• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2015

Purpose: Child Health nurse practitioners (CHNPs) in Korea have important roles in disease management and health promotion for children and adolescents. Yet, practices of CHNPs licensed and employed in hospitals have not been adequately identified. Thus, in this study the scope of practice by CHNPs and job satisfaction and stress were investigated and compared according to the CHNPs' position in the working place. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. All 53 licensed CHNPs participated in the mail survey which included a 71-item questionnaire on job performance and job satisfaction and a job contents questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare CHNPs employed as nurse practitioner (NP) and CHNPs employed as staff nurses. Results: Compared to CHNPs employed as staff nurses, CHNPs employed as NPs more frequently provided education, environment management, coordination and research in their practice areas. No significant difference was found in job satisfaction between the two groups except for the administration and income subdomains. Only the physical exertion subdomain in job stress was stressful to CHNP employed as staff nurse. Conclusions: Job performance of CHNPs in Korea needs to be revised to include more practical practice in education, coordination, and research related areas.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.293-301
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to introduce the limit of previously used six sigma quality process evaluation metrics, $Z_{st}$ and $P_{pk}$, and a solution to overcome this drawback by using a metric based on performance evaluation of Z-factor quality innovation. Case analysis on projects from national six sigma contest from 2011 to 2012 is performed and literature review on new drug development HTS (High Throughput Screening) is used to propose innovative performance evaluation metrics. This research shows that experimental study on six sigma evaluation metric, $Z_{st}$ and $P_{pk}$, have no significance difference between industrial type (Manufacturing, Semi-Public Institute, Public Institute) and CTQ type (Product Technology Type CTQ, Process Technology Type CTQ). Following discovery characterize this quality improvement as fixed target type project. As newly developed moving target type of quality innovation performance metric Z-Factor is used for evaluating experimental study, hypothetical analysis suggests that $Z_{st}$ and $P_{pk}$ share different relationship or even show reciprocal relationship. Constraints of the study are relatively small sample size of only 37 projects from past 2 years and conflict on having interview and communication with six sigma quality practitioner for qualitative experimental study. Both moving target type six sigma innovation project and fixed target type improvement project or quality circle enables efficient ways for a better understanding and quality practitioner use by applying quality innovation performance metric. Downside of fixed target type quality performance evaluation metric, $Z_{st}$ and $P_{pk}$, is presented through experimental study. In contrast, advantage of this study is that high throughput requiring product technology, process technology and quantum leap typed innovation effect is evaluated based on precision and accuracy and Z-Factor that enables relative comparison between enterprises is proposed and implemented.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2005

Purpose: This study aims to identify the role and function of the RNP(rehabilitational nurse practitioner) expected by nurses and doctors. Method: This study was a survey. The data were collected 188 nurses and 21 doctors who worked for disabled patients in the rehabilitation hospital during months of June, 2004 and August, 2005. Results: 98.4% of nurse and 61.9% of doctors agreed at opening of RNP course. The major role of RNP expected by nurses were educator, counsellor and case manager. The major role of RNP expected by doctors were direct care, self care promoter & exercise and emotional care. There was a significant difference about the need for opening of RNP course and major role and function of RNP between the group of nurses and doctors. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the need for opening of RNP was identified and the major role of RNP was educator, counsellor, case manager and direct care. So there is a need for further research about major role of RNP related to various setting including rehabilitation hospital, nursing home, home care etc.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2009

Purpose: This research was done do identify and analyze the beginnings of the community health practitioner system in the Republic of Korea (ROK) around 1980. Method: Primary sources were collected and analyzed, mainly newspapers around 1980, the act for health service for rural areas, and other relative publications. Results: The government of the ROK was trying to solve the problem of doctorless villages and regarded the introduction of primary health care (PHC) services using registered nurses (RNs) to be an economic solution to this problem. The Korean Nurses' Association presented 'a plan for community health service' to the government party and medical association in 1976. In this plan, RNs would provide primary care at the sub-county (myun) level, and hospital would provide secondary care. The Korean Public Health Development Research Center was awarded the project 'RNs and nurse aids as CHP for primary care service and their training'. In 1977, 25 RNs began to work as PHC in 3 areas, and interim findings showed that RNs were very capable of doing PHC. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced long term plans for health and welfare administration including a tertiary health care delivery system. RNs after training were posted to rural areas with no medical services to do medical treatment for mild cases. The Act for health services for rural areas was enacted on December 31, 1980. Enforcement Ordinance and Enforcement Regulations were enacted in 1981. In 1981, 257 CHP were selected, trained, and deployed. In 1983, the president of the ROK announced continuation of the CHP system for residents of medically vulnerable areas. The number of CHP increased from 257 in 1981 to 2038 in 1989.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.105-115
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• 2014

