• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.143-148
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• 2019

In modern society, developing and utilizing safety service and system environments is a very important and great interest. In particular, the provision of safety services to socially vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, women, the disabled and foreigners has become a social issue. However, since most safety services and systems are applied to the general public, it is necessary to develop systems for socially vulnerable groups. Therefore, in this paper, we developed a system module that processes and transmits data to recognize the situation in real time and respond quickly. To this end, various sensors for real-time situation recognition were designed as integrated modules, and a safety system module was developed to analyze the collected data and transmit the processing results.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

This study aims to provide a customized dynamic kiosk screen that considers user characteristics to cope with changes caused by increased use of kiosks. In order to optimize the screen composition according to the characteristics of the digital vulnerable group such as the visually impaired, the elderly, children, and wheelchair users, etc., users are classified into nine categories based on real-time analysis of user characteristics (wheelchair use, visual impairment, age, etc.). The kiosk screen is dynamically adjusted according to the characteristics of the user to provide efficient services. This study shows that the system communication and operation were performed in the embedded environment, and the used object detection, gait recognition, and speech recognition technologies showed accuracy of 74%, 98.9%, and 96%, respectively. The proposed technology was verified for its effectiveness by implementing a prototype, and through this, this study showed the possibility of reducing the digital gap and providing user-friendly "barrier-free kiosk" services.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.216-234
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• 2024

Background: Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, is designated as an emergency medical vulnerable area, facing significant challenges in transporting and treating emergency patients. A detailed analysis of the regional emergency medical system is required to identify effective solutions. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from the National Emergency Medical Information System and emergency activity logs with qualitative data from focus group interviews involving 24 stakeholders, including medical staff, paramedics, civil servants, and local residents. Results: Quantitative findings indicated an aging population in Hapcheon-gun, with a growing number of elderly emergency room users. Despite the utilization of local emergency medical institutions, a lack of trust and preference for urban hospitals led even patients with mild conditions to seek care at higher-level facilities. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, transport distances and times for patients using 119 emergency services increased. Qualitative analysis identified several issues: limited capacity of local institutions, challenges in patient transport due to misaligned emergency medical zones, an increase in severely ill patients, and the absence of a coordinated emergency medical consultative body. Recommendations include strengthening local institutions through government support, realignment of emergency zones, legal reforms, the establishment of a continuous consultative body, and enhancing the capacity of medical staff, paramedics, and residents. Conclusion: Improving the emergency medical system in Hapcheon-gun will require targeted efforts in institutional strengthening, legal and administrative support, and capacity-building initiatives.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.783-786
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• 2015

Background: Utilizing geriatric screening tools for the identification of vulnerable older patients with cancer is important. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hospitalization risk of elderly hematologic cancer patients based on geriatric assessment and laboratory parameters. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study 61 patients with hematologic malignancies, age 65 years and older, were assessed at a hematology outpatient clinic. Standard geriatric screening tests; activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), timed up and go test (TUG), geriatrics depression scale (GDS) were administered. Demographic and medical data were obtained from patient medical records. The number of hospitalizations in the following six months was then recorded to allow analysis of associations with geriatric assessment tools and laboratory parameters. Results: The median age of the patients, 37 being males, was 66 years. Positive TUG test and declined ADL was found as significant risk factors for hospitalization (p=0.028 and p=0.015 respectively). Correlations of hospitalization with thrombocytopenia, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency were statistically significant (p=0.004, p=0.011 and p=0.05 respectively). Conclusions: In this study, geriatric conditions which are usually unrecognized in a regular oncology office visit were identified. Our study indicates TUG and ADL might be use as predictive tests for hospitalization in elderly oncology populations. Also thrombocytopenia, and vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies are among the risk factors for hospitalization. The importance of vitamin B12 and folic acid vitamin replacement should not be underestimated in this population.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2013

