• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2000

Low back pain is generally defined as a complex symptom rather than a specific diseases entity, especially when musculoskeletal lesions of the low back, neurogenic, vasculogenic and discogenic lesions are present. Sixty to eighty percent of all human being have experienced low back pain once or more times during in their lifetime. Low back pain is a one of the commonest cause of physical impairment and induces disability the activities of everyday living or the activities of work. Today, low back pain plays important part for the loss of working capability from social, industrial field and individual daily life. But there are no study about incidence and prevention program of low back pain in rural peoples. This study was conducted to find out current status and characteristics related to low back pain in rural peoples(especially engaged in agriculture), so that could provide basic data to establish prevention program for them. The data were gathered from 301 rural adults(female 62.1%, male 37.9%) with low back pain by the structured interview in the 4 communities(south and north Gyeong-sang Do and Chung-cheong Do), and sampled at local hospital, local clinic, and health clinic center in May, 2000. The results were as followed. About one third of cases(35.5%) were aged from 60 to 69, 34.6% were smoker, and 91.4% not used to regular exercise. Low back pain frequently due to intervertebral articulopathy(42.5%), follewed by herniated intervertebral disk(19.9%), sprain(17.3%), vertebral dislocation(4.0%), and etc(16.2%). Above half of cases(56.5%) were a eight-hour workday, and 61.8% complained of low back pain during work. Mostly, period of agricultural experience was more than 20 years, and cultivated more than 2 crops. Low back pain is common to rural adults, therefore adequate resting time from work and lumbar strengthening exercise program needed to prevent low back pain in rural peoples.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.242-242
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• 2019

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.2 s.53
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• pp.311-329
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• 1996

This study was designed to compare the level of medical utilization between the urban and rural areas of Korea and to explain the differences between the two regions. Data from the National Health Interview Survey performed by the Korean Institute of Health & Social Affairs in 1992 were used for this study utilizing a sample size of 21,841 people. The level of medical utilization such as the number of physician visits and the number of hospital admissions was compared between the regions with ANOVA. Various determinants for medical use were also compared by univariate analysis. Statistical models which included enabling factors, predisposing factors, need factors and region were constructed for bivariate analysis in order to further elucidate the level of medical utilization. The results were as follows: 1. There was greater medical use, both in terms of physician visits and inpatient care in the rural areas in spite of insufficient health resources. The particular reasons for higher medical utilization in rural areas were attributed to a higher number of initial physician visits as well as a longer the length of stay per hospital admission. Therefore, indicators representing the degree of met need (utilization/need) showed no significant difference between rural and urban areas in spite of the fact that the medical need is larger in rural areas. 2. Use of public health facilities received a significant portion of physician visits in the rural area. The government's effort to enhance primary health care through health centers, health subcenters and the nurse practitioner's post in rural areas has contributed to the increase of access to medical care in the rural areas. 3. There were some differences in the socio-demographic characteristics between two regions ; There were more elderly people over the age of 65: unstable marital status, less education and lower incomes also characterized the rural areas. Therefore, among rural people, there were more predisposing factors for medical use. Additionaly, need factors such as poor self-reported health status and high morbidity level were also high in the rural area. 4. In contrast it was learned that, the supply of health resources was mostly concentrated in the urban areas except for public health facilities. Therefore, geographical access to medical care was lower in the rural area both in terms travel time and travel cost. 5. The coefficient of the region variable was insignificant in the regression model which controlled the supply factor only. However, utilization was significantly higher in urban areas if the model included predisposing factors and need factors in addition to the supply factor. The results were interpreted as rural people have greater medical needs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2277-2282
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• 2013

Purpose: Mammography has been confirmed as the only effective mode to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer in Western developed countries, but might not be a good choice in other areas of the world. One of the major challenges in China is to determine an optimal imaging modality for breast cancer screening. This study was designed to clarify the sensitivity of ultrasonography compared with that of mammography in rural China. Methods: We retrospectively studied the sensitivity of mammography and ultrasonography based on 306 breast cancer patients detected by the program of "screening for cervical cancer and breast cancer" performed in Chinese rural areas between January 2009 and December 2011, and analyzed the effects of age, breast density and volume on the sensitivity. Results: Stratified analysis showed that the sensitivity of breast ultrasonography was significantly higher than that of mammography in premenopausal patients (81.4% vs. 61.1%, p=0.02), in women ${\leq}$ 55 years of age (82.2% vs. 63.4%, p<0.01), in the high breast density group (American College of Radiology [ACR] levels 3-4) (85.9% vs. 60.6%, p<0.01) and in the small breast volume group (${\leq}$ 400 ml) (87.1% vs. 66.7%, p<0.01). Age had a significant effect on sensitivity of mammography (breast density and volume-adjusted odds ratio, 6.39; 95% confidence interval, 2.8-14.4 in age group > 55 compared to age group ${\leq}$ 45), but not that of ultrasonography. Neither breast density nor volume had significant effect on sensitivity of mammography or ultrasonography. Conclusions: Ultrasonography is more sensitive than mammography in detecting breast cancer in women under 55 year-old Chinese, especially in those with high-density and relatively small breasts.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.251-261
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• 2023

