• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.57-65
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• 2020

Purpose: The study was done to compare the status of dispatch of public officials in charge of health care in response to COVID-19 according to location of primary health care posts and the practitioners' knowledge, attitude and support related to COVID-19. Methods: Among the 193 practitioners surveyed, 175 people in Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do were selected for final analysis according to work status and differences in knowledge, attitude and support. Data were analyzed using χ2 and one-way ANOVA, followed by a Scheffé-test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference by region in the number of days and places for dispatch teams to respond to COVID-19. In particular, in the case of support, the overall score was low, but Gyeongsang-do, which had the longest number of dispatch days due the occurrence of a large-scale confirmation of patients, showed higher support compared to other regions. Knowledge of COVID-19 was high, but there were no regional differences. Conclusion: Regarding performance of COVID-19 response tasks, the support level was low, indicating that psychological support and appropriate compensation from the local government are required. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a system for the provision of alternative services to prevent a work gap in health clinics.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.167-175
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated nursing care delivery systems in 44 university affiliated hospitals and satisfactions with the systems perceived by 226 unit managers (head nurses) of general medical surgical wards. Methods: Data were collected with questionnaires consisting of checklists asking the unit managers their nursing care delivery systems and their satisfactions with the systems. Results: Four models of nursing care delivery systems (primary, modified primary, team, and functional models) were drawn from the participants' responses. Among the four key models 35% of the units adopted team model whereas 24.3% adopted primary model and 22.6% adopted modified primary model. In spite of 35% of team model being under use, 60.6% (n=137) of the unit managers answered the nursing delivery system of their units as team model and only 6.2% (n=14) answered their units having primary or modified primary models, instead of 46.9% combining both. In regard to the satisfaction, critical thinking ability of staff nurses (members in their units) was the most dissatisfactory area regardless of models of service delivery. Conclusion: Introducing team model supplemented with core concepts of primary model (primary team delivery model) into nursing practice will reform the workplace and therefore deliver safe health care services to patients.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.20-30
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress level and health status of primary caregivers living with demented elderly. Method: The subject was 92 primary caregivers who had been taking care of demented elderly at home. The research tools were a stress questionnaire and health status questionnaire. The data were collected through direct interview with a questionnaire in the B city, from February to March 2004. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients and Scheffe test using SPSS/PC 11.0 program. Results: The primary caregivers living with demented elderly showed slightly high level of stress and moderate level of health status. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the stress level and the mental and the physical health status. Conclusion: Based on the results, we recommend the development of an intervention program to decrease the stress level of primary caregivers living with demented elderly for improving their health status.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.112-114
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• 2011

Due to its complex pathophysiology and wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of CRPS is often missed in the early stage by primary care physicians. After being treated by a primary care physician for 5 months for chronic cellulitis, a 16-year-old girl was referred to our hospital with features of type-1 CRPS of the right upper extremity. Inability to diagnose early caused prolonged suffering to the girl with all the consequence of CRPS. The patient responded well with marked functional recovery from multimodal therapy. Ability to distinguish CRPS from other pain conditions, referral for specialty care at the appropriate time and full awareness of this condition and its clinical features among various healthcare professionals are essential in reducing patient suffering and stopping its progression towards difficult-to-treat situations.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2549-2554
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• 2016

Background: Early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control in terms of outcome and survival. Thus far the only breast cancer screening method proven effective is mammography. The awareness of female health care workers (HCW) about breast cancer prevention is of vital importance, as their beliefs and behavior may have a major impact on other women. This study was designed to assess mammography screening uptake among female healthcare workers at primary healthcare centers, and to identify the primary motivators and barriers that affect uptake results. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study design was used to assess mammography screening by 299 female healthcare workers who completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed demographics, screening uptake, motivators and barriers. Results: The mean age was 46 years (within age of risk). The majority (95.1%) demonstrated adequate knowledge about breast cancer and mammography screening and 50% of the participants reported having at least one mammogram; however only 21% of them had regularly scheduled mammograms. The most frequent reported motivator was the perceived benefit that early detection of breast cancer is important for its management (89.6%), followed by the belief that mammography can detect breast cancer before its symptoms appear (84.4%). On the other hand, the most frequent barrier reported was being busy (46.7%), followed by the lack of perceived susceptibility (41.5%). Conclusions: Mammography screening was found to be sub-optimal in a population of HCW's with 50 % stating that they received a mammogram at least once, and a minority reported regular screening. There is a pressing need for educational programs aimed at removing the barriers that limit compliance with recommendations for mammography screening, and to emphasize the importance of early detection in breast cancer treatment. Ensuring the availability and accessibility of screening services, particularly for healthcare workers within their work settings are other important factors that would improve the acceptance and compliance for mammography screening programs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.47-53
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• 2019

