• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 2024

Background: Depressive disorders can be categorized into daily depression and clinical depression. The experience of depressive disorder can increase health care utilization due to decreased treatment compliance and somatization. On the other hand, the clinical depression group may also experience social prejudice associated with the illness, which can limit their access to health care utilization. In terms of the significance of health care utilization as a factor in individual and social issues, this study aims to compare the health care utilization of the clinical depression group with that of the non-depressed group and the daily depression group. Methods: The analysis utilized the inverse probability of treatment weighting based on the generalized propensity score. Results: As a result of the analysis, clinical depression and daily depression were higher among women, low-income groups, individuals with low education levels, and so forth. The clinical depression group was also higher among individuals who were not economically active, did not have private health insurance, or had multiple chronic diseases. The number of outpatient department visits in the depression group was significantly higher than in the non-depressed group. In addition, the number of outpatient department visits for the clinical depression group was significantly higher than that for the daily depression group. Outpatient medical expenses were higher in the depression group than in the non-depressed group, and there was no significant difference between the clinical depression group and the daily depression group. Conclusion: Health care utilization was higher in the depression group than the non-depressed group, it was also higher in the clinical depression group than the daily depression group.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-155
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to identified the relationship between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, subjective health, and health-related quality of life among the middle-aged and elderly population in Korea. Methods: Adults aged 40 or older were extracted from the total 22,559 respondents to the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VIII, and secondary analysis was conducted on a total of 6,659 middle-aged and elderly people with no missing values. Logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea risk factors and subjective health as well as quality of life. Results: The subjective health status decline in the high-risk group compared to the non-risk group for obstructive sleep apnea was statistically significantly higher, with an odds ratio of 1.84 (p<0.001). The health-related quality of life was also statistically significantly lower by 0.02 points (β, -0.02; p<0.001). As a result of subgroup analysis on specific variables, the association between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and subjective health and health-related quality of life was statistically significant depending on gender, sleep time, presence of depression, household income, and number of household members. Based on the obstructive sleep apnea risk group, women had a higher correlation with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life scores than men. Sleeping time of more than 8 hours or less than 6 hours was more associated with low subjective health and lower health-related quality of life score than sleeping time of 6-8 hours. Patients with depression were more likely to have low subjective health than those without depression. The lower the household income level and the smaller the number of household members, the higher the association with low subjective health and the lower the health-related quality of life score. Conclusion: It is essential to recognize that the risk of obstructive sleep apnea not only directly affects sleep disorders but also impacts individuals' subjective health and quality of life. Consequently, social support and education should be provided to raise awareness of this issue. Particularly, programs for preventing and managing obstructive sleep apnea should target vulnerable groups such as women, individuals in single-person households, low household income, and those with depression, aiming to improve their subjective health and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.228-238
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• 1996

This study was designed to assess the effect of a meal service for home-staying urban elderly people with low-income on their protein nutrition status and serum lipids. One hundred and eighty three subjects, who had already completed the first nutritional survey were assigned to two groups : meal served(served) and non-meal served (non-served). A meal approximately containing one half of the RDA for energy, protein, calcium and iron was served as lunch everyday to served group. After 6 months of meal service, the second nutritional survey was done and changes of parameters were analyzed with paired t-test. Served females showed significantly increased intake of energy while non-served females showed significantly decreased intakes of energy, protein and fat after 6 months. Served males were observed with significantly higher intake of energy, fat, vitamin A, niacin and ascorbic acid, whereas intake of vitamin A was lower in non-served males. Arm circumference of both served and non-served females were significantly lowered after 6 months. Mean DBP of served males was significantly lower, while SBP of served females was significantly higher after 6 months of meal service. Serum total protein, serum albumin, serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly increased within normal range regardless of gender and meal service. But HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in only served elderly subjects after 6 months. (Korean J Community Nutrition 1(2) : 228-238, 1996)

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.104-114
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• 2015

