• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.89-97
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• 2022

Purpose: Because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many cases of using portable negative pressure unit to convert general wards into temporary negative pressure isolation wards. The purpose of this study is to analyze the indoor environment of the switching type wards. Methods: Field measurements and experiments were conducted in a medical facility. Air volume, wind speed and pressure difference were measured in non-occupant state. Dispersion tests were performed with gas and particle matter. Results: The pressure difference between the wards and the corridor was higher than -2.5 Pa in normal situation. However, in the gas and particle dispersion tests, it was found that there were concerns about the spread through leakages in low-airtight walls or ceilings. In addition, it was confirmed that the pressure imbalance in ducts through the non-sealed diffusers could cause back flow during portable unit operation. Furthermore, when there was a pressure difference between adjacent wards planned to be at same pressure level, the possibility of the spread through the leakages was found. Implications: When using portable units for making switching type wards, it is necessary to create airtight space and seal the non-operation diffusers. In case of operating the air handling unit, T.A.B must be performed to adjust the duct balancing.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2022

Objectives: Access to maternal and neonatal care services (MNCS) is an important goal of health policy in developing countries. In this study, we proposed a 3-level hierarchical location-allocation model to maximize the coverage of MNCS providers in Iran. Methods: First, the necessary criteria for designing an MNCS network were explored. Birth data, including gestational age and birth weight, were collected from the data bank of the Iranian Maternal and Neonatal Network national registry based on 3 service levels (I, II, and III). Vehicular travel times between the points of demand and MNCS providers were considered. Alternative MNCS were mapped in some cities to reduce access difficulties. Results: It was found that 130, 121, and 86 MNCS providers were needed to respond to level I, II, and III demands, respectively, in 373 cities. Service level III was not available in 39 cities within the determined travel time, which led to an increased average travel time of 173 minutes to the nearest MNCS provider. Conclusions: This study revealed inequalities in the distribution of MNCS providers. Management of the distribution of MNCS providers can be used to enhance spatial access to health services and reduce the risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. This method may provide a sustainable healthcare solution at the policy and decision-making level for regional, or even universal, healthcare networks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.25 no.6_3
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• pp.1183-1190
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• 2022

Recently, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced a plan to reduce the proportion of economic evaluation in non-metropolitan areas and strengthen balanced development evaluation through the reorganization of the preliminary feasibility study system. In addition, the social value of the quality of life, such as job, environment, and safety, which may be affected by the implementation of transportation facility investment projects, was reflected as the main item of policy evaluation. In this study, the ripple effect of the project in terms of social value was reviewed for the Gangil-Chuncheon. The effect of highway opening was investigated by reviewing the feasibility report, post-evaluation report, and statistical indicators. Recently, the Gangil-Chuncheon highway is getting used by around 110,000 people per day. The number of tourists in Chuncheon rapidly has increased from 5 million a year to more than 11 million now. In addition, it was confirmed to produce effects such as population migration, net inflow and land price increase, improvement of living convenience, and expansion of emergency medical care. Although this ripple effect was influenced by various socio-economic factors as well as the opening of the highway, it is clear that it is difficult to occur without the opening of the highway. It is judged that the evaluation of indirect benefits and social values due to the opening of the highway can be quantified through continuous research and data construction. Post-evaluation of construction works, including project efficiency evaluation and ripple effect evaluation, is performed for construction works with a construction cost of more than 50 billion won. In the future, we will continuously improve the evaluation system in order to evaluate the indirect benefits and social values of public investment projects.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.17-26
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to classify space types according to the operating system of health examination centers and compare and analyze their sizes. Methods: Seven examination centers under the K Medical Research Institute with the same operating system and similar examination types and functional spaces are the subject of the investigation. Research is conducted through field investigation, user surveys, and drawing analysis. Results: The operating method of the health examination center can be largely divided into the function dispersed type and the function central type. The function dispersed type was planned as a vertical type, and the function central type was planned as a horizontal type. In the case of the function dispersed type, since the examinees move vertically to use the endoscope center and special examination center, the efficiency of the vertical movement must be considered when planning the function dispersed type of facility. The function dispersed type plans to increase work and manpower efficiency by arranging the areas used at the start and end of the examination. Because the function central type horizontally arranges related functions by area, it should be planned in a structure that makes it easy for examinees to find their way. Implications: Through this study, it is judged that it is possible to suggest architectural planning considerations that vary depending on the operation system of the examination center.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2023

Background: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have acute and chronic health effects on human beings in general and in working environments. In particular, VOCs are often emitted in large quantities in industrial settings. In such circumstances, there is a need to improve the indoor air quality at workplaces. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to verify the effectiveness of air cleaning devices in workplaces and provide alternative solutions for improving working environments. Methods: Personal exposure and area level of VOCs for workers were evaluated in a car-part adhesive process before and after installing an air cleaning device with a TiO₂-coated filter. Passive samplers and direct reading instruments were used to collect and analyze the VOCs, and the removal efficiency and improvement of air quality were evaluated. We also calculated the exposure index (EI) to assess the risk level in the workplace. Results: The removal efficiency for VOCs through the installation of the air cleaning device was approximately 26.9~69.0% as determined by the concentration levels before and after installation. The measured substances did not exceed the exposure limits for the work environment and the EI was less than 1. However, carcinogenic substances such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, and trichloroethylene were detected. Conclusions: The application of an air cleaning device can be a solution for controlling the indoor air quality in a workplace, particularly in cases where ventilation systems cannot be installed due to process limitations.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.23-32
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• 2010

