• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.580-587
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• 2018

Background and Objectives We evaluated the clinical characteristics and vestibular function of patients with direction changing vibration induced nystagmus (DC VIN) and unilateral vestibular hypofunction and suggest clinical implication and a proposed mechanism of DC VIN. Subjects and Method The records of 315 patients who underwent the VIN test were reviewed retrospectively. Among these, 18 patients (5.7%) showed DC VIN, and out of whom, 15 patients (4.8%) were diagnosed as unilateral vestibular hypofunction by caloric, rotation chair (RCT), and video head impulse test (vHIT). We analyzed the relationship between DC VIN and the dizziness characteristics, duration of disease, and the outcome of the vestibular function test. Results The mean age of 15 patients was $67.4{\pm}10.7years$ and the mean duration of dizziness was $13.6{\pm}29.7months$. The caloric test revealed 25% of the patients to have significant canal paresis [Caloric vestibular neuritis (VN)], while 75% showed normal caloric response. However, unilateral vestibular hypofunction was observed by abnormal results in RCT or vHIT (Non-caloric VN). Seven patients showed ipsilateral DC VIN (nystagmus to vibrated side) and eight patients contralateral DC VIN (nystagmus to opposite side of vibration). Patients with ipsilateral DC VIN were shown to have a significant longer duration of dizziness than those with contralateral DC VIN. Conclusion Although rare, DC VIN can also be found in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction. Patients with DC VIN had a mild vestibular asymmetry with Non-caloric VN or Caloric VN in the process of compensation. The mechanism of ipsilateral DC VIN seems to be due to the small amount of vestibular asymmetry, which is smaller than the interaural attenuation of vibration.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.74-90
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• 2021

Background: It is getting important to improve the oral health status of the elderly because oral health status may affect their health status of the whole body. In this respect, we aimed to explore the association of oral health status and behavior factors with self-rated health status by sex. Methods: Using the data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for health surveys and oral examinations (2016-2018), we analyzed a total of 3,070 people aged 65 or older (men: 1,329; women: 1,741). Our dependent variable, self-rated health status, was divided into two groups: not good (bad and very bad) and good (very good, good, and fair), whereas our independent variables of interest were oral health status and behavior factors. In addition to descriptive analysis and the Rao-Scott chi-square test, reflecting survey characteristics, we conducted hierarchical multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographics and health status and behavior factors. All analyses were stratified by sex. Results: The proportion of people having 'not good' self-rated health was 36.5% in women but 24.5% in men. In a model adjusted for all covariates, the self-rated health status showed significant association with the self-rated oral health status. For example, in men, the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health was high in people having 'poor' (odds ratio [OR], 5.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.34-12.03) self-rated oral health status and in those having 'fair' (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 1.68-9.70) in comparison with those having 'good' self-rated oral health status. Dental status regarding speaking difficulty seemed to be very important in influencing self-rated health status. For instance, in women, compared to people having 'no discomfort' speaking difficulty, the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health was high in people having 'not bad' (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.14-2.24) and 'discomfort' (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.30-2.47) speaking difficulty. The covariates significantly associated with the risk of having 'not good' self-rated health were: physical activity, chronic disease, stress, and body mass index in both sexes; health insurance type and drinking only in men; and economic activity only in women. Conclusion: Oral health status and behavioral factors were associated with self-rated health status among the elderly, differently by sex. This suggests that public health policies toward better health in the elderly should take their oral health status and oral health behaviors into account in a sex-specific way.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.243-252
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• 2023

This paper aims to introduce Korea's total current health expenditure (CHE) and National Health Accounts of the year 2021 and their 2022 preliminary figures constructed on the basis of the System of Health Accounts 2011. As CHE includes expenditures for prevention, tracking, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compensation for losses to medical institutions from 2020, the details are also introduced. Korea's total CHE in 2021 is 193.3 trillion won, which is 9.3% of gross domestic product (GDP). The preliminary figure in 2022, 209.0 trillion won, exceeded the 200 trillion won line for the first time, and its "ratio to GDP" of 9.7% is expected to exceed the average of Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development member countries for the first time. Korea's health expenditures, which were well controlled until the end of the 20th century, have increased at an alarming rate since the beginning of the 21st century, threatening the sustainability of national health insurance. The increase in health expenditure after 2020 is partly due to a temporary increase in response to COVID-19. However, when considering the structure of Korea's health insurance price hike, where the ratchet effect of increased medical expenses works particularly strongly, it is unlikely that the accelerating growth trend that has lasted for more than 20 years will stop easily. More aggressive policies to control medical expenses are required in the national health insurance which not only constitutes the main financing sources of the Korean health system but also has the most powerful policy means in effect for changes in the health care provision.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.3 s.54
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• pp.617-637
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• 1996

