• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2024

Objectives: Protecting people against financial hardship caused by illness stands as a fundamental obligation within healthcare systems and constitutes a pivotal component in achieving universal health coverage. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and determinants of catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) in Iran, over the period of 2013 to 2019. Methods: Data were obtained from 7 annual national surveys conducted between 2013 and 2019 on the income and expenditures of Iranian households. The prevalence of CHE was determined using a threshold of 40% of household capacity to pay for healthcare. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants influencing CHE. Results: The prevalence of CHE increased from 3.60% in 2013 to 3.95% in 2019. In all the years analyzed, the extent of CHE occurrence among rural populations exceeded that of urban populations. Living in an urban area, having a higher wealth index, possessing health insurance coverage, and having employed family members, an employed household head, and a literate household head are all associated with a reduced likelihood of CHE (p<0.05). Conversely, the use of dental, outpatient, and inpatient care, and the presence of elderly members in the household, are associated with an increased probability of facing CHE (p<0.05). Conclusions: Throughout the study period, CHE consistently exceeded the 1% threshold designated in the national development plan. Continuous monitoring of CHE and its determinants at both household and health system levels is essential for the implementation of effective strategies aimed at enhancing financial protection.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.427-440
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• 2000

A comparative study was made about health resources, medical care service statistics and public health service statistics by health subcenters at Jangdong and Jangpyung townships, Jangheung County, Chollanamdo before and after the unification of two health subcenter to improve their function. 1. While two general physicians, one dentist, 4 nurse aids arid one oral hygienist were working at two health subcenters with simple facility with examination room and public health office in 1997 prior to the unification, in 1999 after the unification of two health subcenters 14 staff including a specialist physician, a general physician, a dentist, a herb hygienist, a radiology technician and a physical therapist were working in the new health subcenters equipped with appropriate facilities in two storey building. 2. In 1997 before the unification the yearly total income of two health subcenters was 78,815 thousand won(about 14,000 won per capita) and the amount was 140,376 thousand won(about 25,000 won per capita) in 1999 after the unification. And the income was used for operation of health subcenters excluding personnel expense. 3. While 90.5% of visitors to the health subcenters came for general medical care, and 91.6% came for the revisit before the unification, after the unification 71.2% came for general medical care, 10.8% for dental care, 16.5% for oriental physician's care, 29.7% for the first visit and 70.3% for revisit. Most common problem cared for was musculoskeletal disorder like arthralgia. Average treatment cost per person per month was 9,363 won before the unification and 8,309 won after the unification. 4. Through the comparison of execution rate of public health services before and after the unification. the practice rate of most health service among target population including visiting service for chronic illness, maternal and child health service and immunization service increased after the unification. The practice rate of tuberculosis control service, hypertension control and diabetes management was a little decreased. In conclusion, continuous effort to satisfy all persons in two townships and evaluation are necessary to coincide with the spirit of unification of two health subcenters.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.209-214
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral health status on daily life of elderly women. The subjects of this study were 142 elderly women aged 60 years or older who were surveyed through questionnaires, interviews, counseling, and oral examinations. The SPSS program was used for frequency analysis, descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results of the study showed that the number affected on daily life were 1.4 in average and the oral health condition was the highest at scaling (59.4%). When the oral status was unsatisfactory, it was found to be uncomfortable in daily life. In case of oral pain, oral status and poor removal of calculus, the number and frequency in daily life were increased. In conclusion, the oral health of elderly women can improve their daily life ability and affect the quality of life. Therefore, a systematic oral care plan is needed through the expansion of oral health promotion education for elderly women and the development of continuous preventive programs.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between health-related quality of life and oral health behavior and oral health status, and to provide the basic data for national oral health policy. Methods: The primary data of the 5th National Health Examination and Nutritional Survey(NHANES) in 2012 were used in this study. The subjects were 2,243 middle-aged people(40-59 years old), 827 persons were excluded for missing value or having diseases affecting quality of life(depression, stroke, cardiac infarction, angina, liver cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, other cancers, arthritis), and 1,416 data were finally analyzed. Results: In health-related quality of life by subjects' characteristics, there was significant difference in gender, age, education, family income, and employment status(p<0.01) except for current smoking. Oral health behavior didn't have significant relation to health-related quality of life, but better oral health status showed better health-related quality of life(p<0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, this study suggested that there was close relationship between the oral health status and health-related quality of life in moddle aged people. Therefore, national oral health policy is needed for the oral health promotion with commitment of oral prophylaxis and care programs to the individual and community.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.127-139