Purpose: This case study was done to describe the health survey conducted by a community health practitioner. Methods: The community health survey was carried out from April 16 to May 31, 2018 with face to face interviews done by 48 trained senior nursing students. Results: Compared with other regions, rates for chronic disease prevalence, chewing discomfort, falls, and depression were higher than those of the relevant district/the relevant city, and the whole country. It is encouraging that the treatment rate for hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, and walking practice rate were higher than those other regions. Those who participated in village events had low stress, and those who participated in health promotion programs had a higher quality of life. Conclusion: The community health practitioner in the public health center post needs to operate health promotion programs continuously. Programs including chronic disease management, fall prevention, depression control, and oral health management should be emphasized, and ways to increase social participation, including participation in village events should be developed.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.17 no.6 s.98
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• pp.57-66
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• 1978

Proper health care to school population leads good health to them and will be effective community health activities. Furthermore, this measure will be expected more economic and efficient one than others to promote community health. This survey was conduc

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-70
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• 2009

Background : Previous studies have reported that enhanced continuity of care prevented a sudden worsening in progress among chronic disease patients, and as a result was favorable for efficient spending of health care funds. This study aims to estimate the continuity of care of Korean with diabetes and to identify factors affecting the continuity of care. Methods : This study used the Korean National Health Insurance Claims Database which includes E11 (ICD-10) as a primary or secondary disease as of 2006. Study population is 1,160,725 type 2 diabetics (20-84 years). Continuity of Care Index (COC), Modified, Modified Continuity Index (MMCI), and Most Frequent Provider Continuity (MFPC) were used as indexes of continuity of care. Results : The continuity of care in the study population was $0.94{\pm}0.10$ as calculated by MMCI, $0.91{\pm}0.16$ as calculated by MFPC and $0.86{\pm}0.23$ as calculated by COC. The lower continuity of care was shown in the patients who were female, 65 and over years old, Medical Aid recipients, 13 times or more visitors, hospital users as main attending medical institution, patients experienced hospitalizations or comorbidities. Conclusion : The continuity of care for adult patients with type 2 diabetes was high in Korea, and showed variation according to patients' characteristics. This result provides empirical evidence for policymakers to develop or strengthen programs for managing patients showing low continuity of care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2007

Although the New National Health Promotion Plan 2010 target to reduce health inequalities, whether the program will be effective for reducing the health inequalities in Korea remains quite unclear. More and more developed countries have been started to concentrate on comprehensive policies for reducing health inequalities. The health policies of the UK, Netherlands, and Sweden are the most wellknown. I propose that a comprehensive blueprint for tackling health inequalities in Korea should be made and that it must contain five domains: a target, structure and process, life-course approach, area-based approach, and reorganization of health care resources. The target should be based on determinants of health and more attention should be paid to socioeconmic factors. The structure and process require changes from the national health care policy based on medical services to the national health policy that involves the establishment of a Social Deputy?Prime Minister and the strengthening multidisciplinary action. A life-course approach especially focused on the early childhood years. Area-based approach such as the establishment of healthy communities, healthy schools, or healthy work-places which are focused on deprived areas or places is also required. Finally, health care resources should be a greater investment on public resources and strengthening primary care to reduce health inequalities. The policy or intervention studies for tackling health inequalities should be implemented much more in Korea. In addition, it is essential to have political will to encoruage policy action.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify current quality control (QC) practices of primary care clinics participating in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in Korea. Methods: A nationwide survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among the primary care clinics participating in the NCSP, which were selected by a proportionate stratified sampling. The questionnaire consisted of general information about the responding clinics and the scope of QC activities undertaken. A total of 360 clinics responded and the set of data was then analyzed with Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 360 respondents, 332 (92%) reported that they were involved in the QC activities. Most frequently performed QC activities were 'maintenance of facility and instruments' (89%) and 'staff training' (85%). The analysis revealed, with statistical significance (p<.05), that there was an association between certain characteristics of the clinics and the scope of QC activities. These findings also indicated that the diversity of QC practices varies according to the size of the clinics. The clinics screening more types of cancer, those with more screenees, and those with more employees were more likely to implement various QC activities including 'maintenance of facility and instruments', 'external quality control', and 'management of screening data'. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the current status of QC activities conducted among primary care clinics participating in the NCSP. The results of this survey can be used as a basis for further development of policies on quality management of small- and medium-sized primary care clinics in Korea. However, further studies encompassing various aspects of QC activities and management of primary care clinics are needed to assess the current situation in a concise manner.