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

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.4
• /
• pp.512-518
• /
• 2002

Purpose : Cerebral palsies are the most common and severe motor disabilities in childhood. There is currently increased interest in their occurrence and patterns of likely cause for a variety of reasons. Therefore, a retrospective study was carried out to understand the clinical features of cerebral palsy. Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted of all children with cerebral palsy who were diagnosed at St. Benedict Hospital between March 1999 and March 2001. Results : Cerebral palsy patients were classified into 6 major groups. Of six groups, spastic diplegia is the most common type of cerebral palsy(55.3%). The risk factors of cerebral palsy were placenta previa(1 case), placenta abruption(1 case), cytomegalovirus infection(1 case), prematurity (53 cases), neonatal asphyxia(12 cases), dystocia(2 cases), breech delivery(1 case), multiple birth(5 cases), head trauma(3 cases), meningitis(2 cases) and unknown(26 cases). Among the 59 in the preterm group, 37 patients showed MR or CT images of periventricular leukomalacia. Among the 44 in the term group, 15 patients showed MR or CT images of atrophy. Among 103 patients, 29 patients(28.2%) had a seizure disorder. Conclusion : It is very importent to understand the clinical features and risk factors of cerebral palsy for physicians to diagnose and manage cerebral palsy patient.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.41-50
• /
• 2010

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of hypertension prevention and management programs (HPMPs) in rural Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 700 community health practitioners working at primary health care posts (PHCPs). The questionnaire had four domains, which were hypertension management, hypertension prevention, the PHCP environment, and evaluation system, each with different maximum weighted values (WVs). Weighted values of 100 indicate the best effectiveness for the HPMP in all four domains. Results: The average WVs and percent effectiveness of all four domains combined was 61.65 (62%); the hypertension management domain was 28.81 (72%); the hypertension prevention domain was 23.44 (67%); the PHCP environment was4.29(43%); and the evaluation system was5.10(34%). Conclusion: The HPMPs were generally effective, and hypertension management was the most effective. The environment of PHCPs and the evaluation system of HPMPs should be improved to increase the effectiveness of the HPMPs.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.427-440
• /
• 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 agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.107-122
• /
• 2003