Occupational dermatosis is one of the most prevalent occupational disorders. However, the extent of the occupational dermatoses including incidences and prevalencies of each disease entity, and etiologic materials are not yet welt stated in Korea. Authors reviewed the literatures on the statistic data and reports on the occupational dermatoses, and surveyed on the occupational dermatoses in two factories, and surveyed the physicians responsible to the occupational dermatoses with formed questionnaire. The results are as follows; 1. Among medical journals published since 1964, there were 31 articles on the occupational dermatoses. Of 31 articles, 18 were case reports and all others were review articles. Of 18 case reports, 9 were epidemiologic survey. The Workers' Periodic Health Examinations revealed that prevalence of the occupational dermatoses was highest(4.36 per 10,000 workers) in 1974, but number of the cases reported were decreased sharply since 1978 with some tendency to increase since 1981. There were 2,240 reported cases of occupational dermatoses between 1966 and 1992, which is 1.90% of all the reported occupational diseases. Skin infection and injuries due to chemicals were most frequent and there were 6 cases of skin cancer. 2. In an epidemiological survey on the dermatoses among 995 workers in a metal product manufacturing factory and 225 workers in a coal chemical factory, there were 794 with dermatomycosis, 296 workers with acne, 130 workers with scar, 123 workers with deformity of toe nails. Scars, photosensitivity dermatitis, deformity of finger and toe nails, and acne were more prevalent in the metal product manufacturing factory(p<0.05). In the metal prouct manufacturing factory, workers treating organic solvents and oils had more dermatoses than those without treating the materials(p<0.05). On the skin patch performed on 16 workers in the metal product manufacturing factory, there were 8 cases of irritation dermatitis and 5 cases of contact dermatitis. Prevalence of contact dermatitis in the metal product manufacturing factory was 1.3%. 3. On the questionnaire survey, 34 dermatologists, 29 doctors of preventive medicine, and 22 family physician replied. The proportion of occupational etiology among all dermatoses assumed by the physicians were below 9%, and the most important occupational dermatosis in Korea was contact dermatitis. Main etiologic materials related to the occupational dermatosis were organic solvent, acid and alkali, and metals. The reason for the scarcity of report of occupational dermatoses were difficulty in diagnosis and physician's ignorance of the occupational etiology. They replied that to prevent the occupational dermatoses in the workplace, the use of protective devices was most important, and development of diagnostic criteria on the occupational dermatoses is urgent. Above results shows us that there is many workers with occupational dermatoses, but they are mostly unreported. Measures to prevent and manage the occupational dermatoses are not satisfactory at present. Hence, authors suggest measures for the precise diagnosis, report and prevention of the occupational dermatoses. a. Dermatologist, preventive physician, and industrial hygienist should work as a team to examine the high risk group and establish the preventive measures. b. Disease entities, diagnostic criteria of occupational dermatoses should be listed, criteria for the compensation and job fitting at recruitment should be established, and manual for the proper treatment and effective prevention of each occupational dermatosis should be developed. c. Patch test antigens against each occupational category should be developed and it should be available to any physicians responsible. d. To facilitate the diagnosis of occupational dermatoses by the doctors responsible for the Workersr Periodic Health Examination, development of standardized questionnaire, education on the techniques of the patch test, and cooperation with the dermatologist in diagnosis of occupational dermatoses is essential.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.191-203
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• 2001