Objective: Farmers are known to have high prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). This study aims to investigate the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic and foreign farmers with the ultimate goal of raising awareness of asthma and COPD among farmers and contribute to supporting evidence for the prevention of respiratory diseases in farmers. Methods: The study utilized data from the "Farmer's Occupational Disease Survey," conducted by the Rural Development Administration, to determine the prevalence of respiratory diseases in domestic farmers. The prevalence of asthma and COPD in overseas farmers was evaluated by researching other foreign studies and articles. Results: The prevalence of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers was less than of foreign farmers'. The prevalence of asthma in domestic farmers was high as upto 8.4% and COPD upto 5.5%. Studies from Europe and America showed prevalence of asthma in farmers high as upto 14.8% and COPD upto 17.1%. Conclusions: This study conducted an investigation using the 'Survey on Occupational Diseases and Injuries in Farmers to understand the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers. Due to a lack of relevant domestic research, we examined and compared with the research results on asthma and COPD among overseas farmers. Further research is necessary and preventive measures for respiratory diseases need to be developed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual condition of the daily living activities of the elderly with dementia in recuperation facilities. The thorough investigation and observation works were made to them from the view points of daily living behaviors and activities of the recuperating elderly. This article discusses about the basic characteristics of the elderly and the actual condition of the daily living activities of the elderly with dementia in 2 nursing homes and 1 geriatric hospital. As a result, we are able to draw out the following conclusion ; There is no wide difference between geriatric hospital and nursing homes on the characteristic of living behaviors of the elderly with dementia.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.103-110
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to clarify the actual condition of the daily living activities of the elderly with dementia in recuperating facilities. The thorough investigation and observation works were made to them from the view points of daily living behaviors and behavioral places of the recuperating elderly. This article discusses about the basic characteristics of the elderly and the actual condition of the daily living activities of the elderly with dementia in recuperating facilities for the aged with dementia. The results of this study are summarized as follows; There is no wide difference between geriatric hospital and nursing home for the aged with dementia on the characteristic of living behaviors of the elderly with dementia. The usage of behavioral places in recuperating facilities are influenced by the physical environments and the basic characteristics of the elderly with dementia.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.125-133
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• 2012

Objectives: We used participatory mapping as a tool for empowerment training for promoting health and safety of farmers. We would like to introduce the application of participatory mapping method and report our experiences in a rural community in Korea. Methods: A one-day workshop was offered in six rural villages which were designated as 'safe farm zones'. Each workshop started with an orientation session, followed by a village rounding, presentations of best cases, a group exercise to draw and present a healthy village map. Participants were requested to express their ideas and experiences about healthy and safe residential and working environments on their map. Results: A total of 206 farmers(100 male, 106 female) participated in the workshops. In each workshop, an average of 34.3 farmers participated, and their mean age was 59 years. In the six workshops, the participants proposed a total of 137 action plans. The action plans included improvement of co-working condition, building facilities for recreation, improving traffic safety measures, and improving residential environment. Conclusions: Participatory mapping was successfully developed and applied as a tool for empowering Korean farmers. The participants were able to express their ideas and thoughts about healthy and safe village and action plans on the map. Moreover, some of the actions in the action plans were carried out immediately after workshop.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.385-396
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• 2024

Previously, we reported the concept of a cloud-based telemedicine platform for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at local emergency rooms in rural and medically underserved areas in Gangwon state by combining artificial intelligence and remote consultation with a neurosurgeon. Developing a telemedicine ICH treatment protocol exclusively for doctors with less ICH expertise working in emergency rooms should be part of establishing this system. Difficulties arise in providing appropriate early treatment for ICH in rural and underserved areas before the patient is transferred to a nearby hub hospital with stroke specialists. This has been an unmet medical need for decades. The available reporting ICH guidelines are realistically applicable in university hospitals with a well-equipped infrastructure. However, it is very difficult for doctors inexperienced with ICH treatment to appropriately select and deliver ICH treatment based on the guidelines. To address these issues, we developed an ICH telemedicine protocol. Neurosurgeons from four university hospitals in Gangwon state first wrote the guidelines, and professors with extensive ICH expertise across the country revised them. Guidelines and recommendations for ICH management were described as simply as possible to allow more doctors to use them easily. We hope that our effort in developing the telemedicine protocols will ultimately improve the quality of ICH treatment in local emergency rooms in rural and underserved areas in Gangwon state.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-119
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• 1991

Korea has made a rapid economic development since the last three decades. This has helped Korea narrow the gap in health service differences in resource availability and in quality of care. However urban and rural differentials are still remarkable. This study has maintained that health status of rural residents is inferior to that of urban dwellers. Therefore, this study was carried out to develop policy measures for improving health services in rural areas. In order to achieve the objective of this study the authors collaborated closely and made field visits, interviews and conducted an extensive literature review regarding rural health services. The following policy options are recommended as a summary ; First, the quality of rural health personnel is a single most important factor influencing the level of rural health services. An innovative program for public health doctors to the internship and/or residency training program such as specialty board program of family medicine. Second, dissatisfaction regarding employment of public health doctors is problematic. More rational employment and deployment programs are needed to meet their personal desire. One way to do this is to make it wide open and competitive. Third this study shows how to increase physician productivity in the rural public health sector. Incentive system needs to be elaborated for the career development of rural health workers. University linked job opportunity as clinical professor is an example. Fourth, without straightening the function of health centers and subcenters, the future of rural health services is doomed to failure. Straightening primary health care is one way to enrich the program of public health facilities and reactivating the operation of health center/hospital is another. A close linkage of public facilities with private hospitals is a minimum requirement for the operation of health delivery system within a health district. Fifth, some measures are urgently required to enhance hospital services in medically underserved areas. Financial subsidy, tax exemption, long-term public loans and higher priority of health manpower deployment are some of them. Sixth, new health programs should be in tiated to meet changing needs of peoples in rural areas. Home health care program, hospice program, nursing home, residential program for the elderly are recommended.