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the use rate and some aspect of complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness(hypertension, diabetic mellitus and chronic arthritis). Methods: 600 patients visiting the health center for one month(Jan. 2001) were interviewed on their complementary therapies used by the subjects for the previous year. Results: About fourteen-eight percent of the respondents used therapies; 35% of patients with hypertension, 44.6% of patients with diabetic mellitus and 62.9% of patients with chronic arthritis, which shows the highest rate among patients with three chronic disease. The use rate of complementary therapies indicates few meaningful differences according to the general characteristics of the interviewees. Hypertension patients used herb medication(31.0%) acupuncture(29.6%) and most of all the other therapies. Diabetic patients used dietary therapy(57.5%) and herb medication(35.1%). Chronic arthritis patients used acupuncture(85%) and herb medication(34.7%). 36.8% of all the patients who used complementary therapies tried more than two therapies. 18.3% of hypertension patients, 24.1% of diabetic patients and 55.9% of chronic arthritis patients used more than two therapies. Acupuncture(47%) was used most frequently, followed by herb medications(26.3%), health assistance utensils(21.8%). oriental therapy(21.8%), physical therapy(9.5%), health assistance food(8.4%), herb(7.7%), Korea hand acupuncture(3.2%), abdomen respiration(1.1%), and pore therapy(0.7%) Oriental clinic was visited most frequently(42.8%), which was used to cure diseases(61.8%), and to relieve symptoms(26.0%). (p<0.001) The cost spent on complementary therapies last year was 90,000 won(40.3%) and there are some cases of more than 500,000 won(31.2%). Most of the patients(56.1%) were satisfied with the complementary therapies, with 6% of them having side effects. 74% of the patients used complementary therapies answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would continue them and 56.1% of them also answered that they would advise other patients to do them. Advantages(compared with those of orthodox medical treatment) are psychological comfort(28.1%), body protection(26.0%), effectiveness(20.0%). 34% of the patients using complementary therapies wanted to have informational orientation on complementary therapies. These findings reveal that a considerable number of patients with chronic illness(47.5%) tried a variety of complementary therapies. Though 6% of the patients using therapies had side effects, most of the subjects seemed satisfied with them and they are supposed to continue them. Conclusions: In conclusion, health center personnels and medical doctors should pay more attention to the complementary therapies used by patients with chronic illness. They also have to try their best to advise more scientific and informative complementary programs with less side effects and more help to improve their conditions.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.275-289
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate and analyze the dental patients' awareness and understanding about TMDs. Among the total number of 243 patients who had visited the department of dentistry of Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University or Hanvit dental hospital in Ulsan metropolitan city and participated in the survey, 195 patients who filled in all parts of the questionnaire were selected as the subjects. The results were as follows. 1. The subjects who were aware of the term, "TMDs" were 17.4%. The group with total education period of 12 years and over was significantly more aware of "TMD"(82.4%, p<0.01) than the other group. The subjects who were aware of the term, "jaw joint disease" were 81.0%. 30 to 49 age group(45.6%, p<0.05) and the group with total education period of 12 years and over(60.1%, p<0.01) were significantly more aware of "jaw joint disease" than other groups. 2. More than half of the subjects chose "overuse of the jaws" as the concept of jaw joint disease(50.6%). 3. TV, radio(41.4%) was the most frequent source of awareness about jaw joint disease followed by family and friends(20.2%), hospitals and health professionals(18.2%), internet(15.7%) and newspapers, magazines(4.5%). Among the respondents who were aware of jaw joint disease through TV, radio, 30 to 49 age group showed significantly higher percentage(52.4%, p<0.05) than other age groups. Among the respondents who were aware of jaw joint disease through internet, 18 to 29 age group showed significantly higher percentage(61.3%, p<0.01) than other age groups. Among the respondents who were aware of jaw joint disease from hospitals and health professionals, the group with total education period of 12 years and over showed significantly higher percentage(75.0%, p<0.05) than the other group. 4. Noise during mouth opening and closing(26.9%), mouth opening difficulty(25.1%) and jaw pain(13.7%) were the most frequently responded sign and symptoms of jaw joint disease. For the causes of jaw joint disease, enjoying hard food chewing(19.5%), occlusal discrepancy(19.0%) and chewing with one side only(18.5%) were responded in sequence. TMJ surgery(28%) was the most frequently responded treatment method for jaw joint disease, followed by occlusal appliance therapy(23.9%) and physical therapy(14.6%). For preventive method of jaw joint disease, avoid eating hard food(21.1%), avoid opening mouth wide(17.0%) and simultaneous using of molar of both side when chewing food(15.4%) were chosen frequently.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.127-136
• /
• 2002

This study was taken to provide data for the approaches of day care service for the elderly in community health practitioner's post through the study on the utilization rate, characteristics and health promotion that the elderly used the day care services. Data collection used three records that case management in take sheet, dementia check list and ADL record during the one year, from June 21, 2001 to June 30, 2002. During the one year, the elderly used day care services were 119 persons that 26.9% of the total elderly population, 1.5 time per used the elderly, and female elderly(88.9%) more used than male elderly. 39.5%of the elderly user have chronic diseases that was arthritis and hypertension and etc. 41.2% of the elderly users have dementia state that score was $17.39{\pm}7.17$(handicapped elderly), $18.43{\pm}7.36$(healthy elderly), but statistically not significant PADL score was $2.18{\pm}0.55$(handicapped elderly), $2.78{\pm}0.30$(healthy elderly), IADL score was $1.78{\pm}0.51$(handicapped elderly), $2.47{\pm}0.60$(healthy elderly) that were statistically significant. One year later, PADL and IADL of the elderly users were improved that statistically significant(p=0.01). The elderly users were wanted rehabilitation service(22.2%), talking service(20.6%), bath service(12.7%), food service(9.5%) of day care services in CHP's post. We are recommended that day care service for the elderly in CHP's post was very useful and contributed to promote ADL functions.