Objective : Traditional medicine (TM) has been playing its role in national healthcare system and it is taken as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from the viewpoint of modern Western medicine. In the UK, not a few practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are working as CAM practitioners using herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy. Cases of dispute in the TCM practice are not rare these days because patients who take TCM service are increasing by year. Method : In the UK, dispute cases of the Traditional Medicine of East Asia can be found these days, however, it is hard to find a reported court case. A medical dispute case of TCM will be analysed to see the legal management and the resolving principle in the alternative medicine practice with some cases of Korean Medicine (KM) being discussed. Results : The usual pattern of clinical negligence can be discussed from the points of a duty of care, breach of that duty by negligence, and the harm to the patient from that breach of duty. The judge followed this procedure In this case to discuss the claims. The department of health proposed to introduce regulation to provide the reasonable quality in TCM practice, and the governmental system would be essential to regulate both the TCM practice and practitioners. Conclusion : The dispute case of traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) practice is important for the clinical negligence in TCHM practice. Judging the negligence of a TCHM practitioner involves the conventional negligence principle in tort law, and the TCHM practitioners are required to keep up with the up-to-date information on the related medical specialty. The reasoning is almost the same as that shown in the court case of Korea. The TCHM practice in the UK needs to be under the regulation by the government. The standard of care we expect of a TCHM practitioner is a further matter to discuss from the healthcare and social viewpoints.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.773-784
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• 2021

Objectives: This study presents the basic data necessary to explore the methods used of Korean dental hygienists to resolve oral health inequalities in Korea via reviewing the professionalization trend of American dental hygienists. Methods: The supervision levels of American dental hygienists, and system of dental therapists were analyzed using the data published by the relevant associations. Results: In America, dental hygienists help address oral health inequalities. However, due to limitations in the supervision levels and scope of practice of dental hygienists, the autonomy of dental hygienists was expanded, and mid-level practitioner were employed. The autonomy for dental hygiene practice was higher in public than in private in America. Some states have introduced dental therapists as mid-level practitioners. Their practice settings have limitations such as serving low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients or serving in a dental health professional shortage area. Conclusions: It is necessary to expand the autonomy of dental hygienists based on their profession. In particular, it is suggested that they start with the low-risk level practices. Further, it is necessary to introduce a dental hygiene specialist system specialized for fields with high social demands.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.81-99
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• 1993

The purpose of this research is to assess the geographical distribution of physicians and dentists and the degree of maldistribution of the physician. Data were obtained form the Korean Medical Association's report on physicians registry and census for 1990. To assess the degree of disparity in the rural-urban distribution of physician manpower and to identify changes in the distribution pattern, the Gini index of concentration was used. Major findings are as follows; 1. Urban-rural disparity in the distribution of physician manpower exists in all categories of manpower, i.e. physician, dentist, oriental medical doctor, general practitioner, medical specialist, practitioner, public health physician and public health dentist. Urban area which had 74.4% of nation's population, accounted for over 90% of all physician manpower. 2. In terms of the ration of physician manpower per 10, 000 population, in urban area, they were 8.2 physicians, 2.7 general practitioners, 5.5 specialists, 3.0 practitioners, 1.8 dentists and 1.3 oriental medical doctors. In rural area, the ratios were 1.4 physicians, 0.6 general practitioners, 0.9 specialists, 1.0 practitioners, 0.4 dentists and 0.4 oriental medical doctors. 3. Gini indicies computed to measure inequality of physician manpower distribution were 0. 3675 for physicians, 0.3372 for general practitioners, 0.3338 for specialists, 0.2263 for practitioners, 0.3132 for dentists and 0.3293 for oriental medical doctors. 4. Inspite of increase in the number of physician manpower, urban concentration of physician manpower intensified from 1980 to 1990. However, the Gini index for all physician manpower fell by 18.3~36.7% from 1980 to 1990, indicating more even distribution. 5. In rural area, the public health physicians and dentists had increased the ratios of physicians, general practitioners, practitioners and dentists per 10, 000 population remarkebly, and had decreased the Gini indicies of physicians, general practitioners, practitioners and dentists. Thus, public health physicians and dentists contributed to improve the distribution of physician manpower in rural area. Based on the results of this study, long-term and rational manpower policies should be developed to solve the problem of geographical maldistribution of physician manpower as well as short-term policy for inducing physicians to the rural areas.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.225-234
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• 2023

