• Health Policy and Management
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.70-83
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• 2005

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between socio-economic factors and self-rated health among older people living in the community. In addition, the study tries to determine whether risk differentials by these socio-economic factors can be explained by other demographic factors, chronic diseases, and functional status. We surveyed to investigate the self-rated health of 397 study samples which had been selected by stratified randomized sampling, $2.7\%$ by each Dong (district) of S-city in Gyeonggi-do. Our study found that the socioeconomic factors such as income, occupation, and insurance were significantly associated with self-rated health. The level of social economic status was positively associated with the level of self-rated health. Two-staged multivariate analysis demonstrated that this relationship was still significant even after adjustment for demographic factors, chronic diseases, and functional status. In conclusion, there are wide socio-economic disparities in self-rated health of older people in this community. It is important that government should know not only health status but also the health-associated factors in order to prepare for the aged society and improve the health status of the elderly. Further researches should uncover causality and mechanism by which SES affects changes in functional health among the elderly.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.383-402
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting family caregiver financial burden of out-of pocket expenses for the nursing home service under Long-term Care Insurance System. We conducted a national cross-sectional descriptive survey from July to September 2010 to collect data based on the long-term care benefits cost specification. Total 1,016 family caregivers completed questionnaires. 185 subjects of total were excluded from the data analysis due to being answered by user(18 cases), or caregivers not to pay for services expenditures(122 cases), having a missing data on family caregivers characteristics(45 cases). Finally, 831 subjects were included in the study. The average financial burden was 3.18(${\pm}0.71$). We divided subjects into two groups by level of burden, high-burden group and low-burden group. In the result of the multiple logistic regression analysis, family caregiver financial burden was significantly higher in family caregivers with ages 40 to 49 compared to less than 40, lower educational level, unsatisfaction for long-term care service, high percentage(more than 50%) of cost-sharing and high total out-of pocket expenses(more than 300,000 won) for long-term care services. Also, Family caregivers who are spouse felt higher financial burden compared to son. This study is meaningful as the first attempt to measure family caregiver financial burden for long-term care service and to identify factors affecting the financial burden. Family caregivers felt financial burden of out-of pocket expenses for the nursing home service. The policy makers, the insurer, and the providers need to pay attention to ease family caregiver financial burden.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.85-108
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• 2012

One of the ways to achieve the principle of equal access for equal needs, availability and geographical accessibility of health care resources regardless of resident sites is important. The purpose of this paper is to measure socioeconomic inequities in distribution of health care resources among regions in the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea). Data were extracted from regional statistics of National Health Insurance, Community Health Survey, Korea Social Science Data Archive, and Korean Statistical Information Services at the same period of 2009. The dependent variables were the number of health workforce and health care facilities in each region. The proxy indicator of regional socioeconomic status was local tax per person. To identify whether inequalities among regions, we examined the concentration index(CI) and indirectly standardized CI by controlling each region's demographics and need factors. Total observations were 232 districts in nationwide, and we analyzed separately Seoul(25 districts) and non-Seoul areas(207 districts). The standardized CI values of health care resources were positive(favoring the rich region) across the nation in almost all kinds of resources. Especially the number of specialist, dentist, dental clinics, clinics, oriental medical clinics, pharmacists, and pharmacies were statistically significantly favoring the rich region. But the CI for the number of long-term care hospitals, public health centers were negative(favoring the poor region). The tendency of CI presenting positive values were increased in Seoul area. But in the case of non-Seoul, the CI indexes were nearly zero. The results suggest that except the Seoul area, little regional socioeconomic-related inequalities were observed in the distribution of health care resources in Korea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2017

Objectives: To protect the health and safety of residents during chemical accidents, the governmental authorities need to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to citizens who desire it. This study aims to investigate residents'awareness of PPE and perform an economic analysis on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants prior to the establishment of a related law. Methods: This study was carried out through a questionnaire completed by 600 residents composed of items such as residents'awareness of PPE, what type of PPE they need, and how to purchase PPE. Economic analysis (cost-benefit analysis) was conducted on providing PPE to residents near chemical plants on basis of the Gumi City hydrogen fluoride accident of 2012. Results: The results of the questionnaire showed that most residents recognized the need for PPE preparedness for chemical accidents, in particular, for respirators. The level of expense that respondents were prepared to shoulder to share the burden was $25. Except for chemicals of hazard level 2, the benefit of all kinds of chemical accident preparedness considerably exceeded costs in the cost-benefit analysis on providing PPE. An estimated government budget of $20 million per year would be required to provide PPE (hood-type mask) for all residents within a one-kilometer radius of chemical plants in Korea, but only $5.8 million when residents share the expenses. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that programs for providing PPE for residents near chemical plants should be established by law.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the factors associated with depression among Korean graduate students. Specifically, personal (self-efficacy, stress), environmental (violence experience, economic state, and relationship conflict), and behavioral (health behavior) factors were analyzed. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional study design. One hundred and fifty participants currently enrolled in graduate programs were recruited. Google Drive was used for online data collection. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. Results: First, 52% of the participants were male, with an average age of 28.05(±3.19). Master's students comprised the largest proportion (63.3%). Approximately about 38.7% were engineering majors. Second, approximately 27.3% had depressive symptoms; and 7.3% had major depression. Third, there was a significant correlation between personal, environmental (financial burdens), and behavioral factors. Fourth, hierarchical regression analysis revealed a lower depression level to be associated with a higher self-efficacy level and health behavior. In contrast, a higher depression level was related to violence experience. Conclusion: The government should press on establishing rules on the prevention and regulation of violence in universities, and impose strong disciplinary measures to root out the problem. In addition, universities must pay attention to the mental health of graduate students and establish systems to manage them.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the effects of household financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 (2019 coronavirus disease) on suicidal tendencies of adolescents. Methods: We selected 54,948 middle and high school students who were surveyed based on the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey 2020. To analyze the data, we used the STATA 16.0 program to conduct propensity score matching (PSM). Results: After controlling for selection effects by using PSM, the household financial difficulties caused by COVID-19 maintained a significant predictive effect on increasing suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and decreasing tendency in hospital-treated after suicide attempts. However, depressive symptoms and suicide plan did not show a significant correlation with household financial difficulties associated with COVID-19. Conclusions: It was found that the rate of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among adolescents who experienced a household financial difficulties due to COVID-19. Therefore, It can provide empirical evidence for estimating the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent suicide rates.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2020

