• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-108
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• 1990

This study was conducted to assess the morbidity and medical facilities utilization patterns of high school students in urban and rural areas, and to contribute to establishment of school health policies. A questionnaire survey was carried out for 1,979 of one boy's and one girl's high school in Pusan and 1,315 of one boy's and one girl's high school in Kyungnam province from March 27 to April 8, 1989. The summarized result is as follows. The number of students who were sick or injured in one month period was 378.0 of 1,000 students. One sick or injured student experienced 1.2 events on the average and thus the incidence rate was 453.2 per 1,000 students for a month. The morbidity rate of the urban area (550.8) was higher than that of the rural area (306.5) while the rate for girl students (561.9) was higher than that of the boy students (328.3) (P<0.01). Especially, the girl students (740.7) in the urban area showed two times higher morbidity rate than that of the girl students in the rural area. Out of all morbidity respiratory disease for 67.6 percent in urban area and 68.5 percent in rural area and it was followed by gastrointestinal disease and nervous & sensory diseases. The morbid conditions took place at school in 37.5 percent, and at home in 59.8 percent. The absence rate due to morbidity was 4.4 percent out of all morbid students. In addition, 73.5 percent of all morbid student utilized medical treatment, of which the pharmacy accounted for 53.8 percent and 57.5 percent in the urban and rural areas, respectively. The second most common facility utilized was hospital OPD. While there was no student who utilized the school nursing room in the rural area, 1.5 percent of the sick students utilized the school nursing room in the urban area. The most important in selecting medical facility was the distance. By low medical expense was more frequent cited reason for selecting medical facility in rural area (13.6 percent) than in urban area (3.2 percent). Mild illness accounted for 70.3 percent of the reasons for no treatment and 21.8 percent was due to the conflict between school hour and clinic hour. The morbid students mostly suffered from mild respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, and its incidence was the highest rate in the school. Although there was relation between the worry of absence and no-treatment, the school nursing room utilization of students was very insufficient. Therefore, it is required to activate the operation of the high school nursing room by utilizing the specialized personnel.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 1996

The estimation of medical care status and the planning of health service program should be done according to each community resident's socio-medical background and public health service. In this point, it is most necessary to be set the exact and new socio-economic statistics data in Nepal, one of the worst countries in national health status. We surveyed 668 house, 3,425 residents in Dolka area, Nepal from January 25th to February 1st, 1995. 1. In personal characteristics, the ratio of men and women was similar, the person who were below 19 years old were 28.1% and the single were 52.4%. The illeterate person were 50.3% and the lower group in economic status which had been estimated by interviewers were 46.9%. 2. In sanitational characteristics, the person who used stream water or rainwater to drink were 42.2% and the person who always boiled water to drink were only 8.3%. The person who had not toilet in their house were 67.3% and the lower group in sanitational status which had been estimated by interviewers were 61.8%. 3. The prevalence rate of illness during the last one month were 8.6% and the chronic were 26.1% and the acute were 72.5%. The distribution of sickness symptom were headache, fever and joint pain in order and the person who took no medical treatment among the sick were 37.0%. The patterns of medical utilization were public health center, hospital and pharmacy in order. 4. Illness prevalence was significantly related to sex, age, merital status and educational experience. The residents who were women, 40 years old or more, married and had not educational experience were apt to take illness. 5. Medical utilization was significantly related to educational experience, job, distance from home to medical facilities and economic status. The person who had educational experience, were officer workers or merchants, lived near by medical facilities and had higher economic status took medical treatment very well.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.80-104
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• 2024

Ginseng, a representative medicinal plant of South Korea, is also highly valued in North Korea. However, due to limited access to information about North Korea, the actual cultivation, research and development trends, and related industry status of ginseng in North Korea are not well known. In this study, we aimed to understand the current status and research trends of the ginseng industry in North Korea based on limited available literature. In the North Korean pharmacopoeia, ginseng is referred to as "Koryo ginseng" and is defined as the roots of 6-year-old ginseng cultivated in the Kaesong region. The pharmacopoeia includes 22 types of ginseng preparations. In addition, 10 ginseng preparations are included in North Korea's Essential Drug List, and various health supplements, cosmetics, and toothpastes containing ginseng have been developed, distributed, and sold. Since 2014, the ginseng industry and research in North Korea have become more active overall. During this period, the ginseng cultivation area in Kaesong has been significantly expanded, and the facilities have been renovated. The Kaesong Koryo Ginseng Processing Plant has been equipped with sterilized, modernized facilities since 2016 and has been in operation. Since 2017, there has been a growing interest in quality control research, leading to the introduction of quality management regulations and certification systems in 2019. In the 1990s, there was significant research on ginseng product development, and since the 2000s, studies on the pharmacological effects and clinical research of ginseng have been reported. Additionally, research on ginseng cultivation and ginseng processing industries to increase yield has been emphasized. Ginseng, as a representative medicinal crop of Korea, holds great importance for both South and North Korea. Given its significance and the potential for synergy through mutual cooperation, ginseng serves as an ideal subject for inter-Korean exchange and collaboration.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2016

