• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.467-496
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• 2012

Public participation in the decision making for scarce health resources is important because health policy requires trust based consensus, which can be achieved by public's understanding and involvement of related policies. In the past, opportunities for interaction between health policy decision makers and lay public were rare in Korea. As political impulses towards public participation in health policy have increased, a few of deliberation methods were attempted. However, there is little research, reporting such cases with a critical examination of relevant theories and previous studies. We first critically review the literature on public participation within theories of democracy, governance, and empowerment. Next, we report a case of a citizen council experiment, which was held to examine public's preferences among different benefit options regarding new drugs and medical technologies. Specifically, in an one-day long citizen council with a total of 28 lay public, twelve questions of whether a drug or a technology should be included in the benefit package of health insurance were asked. Pre- and post-surveys investigated participants' perception of public engagement in health policy. Although it was experimental, the citizen council ensured that lay public could be careful enough to rationally compare the costs and benefits of different options and collectively make decisions. Further, results from pre- and post-survey showed a strong willingness of members to be involved in health care decision making. In the conclusion, we emphasize that better theories and methods need to be developed for more cases of citizen participation in health care policy and management.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.298-308
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• 2014

Objectives: To assess the current public participation in-local health policy and its implications through the analysis of policy networks in health center programs. Methods: We examined the decision-making process in sub-health center installations and the implementation process in metabolic syndrome management program cases in two districts ('gu's) of Seoul. Participants of the policy network were selected by the snowballing method and completed self-administered questionnaires. Actors, the interactions among actors, and the characteristics of the network were analyzed by Netminer. Results: The results showed that the public is not yet actively participating in the local public health policy processes of decision-making and implementation. In the decision-making process, most of the network actors were in the public sector, while the private sector was a minor actor and participated in only a limited number of issues after the major decisions were made. In the implementation process, the program was led by the health center, while other actors participated passively. Conclusions: Public participation in Korean public health policy is not yet well activated. Preliminary discussions with various stakeholders, including civil society, are needed before making important local public health policy decisions. In addition, efforts to include local institutions and residents in the implementation process with the public officials are necessary to improve the situation.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 1999

One of the most fundamental and the oldest issues in the provision of health care throughout the world has been the issue of the role of the public and private sector of health care, and the relationship between them. This paper describes issues associated with the concept of health oriented partnerships in the United Kingdom and seeks to contrast public and private partnerships both in health and in health care. In the United Kingdom it is suggested that health care is conceived by the population to equate to the National Health Service(NHS) with "add on" private health care for certain sectors of the community and within certain well defined clinical parameters. This paper can provide us with valuable information on the characteristics of UK health care systems, current health policies as well as issues relating to the public and private partnerships in health/ health care in the UK, thus offer important policy implications for the improvement of Korean health care system which lacks health-oriented coordinations and partnership between public and private sector very considerably.

• Proceedings of the Korea Air Pollution Research Association Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.107-108
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2005

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2023

Background: To examine the influences of psychosocial work conditions on mental health risk and intention to leave the public sector among workers of public health agencies in Taiwan. Methods: We surveyed 492 public health workers in March 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information on job demands, job control, workplace justice, experiences of workplace violence and its type and origin, and mental health status (assessed by the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale, BSRS-5) was obtained. Of them, 192 participated in a follow-up survey conducted in May 2023 that assessed mental health status, employment changes, and intention to leave. Results: In the initial survey, 32.93% of participants reported poor mental health status, defined by having a score of BSRS-5 ≧ 10, and 48.17% experienced some form of workplace violence over the past year. Notably, high psychosocial job demands (OR = 3.64, 95% CI = 1.93-6.87), low workplace justice (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.45-4.58), and workplace violence (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.51-3.77) were significantly associated with increased risk of mental disorders. Among those who participated in the followup survey, 22.40% had persistent poor mental health, and 30.73% considered leaving or have left the public sector. Longitudinal analyses indicated that job demands predicted persistent mental disorders and intention to leave the public sector, and the experience of workplace violence added additional mental health risks. Conclusion: The public health workforce is crucial for effective and resilient public health systems. Our findings that public health workers were at high mental health risk and had a high intention to leave the job warrant attention and policy interventions.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 1975

