• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.350-360
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify factors that affect medical service performance in rural health sub-centers and to develop a method to improve health sub-center performance that takes advantage of these insights. Methods: This study included 1,242 South Korean health sub-centers that had been in operation at least since December 31, 2009 as units of analysis. After adjusting for population differences between areas, the performance of medical service among health sub-centers was analyzed according to medical services performed per person. We performed t-tests, ANOVA, Scheffe's tests and multiple regression analyses. Results: The following were significant variables affecting the medical service performance of rural health sub-centers: number of hospitals and clinics, presence of community health practitioner posts, distance from health sub-centers to main public health centers, distance from health sub-centers to the nearest emergency medical facilities, and proportion of the local population aged 65 and over. In contrast, the proportion of the local population between ages 0-4 and the placement of public health doctors that had already completed their internship were not significant variables. Conclusions: The medical service performance of health sub-centers located in rural areas is significantly affected by local population and health care environment characteristics, and therefore, it is imperative to develop strategies to provide differentiated service based on these factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-119
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the program for the control of acute respiratory infections(ARI) in children in a Korean rural area(Yonchon county). Evaluating the program, we focused on the pattern of prescription and appropriateness of antibiotics prescribed by the health personnel who had participated in the ARI Control Program. It was implemented at the primary health care setting in rural area, such as district hospital, health subcenters, and health posts. During six-months programme monitoring period, medical records were reviewed and collected data were analysed by the pediatrician, research coordinator of this study. The baseline data were collected from medical records of the same period(six months) of one year before the implementation of the ARI programme. The study results were as follow : 1. Common cold was the most prevalent disease(78.7%. 594 cases) among the all ARI cases (755 cases). The less frequent cases were bronchitis(11.9%), acute pharyngitis(5.2%), and pneumonia(1.8%). 2. Significant reduction in the use of antibiotics was observed after the programme implementation. Ninety three(15.7%) of 594 common cold cases were received antibiotics compared with 282(35.2%) of 802 in the baseline period. In the cases of bronchitis and acute pharyngitis, the reduction rates were 15.1% and 23.2% respectively compared to the baseline period. 3. Mean duration of antibiotics prescription was 1.81-1.75 days, similar to the baseline data. 4. The appropriateness rate of antibiotics prescriptions were 84.3%(common cold), 35.6% (bronchitis) and 28.2%(acute pharyngitis). In the case of pneumonia, the antibiotics prescription was compatible to the criteria developed. 5. Pediatrician prescribed antibiotics more appropriately for all cases than general practitioners in health sub-center, and nurse practitioners in health posts. 6. Antibiotics therapy was shown to be of no effect in the treatment of the all ARI cases. At the 5 and 10 days check-up of common cold cases after visits, proportion of improved patients were 58.3% in the antibiotics-used group and 51.4% in the control group. In the other cases of ARI, the patterns of response were similar to common cold. None of the differences in outcome between the antibiotics-used and control group was statistically significant. This ARI programme may have substantial a substantial impact on antibiotics use at the public health institutions(district hospital, health subcenters, health posts) which are of major domain for primary health care in Korean rural areas.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.292-302
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• 2008

- Abstract - Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to determine an efficient operation plan for a smoking cessation clinic in public health centers. To do so, the primary success factors in smoking cessation have been analyzed after classifying the smoking cessation programs of public health centers into urban and rural areas. Methods: A study was conducted with 262,837 smokers age 19 or older who were provided with smoking cessation services for more than 6 months through smoking cessation clinics at public health centers(250 clinics nationwide) from July 16, 2006 to July 15, 2007. Results: Urban areas indicated that gender, age, social security, the frequency of counseling, re-enrollment in the program, the number of cigarettes per day and alcohol problems were all factors that influenced the success of smoking cessation. On the other hand, in the rural areas the total number of counseling, re-enrollment in the program, the number of cigarettes per day and alcohol problems were the influential factors. Furthermore, the urban area confirmed that the frequency of counseling, re-enrollment in the program, the number of cigarettes per day and alcohol problems affected traveling while the rural area was affected by social security, the frequency of counseling and re-enrollment. Conclusions: It has been confirmed that the success rate and factors of smoking cessation clinics can vary depending on the region and enrollment method.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-51
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• 2018

