• 자원ㆍ환경경제연구
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.659-687
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• 2002

This study used a discrete choice model to investigate an association between air pollution and hospital visits for acute respiratory symptoms with the national health interview survey conducted in 1998 in South Korea. The results showed that $NO_2$ and TSP were significantly related to hospital visits in a single-pollutant model, but when they were simultaneously considered, only $NO_2$ remained significant. It was estimated as $NO_2$ level increased by 10%(0.0027ppm) from 0.027ppm (the mean $NO_2$ level), hospital visits increase by 0.176%. This study also measured respondent's out-of-pocket expense and the time cost for commuting and waiting for the visit. We found that on the average, out-of-pocket expense is 5,600 won per hospital visit, but the total cost per hospital visit is measured at 33,440 won with time cost of commuting and waiting at 27,840 won. Time cost was over 63.6~83.3% of the total cost per hospital visit.

• 대한불안의학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.28-35
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to assess the use of mental health services by North Korean defectors. The study sought to understand the determinants of use with socio-demographical characteristics and the barriers of using mental health service. Methods : Data were collected from a sample of the 300 North Korean defectors who have settled in South Korea within the last three years, aged 18 years and older. Face-to-face interviews and a survey using the North Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview were conducted. Results : 21.0% of respondents reported the use of mental health services. Among them, 16.0% reported the use of mental health specialty, 2.0% reported the use of general medical services, and 3.0% reported the use of others. Of the respondents who had one or more psychiatric disorders, 28.8% used mental health services. The highest rate of use of mental health services was by respondents who are aged over 50 years old, had less than 10 years of education, and were unemployed. Of those who suffered from a psychiatric disorder but did not seek for consultation, 74.4% said that they could handle the problem by themselves, and 74.6% asserted that they had no psychiatric disorder. Conclusion : North Korean defectors in South Korea used mental health services more than the general South Korean population. It would be crucial to provide appropriate mental health services based on the needs of North Korean.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.205-212
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• 2006

Objectives: In spite of the recent increased concern for Asian dust storms, there are few studies concerning how dangerous the general public recognizes these dust storms to be. This study examined the public's perceptions of the risk of the Asian dust storms and also the source of the information concerning the risk. Methods: A telephone interview survey using a standardized questionnaire was done for the adults living in Seoul and its metropolitan area from May 15th, 2003 to May 16th, 2003. The contents of the questionnaire were the sociodemographic characteristics, the perceptions of risk to the Asian dust storms, and the coping strategy of the study participants. Results: The study participants get their information on Asian dust storms mainly from TV newscasts and they have a good knowledge of them. They regard it as one of the most dangerous health risks, along with dioxin. They think that it is associated with allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and bronchial asthma, etc. Of the 500 study participants, 201 (40.2%) persons suffered bodily discomforts during the Asian dust storm period. Conclusions: Although there are uncertainties about the health risks of Asian dust storms, the public thinks these dust storms are very dangerous to health in many ways This negative perception will not disappear easily. To fill the gap of the public's perceptions of the risk and the objective evidence of its health effects, more studies about its health effects and the methods to reduce exposure are required.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.303-315
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• 2013

PURPOSE: The present study was aimed at providing political basic data for introduction home-based physical therapy service through conducting In-depth interviews with professionals for complementing the survey of previous studies. METHODS: we conducted In-depth interviews to 10 professionals with their consent after describing the intent and purpose of the study. RESULT: Interviewees has significant recognition of home-based physical therapy service, and were sympathetic to the need for the introduction of the home-based physical therapy service. They suggest that it should be required to public relations, incorporation home-based physical therapy into the regular curriculum and research the foreign cases. Also home-based physical therapy system service should be include therapeutic exercises, education for families & caregivers and providing the rehabilitation of the team approach. Most professionals think the sooner Home-based physical therapy service introduction, the better for public. Also they propose that hospitals and clinics under the national and local government become a principal and operate in conjunction with the health center. CONCLUSION: Home-based physical therapy service should be conducted in early for relieving the physical, mental and social discomfort of patients, physical therapists and caregivers, also providing the quality of physical therapy to chronically ill patients. It is necessary to efforts of the physical therapy association and physical therapist and government`s political supports. In addition, we must be prepared on the basis of policy development and operation through continuously converging the opinions of experts who have been associated with home-based physical therapy service.