The use of folk medicine has been widely embraced in many developed countries under the name of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) and is now becoming the mainstream in the UK and the rest of Europe, as well as in North America and Australia. Diversity, easy accessibility, broad continuity, relatively low cost, base levels of technological inputs, fewer side effects, and growing economic importance are some of the positive features of folk medicine. In this framework, a critical need exists to introduce the practice of folk medicine into public healthcare if the goal of reformed access to healthcare facilities is to be achieved. The amount of information available to public health practitioners about traditional medicine concepts and the utilization of that information are inadequate and pose many problems for the delivery of primary healthcare globally. Different societies have evolved various forms of indigenous perceptions that are captured under the broad concept of folk medicine, e.g., Persian, Chinese, Grecian, and African folk medicines, which explain the lack of universally accepted definitions of terms. Thus, the exchange of information on the diverse forms of folk medicine needs to be facilitated. Various concepts of Wind are found in books on traditional medicine, and many of those go beyond the boundaries established in old manuscripts and are not easily understood. This study intends to provide information, context, and guidance for the collection of all important information on the different concepts of Wind and for their simplification. This new vision for understanding earlier Chinese medicine will benefit public health specialists, traditional and complementary medicine practitioners, and those who are interested in historical medicine by providing a theoretical basis for the traditional medicines and the acupuncture that is used to eliminate Wind in order to treat various diseases.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the responsiveness and its related factors of public health center for novel influenza A (H1N1) epidemic. The data was collected through a web-based survey conducted during February to April 2011. The 182 respondents were team leaders or persons who were responsible for H1N1-related work at public health centers during the H1N1 prevalence. The related factors affecting the responsiveness were different by urban or rural area. In the level of gu (urban) area, cooperation with the public organizations, preparing its own response plan were the significant factors. But, in the level of si or gun (rural) area, cooperation with private organizations (clinic or pharmacy), physical (facilities, equipments, and medicines), and human infrastructures (public health professions, education and knowledge, and motivation) were more important factors. Therefore, how to cope with H1N1 prevalence in the future should be different by local characteristics. As a result, there are several challenges that public health centers should prepare for the further emerging infectious diseases. First, it is needed to make standard manuals which could strengthen education and training in order to respond appropriately, as well as to prepare enough physical infrastructures for the crisis. Next, the public health center should prepare correct media response and cooperation system with public and private organizations.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.15-32
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• 2013

Few public health researchers have paid research attention to the location of medical institutions in Korea. Previous studies were published in geography journals, and relied on limited data in terms of geographic regions and the type of medical institutions. This study utilized nationwide data covering 8 types of medical institutions. We obtained data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and National Population and Housing Census. The correlation coefficients of resident, daytime, university-graduate population, and the population of different age groups (fewer than 15, 15~64, 65 or more) were compared to understand their relative association with the location of medical institutions. Medical clinic, dental clinic, oriental medical clinic, and pharmacy, all of which are almost completely operated by private sector, showed strong positive correlation with population. Hospital-level medical institutions, which are operated by both public and private sector, had moderate positive correlation. Daytime population and university-graduate population, rather than resident population, were more correlated with the location of medical clinics. The correlation coefficients of the population of 15~64 age group and the location of medical institutions were greater than that of other age groups. The results showed that daytime and university-graduate population are more important than resident population to explain the location of medicalrelated facilities. The results also suggests that the population of age groups (especially, 15~64) might be one of important influence factors in the location of medical institutions.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.30-52
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• 1994

The purpose of this study is to look into the health behavior and utilization of health service, and the factors which have influence on both of them. In order to research them, it visited home and interviewed selecting randomly 300 subjects who can understand the purpose of this study, want to participate and are possible to interview. Questionnaries survey was administered during the period from April.6 to May.12. 1993. Collected materials analysis were dealt with a method of SPSS PC Program and used percentage. Mean, SD. t-test, $X^2-test$, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, Multiple Regression and One-way ANOVA for hypothesis verification. The results of this study are as follows. 1. The hypothesis is that there will be a significant difference in performance degree of health behavior by general characteristics(sex, age, educational background, occupation, religion) of subjects. According to the results, it turned out that sex(P=.035), educational background(P=.0432), and occupation(P=.440) appeared to be a significant difference as P<.05. 2. The hypothesis that the more interesting degree on health of subjects have, the better they performance for health behavior was supported (r=.2552, P<.001). 3. The hypothesis that the healthier subjects are, the better they performance for health behavior was supported(r=.5262, P<.001). The highest correlation was seen between the healthier subjects and health behavior. According to the results of multiple regression analysis with interesting degree on health and healthier subjects as dependent variables, it turned out that R2 was 35% and had a significant difference. 4. The hypothesis is that there will be a difference in the utilization of health service by general characteristics(sex, age, educational background, occupation, religion). According to. the results, it showed that educational background (dental clinic), religion(pharmacy) had an influence on the frequency of utilization of facilities (P<.05).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 1985