The health of a nurse is very important because her mental and physical health can influence toward nursing patients directly, Especially, Cancer patients are growing annually. Also, terminal cancer patients' nursing and dead place are increasingly using hospital and the period of nursing for cancer patients are increasing. Nursing for cancer patients are different with acute disease. Therefore, I analysed comparing nurses' health working in cancer and general ward so that nurses working at cancer ward could be developed as a professional nurse, and I wanted to establish the foundation of nursing administration and reasonable manpower management to supply good quality of nursing to patients. In my research, I selected 117 nurses working in cancer ward and 134 nurses working in general word to analyse the stress rate and nurse's health comparing nurses working in general ward and cancer ward. The survey was conducted of nurses working in cancer ward nurses in 2 university hospitals, nurses working in a cancer hospital, and general ward nurses working in 3 public hospital. Also, the data was collected from Sep. 13, 2001 to Sep. 28, 2001. As health measuring tool, I used Cornell Medical Index(CMI) which are developed to fit Koreans by Ko Ungrin and Park Hang-bas (1980) using Cornell Medical Services which were designed by Weiser, Brosman, Mittelman, Wechler, Wolff in Cornell University(1945). As working stress measuring tool, I used Questionaries which were designed by Kim Mae-ja and Ku Mi-ok(1984) and then developed by Bae In-sook(1996). For managing the data, I used frequency, percentage, ${\chi}^2$ verification, t-test, and F-test (ANOVA). And in the case of significant data(p<.05). I did Duncan's test for post verification. The mutual relation between health condition and working stress rate have been conducted using Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Followings are the results of my research. 1. Two groups showed significant differency at age after testing homogeneous character between two groups (${\chi}^2$ =9.919, p=.007). 2. Comparing two group's health condition, cancer ward(average 19.35${\pm}$18.34) were higher than general ward(14.42${\pm}$10.59) and showed statistical significant differency(p=.009). And, comparing two group's mental condition, cancer ward(9.00${\pm}$9.79) were higher than general ward(7.13${\pm}$6.35) and statistically no differency. 3. After comparing two group's working stress rate, the rate of cancer ward nurse's working stress(3.36${\pm}$.50) is higher than general ward nurse (3.32${\pm}$.48). There are no significant differency. However, in the detailed verification test, there were significant differency at inappropriate compensation (t=3.254, p=.001) and medication issue (t=2.170, p=.031). 4. After comparing health condition at general points, physical health condition showed significant differency at age(p=.020), the number of children (p=.015), religion (p=.015), position(p=.005), career(p=.008), working satisfaction(p=.003), activity after office hour(p=.045); and mental health condition showed significant differency at position(p=.010), career (p=.017), working satisfaction (p=.003). 5. After comparing the working stress rate according to general points, there were significant differency at working satisfaction (F=5.285, p=.006), predicted nursing(F=3.822, p=.023). 6. At the relation of health condition and working stress rate between two groups. physical and mental condition showed significant relation with working stress rate. i.e, if a nurse's health condition is not good, she are feeling much more stress than others. After considering all the factors in my research, I found that the health condition and stress rate of cancer ward nurses is much higher than general ward nurses. Considering that cancer ward nurses is necessary to care for increasing cancer patients with mental and physical nursing, the less stress for cancer ward nurses is very important to develop nursing quality and working efficiency by keeping good health condition, specializing cancer ward nurses. Therefore, we need following studies to find the factors which are effecting to cancer ward nurses' health and specialization. Also, we need to improve managing working condition to decrease working stress by improving working condition.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.54-66
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• 2000

