education(95.7%) was used most, followed by demonstration(10.5%), poster/photo(10.5%), video/slide(3.7%), and computer(3.7%). Frequency of improvement and complement of hygiene education included once a month(56.3%), once a year(20.7%), by quarter(l1.5%), and every six months(1l.5%). Newspaper was used most in materials of hygiene education, followed by internet, TV, nutrition technician's reeducation, information exchange between members, educational office's training, and reference book, and educational office's material. and symposium. Cooking workers' assessment of the effect of hygiene education was conducted through observation(56.8%), check table(l5.2%), question(l4.0%), and examination(14.0%). The reason of cooking workers' low level of performance included habitual custom(53.9%), lack of understanding(20.4%), overwork(l4.6%), and lack of knowledge(l1.l%) and the reason of difficulty in hygiene education included lack of time(55.3%), lack of understanding(27.6%), lack of knowledge and information(8.7%), and lack of budget(48.0%).

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Ethnosientific Approach of Health Practice in Korea (한국인의 건강관행에 대한 민속과학적 접근)

  • 김귀분;최연희
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.21 no.3
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    • pp.396-417
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    • 1991
  • In order that nursing care an essential quality of nursing practice be acceptable and satisfying, it is necessary that client's culture be respected and that nursing practice be appropriate to that culture. Since cultural elements are an important influence on health practices and life patterns related to medical treatment, recovery from and prevention of disease, nurses need to have an understanding and knowledge of social and cultural phenomena to aid in the planning of nursing interventions. To understand the health practices surrounding health and illness, the health beliefs and practices of both folk and professional healing systems should be ascertained. Cultural data are required to provide care of high quality to clients and to reduce possible conflict between the client and the nurse. It is nursing's goal to provide clients from various cultures with quality nursing care which is satisfying and valuable. The problem addressed by this study was to identify Korean health practices which would contribute to the planning of professional caring practice with the culture : ultimately this study was intended to make a contribution to the development of the science of nursing. The concrete objectives of this study were ; 1) to identify Korean health practices, 2) to interpret the identitial health practices through traditional cultural thought, and 3) to compare the Korean health practices with those of other cultures. The investigator used the ethnosceintific approach outlined by spradly in a qualitative study. To discover ancestral wisdom and knowledge related to traditional health practeces, the subjects of this study were selected from residents of a small rural mountain village in south west Korea, a place considered to be maintaining and transmitting the traditional culture in a relatively well -preserved state because of being isolated from the modern world. The number of subjects was 18, aged 71 to 89. Research data were collected from January 8 to March 31, 1990. Five categories of health practices were identified : “Manage one's own mind”, “Moderation in all thing”, “Live in accord with nature”, “Live in mutuality with others”, and “Live to the best of one's ability”. Values derived from these ways of thinking from Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism help fashion a traditional way of life, examplified by the saying “Benifience to all”. Korean thought and philosophy is influenced primerily by Confucianism, Confucian principles of ethics, embedded deeply in the peoples' minds, form the idea that “heaven and human being are intimately united” based on concept that “heaven is, so to speak, reason”. Twoe Gae's theory of existential subjectivity develops the concept of self which is the basis of the spirit of reverence in modern Confucian philosophy. The human md is granted from heaven out of the idea of matter, and what control the mind is the spirit of reverence. Hence the idea of “The primacy of the mind" and provided that one should control one's own mind. The precepts of duty to parents, respect for elders and worship of ancestors, and moderation in all behavior put a restraint on life which directed that one live earnestly according to Nature's laws with their neighbors. Not only Confucianism, but also Buddism and Taoism have had an important effect upon these patterns of ideas. When compared with western culture, Korean health practices tend to be more inclusive, abstract and intuitive while westerner health practices found to be mere concrete, practical and personal. Values and beliefs based and pragmatism and existentialism infuence western civilization, Ethical values may be founded on utilitarianism, which considers what is good for the persons in their circumstances as the basis of conduct and takes a serious view of their practical lives including human aspirations rather than an absolute truth. These philosophical and ethical ideas are foundations for health practices related to active, practical and progressive attitudes. This study should be enable nursing not only to understand clients as reflections of the traditional culture when planning nursing practice, but to dovelop health education corresponding to cultural requiments for the purpose of protection against disease and improvement of health, and thus promote sound health practice. Eventually it is hoped that through these processes quality nursing care as the central idea of the science of nursing will be achieved.

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