Seomin has been used frequently in mass media and political discussion. However, who is Seomin, how to define Seomin, and whether Seomin and middle class are different has been rarely discussed. This study conducted both national level of survey and in-depth interviews and explored how to define Seomin and who respondents think as Seomin. The majority of respondents consider themselves as Seomin and that monthly income is the most important criteria to define Seomin. Seomin was considered as those who have high school education and 200~300(million won) monthly income, live in a rented house, and work as a small-scale self-employer, skilled laborer, and low level of white collar workers. Also, Seomin is a precarious group which can achieve upward or downward mobility and is located between low and middle class. Those who have Seomin identity tend to have pride in their social status and hope for upward mobility rather than depreciate their social status or envy the middle class. In order for Seomin to be able to achieve upward mobility and to maintain pride in current status, diverse social policies are needed. Further analyses on examining characteristics and policy needs of Seomin are needed.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.299-319
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• 2014

This study explored the low-income mothers' view about the child rearing community, "Love of Children". The child rearing community, "Love of Children", was formed by the members who participated in Seesawswing parenting education since 2009. The participants of this study were 14 members of "love of Children" out of 51. Using content analysis, the data were analyzed. The results were as follows. First, mothers in the child rearing community, "Love of Children" were proud of graduating from Seesaw swing parenting education. The sense of accomplishment made them continuously participate in the child rearing community. Second, the members of the child rearing community, "Love of Children", did several activities, such as getting-along, sharing information, serving children and mothers in thelocal community, and learning about child caring. Third, mothers in the child rearing community, "Love of Children", thought that this group gave them opportunities to think reflectively about themselves and to experience meeting with others. Also, they thought that it gave them a sense of empowerment.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.99-110
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors related to prostate disease and follow-up procedure on health examination program in Gangwon-do. Methods: The studied population was 16,501 male aged 40 or more, who underwent screening tests for prostatic disease in 2011 health examination program designed for the low income residents in Gangwon-do. The screening tests included prostate specific antigen (PSA), international symptom score (IPSS), and maximal flow rate (Qmax). We conducted chi-square test for trend, two independent samples t-test, and binary logistic regression to find out the relationship between prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia and risk factors such as age, PSA level, and IPSS. Results: The number of subjects who turned out positive for PSA level (> 3.8ng/ml) was 971 men accounting for 5.9%. The result of post survey on them showed that 511 subjects (52.6%) got the urology check-up: 156 (30.5%) were diagnosed as normal, 286 (56.0%) as benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 69 (13.5%) as prostate cancer. The detection rate for prostate cancer was 8.8% when PSA level was between 3.81 and 9.99g/ml, and was 30.6% when PSA level was more than 10.00ng/ml. The rates of further testing varied depending on the communities from 26.7% to 68.2%, which was mainly affected by the role of local health center. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that enhanced quality control of local health center and empowerment of screening agency would increase the effort of coupled institutions between public and private sectors.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to compare residents' movement and activities in SH apartment in Yangcheon-Gu, Seoul (SH apartment) and PHA apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota (PHA apartment) in order to improve the quality of rental housing environment. This study had surveyed 418 residents of SH apartments in Korea and used the secondary data gathered from 1,462 residents of PHA apartments in the United States. The results of this study are as follows: The criteria of Korean residents in SH apartments when choosing their residences are lower rent payment and shorter waiting time. They seemed to have no other options than public rental housing. On the contrary, American residents in PHA apartment had more option to choose from. Therefore, Korea needs to offer more variety types of residents that can be lead to better satisfaction of low income classes. Most of the SH apartments residents has lived for long-term, in the average of more than 6 years, and wanted to live continually at their current dwelling. PHA residents showed similar tendency. However, long term residency may lead to permanent occupation of the public rental apartment by the same family. Hence, a system which can provide equal residency opportunities to all low-income classes need to be developed. Residents of SH apartment were satisfied with the personal activities but were not satisfied with group activities among residents or regarding resident meetings. However, residents of PHA apartments were more satisfied with their management because there is more in-housing-complex activity programs. Therefore, more activity program for a resident should be developed after analysing programs of different apartments and current conditions in Korea. There were some noticeable divergences among residents, based on their age, term of residence and physical, emotional and mental problem, when evaluating in-housing-complex's programs. Thus, these factors are also need to be considered when planning and examining evaluation about the management of rental apartments.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.27-37
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• 2013

