• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2023

Purpose: The number of households vulnerable to isolation increases rapidly as social ties decrease, raising concerns about the associated increase in lonely deaths. This study aimed to identify issues related to lonely deaths by analyzing South Korean news articles; and to provide evidence for their use in preventing and managing lonely deaths via community nursing. Methods: This exploratory study analyzed the structure and trends of meaning of lonely deaths by identifying the association between keywords in news articles and lonely deaths. In this study, we searched for all news articles on lonely deaths, covering the period from January 1, 2010, to May 31, 2023. Data preprocessing and purification were conducted, followed by top-keyword extraction, keyword network analysis and topic modeling. The retrieved articles were analyzed using R and Python software. Results: Four main topics were identified: "discovering and responding to lonely death cases", "lonely deaths ending in lonely funerals", "supportive policies to prevent lonely deaths among of older adults", and "local government activities to prevent lonely deaths and support vulnerable populations." Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that lonely death is a complex social phenomenon that can be prevented if society shows concern and care. Education related to lonely deaths should be included in nursing curricula for concrete action plans and professional development.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.260-265
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• 2013

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the seasonal variation of death from intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation and suffocation (HSS: Korean Standard Classification of Diseases-6 code: X70) using the 2011 death registry data. Methods: The analysis was based on data of 8,359 HSS deaths from 2011 national vital statistics in Korea. Daily, weekly, and monthly death pattern on HSS were used to examine the relationship seasonal variation and HSS deaths. Results: A total of 8,359 HSS deaths occurred in 2011, with a mean age of 50.6 years. The HSS death rate (per 100,000) was 25.5 in male and 10.8 in female. In one day 17.6 males and 8.0 females occurred HSS death on average. The number of HSS death per day was the highest on 8th June (45 deaths), and lowest on 1st February (7 deaths) during the period. The variations of daily HSS death showed wide fluctuation from a peak of 34 to 45 deaths (29th May to 9th June) to a trough of 17-26 deaths (10th-13th September: the Korean thank-giving consecutive holidays), 13-20 deaths (2nd-5th February: the new year's day by the lunar calendar) and 8-9 deaths (24th-25th December: Christmas holidays). There were no significant difference between gender and seasonal variation (month, season, and week). Conclusion: The mean number of HSS death per day was highest in June (30.6 deaths), and months with the lowest number of deaths was January and December (range, 19.4 to 19.6 deaths). HSS death were more prevalent during summer and spring and were less likely to occur during winter. On Saturdays (21.0 deaths), the number of HSS death per day was the lowest, and Monday (27.9 deaths) was the highest. HSS death was less likely to occur on holidays (21.4 deaths). There was significant seasonal variation in HSS death by weekly and monthly (p<0.01).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.1 s.21
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• pp.84-96
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• 1987

For the purpose of preparing the basic data for further cancer epidemiologic study and cancer patients control, we conducted the analysis on the degree and structure of deaths from cancer in metropolitan areas of Korea with 7,934 certified cancer deaths records of Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and Incheon in 1982. The analyzed results were as follows: 1) The total number of cancer deaths in metropolitan areas were 7,934 (male: 4,749, female: 3,185) as 14.1% of deaths from all causes in the same area. 2) The rate of physician's certification on cancer deaths was 77.4% and most of cancer deaths (84.4%) occured at their home. 3) Cancer specific death rate was 51.7 per 100.000 population (male: 62.9, female: 41.9) and age-adjusted cancer death rate was 82.4 in male and 51.6 in female per 100,000 population. And the difference was statistically significant (p< 0.01). 4) Age-specific cancer death rate was generally increased with age and most of cancer deaths (male: 75% , female: 65%) occurred from 45 to 74 years old. 5) The first three orders of cancer site were stomach (32.7%), liver (28.8%), lung (11.7%) in male and stomach (30.6%), uterus (18.4%), liver (13.8%) in female. And the relative frequency of these three cancer sites among total cancer deaths was corresponded to 73.2% in male and 62.8% in female. 6) The ratio of male to female cancer death rate was 1.5:1. And the ratio was aboye 3.0 in esophagus, liver, larynx, bladder cancer and the ratio was similar to 1.0 in stomach, pancreas, leukemia, brain, colon cancer, but the ratio was reversed in gall bladder and bile duct, and thyroid cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.111-125
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• 2018

Statistical analysis was performed on national forensic autopsy data collected in the Republic of Korea, with the exception of Ulsan, during 2017. A total of 8,777 cases were categorized based on the region; information was provided by the Police Agency and the Coast Guard regarding sex, age, manner of death, and cause of death. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,971 cases (45.2%) were unnatural deaths, 3,679 cases (41.9%) were natural deaths, and 1,127 cases (12.8%) were unknown deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,740 cases, 43.8%) were accidents, 1,316 cases (33.1%) were suicide, 385 cases (9.7%) were homicide, and 530 cases (13.3%) were undetermined deaths. Among the unnatural deaths, the majority of the cases (1,575 cases, 39.7%) were trauma, followed by 793 cases (20.0%) of poisoning and 689 cases (17.4%) of asphyxia. Falling down was the major cause of death by trauma (737 cases, 46.8%). As a result of the classification of asphyxia based on previous study, strangulation was the major cause, with 538 cases (78.1%). Among the natural deaths, heart disease was the major cause (1,790 cases, 48.7%), followed by vascular disease (697 cases, 18.9%).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.327-338
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• 2024

