• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.197-206
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• 2015

Objectives : This study presents comparison results of the correlations between ODA grants and health indicators among 23 countries in Asia. Methods : Data from 2005~2013 were collected through the World Development Indicator (WDI) provided by the World Bank (WB). The health-related variables used in this study included the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, incidence of tuberculosis, and prevalence of AIDS. Results : Based on the results, there were positive correlations between ODA grants and health indicators, which means that the overall ODA grants would drop when the health indicators improved. As for differences in the health indicators by income groups among the countries, there were differences in the maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, infant mortality rate, and overall ODA grants. The maternal mortality ratio, infant mortality rate under five, and infant mortality rate were lower in the order of upper middle, lower middle, and poorest income countries. Conclusions : The findings raise a need for the integrated and horizontal development of Goals 4, 5 and 6 of MDGs in the ODA projects of health sector in the future.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.189-209
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• 2006

Business expects that IT investment would maximize the effects, like availability, timeliness, rapidity of information, by practical using of information technology for a strategic goal. However, it is not clear yet that IT investment would increase business productivity and could create profitability in the end-the linkage between IT investment and business KPI(Key Performance Indicator). In this case study(only provides post-evaluation case), we suggested integrated IT ROI(Return On Investment) methodology with a consistent and integrated view, on the base of practical implementation at Korean financial company. Especially, we evaluated connection between IT and business strategy, made business-related IT KPI development methodology, suggested framework for sustainable IT evaluation and management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2022

Land use is a critical factor that affects the hydrological characteristics of watersheds, thereby determining the biological condition of streams. This study analyzes the effects of land uses in the watersheds on biological indicators of streams across the Han River basin using a linear model (LM) and generalized additive model (GAM). LULC and biological monitoring data of streams were obtained from the Korean Ministry of Environment. The proportions of urban, agricultural, and forest areas in the watersheds were regressed to the three biological indicators, including diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, and fish of streams. The estimated LM and GAM models for the biological indicators were then compared, using regression determination R² and AIC values. The results revealed that GAM models performed better than the LM models in explaining the variances of biological indicators of streams, indicating the non-linear relationships between biological indicators and land uses in watersheds. Also, the results suggested that the indicator of macroinvertebrates was the most sensitive indicator to land uses in watersheds. Although non-linear relationships between watershed land uses and biological indicators of streams could vary among biological indicators, it was consistent that streams' biological integrity significantly deteriorated by a relatively low percentage of urban areas. Meanwhile, biological indicators of streams were negatively affected by the relatively high percentage of agricultural areas. The results of this study can be integrated into effective quantitative criteria for the watershed management and land use plans to enhance the biological integrity of streams. In specific, land uses management plans in watersheds may need more close attention to urban land use changes than agricultural land uses to sustain the biological integrity of streams.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2021

This study was carried out to introduce the forest cover types of the Baekdudaegan inhabiting the number of native tree species. In order to understand the vegetation distribution characteristics of the Baekdudaegan, a vegetation survey was conducted on the major 20 mountains of the Baekdudaegan. The vegetation data were collected from 3,959 sample points by the point-centered quarter method. Each mountain was classified into 4-7 forests by using various multivariate statistical methods such as cluster analysis, indicator species analysis, multiple discriminant analysis, and species composition analysis. The forests were classified mainly according to the relative abundance of Quercus mongolica. There was a total of 111 classified forests and these forests were integrated into the following nine forest cover types using the percentage similarity index and by clustering according to vegetation type: 1) Mongolian oak, 2) Mongolian oak and other deciduous, 3) Oaks (Mixed Quercus spp.), 4) Korean red pine, 5) Korean red pine and oaks, 6) ash, 7) mixed mesophytic, 8) subalpine zone coniferous, and 9) miscellaneous forest. Forests grouped within the subalpine zone coniferous and miscellaneous classifications were characterized by similar environmental conditions and those forests that did not fit in any other category, respectively.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2022

Background: Avoidable mortality rate has been widely used as an indicator of the quality of health care and the degree of inequality in health levels. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the avoidable mortality rate in the region. Methods: The data was MDIS(Microdata Integrated Service) Causes of Death Statistics, and the analysis period was from 2010 to 2019. Panel analysis was performed to identify the influencing factors on the avoidable mortality rate. Findings: Result showed that the current smoking rate had a significant positive effects on the avoidable mortality rate of both men and women. And the smoking cessation trial rate, low salt diet rate, weight control trial rate, annual vaccination rate had a significant negative effect. In the social environment, the divorce rate had a significant positive effect. In the economy environment, financial independence and social welfare budget rate had a significant negative effect. In the physical environment, the factory area rate had a significant positive effect. Practical Implication: Practical implication in order to lower the local avoidable mortality rate, various social determinants of health as well as health care resources should be considered together.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.365-379
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• 2023

