• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.395-398
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Breast and colon cancer are neoplasms well known to be related to obesity. Adiponectin, a protein that increases in obesity, seems to be involved in the relationship but clinical data are limited. Methods: In this study, we therefore evaluated the serum adiponectin levels in 87 breast and 27 colon cancer patients and assessed the relation with BMI, menopausal status, receptor status and stage of disease. Results: Serum adiponectin levels were lower in cancer cases ($8583{\pm}2095$ ng/ml for breast cancer, $9513{\pm}2276$ for colon cancer) than in controls ($13905{\pm}3263$). Conclusion: A low serum adiponectin level may be associated with both breast and colon cancer, and that this association is not statistically significant for either receptor or menopausal status in breast cancer groups.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2007

Objectives : This study was conducted to elicit quality weights for 42 EQ-5D health states with the time trade-off (TTO) method from the general population of South Korea. Methods : We selected the same EQ-5D health states as those in the UK MVH study. The Korean version of EQ-5D questionnaire and TTO method were used for the valuation process. We interviewed 500 people as a representative sample of the general population in Seoul and Gyeonggido. The result was compared with those from UK, Japan, and USA by Spearman's rank correlation and t-test. Results : TTO values for 42 EQ-5D health states and 'unconscious' state were obtained from the general South Korean population. The best one was '11112' state and the worst one was 'unconscious' state. The states worse than death were '33323', '33333', and 'unconscious' states, which had negative TTO values. There was a strong correlation between TTO values of the EQ-5D health states and those of their corresponding states from UK, Japan, and USA (Spearman's correlation coefficient: 0.885, 0.882, and 0.944, respectively, p <0.001). However, absolute TTO values of most EQ-5D health states were significantly different from those of their corresponding states in other foreign studies (UK : 41/42, USA : 32/42, Japan : 15/17). Conclusions : We found that the Korean general population TTO values for EQ-5D health states were different from those of other foreign studies, suggesting that a specific Korean valuation set should be developed and used for economic evaluation studies in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Health Science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.276-289
• /
• 2015

Purpose. To efficiently manage hospitals, this study aims to analyze the general characteristics, common-type balance sheet, common-type profit and loss statement and financial ratio of a tertiary general hospital and use the results as basic data for future hospital development by comprehending causes for problems and analyzing hospital management. Methods. By using information about a tertiary general hospital, located in A Metropolitan City, provided through Alio (www.alio.go.kr), a public organization information provider, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, and Ministry of Health and Welfare, this study used data during 3 years(2011 to 2013) by analyzing the general characteristics, common-type balance sheet, common-type profit and loss statement, industrial mean ratio and financial ratio of hospitals. Results. This study came to the following conclusions through the general characteristics, common-type balance sheet, common-type profit and loss statement, industrial mean ratio, financial ratio, circular chart and ROI by analyzing the data from 2011 to 2013. Conclusions. Overall, A Tertiary General Hospital showed an increase in fixed cost due to the construction of J Hospital and even in the size of capital and assets. It also showed an increase in medical profit, but the increase of its medical cost was higher, resulting in a financial loss. Especially, this hospital showed a slight decrease in net profit, featuring a reduction in inventory turnover. When the management of A Tertiary General Hospital was predicted based on such features, this hospital is expected to improve its profit structure through the opening of J Hospital, and it is necessary for this hospital to increase and sustain the turnover rate of inventories accumulated by managing them better.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.24 no.3 s.35
• /
• pp.400-413
• /
• 1991

The purpose of this paper is to identify factors affecting the optimum mix of required inputs and other relevant factors which account for the variation in physician's productivity in general hospitals, and to find out their implications for the efficient health planning and management. An extended version of Cobb-Douglas production function and cross sectional data of one day patient census from all general hospitals in Korea in 1988 were used in the analysis. Main results of the analysis and their implications could be summarized as follows : (1) The production function for physician's inpatient service shows the evidence of economies of scale, but the production function for physician's outpatient and adjusted-patient service, which combines both out- and in-patient service, shows that of dis-economies of scale. (2) The physician's role for production for all service is smaller than auxiliary personnel's, which imply that more intensive utilization of nurses, nursing aides and other auxiliary personnel is desirable for improving general hospital productivity (3) In case of physician's inpatient and adjusted-patient service, nurses' role is greater than nursing aides'. Therefore, more extensive utilization of nurses is recommended for the efficient operation of general hospitals. (4) The factor of hospital beds plays the leading role among required inputs in the production for physician's in- and adjusted-patient service. (5) The physician's productivity of general hospitals in rural area is lower than that in urban area. And the productivity of teaching hospitals is lower than that of the other hospitals. Further analysis was made in physician production function based upon the size of hospitals, namely those hospitals below 250 beds and those above. Explained variances by the factor of hospital beds was significantly increased in the case of those hospitals above 250. A more detailed and thorough investigation is needed for verifying factors influencing physician's productivity in general hospitals in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.131-148
• /
• 1996