A study on public health education curriculums of 14 universities located in Seoul city was carried out from Oct. 15 1974 to Nov. 15 1974. The data were obtained from 11 universities bulletins & 3 universities administration officers. The contentments of public health were obtained by the interview with the teaching professors on the syllabuses. The results were as follows: 1. General Public health topics were taught at 4 universities (28.6%) out of 14 universities & 129 departments (25.3%) out of 509 departments. General public health education were taught at 2 universities (28.6%) out of 7 universities with medical school of the colleges of education 2 collages (18.2%) had the public health education in the curriculums. 2. Academic administration of Public health education by universities 2 hrs for 2 credits were allocated at 2 universities (50%), while 4 hrs for 2 credits at the rest universities (50% ), Pubic health education were taught as an essential general education at 4 universities. Public health education were taught in freshman course at 2 universities in senior course at 2 other universities. Text books on public health education were chosen at 2 universities and at other 2 universities, just references were introduced to students. Contents of public health education. In two universities teaching programs of public health were undertaken & in other two universities no particular leaching programs were undertaken. And contents of tuberculosis, V. D. & communicable disease control Pregnancy & delivery, precaution ok post paestum maternal & child health were taught at 4 universities. Contents of health & college students, alcohol tobacco & coffee, chosen of sports were taught at few university. 3. General public health education instructors: The instructors were consisted of 13 men(81.2%) & 3 women (18.8%) Physicians were 11 (68.8%), nurses 2 (12.5%) & others 3(18.7%) Full time instructors were 7 (43.7%) part time instructors 9 (56.3%) Position & organization instructors belong to ; instructors (75.0%) had the teaching position in universities & research workers & others were 3 (18.8%) & medical practitioner was I(6.2%) 4. Public health & home nursing education by general home economic departments. Home nursing & public health were taught as an compulsory general education program in 10 departments 50.5% & as an alternative major course in 7 departments (35.0%) 2 hrs for 2 credits were allocated at 9 departments (45.0%) while eve. 4hrs for 4credits were 8 departments (40.0%).

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2011

Objectives : In spite of the importance of preparing a support system for public health programs, there is a relatively poor system to support Oriental medicine public health programs. In this regard, considerations have been made to give directions for the development of technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs. Methods : The authors investigated support organizations of public health programs and compared Oriental medicine public health programs with them. Results : Technical support organizations for Oriental medicine public health programs are controlled by the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center. However there is lack in the relevant budget, technical support, professional abilities for research and planning, connections with research institutes in the Oriental medicine field, and affiliations with the other public health programs. Conclusion : In this context, the following actions are required to systematically and technologically support Oriental medicine public health programs. Health improvement & technical support organizations whose incorporation is promoted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, should include the National Traditional Korean Medicine Research and Development Center, so as to activate the Oriental medicine public health programs. Legal provisions and the budget for the Oriental medicine public health programs should be secured so as to help identify and implement effective programs for improving the community health. A society for public health oriental medicine need be established so as to consolidate research capacities for the Oriental medicine public health programs. Programs should be developed to train professionals and supports should be intensified for activities to build capacities in technical support organizations.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2009

The aim of this study is to investigate microbial sanitary condition of public baths in Seoul, Korea. A total of 28 water samples were collected from 14 different public baths and sudatoriums. The prevalence of fecal indicator microorganisms such as total coliform, fecal coliform, and Escherichia coli was characterized. In addition, bacteria in water was membrane filtered by 0.45um nitrocellulose membrane, and the filter was analyzed by both cultivation and PCR amplification of partial 16S rRNA gene. The levels of chlorine were measured for each of water samples. More than 40% of 14 collected water samples, the concentrations of total coliform bacteria exceeded the water quality for bath water guideline. There was no significant correlation between chlorine residue and the presence of total coliform. Various microorganisms including pathogenic microorganisms were identified from cultivation and subsequent analysis of 16s rRNA gene sequences. Our results suggest that appropriate hygiene practice and continuous monitoring is needed for reducing health risk associated with public bathhouses.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was to investigate oral hygiene knowledge and the actual condition of oral care for the students in the public health and non-public health Departments. Methods: The survey sample consisted of 262 randomly selected students. 197 of them are public health-related students and 65 are non-public health-related students. The questionnaires used in this study consisted of 4 items for general information, oral health status of 2 items, 5 items for Oral hygiene knowledge and actual condition of oral care of 5 items. Collected data were analyzed by Frequency Analysis t-test and Crosstabs using SPSS(Statistical Package for Social Sciences) Win 19.0 statistics program. Results: Regarding general characteristics of the subjects, there were 53.8% of first-year student, 26.0% of second-year student and 20.2% of third-year student among 52.3% of males and 47.7% of females. The subjects received less than "100,000" won(13.0%), "100,000-190,000" won (5.0%), "200,000-290,000" won(30.9%), "300,000-390,000" won (33.2%) and more than "400,000" won(17.9%) a month for an allowance. The subjects had 'none' (44.3%), '1'(6.5%), '2'(12.6%), '3'(5.0%), '4'(5.3%), 'more than' 5(0.8%) of dental caries and 'do not know' were 25.6%. The numbers of dental prosthetics were 'no' (35.5%), '1'(13.7%), '2'(17.2%), '3'(10.3%), '4'(11.5%), and 'more than 5'(11.8%). The public health students(84.8%) had a higher positive response rate than the non-public health students(66.2%). The public health students(80.2%) had a higher negative response rate than the non-public health students(78.5%) in the result of onset of gum disease pain awareness. The non-public health students(65.5%) had a higher negative response rate than the public health students(68.3%)) in the result of heredity of gum disease. The t-test showed that public health-related department students(M=8.264, SD=0.821) had more knowledge about oral hygiene than non-public health-related department students(M=8.015, SD=1.082). 'do not use' in the oral care products except toothpaste and toothbrush showed that public health-related department students(60.4%) use the products more than non-public health-related department students(66.2%). Conclusion: In this study, public health-related department students had higher oral hygiene knowledge and actual condition of oral care compared to non-public health-related students, but low in practical action. Due to the lower level of dental care products use in non-public health-related department, a continuous oral care education program is required.