Purpose - Our previous study (Chang & Lee, 2023) presented observations on the recent changes in the year-on-year (YoY) Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this article is to present an integrated analysis and interpretation of the recent changes in CPI and the Aggregate Import Price Index (IPI) by incorporating recent data, specifically data from September 2022 to December 2022. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected CPI (YoY) data in the ROK from January 2019 to December 2022 using e-National Indicator System provided by the ROK. Statistical analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings - First, we confirm the extended results of the existing study by Chang and Lee (2023). Second, we demonstrate that the Aggregate IPI in ROK increased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021. We then provide an integrated interpretation on the significant increase in CPI and aggregate IPI in ROK, which complements Chang and Lee (2023) that limits their discussion to YoY CPI. Moreover, we show that the IPI of the semiconductor in ROK decreased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021. Research implications or Originality - Our results provide important insights into the recent changes in the CPI in the ROK. The results suggest that these changes can be partially attributed to various factors, such as the global supply chain disruptions resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, the side effect of quantitative easing by the US Federal Reserve, heat waves and droughts caused by climate change in ROK, a surge in demand following a gradual daily recovery, US-China trade conflict, etc. Our study shows statistically comprehensive results compared to the studies that limit their discussion to YoY average growth rate.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.186-207
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• 2001

Background : This study presented an analysis of healthcare quality indicators using data mining and a development of decision support system for quality improvement. Method : Specifically, important factors influencing the key quality indicators were identified using a decision tree method for data mining based on 8,405 patients who discharged from a medical center during the period between December 1, 2000 and January 31, 2001. In addition, a decision support system was developed to analyze and monitor trends of these quality indicators using a Visual Basic 6.0. Guidelines and tutorial for quality improvement activities were also included in the system. Result : Among 12 selected quality indicators, decision tree analysis was performed for 3 indicators ; unscheduled readmission due to the same or related condition, unscheduled return to intensive care unit, and inpatient mortality which have a volume bigger than 100 cases during the period. The optimum range of target group in healthcare quality indicators were identified from the gain chart. Important influencing factors for these 3 indicators were: diagnosis, attribute of the disease, and age of the patient in unscheduled returns to ICU group ; and length of stay, diagnosis, and belonging department in inpatient mortality group. Conclusion : We developed a decision support system through analysis of healthcare quality indicators and data mining technique which can be effectively implemented for utilization review and quality management in a healthcare organization. In the future, further number of quality indicators should be developed to effectively support a hospital-wide Continuous Quality Improvement activity. Through these endevours, a decision support system can be developed and the newly developed decision support system should be well integrated with the hospital Order Communication System to support concurrent review, utilization review, quality and risk management.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2022

Background: The costliness index (CI) is an index that is used in various ways to improve the quality of medical care and the management of appropriate treatment in medical institutions. However, the current calculation method for CI has a limitation in reflecting the actual medical cost of the patient unit because the outpatient and inpatient costs are evaluated separately. It is desirable to calculate the CI by integrating the medical cost into the episode unit. Methods: We developed an episode-based CI method using the episode classification system of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the National Inpatient Sample data in Korea, which can integrate the admission and ambulatory care cost to episode unit. Additionally, we compared our new method with the previous method. Results: In some episodes, the correlation between previous and episode-based CI was low, and the proportion of outpatient treatment costs in total cost and readmission rates are high. As a result of regression analysis, it is possible that the level of total medical costs of the patient unit in low volume medical institute and rural area has been underestimated. Conclusion: High proportion of outpatient treatment cost in total medical cost means that some medical institutions may have provided medical services in the ambulatory care that are ancillary to inpatient treatment. In addition, a high readmission rate indicates insufficient treatment service for inpatients, which means that previous CI may not accurately reflect actual patient-based treatment costs. Therefore, an integrated patient-unit classification system which can be used as a more effective CI indicator is needed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-100
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• 2022

Unit capacity factor (utilization rate) of nuclear power plants (NPPs) is an important performance indicator. Since the first commercial operation of Kori Unit 1 began in April 1978, the utilization rate of domestic NPPs has gradually increased, reaching 90% from the end of the 1990s. However, due to various issues such as the Fukushima accident in 2011, corrosion of the CLP, the utilization rate dropped to 65~80%. In the early 1980s, the utilization rate of the U.S. NPPs was around 60%. However, since 2004, it has been consistently maintained above 90%. Therefore, in this study, we first examined the causes of declining the utilization rate in domestic NPPs. Next, the significances of the utilization rates are reviewed in five aspects: investment capability, electricity rate, safety and export, etc., with discussion on the current status of the utilization rates in the U.S. Based on this, three key factors are derived as the reasons of the increasing: equipment reliability program, on-line maintenance and the pursuit of institutional rationality. And finally, by synthesizing above results, the measures for increasing the utilization rate of domestic NPPs are proposed in terms of equipment management, institutional improvements, and personnel resources.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2008

In order to carry out river basin management, it is necessary to evaluate the state of the river basin and make site-specific measures on the basis of management goals and objectives. A river basin is divided into several watersheds, which are composed of several components: water resources, social and economic systems, law and institution, user, land, ecosystems, etc. They are connected among them and form network holistically. In this study, a methodology for evaluating watershed management was developed by consideration of the various features of a watershed system. This methodology employed factor analysis to develop sub-indexes for evaluating water use management, environment and ecosystem management, and flood management in a watershed. To do this, first, the related data were gathered and classified into six groups that are the components of watershed systems. Second, in all sub-indexes, preliminary tests such as KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were conducted to check the data's acceptability to factor analysis, respectively. Third, variables related to each sub-index were grouped into three factors by consideration of statistic characteristics, respectively. These factors became indicators and were named, taking into account the relationship and the characteristics of included variables. In order to check the study results, the computed factor loadings of each variable were reviewed, and correlation analysis among factor scores was fulfilled. It was revealed that each factor score of factors in a sub-index was not correlated, and grouping variables by factor analysis was appropriate. And, it was thought that this indicator system would be applied effectively to evaluating the states of watershed management.