Background: Pneumoconiosis, like other chronic respiratory diseases, is essentially incurable and, for many, progressive. While improved survival time is an important aim of treatment, there is growing recognition that for some people, improving the quality of life is more important than extending the length of life. Currently the measurement of the quality of life is used to assess the efficacy of therapeutic agents. Methods: Sixty-three pnemoconiotics who were admitted to St. Mary's Hospital between April and August 1999 were interviewed using COOP charts, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire(CRQ) and Pneumoconiotic Respiratory Questionnaire(PRQ), a newly developed questionnaire concerning clinical and socioeconomic features of pneumoconiotics. Also, ILO classification of the chest film, pulmonary function test, and arterial blood gas analysis of the patients were evaluated. The scores between Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance(IACI) covered and uncovered patients and between clinically stable and unstable patients were compared. Results: Domains of CRQ and PRQ showed a high internal consistency reliability($\alpha$=0.86-0.89, 0.77-0.81) except the dyspnea domain($\alpha$=0.63) of CRQ. The scores on the CRQ and PRQ showed statistically significant correlations with the results of COOP charts, pulmonary function test and arterial blood gas analysis. The dyspnea domain and social activity domain of the PRQ showed significant difference between IACI covered and uncovered patients and between clinically stable and unstable patients. Conclusion : Korean translation of the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire and the newly developed Pneumoconiotic Respiratory Questionnaire are reliable and valid methods and are likely to be useful in measuring the quality of life in patients with the chronic respiratory disease including pneumoconiosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.405-417
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to describe the photosynthetic features of Prunus maximowiczii and Prunus serrulate Lindl. var. pubescens (Makino) Nakai in response to drought stress. Specifically, we studied the effects of drought on photosynthetic ability and photosystem II activity. Drought stress (DS) was induced by cutting the water supply for 30 days. DS decreased the moisture contents in the soil, and between the 10th and 12th days of DS, both species had 10% or less of x., After the 15th day of DS, it was less than 5%, which is a condition for disease to start. We observed a remarkable decrease of maximum photosynthesis rate starting from 10th day of DS; the light compensation point was also remarkable. Dark respiration and net apparent quantum yield decreased significantly on the 15th day of DS, and then increased on the 20th day. In addition, the stomatal transpiration rate of P. maximowiczii decreased significantly on the15th day of DS, and then increased on the 20th day. Water use efficiency increased on the 15th day of DS, and then decreased on the 20th day. The stomatal transpiration rate of P. serrulate decreased significantly on the 20th day of DS, and then increased afterward, while its water use efficiency increased on the 20th day of DS, and then decreased afterward. These results indicate that the closure of stoma prevented water loss, resulting in a temporary increase of water use efficiency. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis detected remarkable decreases in the functional index (PI_ABS) and energy transfer efficiency in P. maximowiczii after the 15th day of DS. Meanwhile, photosystem II activity decreased in P. serrulate after 20 days of DS. In addition, Ts-Ta, PI_ABS, DI_O/RC, ET_O/RC followed similar trends as those of the soil moisture content and photosynthetic properties, indicating that they can be used as useful variables in predicting DS in trees.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 1999

Objectives. This study was carried out to evaluate hearing impairment judgement and to investigate the differences in various diagnostic criteria for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among workers who required for close observation (C). Methods. Out of 731,029 workers who had taken the specific periodic health examination in 1994, we used the audiometric data on 37,999 workers (C) eliminating the employees who had previous otologic problems. Many investigators have being using different criteria for the evaluation of hearing impairment. In this study, we used the criteria of early (1989-1994), current, compensation for NIHL in Korea, 2-, 3-, 4-divided classification and hearing loss at 4,000 Hz and compared the evaluation results. Results. The prevalences of C and workers who had occupational disease $(D_1)$ diagnosed for NIHL were 11.1 % and 0.44 %. There were significant difference in the prevalences of C and $D_1$, depending on different province of Korea. Pure tone averages (PTAs) were not appropriately applied in their evaluation 97% of workers whom we studied on were below the level of mild hearing loss judged by ISO standard. However, there were wide variations in the prevalence rate of mild hearing loss by diagnostic criteria. Thus, there were different judgements in determining the degree of NIHL depending on which diagnostic criteria were utilized. PTAs were found 20.54 (Rt) and 20.74 (Lt) when the method of 3-divided classification was applied for audiometric data. The degree of hearing impairment of the left ear was more severe than that of right ear. The prevalence of normal hearing threshold below 20 dB was 75.4% and the range of difference in both ear was below 10 dB. Right sided hearing threshold levels were 21.08 dB (500 Hz), 18.44 dB (1,000 Hz), 22.09 (2,000 Hz) and 52.36 dB (4,000 Hz). There was typical high frequency loss (C5-dip at 4,000 Hz) above 30 - 40 dB in normal hearing level. The increasing trend in hearing threshold level was gradually decreased by the increase of PTAs. The difference between PTAs and threshold at 4,000 Hz was about 10 dB. Conclusions. We could found that PTAs in the previous examination were not appropriately evaluated. This study revealed that they did not use unique criteria for managing the workers of NIHL. For the prevention of NIHL, it was found that the quality control on diagnosis and comprehensive management program were required, especially for those of hearing loss (C).