• Journal of Information Management
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.1-29
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• 2012

Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Librarians should improve their health literacy as well as that of their users' in order to help library users make well-informed decisions. In this study, we developed educational programs related to CHI (Consumer Health Information) suitable for Korean public librarians' professional development. We measured the effectiveness of the training after its administration and found areas in which improvement was necessary. As a result, this study found the following effects on public librarians after they completed the training: improved the public librarians' familiarity with CHI-related terms; increased education for users and diversification of resources; diversification and specialization of information sources which librarians used to perform CHI-related services; reduced time for reference services; increased professional knowledge in this area. However, this research represented the first time CHI-related education for public librarians was performed in Korea, and therefore many limitations were present in the education instructor, the diversity of subjects, and the methodology. Development of more advanced CHI-related education programs is required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.236-244
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• 2020

Objectives: Although the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative "My 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" has been lauded as effective in preventing hospital-associated infections, little is known about healthcare workers (HCWs)' hand hygiene behavior. In this study, we sought to assess knowledge and attitudes towards the concepts in this initiative, as well as associated factors, among Vietnamese HCWs at a general hospital. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to HCWs at a central Vietnamese general hospital in 2015. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with HCWs' knowledge and attitudes towards hand hygiene. Results: Of 120 respondents, 65.8% and 67.5% demonstrated appropriate knowledge and a positive attitude, respectively, regarding all 5 hand hygiene moments. Logistic regression indicated better knowledge of hand hygiene in workers who were over 30 years old, who were direct HCWs (rather than managers), who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received their clinical information from training. Those who worked in infectious and tropical disease wards, who had frequent access to clinical information, and who received information from training were more likely to have a positive attitude towards hand hygiene than their counterparts. Conclusions: Although many Vietnamese HCWs displayed moderate knowledge and positive attitudes towards the WHO hand hygiene guidelines, a key gap remained. Regular education and training programs are needed to increase knowledge and to improve attitudes and practices towards hand hygiene. Furthermore, a combination of multimodal strategies and locally-adapted interventions is needed for sustainable hand hygiene adherence.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.391-414
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• 2012

Despite the growth in public concern about health information, the ratio of users who can search for accurate and reliable health information sources has been found to be quite low. Public libraries, as the best contact point to general users, must provide training programs for improving health literacy so that users will have the ability to search and analyze health information, judge the accuracy and reliability of resources, and make informed health-related decisions. This study developed a health information literacy education program suitable for Korean public library users. The effectiveness of the training was measured after administering the program, and necessary improvements were identified. As a result, this study found the education program had the following effects: improved public library users' familiarity with CHI-related terms, improved users' ability to find CHI-related information resources on the Internet, and significantly improved knowledge about health-related websites and information sources. In addition, users expressed interest in seminars on a variety of health information sources in the public library and asked that CHI-related education be included in the library's regular programming. However, this research represented the first time CHI-related education for public library users was performed in Korea, and therefore many limitations were present in the education instructor, the diversity of subjects, and the methodology. Development of more advanced CHI-related education programs for users is still required.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2012

Objectives: Improving public capability to obtain, understand, and use health information is important for decision-making and communication. This study attempts to measure adults' literacy of the information provided by a public health institution. Factors affecting different health literacy level are also investigated. The relation between public risk perception and health literacy is examined as well. Methods: A total of 800 korean adults were surveyed. To provide the participants health literacy questions, health messages of heavy metals released by KFDA as well as literacy questions developed by NIKL were used. A total of eight questions were developed to measure health literacy. The dimensions of risk perception proposed by Brewer et al.(2008) were modified to measure risk perception. Results: The average percentage of correct answer for all literacy questions was only 65.57%. Individuals at the older age, and with lower education/ income level were more likely to be low literate. In addition, health literacy was strongly associated with risk perception. Conclusions: Public literacy of health information is influenced by socio demographic factors. This study suggested a possibility that low health literacy may affect unrealistically high risk perception. Further studies with sophisticated methodologies to measure health literacy need to be developed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.533-545
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• 2003

Purpose: This study investigated the situation of public health official training and suggested a scheme for improving central and local official training institutes, in order to improve the quality and quantity of training programs for central and local public health officials. Methods: This study examined training resources, design processes, content and methods of training programs of the Department of Health and Welfare Training in NIH and the fifteen city and provincial officials training institutes in 2002. Results: The central and the local officials training institutes didn't exchange information on public health training. NIH supplied various specialized training programs for senior and junior officials. However, city and provincial official training institutes supplied a few training programs for local public health officials. Conclusion: A mutually cooperative relationship is needed between central and local official training institutes to exchange information on public health official training. The Department of Health and Welfare Training in NIH as a central training institute has to develop training programs related to new public health policies, supply training programs for senior officials, and support local official training institutes. To satisfy the training demands of public health officials, the city and provincial official training institutes should increase the number of training programs for junior officials.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.345-376
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• 2013