• 한국임상약학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

Background: 8,000 children in North Korea died before they reached the 1 year after births in 2013. The high mortality rate of children under five years of age is mainly caused by infectious diseases and malnutrition. The need for national pediatric immunization and supply of vaccines will be vital when the abrupt reunification occurs. Objective: The purpose of this study is to scrutinize the pediatric immunization coverage of North Korea. Additionally it is to estimate the amount and the costs needed to vaccinate. Methods: The target population is the children of North Korea. The method is based on a pre-survey and an interview of North Korea defectors. The target interviewees searched for are as follows; doctors, teachers, and others. The interview includes questions on mortality rates and immunization coverage. The analysis is largely based on the statements of the health care providers within the selected group. Results: The interviewees are 8; 7 female and 1 male. The birth years range from 1956 to 1982. 3 out of 8 are former health care providers; a doctor, a pharmacist, and a nurse. The morbidity rate of infectious diseases exceeds the data from WHO. The immunization coverage is nearly 0% after 1980s. In order to ensure the welfare of North Korean children, at least 8,234,000 vaccine doses, requiring over 105 million U.S. dollars, are needed. Conclusion: The morbidity rate of infectious disease in North Korea is conspicuous. The preparation for supply and expenditure of vaccines is vital.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.312-321
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• 2013

Objective: In May 2011, an interview with three United States Forces Korea veterans revealed that chemicals believed to be 'Agent Orange' were buried at Camp Carroll (situated in Waegwan, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea) in 1978. Many hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and organochlorines were subsequently found in a joint US-ROK environmental investigation, although dioxins or burial evidence related to 'Agent Orange' have been not uncovered. This study was carried out to investigate the relevance of hazardous chemical exposure and health effects of the residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The authors conducted a health questionnaire survey among residents around Camp Carroll regarding Waegwan groundwater ingestion, length of residence in Waegwan, and physician-diagnosed disease history (such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and etc.). Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between hazardous chemical exposure and physician-diagnosed diseases. Results: Among the 5,320 residents, excluding those living outside the Waegwan area, 3,430 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. Among females, upon correction of age, smoking history and Camp Carroll working history, a higher distribution in the Waegwan groundwater ingestion group was demonstrated for patients with physician-diagnosed cancer and hypertension. The odds ratios have a tendency to increase with increased length of Waegwan groundwater ingestion. Conclusions: This study may be limited by not adopting a cohort study for the evaluation of factors that may confound environmental exposure. Yet it is meaningful that the correlation between Waegwan groundwater ingestion and chronic diseases were found through regression analysis in female; and further, this outcome may be used as a sampling basis for a secondary epidemiologic study.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.11-36
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to analyze health behavior by comparing the difference between self-perceived health status and health examination results. The study subjects consist of 7,702 people aged over 20, surveyed by Health Interview survey, Health Examination survey, Dietary Life survey, Health Consciousness and Behavior survey. Data used in the study are drawn from raw data from a 1998 National Health and Nutrition survey. General characteristics variables are sex, age, education level, residential area, marital status, occupation, and living standard while dichotomous variables, ‘not healthy’ and ‘healthy’ are used to measure self-perceived health status. Variables for health examination results are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver diseases, liver inflammation, kidney diseases, normal weight, regular diet, optimum sleeping time(7-8 hours), regular health examination and health behavior practice group. Major findings of the study are as follows: 1) Analysis of self-perceived health status and health behavior by disease: Variables significantly correlated with high self-perceived health status have strong associations with high health behavior practice, which supports the hypothesis that as one has high self-perceived health status, one is more likely to practice health promoting behavior. The results of analysis of health behavior differences by dividing subjects into two categories, ‘cases of illness’ and ‘cases of no illness’ indicate that drinking, sleeping time, health examination are significant variables (p〈0.001, 0.05) whereas smoking, weight control, regular exercise, regular diet are not significant. 2) Analysis of disparity patterns between self-perceived health status and health examination: The hypothesis that health behaviors would be different according to the disparity pattern between self-perceived health status and health examination is supported as a result of χ2 test. Among Type I : Self-perceived health status is high and actual health status is good (no disease) Type II: Self-perceived health status is high and actual health status is poor(have disease) Type III: Self-perceived health status is low and actual health status is good(no disease) Type IN: Self-perceived health status is low and actual health status is poor(have disease) Type I and Type IV show no disparity, Type I shows the highest health promoting behavior whereas Type IV shows the lowest health promoting behavior. Type II, and III, compared to Type I, practise lower health promoting behavior. Multi-logistics regression analysis was conducted to find out the degree of impact on health behavior. Independent variables are general characteristics, self-perceived health status and health examination result and presence of illness, while the dependent variable is health promoting behavior. The analysis of the impact of self-perceived health status on the health promoting behavior shows that smoking, drinking, weight control, regular exercise, health examination practice, and/or regular diet are significantly correlated to self-perceived health status. High self-perceived health status is inversely related to high health promoting behavior. This finding supports the hypothesis that the higher one perceives one's health, the more likely one is to practice health promoting behavior. On the contrary, the presence of illness has little impact on health promoting behavior. 3) Multiple logistics analysis on how disparity patterns between self-perceived health status and health examination affect health behavior: The results of multiple logistics analysis made on health behavior variables compared to the standard variable are as follows: When analyzed on the standard of Type I, smoking is a significant risk factor for the Type IV. In case of drinking, all the patterns show a high probability of relative risk ratio. With regard to weight control, it is a risk factor for Type II while all the patterns show high probability of not practising when analyzed on the standard of type IV. Type III and IV show high probability of not doing regular exercise while Type IV, shows a high probability of not taking appropriate sleeping time. When analyzed on the standard of type IV, all the patterns show a high probability of not taking health examinations. Type III and IV show a high probability of not having regular meals. As for overall health promoting behavior, Type III and IV show a high relative risk ratio. These two groups have low self-perceived health status. It implies that self-perceived health status has significant impact on health promoting behavior. This is also supported by the fact that Type I with high self-perceived health status and no illness shows a high practice rate of health promoting behavior. Types II and III the groups with high disparity between self-perceived health status and health examination results, show a low practice rate of health promoting behavior when compared to Type I. Type IV, that is the group with low self-perceived health status and actual illness, shows the lowest practice of health promoting behavior. It is highly probable that this type proves to be the poorest health group.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.581-591
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• 2020