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of people in general about halitosis. The subjects in this study were 184 people who visited the clinical practice lab at J health college to get their teeth scaled. After a survey was conducted from May 1 to June 3, 2008, the analyzable answer sheets from 178 respondents were analyzed after four different areas were selected, which included smoking/nonsmoking, scaling experience, toothbrushing frequency and the use of oral hygiene supplies. SPSSWIN 12.0 program was utilized to make a frequency analysis and crosstabs analysis. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. Concerning subjective feelings of halitosis, 55.3 percent(99 people) of the respondents found themselves to have a moderate level of bad breath. 28.5 percent(51) deemed themselves to have a little foul breath, and 14 percent(25) didn't feel they had any bad breath. 2. As to the subjective level of halitosis, 89.8 percent(168) thought that their bad breath was a little perceived only by themselves, regardless of smoking, scaling experience, toothbrushing frequency and the use of oral hygiene supplies. 3. In regard to the cause of halitosis, 31 percent(56) cited plaque in the mouth as the cause, and 28.5 percent(51) pointed out the other causes that weren't mentioned in the questionnaire. 18.4 percent(33) cited decayed tooth, and 11.2 percent(20) pointed out gastroenteric disorder. 10.6 percent(19) viewed diabetes as the cause. 4. As to the time when they had the subjective symptom of halitosis, 114 respondents(63.7%) felt their own bad breath the most immediately after they got up 21.8 percent(39 respondents) did it when they were hungry 5.5 percent(9) did that before breakfast, and 4.5 percent(8) did that after having breakfast. 5. Regarding view of how to prevent halitosis, 52.5 percent(94) brushed their teeth frequently 21.2 percent(38) got their teeth scaled on a regular basis at a dentist's office, and 17.9 percent(32) drank water often. The above-mentioned finding seemed to suggest that the respondents weren't well aware of the fact halitosis was a sort of oral and systemic disease. Therefore the development of halitosis prevention and care programs geared toward practice lab visions were required.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.117-126
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the working posture and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders of dental hygienists during scaling. The subjects in this study were 264 selected dental hygienists. A convergence study was implemented using questionnaire that was prepared to cover general characteristics, health care, the work of scaling, working posture and subjective musculoskeletal symptoms. As for data analysis, R 2.15.1 was employed. As a result of analyzing the collected data, the rate of good working posture during scaling stood at 29.9 percent; roughly good posture, at 37.5 percent; incorrect posture, at 32.6 percent. Regarding the area of the body in which they complained of musculoskeletal symptoms, the shoulders were 3.32-fold more mentioned than any other area(OR,3.32;95%CI, 1.58~6.98); the foot, 2.97-fold more(OR,2.97;95%CI, 1.18~7.48); the hands, 2.84-fold more(OR,2.84:95%CI, 1.35~5.98); the neck, 2.82-fold more(OR, 2.82;95%CI, 1.35~5.91); the back, 2.41-fold more(OR,2.41;95%CI, 1.02~5.68). The findings of the study that demonstrate the importance of good working posture are expected to make a contribution to the improvement of work environments, the development of efficient preventive programs and the preparation of sustained educational plans, and it's necessary in the future to make a research study by including psychosocial factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2003

Objectives: This study is designed to suggest the health service goals necessary for providing the more efficient services relevant to the requests of the community, through the evaluation on the operating status of the unified health subcenters. Methods: We visited total 5 unified health subcenters comprising 3 ones located in Gyeongsangbuk-do and 2 ones located in Gyeongsangnam-do from December 2000 to January 2001, and interviewed about the pre- and post-unified status related to manpower, facilities, equipment, medical service and health service quality, and the problems and improvement plans of the unified management. Results: According to the evaluation on the manpower before and after the unification of the health subcenters, the total employees increased by 2.8 persons on average from 6.8 to 9.6 persons in the investigated subjects. The numbers of doctors, dentists and nurses were almost the same as before. There were no clinical pathologic technician and radiological technician before but they were appointed to duty in 3 unified health subcenters later. The unification of the health subcenters has produced slight increases in the frequency of the medical service and dental treatment and considerable increases in that of the physical therapy and laboratory tests. In relating to the changes of the health service, the cases of visiting health care and ambulatory medical service, and the total number of health education participants were greatly increased after the unification. The number of cases undergoing the vaccination and cervical cancer screening was similar to that of the pre-unification while the patient number of the registration to hypertension or diabetes showed a tendency to increase a little. Since the unification of the health subcenters, the frequency of laboratory tests has been increased, but the quality of health service has not been improved yet. Nevertheless, the unification seems to be positive according to the result of the great improvement in visiting health care, ambulatory medical service and health education service. The problems of the unification of the health subcenters were indicated in indefiniteness of the service details between the workers; excessively large building hard to be effectively managed; insufficient medical instruments, inappropriation of working expenses, lack of professional training for the health education, etc. Conclusions: For further active functions of the unified health subcenters, the minimal allocation basis to appoint doctors, nurses and administrative workers to do the duty should be differentiated from the basis for a health subcenter, and the fundamental instruments needs to be expanded to improve the quality of the medical service and visiting health care service. Moreover, the unified health subcenter needs to have definite service details between the workers, and should improve the working efficiency through the development of service-related guidelines.