In this era of information and communication technology (ICT), tremendous improvements have been witnessed in our daily lives. The impact of these technologies is subjective and negative or positive. For instance, ICT has brought a lot of ease and versatility in our lifestyles, on the other hand, its excessive use brings around issues related to physical and mental health etc. In this study, we are bridging these both aspects by proposing the idea of AI based mental healthcare (AIMS). In this regard, we aim to provide a platform where the patient can register to the system and take consultancy by providing their assessment by means of a chatbot. The chatbot will send the gathered information to the machine learning block. The machine learning model is already trained and predicts whether the patient needs a treatment by classifying him/her based on the assessment. This information is provided to the mental health practitioner (doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist) as clinical decision support. Eventually, the practitioner will provide his/her suggestions to the patient via the proposed system. Additionally, the proposed system prioritizes care, support, privacy, and patient autonomy, all while using a friendly chatbot interface. By using technology like natural language processing and machine learning, the system can predict a patient's condition and recommend the right professional for further help, including in-person appointments if necessary. This not only raises awareness about mental health but also makes it easier for patients to start therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.121-135
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to establish and provide reliable information for general public, based on expert consensus, on the risks of misuse of medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients for the fetus during pregnancy. Methods: A panelist of seven traditional Korean medicine (TKM) gynecologists responded to a questionnaire summarizing the fetal safety literature for twenty-five medicinal herbs for food and pure food ingredients derived from medicated diet (藥膳, Yaksun) recipes during three online Delphi rounds anonymously. Results: Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley were agreed at the level 1 of "Do not consume". These five ingredients were recognized as having significant risks both in the literature evidence and in expert opinion. Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix were agreed at the level 2 of "consultation with TKM practitioner is required". Conclusion: Based on the consensus of a seven-member expert panel of TKM gynecologists, consumption of Ginkgonis Semen (Ginkgo nut), Illici Veri Fructus (Star anise), lavender, bitter gourd, and parsley should be avoided by pregnant women. For Rosemary, Citri Unshius Pericarpium, Discoreae Rhizoma, lemongrass, Schisandrae Fructus, Cassiae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus, Mori Fructus, Cinnamomi Cortex, and Astragali Radix, the level 2 advisory may be recommended to use with caution and to consult a TKM practitioner for advice on consumption, dose, and duration.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2024

Objectives: This study investigated factors associated with the retention of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the first 3 years of treatment. Methods: A retrospective study using electronic health records was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Adult HIV-positive patients who started ART from 2010 until 2020 were included. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with ART retention in the first 3 years. Results: In total, 535 respondents were included in the analysis. The ART retention rates for the first, second, and third years were 83.7%, 79.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. The multivariate analysis revealed a negative association between CD4 count when starting ART and retention. Patients with CD4 counts >200 cells/mL were 0.65 times less likely to have good retention than those with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mL. The year of starting ART was also significantly associated with retention. Patients who started ART in 2010-2013 or 2014-2016 were less likely to have good retention than those who started ART in 2017-2020, with adjusted odds ratios of 0.52 and 0.40, respectively. Patients who received efavirenz-based therapy were 1.69 times more likely to have good retention than those who received nevirapine (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 2.72). Conclusions: Our study revealed a decline in ART retention in the third year. The CD4 count, year of enrollment, and an efavirenz-based regimen were significantly associated with retention. Patient engagement has long been a priority in HIV programs, with interventions being implemented to address this issue.