In order to improve the housing environment and quality of life for the rural elderly, this study aims to identify and present the status of community centers, most widely used by the elderly in rural areas. Through the literature review, type and space elements of community centers were derived and selected three target areas were investigated. As a result of literature analysis, the space type of rural community centers were classified as indoor space and outdoor space. The indoor space types were classified as entry space, public space, sanitary space and the outdoor space were classified as entry space and leisure space. Some community centers were surveyed in Seocheon-gun, Wanju-gun, and Cheongju-city. Results indicate the indoor and outdoor space design and elements were undergoing a lot of inconvenience partly because standard design was considered and the space was not planned for the physical, psychological and social health of the rural elderly. Therefore, this study will be used as a basis for building healthier and more friendly residential environments that can enhance the health and quality of life for the elderly in rural areas.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2021

목적: 농촌 지역사회 기반의 허리 근력 강화 운동 프로그램이 운동과 허리 건강에 대한 개인의 태도 및 믿음에 미치는 효과를 평가하고자 하였다. 방법: 강원도 지역 네 개의 농촌 마을에서 가벼운 허리 통증이 있는 79명의 여성 자원자(42-76세)들을 운동군(n=40)과 대조군(n=39)으로 마을단위로 배정하였다. 운동군에서는 지역사회 기반의 허리강화 운동 프로그램(주당 3회, 8주간)이 시행되었고 대조군에는 일반적인 건강 관리에 대한 강의가 제공되었다. 등척성 허리 신전 근력과 허리 통증 관련 장애, 운동에 대한 태도, 허리 질환에 대한 위협인지, 운동의 자기 효능감을 중재전과 중재후 1, 2개월째 측정하였다. 결과: 운동군에서 2개월후 허리 신전근력은 뚜렷이 증가하였으며 허리 통증 관련 장애도 유의미하게 감소하였다. 운동에 대한 태도와 허리 질환에 대한 위협 인지는 운동군에서 증가하였으나 대조군에서는 변화가 없었다. 운동의 자기효능감은 양군에서 같이 증가하였으나 운동군에서 그 정도가 더 뚜렷했다. 결론: 농촌 지역 여성들을 대상으로 한 허리 근력 강화 운동 프로그램은 허리 통증으로 인한 장애를 감소시켰고 운동의 효과에 대한 태도와 믿음을 변화시켰다.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.513-520
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• 2000

Objectives : To estimate the prevalence of hypertension, rates of awareness, treatment modalities, and control of hypertension, and also to identify factors in rural Korea that are related to these aspects of hypertension. Methods : A cross-sectional survey, including blood pressure(BP) measurements and interviews, investigating the variables in the health belief model was peformed from August to November, 1999 on 1,426 (79.4%) study subjects out of 1,797 registered residents over 30 years old in Ibansong-Myun, Chinju City. A second survey was peformed from January to March, 2000 on 376 (80.0%) subjects out of 470 hypertensive (or suspected hypertensive) subjects found in the first survey. Two BP readings were taken in each survey using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Hypertension was defined as either a BP reading $\geq$ 140/90 mmHg in both surveys, or as subjects on oral hypertensive medication. Results : Estimated hypertension prevalence was 24.9% for men, and 30.4% for women. Rates of hypertension awareness, treatment (the regular use of oral hypertensives), and control (reduction of BP to <140/90 mmHg) were 52.5%, 34.4%, and 12.9%, respectively. The factors related to lower hypertension awareness in the logistic regression analysis were male gender, farming occupation, and higher perceived barrier to medical treatment (those for whom visiting health professionals is a burden). Conclusions : To improve the low awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, a more active and out-reaching hypertension control program, including routine BP measurements for every visitor to primary care facilities, is needed in rural Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.66-74
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• 2024

Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of providing frailty prevention services by living support workers through a case of community resource connection centered on living support workers to revitalize frailty prevention programs for vulnerable elderly people. Methods: This is a research study using secondary data from a neighborhood health-sharing project among the integrated health promotion projects of one public health center in Daegu Metropolitan City. To assess frailty effects pre-assessments were conducted in August, and post-assessments were conducted in November. Frailty was measured using a 20-item frailty instrument used in home healthcare projects. Data were analyzed using the chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Results: Preliminary measurements showed that older elderly had higher frailty scores than younger elderly. However, among the elderly aged 75 or older the total frailty score decreased statistically significantly from 5.97 points to 5.30 points (t=3.03, p=.003). Conclusion: The older elderly showed greater effect of frailty prevention than the younger elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.162-180
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• 1994

The control of the chronic degenerative diseases becomes a challenge in Korea as the aging of the population progresses. Accordingly, the importance of the control of the hypertension, one of the major chronic degenerative diseases, in the primary health care settings increases. However, such control activities are still minimal. This study gives brief description of how the rural residents who are currently registered for the control of the hypertension feel about the activities of the health centers, subcenters and the CHP posts, in relation to the control of the hypertension. We also describe the knowledge and practice of the registered hypertensive. In general, the knowledge, the acceptance and the satisfaction of the respondents about the hypertension control activities were not very high. Respondents being managed by the health center showed the highest knowledge, acceptance and satisfaction, and those being managed by the subcenters ranked lowest. The knowledge about the hypertension was not satisfactory. There were great variations among the items in terms of the proportion answered correctly. As many as 60% of the respondents take medication regularly but only 4.5% were practicing weight control regularly. Despite some limitations of the study, the results can be very useful for those planning hypertension control programs. The educational materials and the dietary protocols need to be developed in accordance with the regional social and food pattern, so that they can be utilized with minimal modification for each beneficiary. We also suggest to minimize the area a health personnel covers. In other word, running several small health posts at village level would be more effective than running a subcenter at the township level, in terms of the hypertension control.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.241-251
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• 2007

Purpose: To identify the effects on tuberculosis mortality of a tuberculosis control program conducted at 108 community health centers in terms of structure and process. Methods: The dependent variable was tuberculosis mortality, and the independent variables were the structure(type of centers, staff, nurses, doctors, budget) and process(chest X-ray checking, immunization, case detection, health education, patients registering & managing) of the tuberculosis control programs at the community health centers. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and stepwise regression analysis. Result: Tuberculosis morality was positively correlated with type of centers(rural area)(p<0.01), but negatively correlated with type of centers(large cities) (p<0.01), (middle cities)(p<0.05), staff FTE(p<0.05), and number of nurses(p<0.05). Regression analysis indicated that type of centers(rural area)($\beta$=0.457) and case detection($\beta$=0.234) had a significant effect on tuberculosis mortality. Conclusion: Ultimately, this study will provide information to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis control programs in community health centers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was done to describe a community health practitioner's nursing case study for a hypertension patient. Methods: For this purpose, data were collected through interviews and nursing records. The nursing process was carried out from January to March in 2019. Results: For this patient, blood pressure was checked 5 times and total cholesterol test was performed 5 times over 41 consultations. Even though the patient was 84 years old, he was very interested in health. When the blood pressure and cholesterol level measured by community health practitioner were high, he was embarrassed by the recommendation to get a hospital checkup. After referral to a medical clinic and hospital, he was satisfied with the results of the tests and medical treatment, and constantly practiced daily walking exercise. Conclusion: It is very important for community health practitioners to assess patient symptoms correctly and refer the patient timely to manage complications.