Objectives: Oral diseases can be prevented, and early treatment through dental checkups is important. This study was investigated the relationship between dental checkups and unmet dental care needs in Korean adults. Methods: From the data of the 7th Korean national health and nutrition survey (2016-2017), the final 9,300 of the 16,277 participants selected as the method for extracting stratified colonies by complex sample design. A structured questionnaire interview was used, and chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: The relationship between dental checkups and unmet dental care needs for the last one year was analyzed by controlling demographic characteristics, variables related to health conditions, and "use of dental clinics for the last year." The unmet dental care needs were 7.57 times higher (CI: 6.49-8.83) for non-users of dental clinics for 1 year, and 1.32 times (CI: 1.13-1.54) for dental checkups for 1 year compared to non-dental checkups patients. Conclusions: As described above, there was a close relationship between adult dental checkups and unmet dental care needs. Therefore, it is suggested that it is necessary to expand educational publicity and prepare policy strategies such as visiting dental checkups to improve the adult dental checkups.

• 한국농촌건축학회논문집
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.25-36
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• 2019

This study is a basic study for the planning of rural community center space, which introduced the concept of healthcare. As the rural community center is a place where the elderly in rural areas live mainly during the day, this place is very important place for the healthy life of the rural elderly. We conducted an interview survey for 207 users over 65. The survey was organized with three regions to consider the regional characteristics of the community center users and geographical characteristics. As a result of the analysis of planning elements, the main preferences for indoor and outdoor space elements are planning elements such as safety, air quality, light, and the thermal environment and safety handle, night lights, safety walkway. These preferences should be considered for the more healthy friendly rural community center.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.105-110
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• 2012

Although reinforcement of work intensity caused by the recent prosperity of shipbuilding businesses and the steady increasing of results which produces orders has difficulties with heavy workload, unique work circumstance in shipbuilding industry where main and subcontractor do the job together is not easy to manage its safety systematically. According to KOSHA(Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency), there were 2, 587 deaths of 95,806 disaster victims a year on average for late 6 years(2003-2008), therein 36,605 disaster victims and 646 death in manufacture where shipbuilding have 2,287 victims, 6.25% of total disaster victims and 45 deaths, 6.97%. Moreover it shows much higher accident rate in shipbuilding industry in Korea than well developed countries in this industry as Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and so it does about 3 to 10 times higher in case of death. Compared to Japan with a shipbuilding competition of orders received system, 2 times and 2.3 times higher for each and it is more than 2 times higher than accident rate of all domestic industries. These increasing of disaster result in a labor-management dispute and it is necessary that more positive efforts and investments because there occurs blind spot, neglected industry safety and health management by lack of them, Therefore this study, for the effective safety and health management of shipbuilding industry, attempts to analyze risk on kinds of ships and budget needed in safety management through classifying ships that are being made recently by three dominate major companies. For this, we carried out a survey and interview targeting experts related to shipbuilding industry and used AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) for result analysis. It is considered that cost of safety and health management will be spent more effectively on the results about risk on kinds of ships and budget needed in safety management in the study and that this study can contribute to decreasing disasters in shipbuilding industry.