This study was carried out by using questionnaires with 200 general doctors serving as the director of health subcenter in Kyongsangbuk-do Province as of January 1995. The results are summarized as follows. It was shown that the general characteristics consisted of 53 directors in the lst year(26.5%), 85 in the 2nd year(42.5%) and 62 in the 3rd year(31.0%). The percentage spent on their medical service showed that 73.0% of those directors spent more than 90% on their medical service. Based on their general service attitiude, 0% answered that the director of the health subcenter completes the given duties as the director, and 24.5% did that the director has the sense of responsibility and duty. Multiple answers concerning inconvenience and difficulties of the health subcenter director showed that less monthly salary accounted for 75.5%, no administrative power for 50.0%, insufficient medical instruments for 35.5%, insufficient budget for 30.0%, respect. In conclusion, in order for the health subcenter to meet the function as the primary medical clinic, it is required to arange the plans to inspire the public health doctors' service desire to that they can give the medical service as good as the private primary medical clinics, to convert existing concept of the public health doctors' placement in Myon administrative district into new concept in Gun by breaking from a uniform placement, and to consider an intensive placement according to the relevant projects so that preventive health activities can be planned and carried out.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2015

This study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of a hospital organization targeting both hospital administrative staff members and internal/external customers under a rapidly changing organizational environment, where the effect of creative behavior on passion about one's job was controlled with the participation of 55 people from two larger general hospitals, with 103 people from four general hospitals, with 51 people from eight regular hospitals. Thus, data from a total 209 people were collected. The creative behavior of hospital administrative staff members working for general hospitals and larger general hospitals significantly affected job engagement, showing that 'Relevant knowledge, maintaining status, and application appetite' were higher than the scores of 'new knowledge pursuit activities.' However, a weaker relationship between creative behavior and job engagement was found in medical institutions than for hospitals.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.201-209
• /
• 2013

Background: The study was conducted to investigate the current status of the occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) in the construction industry and the effect of OHSMS on accident rates. Differences of awareness levels on safety issues among site general managers and occupational health and safety (OHS) managers are identified through surveys. Methods: The accident rates for the OHSMS-certified construction companies from 2006 to 2011, when the construction OHSMS became widely available, were analyzed to understand the effect of OHSMS on the work-related injury rates in the construction industry. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency 18001 is the certification to these companies performing OHSMS in South Korea. The questionnaire was created to analyze the differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers of construction companies. Results: The implementation of OHSMS among the top 100 construction companies in South Korea shows that the accident rate decreased by 67% and the fatal accident rate decreased by 10.3% during the period from 2006 to 2011. The survey in this study shows different OHSMS awareness levels between site general managers and OHS managers. The differences were motivation for developing OHSMS, external support needed for implementing OHSMS, problems and effectiveness of implementing OHSMS. Conclusion: Both work-related accident and fatal accident rates were found to be significantly reduced by implementing OHSMS in this study. The differences of OHSMS awareness between site general managers and OHS managers were identified through a survey. The effect of these differences on safety and other benefits warrants further research with proper data collection.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.29-42
• /
• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relations of 'self-body evaluation', self-esteem, and health behavior among junior high school girls, analysing influencing factors for their health behavior, and building a base for its improvement. Methods: Data collection was conducted by self-report survey. Survey participants were 330 junior high school girl students in the area of Seoul, 221 from women's junior high schools and 109, coed schools. Survey included general characteristics, self-body evaluation, self-esteem, and health behavior. Results: 1. In their self-body evaluation, the students gave themselves $3.27{\pm}.53$ scores of the total 5, and of general characteristics, BMI, ideal BMI, personality, living standard were statistically significant different. 2. The scores for the girl students' health behavior were $2.77{\pm}0.37$ of total 4, and of general characteristics, school forms, grades, living standard were statistically significant different. characteristics, school forms, personality, school grades, living standard were statistically significant different. 3. The girls' self-body evaluation and self-esteem showed a low level of negative significant difference and their self-body evaluation and health behavior were significantly different, but a low level of negative significant difference. And the relationship between self-esteem and health behavior showed a high level of positive significant difference. 4. Influencing factors for the girls' health behavior showed a significant difference in self-esteem and school forms of general characteristics, self-body evaluation, and self-esteem.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.26-36
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among psycho-social well-being, and health perception and behavior in clinical nurses. Methods: The data were collected from 362 nurses employed at five general hospitals. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess demographics and job characteristics, health perception and behavior, depression, and psycho-social stress. The data were analysed using Cronbach's alpha, descriptive statistics, t-test, and ANOVA. Results: While nurses perceived themselves to be in good health, represented by a high mean for health perceptions, actual health behavior was poor as the mean for health behavior was low. Forty two percents of the subjects were categorized as having major depression and high-stress levels. There were statistically significant differences in psycho-social well-being according to age, marital status, years of employment, and monthly salary. Also, there were significant differences in psycho-social well-being according to health perception, regular meals and exercise, sufficient sleep, job related injury and accident, and absences for ill. Conclusion: In order to prevent depression and improve psycho-social well-being among clinical nurses, organizational support and health management needs to be focused on high-risk nurses. Furthermore, it is essential to consider the health perception and behavior of clinical nurses.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.545-554
• /
• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the general health status and oral health status based on periodical dental preventive experience, and to find methods for regular dental prophylaxis, using the data obtained from the $7^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Survey. Methods: This study was performed using data collected from the $7^{th}$ National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 9,015 participants were selected for the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0, with data obtained from a complex sampling design, and a significance level of 0.05 was set. General characteristics of the participants, oral health status, and recent preventive dental treatment were examined for a complex sampling frequency analysis, and the differences in distribution were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: The group that recently under went dental prophylaxis, when compared to the group that had not under gone dental prophylaxis recently, reported several 'no obstacles' for all items of the EQ-5D (p<0.05). Moreover, the group that recently underwent dental prophylaxis used all the oral care products (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is necessary to actively expand institutional supervision so that regular dental preventive measures can be undertaken to promote oral health that affects general health.