U-healthcare provides people with many conveniences and keeps their health. As facility centered medical environment is being changed to patient centered one, however, various problems are emerging. These problems range from institutional problems to technological, producer related, and user related ones. The researcher took interested in problems originating from users, in particular, elderly patients and guardians taking care of an elderly patient. The main focus of this study is the direction of serious contents design for training skills in HMI of U-healthcare equipment and developing emergency coping abilities. In this study, I started from research on elderly cognitive psychology and elders' motor reactions and interconnected the characteristics of various digital content forms. The results of this study are expected to be useful for the rapidly expanding elderly population and in the U-healthcare industry.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify policy implications for the construction of public health facilities in the field of international cooperation, by examining the case of establishing a health care delivery system using a public health center in a rural area of Paraguay. Methods: Firstly, to map the capacity of the 20 public health centers that were studied, we used the WHO Capacity Mapping tool to select and analyze relevant items. Secondly, to assess the utilization of public health centers, we conducted a direct visit survey and analyzed the results using the M-survey tool. Results: The floor plan of each public health center, the structure of the health center, the size of the population served by each health center, the number of monthly visitors, medical human resources, and the budget were classified by health center for comparative analysis. In addition, by utilizing the M-survey tool, we analyzed the general characteristics of the respondents, their perceptions of the purpose and accessibility of public health centers, their satisfaction with using public health centers, and the level of demand for public health centers to play a role in promoting community health. Implications: The results of this study suggest that access to public health facilities for residents in the research area was improved. By classifying public health centers into two types, these centers can perform the functions and roles of primary health facilities. A patient request and evacuation system was established in the research area. Finally, a network, such as a social prescribing program, is needed so that public health centers can function as a "setting" for community members to live together.

• Journal of Korean Living Environment System
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the air infections in middle and small hospitals with the facilities of large national hospitals that have air-borne infection isolation (AII) wards through actual condition investigation and airflow analysis simulation (CFD) and to provide basic data for prevention. The method and scope of the study are as follows. First, through literature review, data related to prevention of infection spread in domestic medical institutions were investigated. Second, we conducted a survey on the status of isolation facilities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in large hospitals and small and medium - sized clinics in Korea. Third, airflow analysis simulation (CFD) was carried out using the isolation ward of the nationally designated inpatient ward and the data of the plane and facility system of the small clinic. As a result of the study, it is found that regulations applicable to small and medium-sized clinics are insufficient. In addition, the simulation results show that the infectious disease virus is likely to spread to other patients in the hospital.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.157-167
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• 1997

This study was conducted to investigate follow up tests and related factors in students who tested positive for in urine tests. For the purpose of this study, the authors analysed a self-administered questionnaire collected from 316 middle school students and 451 high school students who had positive urinalysis results in Kyungpook province during the month of February, 1996. The major findings of this study were as follows : The proportion of follow up tests among students was 39.2% in middle school students and 34.1% in high school students. There was a significant relation among a number of factors : parents' environment, health concern, and knowledge of urinalysis results, existence of nursing teachers, education concerning urinalysis, medical facility visits, and notification methods. In a multiple logistic regression analysis a higher economic level, parents' concern, knowledge of urinalysis results, medical facility visits, anti direct notification of parents were all significantly related with the follow up tests. On consideration of the above findings, in order to perform practical and effective follow-up management of students who have a positive result in urine test, direct notification of urine test result to parents as well as active health guidance in school are required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.721-732
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• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the status of pregnancy and delivery and relationship among knowledge, attitude and practice about pregnancy and delivery in poor country, Nepal. A questionnaire survey by interviewer was conducted to examine the general characteristics, knowledge about pregnancy and delivery, attitude about pregnancy and delivery, the rate of prenatal care and delivery condition of women who had an experience of delivery during last year$(1994.4.13\sim1995.4.12)$ at a rural area, nepal(Dolakha Bazar Area). The major findings are as follows ; Among respondents, 87.5 percentage never had health education and the degree of knowledge about pregnancy and delivery was low. Among respondents, 56.6 percentage had the attitude that they didn't want antenatal care, 42.8 % of respondents answered that they wouldn't visit hospital or health center when vaginal bleeding occurred and 82.9% thought that the delivery itself was dirty. The proportion of women who experienced antenatal care was 28.3%, the proportion of health facilities delivery was 5.3%, which was very low and 82.6% of home delivery case didn't sanitate the tool to cut the umbilical cord. The women who had positive attitude about antenatal care and health facility utilization experienced more antenatal care and health facilities delivery. On consideration of above findings, health education for pregnancy and delivery is required to improve mother-child health status in poor country. To make efficient health education, the target population group, such as the uneducated, inhabitants far from health center or medical facility, must be chosen. To help the poor countries in medical field, the study on health status and its related factors on these countries like this article would be required.