Objectives: Estimating the number of deaths caused by smoking is crucial for developing and evaluating tobacco control and smoking cessation policies. This study aimed to determine smoking-attributable mortality (SAM) in Korea in 2020. Methods: Four large-scale cohorts from Korea were analyzed. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) of smoking-related death. By conducting a meta-analysis of these HRs, the pooled HRs of smoking-related death for 41 diseases were estimated. Population-attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated based on the smoking prevalence for 1995 in conjunction with the pooled HRs. Subsequently, SAM was derived using the PAF and the number of deaths recorded for each disease in 2020. Results: The pooled HR for all-cause mortality attributable to smoking was 1.73 for current men smokers (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 1.95) and 1.63 for current women smokers (95% CI, 1.37 to 1.94). Smoking accounted for 33.2% of all-cause deaths in men and 4.6% in women. Additionally, it was a factor in 71.8% of men lung cancer deaths and 11.9% of women lung cancer deaths. In 2020, smoking was responsible for 53 930 men deaths and 6283 women deaths, totaling 60 213 deaths. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking was responsible for a significant number of deaths in Korea in 2020. Monitoring the impact and societal burden of smoking is essential for effective tobacco control and harm prevention policies.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.20 no.1 s.61
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• pp.98-103
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• 2006

This paper analyzed deaths caused by fires using the Annual Report on the Cause of Death Statistics (based on vital registration) published by the Korea National Statistical Office. The number of fire deaths and the fire death rates of all deaths have started to decrease since the height in 1993. The younger groups have increasingly more fire deaths than the older groups. While children groups(age 10 and under) have decreased in their deaths caused by fires, the older groups (65 and over) tend to increase. Males are more likely to have a risk than females in all age groups. Fire death rates per 100,000 populations by age group suggest very high rates in the older groups. Although there are few changes in death rates caused by fires of all deaths, young children (age 4 and under) and older adults (age 75 and over) have a higher risk than any other age groups.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.67-91
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• 2007

The nature of deaths occurred at sea may be revealed the differences from that in the land, but there is no comprehensive statistical analysis of deaths occurred at Korean Sea so far. Therefore, the cases of deaths or missing in the period 1993 - 2006 were analyzed by the cause, place of death, and results of preliminary investigation. In the period from 1993 to 2006, over 1000 peoples were died or missing every year. The cases of marine safety accidents including self-carelessness and mishap were approached over 60% and cases of homicide were less than 1%. The closure cases of preliminary investigation were reached over 70% and the most of deaths occurred in fishing vessels (the range of 20 ~ 99 tonnage). The suspension cases of preliminary investigation were reached to 70% of all missing and drowning cases. The results showed that the most of deaths occurred at sea could be prevented by the safety regulations including mandatory report of accidents, marine safety education and training, punishment the people responsible for the accidents. For the unidentified bodies, data should be collected and recorded for the future identification. The crime scene investigators should be trained to ensure the quality of their professional skills regularly.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.61-70
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• 1997

This study is undertaken to investigate the differences of accident characteristics between occupational deaths and nonfatal injuries in overall industry of Korea. The national statistics of industrial accidents in the years 1991-1994 were extracted from the annual publications of Ministry of Labor. To make the statistical comparisons for the accident characteristics, we derived the destributions of occupational deaths and injuries in terms of injured person's age, work experience, tiem of accident, activity at time of accident, accident type, injury type, injured part of body, and agency of accident. The results show that the distributions of the occupational deaths are significantly different from those of the nonfatal injuries in all characteristics investigated in this study. These findings indicate that the accident prevention programs should be developed and implemented by taking into account the characteristics of working environments based on accident analysis.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.131-154
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• 2013

Although fatalities due to child abuse are frequently happened, there has been a dearth of research on the topic. The present research analyzes deaths due to child abuse in representative newspapers in order to examine incidences, causes, and characteristics of child abuse. The results showed that from 2000 to 2012 child abuse deaths occurred 141 cases. Most deaths due to child abuse were committed by single mothers, biological mothers, cohabiting women and stepmothers, and biological fathers. As regards the reasons of deaths due to child abuse, the frequency of newborn infant deaths as the result of abuse by single mother or single parent was the highest, and lack of parenting skills, postpartum depression, hardships of living and lack of financial abilities were followed. Also, subjects received extensive media coverage were crime compositions-stereotypes of child abusers, habitual and continual child abuse, lack of child abuse reporting and prevention system, and mild penalties. Finally, based on the results of the study, the implications to prevent and resolve deaths due to child abuse were discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students' experiences with patient deaths during clinical practice. Methods: The participants were ten nursing students who had experienced patient deaths during clinical nursing practice at a university hospital in Korea. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using the content analysis method suggested by Graneheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The participants' experience was structured into six categories: experiencing various emotions in facing patient deaths, viewing oneself as a nursing student at the scene of a patient's death, thinking about death again, finding a pathway of understanding and support for patient death experiences, impressions and regret felt while actually observing terminal care, and picturing oneself as a future nurse dealing with a patient's death. Conclusion: Based on this study, stress management and self-reflection programs are suggested for nursing students who have experienced patient deaths. Practical nursing education for patient death and end of life care is also needed.