• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.44-57
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• 2017

The objective of this study is to investigate financial integrity strategies for sustainable development of local public medical centers, and particularly focus on seeking ways to enhance its financial efficiency and publicness. The data which was collected from 33 local public medical centers was analyzed by Data Envelopment Analysis to measure its financial efficiency. Then, Matrix Analysis was used to examine the association of financial efficiency and publicness of local public medical centers with related factors. In the aspects of facilities and location, according to the results, the local public medical centers which have larger number of available hospital beds or located in bigger cities were examined to have higher degree of publicness. In the aspect of human resources, greater number of doctors made both financial efficiency and the degree of publicness decreased, whereas higher participation rate of educational program for doctors affects increasing its financial efficiency and publicness. Lastly, in the aspect of costs, higher labor, material, and administrative cost diminished financial efficiency, but enhanced the degree of publicness. Based on these results, this study concluded that enhancing the publicness of local public medical centers should be pursued by increasing the accessibility with better facilities and location, and also concurrently organizing rational expenditure structure with appropriate cost investment to the resources of local public medical centers. Also, it is necessary to enhance both financial efficiency and publicness simultaneously by improving the quality of health care services through the educational programs for medical staffs.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2010

Purpose: This study analyzed outcomes of a Telecare case management service pilot project for Korean Medicaid Program Clients in Seoul. Outcome data for provided services and medical aid cost data were analyzed. Methods: Case management services were delivered by 10 medical aid managers. The period of the project was from July to December 2007. Results: The total number of the objects was 9714, representing 43.4% of the total medical aid clients in the area. The average number of consults was 2.58. Consults were most frequently via letter and telephone, with in- person visits being least common. Of the total, 213 cases were referred to community services, 87.8% were transacted successfully. The medical expenditure was less than that from January-June, 2007. Conclusion: Telecare service via mail or telephone allows contact with many clients in a short time which can enable the discover and monitoring of high risk clients. This can be accomplished at a cost savings to the Korean Medicaid Program.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-24
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• 2020

Purpose: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are at high risk of spreading infection. In this study, we used the PRECEDE model to identify the knowledge, status, and barriers to infection control among Korean paramedics to provide basic infection control data. Methods: A total of 164 respondents were analyzed for the study. A questionnaire was administered and collected through an online self-response platform. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression, and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine infection control practices and associated factors using SAS 9.4. To identify the pathways and direct, indirect, total effects based on the PRECEDE model, we used AMOS 26.0. Results: Highly rated self-efficacy (OR 8.82, 95% CI: 3.23-24.09), awareness (OR 6.05, 95% CI: 2.06-17.72), and enabling factors (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.18-8.78) led to superior infection control. As a result of the structural model analysis, the highly rated enabling factors and awareness led to superior practice patterns. Conclusion: Practice is related to self-efficacy, awareness, and enabling factors; however, further research is needed to develop strategies for infection control. In particular, institutional arrangements are needed to improve the enabling factors. Improving infection control performance may lead to better infection control and enhanced protection of EMS personnel and patients against infection risks.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.45-64
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• 2003

This study was conducted to examine the recognition level of the people on oriental medical Services and the need for it's improvement. Data were collected from 1174 residents in Daegu metropolitan city and Gyungbuk province. According to the satisfaction level with each items of oriental medical services, the respondents had positive views on efficacy, kindness, and side-effects. They, however, had negative view on the cost of oriental medical services. In regarding to the priority of improvement of oriental medical system, 'expansion of insurance benefit package' ranked first. Followed by 'safety of herbal medicine(heavy metal/pesticides)', 'improvement of scientific methods and diagnostic technique' etc. For the further development of oriental medical services in the consumer - focused and evidenced-based health care environment, much attention to implement relevant health policy reflecting user's need positively should be made.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.263-281
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• 2005

This study was to elucidate the theoretical backgrounds and realities of consumer health information services from a review of the literature, to manifest the actual conditions of consumer health information services by domestic hospital libraries and public libraries, and then to activate library services at least to meet the needs of the services by enhancing their role for consumer demand for health information. This paper propose to activate consumer health information services, as follows : First, librarians both in hospital and in public libraries cognize that consumer health information services really are needed. Furthermore, they expect that when consumer health information services are implemented, the function of the library would be expanded even to the realm of preventive health medical care for consumers and as well as to the patients' right to know. Second, it is recommended that hospital libraries should actively perform their consumer health information services, along with the active collection of health information and materials and develop related bibliographies for hospital libraries to provide patients and their families with medical information. Public libraries also are required to actively collect, maintain and manage health information and to equip themselves with special books in their reference rooms. Third, it is recommended to launch such a cooperation network with a subsystem of MEDLIS as CHIN or CHIPS in the United States of America, to construct an integrated database of consumer health information and materials, an interlibrary system, a reference room service system as well as a cooperation network among hospital and public libraries.