Since World Health Organization (WHO) declared Pandemic about COVID-19 at 11 March, 2020, 214 countries now have more than 5.8 million confirmed cases and 360 thousand deaths (29 March 2020). The pandemic of COVID-19 caused lockdown in numerous countries and cities. Strict social distancing also affects most of fields such as health, education, politics, religion, and economy. South Korea actively uses various digital technologies to fight against COVID-19, which is introduced internationally as a successful example. This article introduces the development background and functionalities of COVID-19 Epidemic Investigation Support System (EISS) as well as Smart City Datahub, the core technology that enables the rapid development and application of EISS. Moreover, based on this example, the role and importance of horizontal common platform, such as Datahub, are discussed in the view of future city.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 1994

Many alternatives have been discussed to reduce the medical expenditure and to use the medical resources effectively. Many studies about the economies of scale have been done for the last several decades. This study has analyzed the relationship between the number of beds and the mean expense per hospitalization day in Korea. A Cost Function Model was identified and we wanted to see the minimum optimal size with the cheapest mean expense per hospitalization day. The result is as follows; 1. In the Cost Function Mode, (the number of beds)$^{2}$, the number of personnel, productivity and training institutions are the factors that statisticaly influence the mean expenses. 2. By the univariate analysis the mean expense proved to be the smallest as the level of 150-200bed, The breaked down of the components of expenses shows that the mean labor cost is much different from the mean value of material and administration costs, and that hospital with 150-200 beds also have the minimal expense. The mean expense goes up dramatically in hospitals of 450 beds or more. 3. When the other conditions are constant, according to the multiple regression analysis of the mean expense per adjusted hospitalization day the minimum optimal size with the cheapest expense is a hospital with 191 beds and the hospital with 230 beds takes the lowest mean labor cost. The material or administration costs are not influenced by hospital size. This research has limitation in measuring the variables that influence hospital xpenses, in estimating hospital output by the number of beds in considering outpatient cost and in securing representativeness of hospitals because many hospitals made no responses to the research questionnare. But it is valuable and helpful for development of health policy to figure out the number of beds with the cheapest expense per hospitalization day.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1169-1187
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• 2011

This study uses fourth primary sources of Korea Welfare Panel to study correlation between the major stressors that affect the elderly and how the major stressors affect the depression of the elderly with family conflict coping method as the mediation. The subjects included in the analysis of 3890 people 65 and older population people men 1,559 people, women 2,331 people. The key variables for the analysis were satisfaction rate of family relations, economic and living standards, health conditions, and family conflict coping method. And as the analysis methods, T-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. The result of the analysis showed that elders who are women, single household, unemployed, more than 75 years of age and have no religion or spouse have significantly higher depression level. Finally, family conflict coping strategies was found to be affecting the process of the major independent variables affecting the elderly depression as the partial mediator.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.643-651
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to describe the self-esteem, appearance satisfaction, and job-seeking stress and to investigate the effects of self-esteem and appearance satisfaction on job-seeking stress in nursing and healthcare related students. A total of 515 third and fourth year graduate students were included in this study. The data were collected between May 2 and May 13 of 2016 and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, and multiple regression with SPSS 19.0. The economic state had an influence on self-esteem, appearance satisfaction, and job-seeking stress; however, the motive of application and decision of the department of selection did not have any influence. A positive correlation was found between self-esteem and appearance satisfaction. Moreover, job-seeking stress was negatively correlated with both self-esteem and appearance satisfaction. The strongest predictor of job-seeking stress was self-esteem. Self-esteem, employment-area, satisfaction with major, and college majors accounted for 24.4% of job-seeking stress based on multiple regression analysis. These findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a program that would increase self-esteem and satisfaction with major and decrease job-seeking stress according to college majors and employment-area in nursing and health care related students.