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of oral health education for occupational health nurses. The subjects were 300 occupational health nurses which participated in continuing education of Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Oral health education contents consisted of basic knowledge about oral health, prevention of periodontal disease, oral health care for workers, and oral health program for workers. In order to evaluate the effects of oral health education, we performed questionnaire surveys before and after the education regarding their perceived oral health status and concern for oral health, knowledge about prevention of periodontal disease, attitude about oral health promotion, and needs for implementation of oral health promotion program. The data were analyzed by paired t-test to compare the change of knowledge and attitude according to the education. Linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the factors related to the improvement of their knowledge and attitude. The findings indicated that oral health knowledge and attitude of occupational health nurses were significantly improved by oral health education. A factor of the improvement of knowledge and attitude was concern for oral health. And they would like to be provided primarily oral health education for occupational health nurses. Finally, this study suggested that oral health education for occupational health nurses had significantly effects on improving oral health knowledge and attitude.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to study the maternal risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) with a special emphasis on assessing the proportions of maternal genitourinary and periodontal infections among Indian women and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A hospital-based prospective study comprising 790 pregnant women visiting the obstetrics clinic for a routine antenatal check-up was undertaken. Once recruited, all study participants underwent clinical and microbiological investigations for genitourinary infections followed by a dental check-up for the presence of periodontitis. The study participants were followed up until their delivery to record the pregnancy outcomes. Infectious and non-infectious risk factors for PTB and LBW were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Independent risk factors for PTB and LBW were reported in terms of adjusted relative risk (ARR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Rates of PTB and LBW in the study population were 7.6% and 11.4%, respectively. Previous preterm delivery (ARR, 5.37; 95% CI, 1.5 to 19.1), periodontitis (ARR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.9), Oligohydramnios (ARR, 5.23; 95% CI, 2.4 to 11.5), presence of Nugent's intermediate vaginal flora (ARR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.1), gestational diabetes mellitus (ARR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.0 to 8.3), and maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1) were risk factors for PTB, while periodontitis (ARR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9), gestational hypertension (ARR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.3 to 10.8), maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.1) and genital infection during later stages of pregnancy (ARR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.1) were independent risk factors for LBW. Conclusions: Our study findings underscore the need to consider screening for potential genitourinary and periodontal infections during routine antenatal care in developing countries.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the oral health status and health care of elderly people on their self-rated health(SRH). The subjects on this study were 479 senior citizens who were at the age of 65 and up and resided in the city of Busan. They got a dental checkup, and a survey was conducted by having an one-on-one interview. After the collected data were analyzed, the following findings were given: The senior citizens were diagnosed with a mean of 1.43 systemic diseases, and hypertension(51.8%) was the most prevalent disease among them, followed by diabetes(25.1%), arthritis(41.8%), oral diseases(75.6%), stroke(9.0%) and heart diseases(15.9%). Their self-rated health was better when they were male, when they were aged between 65 and 69, when there was someone with whom they lived, when they were better educated and when they owned their own houses. But their self-rated health was poorer when they felt more oral symptoms, when they had more missing teeth and when they needed both of maxillary and mandibular dentures. Their self-rated health was more positively affected when they were better educated($\beta$=0.894), when they owned their own houses($\beta$=4.220), when they got a dental checkup on a regular basis($\beta$=2.997) and when the rate of their functional tooth was larger($\beta$=0.081). And that was more negatively influenced when they had a denture($\beta$=-1.110), when they had more oral symptoms($\beta$=-1.590) and when they had more systemic diseases($\beta$=3.363). There is a close relationship between the oral health and self-rated health of elderly people. Therefore how to promote their oral health should carefully be considered.