• 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.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2000

This study was conducted to examine utilization patterns and determinants of oriental medical services. Data were collected from 545 residents in Taegu city The results of this study are summarized as follows 1) 37.8% of subjects used oriental medical services in the past year. Especially, the female, the ages of 50 and 60 over, the single. low-educated. high-income class, white-collar class, medical insured tended to use more oriental medical services than another groups. 2) 46.7% of users of oriental medical services reported that number of visits in the past year was 2 - 5 times 37 1% of them was 1 times, and 4.5% over 10 times. 3) According to the reasons to choose the oriental medical facilities, most was 'on their own judgement'(48.8%) and 'by the advice of relatives and friends'(42.0%) Regarding to the objectives of using oriental medicine, 68.3% was 'treatment', 31.7% 'health counselling and promotion'. And among diseases of users, diseases of musculo-skeletal system was the highest(54.5%). 4) 57.9% of oriental medical services users had experience of utilizing western medicine on the same diseases. Among peoples with experiencing western medicine on the same diseases. 54.4% received oriental medical services 'in addition to western medicine', 45.6%'in place of western medicine 'And 41.2% of using both services reported that they had difficulty in deciding to choose the type of services -oriental medical services or western medicine-for their diseases. 37.3% of them answered that 'providing relevant information' was the most desirable measure to solve this problem, 27.3% 'establishment of effective referral system between oriental and western medical facilities '23.6% 'cooperative medical treatment systems in the same facilities', 11.8%'integration of oriental medicine into western medicine 5) According to the satisfaction level with each items of oriental medical services, the respondents had positive views on efficacy, kindness, and side-effects. They, however, had negative view on the cost of oriental medical services. 6) In regarding to the priority of improvement of oriental medical system,'expansion of insurance benefit package 'ranked first. 'expansion of insurance benefit Package 'ranked second, 'improvement of scientific methods and diagnostic technique 'third, and 'safety of herbal medicine' fourth in order. 7) The significant factors influencing the utilization of oriental medical services were kindness of oriental medical practitioners, efficacy , travel time, age To be brief, utilization rate of oriental medical services in urban area generally tends to be high. There, however, have been various barriers to limit oriental medical services, such as incomplete benefit package of oriental medical insurance and lack of coordination and referral system between oriental and western medical services, lack of scientific diagnostic procedures, high price etc . For the development of oriental medical services, Much attention to remove these limiting factors should be placed. In addition, kindness of oriental medical practitioners , which is expected to be more important factor in the consumer - focused health care environment than ever, should be kept high consistently. Since this study was conducted for specific residents of an urban city. further research including more sampling in different urban areas should be required to generalize the results of the study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.138-144
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• 2017

Purpose: Following legal reform in 2013, the annual number of asylum seekers entering South Korea has increased from 1,143 in 2012 to 5,711 in 2015. We interviewed six African refugee mothers of young children regarding their health needs and barriers to access maternal child health services. Methods: We recruited mothers who had visited a clinic for immigrants between July 2013 and August 2015. Participants were African refugee women, aged over 18 years, who had given birth in Korea within the previous 5 years and had come to Korea over a year before recruitment. Interview questions examined participants' experiences in pregnancy and childbirth and concerns regarding their child's health status. Initial data analysis involved all researchers' immersion in the entire collection of transcripts. We then noted recurrent topics and themes and identified similar issues. Results: At the time of giving birth, 5 participants were asylum seekers and one had undocumented status. The following barriers impeded their access to maternal child healthcare: socioeconomic factors (unstable social identity, low economic status, difficulty obtaining health insurance), language barriers (lack of linguistically appropriate health information, limited access to translation services), and cultural barriers (religious and cultural differences). Weak social support also hindered access to healthcare soon after migration; however, social links with the community emerged as a key coping strategy following settlement. Conclusion: We identified barriers to maternal and child healthcare and coping strategies among African refugee mothers in Korea. Future research should assess refugees' health status and improve health access and literacy among refugee mothers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.282-290
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• 2012

Today, home health care services needs a linkage plan of the customized home visiting health service in public health center, the medical institute home health care service, and home visiting nursing service based on long term care insurance for the elderly program which acknowledges the independence and professionalism of the home health care services while minimizing overlap through linking the projects. So, this study was performed by applying the Delphi technique, which draws agreement from professional opinion, to determine a method to link home health care services in Korea. The results of this study are as follows. Specialists agreed on 24 important items within the two domains of institutional linkage and medical linkage. And the significance of this study is as follows. The 24 items deduced for the approved nursing service linkage plan are expected to improve the home health care service business system, enhance the quality of home health care service, and bring increased satisfaction for service recipients. Also, seeking ways to minimize overlap in service can increase the effectiveness of health care and public health management at a national level. In addition, it is considered that this will ultimately reduce public medical costs as well as improve home health care service.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.18-34
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to clarify the background of the controversial attempt to establish a new public medical school linked to compulsory service as a means of strengthening public healthcare in Korea, and to raise anticipated problems with possible solutions. In Korea, healthcare is predominantly provided by the private sector focused on medical care, rather than public healthcare, even under the national health insurance system. The government has been mainly in charge of public health and unmet medical services from a residual perspective, but health inequalities still exist. To resolve this issue, the government created the concept of public health and medical service (PHMS) from a universal perspective and tried to strengthen the infrastructure of public healthcare and to foster core PHMS doctors by establishing a new public medical school linked to compulsory service in medically vulnerable areas. This study investigated the reality and concept of the new public medical school planned by the government, and identified problems such as the possibility of obtaining accreditation and evaluation before its establishment, the side effects of dividing doctors' roles, the waste of huge amounts of resources, and insensitive policies. In conclusion, in order to resolve health inequalities in Korea, we need to train doctors through medical school education that strengthens the social responsibility of doctors along with strengthening public healthcare infrastructure, and to provide a better environment for doctors working in medically vulnerable areas through sophisticated policies.