Because of rapid aging, housing stability of elderly household is becoming an important social problem. The population of the elderly people was 11.3% and that of the elderly household was 23.2%, about 407 million, in 2010. Yet, social policies for elderly people are focusing on the household who takes care of the elderly people, not on the elderly headed households. These policies fail to reflect the reality. Housing satisfaction of the elderly household is different based on the tenure type and the satisfaction can be further affected by the types of elderly household within the same tenure group. Thus, strengthening the policies for the elderly headed households as well as differentiating the policies based on the types of household is required in order to meet the needs of the elderly households. For the elderly household living in a rent house in a city, a housing voucher is needed and for the low income elders who own their houses, housing renovation is required. Public housing affects only the residential satisfaction of single elderly households, not for all elderly households probably because public housing does not meet the demand of the elderly households appropriately. Since the elderly households wanting to move is noticeably small, a policy that provides proper facilities within the elders' neighborhood is most necessary. Also, in order to lessen the burden of housing expenses of the elders with low income, a public housing policy, in which 2-3 people living together in one public housing, needs to be examined.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.495-506
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• 2014

This study was conducted to measure the effect of a community-based nutritional intervention program on dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of low-income elderly women in Korea. The subject of the study was a group of 88 elderly women using the free meal service in Dong-gu, Gwangju city in Korea. The study was carried out from April to July 2009, and the pretest, application of nutrition education, and post-test were applied in each stage. This community-based nutrition intervention program consisted of snack supplement and nutrition education provided three times a week and 36 times in total. The nutrition education was led by the nutritionists and professionals using various educational media. Snack supplement included were milk, soymilk, carrot juice, bread, yogurt, and bananas. The result of pretest showed that the nutrient intakes of the subjects were much below the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) level of Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans. Comparison of the dietary behavior score and nutrient intakes before and after the nutritional intervention program indicated that the food behavior score increased from 3.1 to 5.6 (P<0.001) and intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C, iron, and potassium of the subjects all increased significantly (P<0.05). Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) of their nutrient intakes was also improved from 0.53 to 0.64 (P<0.01). These results indicated that the nutrition intervention program conducted in this study was effective in improving dietary behavior and nutrient intakes of elderly women in local community.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2013

There is still a considerable burden of occupational diseases and injuries in the world. It is not well known which interventions can effectively reduce the exposures at work that cause this burden. The objective of this article is to summarize evidence from systematic reviews of interventions to prevent occupational diseases and injuries. We included systematic reviews of interventions to reduce the incidence of work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, occupational asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise induced hearing loss, back pain, and occupational injuries. We searched Medline and Embase with predefined search strategies to locate systematic reviews of these interventions. We found 23 systematic reviews of which the results are also applicable to low- and middle income countries. Effective measures to reduce exposure leading to work-related cancer, dust-related diseases, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noise, and injuries are available. However, better implementation of these measures is needed. Regulation, enforcement of regulation, and incentives for employers are effective interventions to achieve this goal. There is evidence that feedback and rewards for workers help in reducing occupational injuries. There is no evidence in many studies that back pain can be prevented. Personal protective equipment technically has the potential to reduce exposure but this is difficult to put into effect. There is no evidence in the studies regarding the effectiveness of education and training, preventive drugs, or health examinations. There is evidence that the implementation of technical measures enforced by regulation can prevent occupational diseases and injuries. For other interventions such as education or health examinations, there is no evidence that supports their effectiveness. More systematic reviews are needed in the area of injury prevention.