This study was conducted to assess the morbidity and medical facilities utilization patterns of the residents in urban low income area. Study population included 2,002 family members of 468 households in the low income area (LA) of Nam-san 4 Dong, Jung Gu of Taegu city and 1,709 family members of 374 households in surrounding neighbourhood control area (CA). Well trained nursing school students interviewed mainly with housewives according to the pretested questionaire between July 1 and July 30, 1984. Age-sex distribution of the study population in LA was similar to that in CA. The average monthly income of a household in LA was 236,000 won and 356,000 won in CA. Educational level of the residents in LA was lower than that in CA; average years of school education of the 20 years old or above in LA was 6.9 years compared with 8.5 years in CA. The average family members per room in LA was 2.6 and 2.2 in CA, and proportion of Medicaid program beneficiary was 29.4% in LA and 1.9% in CA. Prevalence rate of illness during 15-day period was 131 per 1,000 population in LA and 71 in CA(p<0.01) and that of the chronic illness for 1 year was 134 per 1,000 population in LA and 89 in CA(p<0.01). The most common illness experienced during 15 days was respiratory disease(24.0% in LA ana 29.8% in CA) and followed by gastro-intestinal disorders(21.0% in LA, 20.6% in CA). Injury or poisoning was 10.3% in LA and 3.3% in CA. Castro-intestinal disorder was the most common chronic illness in both LA (22.7%) and CA (21.7%), and followed by musculoskeletal disease in LA and neuralgia in CA. Mean activity restricted days among the persons with illness during 15-day period was 4.0 days in LA and 2.2 days in CA. Among persons with illness during 15 days, 17.9% in LA and 11.6% in CA did not seek any medical treatment and the most frequently utilized medical facility was pharmacy in LA (35.5%) and local clinic or hospital OPD in CA (42.1%). Among persons with chronic illness, 15.2% in LA and 9.2% in CA did not seek for medical treatment, and residents in LA as well as residents in CA utilized local clinic or hospital OPD more frequently than pharmacy or drugstores, especially those who have medical insurance. The most common reason for not treating illness experienced during 15-day period and chronic illness was economical constraint in both LA and CA. The higher prevalence rate of illness during 15-day period and chronic illness in LA than that in CA seems to be highly correlated with their lower economic status and educational level and crowded living condition. The utilization pattern of medical facilities was associated with the medical security status. A program to improve the economic status and living condition should be integrated with the health program to promote the health of the population in low income area.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study is to find out the distribution of illness, patterns of medical care utilization and factors determining medical care utilization in elementary school children. Methods : We performed the questionnaires in Gwangju city on 2,036 children of two elementary schools from June 1 to June 30, 1998. Results : The prevalence rate of illness was 32.3%. The distribution of illness was respiratory disease(64.7%), gastrointestinal disease(12.8%), injury & poisoning. The rate of persons having received medical treatment when they were sick, was 89.8%. The selection distribution among various medical facilities was pediatric hospital(46.7%), otolaryngologic hospital(19.8%), pharmacy (13.2%) and internal medicine in the decreasing frequency sequence. The major factors influencing the selection of medical facility were geographic accessibility and good results. The most common reason for the first visit to the pediatric hospital was geographic accessibility. The most common reason for a visit and to otolaryngologic hospital was a good result. The most frequently utilized medical facility for respiratory symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms was pediatric hospital. The persons influencing the selection of medical facility in the children were mother(73.3%), father( 10.8%), doctor and others in decreasing sequence. The persons answering the questionaire thought that the optimal age of pediatric care was from 0 to 12 years(47.8%), to 10 years(22.4%) and to 15 years(18.5%) in decreasing rate. Conclusion : Other departments instead of pediatrics have treated children. Children have particular growth and development process, which is different to those of adults. So, it is necessary to choose special medical care and adequate medical facilities for children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2699-2705
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• 2014

This study was to undertaken to investigate the impacts of AhR, CYP1A1, GSTM1 genetic polymorphisms on the R273G mutation in exon 8 of the tumor suppressor p53 gene (TP53) among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposed to coke-oven workers. One hundred thirteen workers exposed to PAH and 82 control workers were recruited. We genotyped for polymorphisms in the AhR, CYP1A1, GSTM1, and TP53 R273G mutation in blood by PCR methods, and determined the levels of 1-hydroxypyrene as PAH exposure marker in urine using the high pressure liquid chromatography assay. We found that the distribution of alcohol users and the urinary excretion of 1-OHP in the exposed workers were significantly higher than that of the control workers (p=0.004, p<0.001, respectively). Significant differences were observed in the p53 genotype distributions of smoking subjects (p=0.01, 95%CI: 1.23-6.01) and PAH exposure (p=0.008, 95%CI: 1.24-4.48), respectively. Further, significant differences were observed in the p53 exon 8 mutations for the genetic polymorphisms of Lys/Arg for AhR (p=0.02, 95%CI: 0.70-15.86), Val/Val for CYP1A1 (p=0.04, 95%CI: 0.98-19.09) and null for GSTM1 (p=0.02, 95%CI: 1.19-6.26), respectively. Our findings indicated that polymorphisms of PAH metabolic genes, such as AhR, CYP1A1, GSTM1 polymorphisms may interact with p53 genetic variants and may contribute to PAH related cancers.