Because of increased concern regarding health and well-being, interest in consumer health information (CHI) has also increased, leading to a growing number of health-related websites. As a result, research has shown that public libraries are experiencing an increased demand for CHI-related reference services. The task of providing these services then falls on the public reference librarian, who is often untrained and inexperienced in this area. Therefore, improvements to how public libraries provide CHI reference services effectively are needed. This study analyzed the previous research at home and abroad, and developed CHI reference guidelines for public librarians. Guidelines developed in this study went through a verification process utilizing expert advice and a survey of public librarians.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2019

Dengue infection is becoming a serious global health threat. Public awareness is a pre-requisite for the successful implementation of dengue prevention programs. The main purpose of this study was to investigate dengue-related information needs and seeking behavior of the general public in Singapore. Some areas covered by this study were: importance of dengue-related information needs, preferred channels for seeking information, and respondents' perceptions of using dengue-related information. A questionnaire was used for data collection and 152 individuals participated in this study. Data analysis showed that the most sought after information concerned: dengue-related medicines, primary symptoms of dengue infection, and different possible treatments. The popular channels for seeking information were: websites of hospitals and other health agencies, the social media, television, and newspapers. Medical staff, such as doctors and nurses, were trusted for providing accurate information. Although credibility of social media was considered low, respondents were using it due to its easy accessibility. The findings of this study will be useful to government health departments in Singapore as well as in other countries suffering from dengue, hospitals, and public welfare agencies involved in public health awareness campaigns.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.47-77
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• 2011

Due to the growth of people's use of the Internet as well as interests in health, people's needs of health information have rapidly increased in public libraries. Nevertheless, there are few studies in Korea about users' needs for health information and services that public libraries can offer to support these user groups. In the current study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted in order to understand the role of public libraries and librarians in serving users with health information and to identify the types of consumer health information(CHI) services available to users in public libraries. As for the CHI services that public libraries can offer for users, the current study emphasizes and discusses the directions and guidelines for improving the following six approaches: 1) CHI collection and information resource building, 2) CHI reference services, 3) CHI user education and training program development, 4) CHI services for minority/disability/cultural diversity groups of users, 5) CHI outreach program development, and 6) CHI network development with medical libraries, academic libraries, hospital, and medical institutions and associations. Although most of the discussion in the current study centers on cases and services provided in the United States or other countries, findings would be used to inform the importance of CHI services in public libraries, and to design and develop CHI services in Korea.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.368-374
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• 2023

Background: Recognizing that access to safe and healthy working conditions is a human right, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls for specific occupational safety and health (OSH) programs for health workers (HWs). The WHO health systems' building blocks, and the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlight the importance of information as part of effective systems. This study examined how OSH stakeholders access, use, and value an occupational health information system (OHIS). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of OSH stakeholders was conducted as part of a larger quasi experimental study in four teaching hospitals. The study hospitals and participants were purposefully selected and data collected using a modified questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis was conducted and themes identified for qualitative analysis. Ethics approval was provided by the University of Pretoria and University of British Columbia. Results: There were 71 participants comprised of hospital managers, health and safety representatives, trade unions representatives and OSH professionals. At least 42% reported poor accessibility and poor timeliness of OHIS for decision-making. Only 50% had access to computers and 27% reported poor computer skills. When existing, OHIS was poorly organized and needed upgrades, with 85% reporting the need for significant reforms. Only 45% reported use of OHIS for decision-making in their OSH role. Conclusion: Given the gap in access and utilization of information needed to protect worker's rights to a safe and healthy workplace, more attention is warranted to OHIS development and use as well as education and training in South Africa and beyond.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1994.02a
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• pp.405-411
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• 1994

Hazardous wastes released into the general environment are of concern to the public and to public health authorities. In response to this concern, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (commonly called Superfund), was enacted in 1980 to provide a framework for environmental, public health, and legal actions concerning uncontrolled releases of hazardous substances. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) was created by Superfund to address the public health issues of hazardous wastes in the community environment. Two key Agency programs, Public Health Assessments and Toxicological Profiles, are designed to assess the risk to human health of exposures to hazardous substances that migrate from waste sites or through emergency releases (e.g., chemical spills). The Agency's public health assessment is a structured process that permits ATSDR to identify which waste sites or other point sources require traditional public health actions (e.g.. human exposure studies, health studies, registries, health surveillance, health advisories). The ATSDR qualitative public health assessment complements the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's quantitative risk assessment. For Superfund purposes, both assessments are sitespecific. ATSDR's toxicological profiles are prepared for priority hazardous substances found most frequently at Superfund sites. Each profile presents the current toxicologic and human health effects information about the substance being profiled. Each profile also contains Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs), a type of risk assessment value. This paper covers ATSDR's experience in conducting public health assessments and developing MRLs, and it relates this experience to recommendations on how to improve chemical risk assessments.