Objective : The end-stage renal disease patients who shared fear of death, functional impairment due to hemodialysis are vulnerable to depression, anxiety and other mental problems. It is possible that their psychiatric characteristics and related autonomic nervous functions have some differences depending on their age. We purpose to find the differences of psychiatric characteristics and related autonomic nervous functions between adult and elderly hemodialysis patients. Methods : Our subjects are end-stage renal disease hemodialysis patients composed of 39 adults (<65 years) and 24 seniors (${\geq}65$ years). Outcome measures included the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, The Apathy Evaluation Scale and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview by clinician. And subjects fulfilled self-report scale, The Positive thinking scale and The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale. The autonomic nervous functions are measured by heart rate variability. Results : There are no significant differences in demographic factors between two groups. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, The Apathy Evaluation Scale, The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and autonomic nervous functions are also not different. But only positive thinking scale is higher in adult hemodialysis group than the elderly (F=5.395, p=0.024). Conclusion : This study compared depression, anxiety and autonomic nervous functions between adult and senior hemodialysis patients. There are no significant differences in psychiatric characteristics and autonomic nervous functions between two groups except positive thinking traits. Senior patients endured their chronic disease similar to adult patients did in spite of their old age. This result suggests that elderly's higher positive thinking traits affect their endurances about the negative situations.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.79-96
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to search the clustering and variables in discriminating the groups by the level of the loss experience and ego-integrity among the elderly. In addition, the study aimed to confirm the moderating effects of variables related to resilience in the relationship between a loss experience and ego-integrity. The subjects were 245 elderly aged 60 or above, most of whom were socially active with comparatively high education levels. Six individual variables(physical self-efficacy, general self-efficacy, social self-efficacy, existential spirituality, religious spirituality, optimism) and five environmental variables(emotional support, instrumental support, informational support, appraisal support, social activity) were used in the study. The results of the study are as follows. To data analysis, ANOVA, Stepwise Discriminant analysis, Cluster analysis, Regression analysis and Two-way analysis of variance was employed. First, the subjects were 4 cluster into overcome group, crisis group, stable group and vulnerable group according to the level of loss experience and ego-integrity. Second, optimism, physical self-efficacy, existential spirituality and emotional support were seen to be significant variables in discriminating the groups. Third, the ego-integrity became higher as the variables related to resilience were increased.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.750-757
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• 2010

In order to investigate acute drug intoxication trends in the elderly who visited emergency medical center, Data were collected from the records of poisoning patients visited five different hospitals from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. The analysis was conducted by using 624 cases from these hospitals. The results are as follows. The study was designed to be divided into two categories of elderly and those under age 65. The criteria were as follows ; male to female ratio, those living together with families, past suicide attempts, acute drug intoxication reasons, management, mental status and the level of sobriety on arrival at the medical centers, and monthly distribution. There was no difference between two groups. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop suicide prevention program for the suicide vulnerable group. Accidental poisonings are going to continue. This means that poisoning prevention education programs must also be developed for periodic use.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study is to review the significance of managing "Mibyeong" in geriatric health in Korean medicine and psychology. Methods: We performed a literature search using OASIS, Koreantk, RISS, DBpia, and PubMed databases. We retrieved research articles using the keywords related to mibyeong (未病), sub-health (亞健康), Korean-medicine, psychology and geriatric health. Results: Both Korean medicine and psychology emphasize biological, psychological, and social balance and well-being. In addition, both value individual personality and constitution. Mibyeong is a Korean medical concept suggesting sub-health. Elderly individuals who are in a state of Mibyeong are frail and vulnerable to disorders and illness. Since depression, chronic diseases, low physical and mental activity have fatal outcomes in frail and elderly subjects, positive psychological support and active management of Mibyeong are very important. Conclusions: Geriatric health conditions are associated with chronic disease and multiple risk factors, including physiological, psychological, social, and economic conditions. A preventive and integrative approach is essential for geriatric health as prevention is better than cure for most geriatric diseases and illnesses.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.120-125
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• 2020

Unmet healthcare needs lead to increased disease severity, increased likelihood of complications, and worse disease prognosis. To examine the latest status of unmet healthcare needs in South Korea, the four different data configured with nationally representative sample of South Korean population were used: the Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNAHANES, 2007-2018), the Community Health Survey (CHS, 2008-2018), the Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2011-2016), and the Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2006-2018). The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs were 7.8% (KNHANES, 2018), 8.8% (CHS), and 10.8% (KHP, 2016). Annual percentage change which characterizes trend for the follow-up period was -9.1%, -3.2%, and -6.8%, respectively. The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs due to cost were 1.2% (KNAHANES, 2018), 1.2% (CHS, 2018), 2.5% (KHP, 2016), and 0.5% (KOWEPS, 2018). Annual percentage change which characterizes trend for the follow-up period was -10.3%, -12.0%, -11.3%, and -18.8, respectively. The low-income population and the elderly population were vulnerable groups reporting the highest rate of unmet health care needs. The rate of unmet healthcare needs has been declining since the past decade, still, the disparity between different income groups and age groups suggests that there are many challenges to address.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2019

Fall is the most common cause of trauma in the elderly and a major reason of dental injury. Maxillary anterior region is the most vulnerable area to the traumatic fall. Loss of teeth and adjacent tissue in this area results in maxillofacial defects and inappropriate maxillomandibular relationship. Reconstruction of the loss requires comprehensive and careful planning to fulfill not only functional but also esthetic demand. Prosthetic approach can avoid surgically extensive intervention, reducing both treatment cost and time. This clinical report describes a 78-year-old woman with the loss of teeth and alveolar bone in maxillary anterior region due to a traumatic fall, rehabilitated with a metal-ceramic fixed dental prosthesis using gingival porcelain.