• Health Policy and Management
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.34-55
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• 2002

In this study, the impact of organizational culture on the quality of social work services in hospitals were empirically analysed. A mailed questionnaire survey was conducted between February 19 and April 10, 2001. A sample of total 70 hospitals, including general hospitals with one social worker at least and single-department hospital with two social workers or more, were identified nationwide through the registry of Korean Association of Medical Social Workers and Korean Association of Hospitals. According to coping strategy and reacting pattern with the environmental changes, four types of organizational culture in each hospital, classified as group culture, developmental culture, hierarchial culture, and rational culture, were adopted for the independent variables. Three dimensional aspects of quality of social work service - structure, process, and outcome were selected as dependent variables in this study. Also the quality of social work service was distributed into provider-perceiving quality and consumer-perceiving quality The major findings were as following in summary; First, most social workers reported that the characteristic of culture in their hospitals are group culture the first, hierarchial culture the second, developmental culture the third, and rational culture finally in order of comparing the level of quality perceived between social worker's recognition. Second, service provider and consumer, The provider-perceiving quality showed less score than that of consumer, especially the lowest was the score of quality of outcome perceived by provider. Third, according to the types of organizational culture, there were significantly different levels of quality in total social work services, structure dimension and process dimension. The quality of outcome dimension did not show significant differences among the type of organizational culture. Finally, the most influential variables to the quality of social work service ice proved departmental form of social work unit, leader of social work unit, and developmental culture of hospital To assure quality services, accordingly, social work unit in hospital is required to be organized as a single unit, that means to be an independent department of which qualified social worker is supposed to control the unit. It is strongly recommended to develop leadership for the leaders of social work unit.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.330-337
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of consumption and consumer satisfaction of dietary fiber supplements. The survey was conducted using a self-recorded questionnaire developed to meet the purpose of this study. The characteristics of the subjects who have taken dietary fiber supplements in the past are as follows: distributions of socioeconomic variables showed that the highest-ranked group(the group that reported the highest consumption of dietary fiber supplements) was professionals with a college degree or higher degree. In addition, the highest-ranked group were the most healthy, nonsmokers and reported drinking habits of '1~2 times/week'. Regarding the health status of those surveyed, digestive disease and constipation were the most common complaints. The majority responded with 'health concerns' to the question that asked the reason for their purchase of the dietary fiber supplements. Three major places respondents could find dietary fiber supplements were 'through the internet', 'the market', 'the pharmacy' in descending order. The compositions of dietary fiber products varied. 'konjac', 'cellulose', 'psyllium husks' were the most popular components consumed by the subjects. The average duration of product consumption was less than one month. In terms of satisfaction levels(satisfaction was ranked from 1 to 5), 'taste' and 'type' scored the highest in satisfaction levels while 'price' ranked the lowest. When subjects were asked about self-awareness regarding the physiological efficacy of dietary fiber supplements, the responses were positive in 'bowel movement' and 'weight loss'. Further research is required to improve the quality of dietary fiber supplements in order to assist consumers in selecting the appropriate products.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-132
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to identify sushi choices underlying food-related lifestyle and to study the sushi attribute. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), the most popular tool for lifestyle research, which measures the relative importance of nine factors important in food choice, and food-related lifestyle was administered to 200 Americans (over 20 years of age) residing in Korea. From an analysis of food-related lifestyle through factor analysis, four factors emerged: health, taste, economy, and convenience. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) structure was verified using factor analysis, and eight factors were found: mood, natural content, health, sensory appeal, convenience, weight control, familiarity and price. These data are important in demonstrating the different motives underlying sushi choice. Moreover, the results suggest that an American's food-related lifestyle is considerably different in consumer behavior and sushi choice. Further research is needed to test our hypotheses.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.11
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• pp.165-182
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• 2003

This study aimed to investigate the extent of risks perceived by consumers in terms of health and economy while using cellular phone services. In addition, it also examined the factors influencing the level of risks and their effects on the level of satisfaction after using it. Major findings were as follows. First, the level of perceived risks were higher for married consumers. Consumers with high income felt economic risks lowly. Second, perceived economic risks influenced the level of satisfaction after using cellular phone, but not perceived health risks. Third, overall, consumers who rely on objective information source, possess high credibility on their cellular phone service companies, and own high level of knowledge how to properly use those phones, were more satisfied after using it.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1865-1871
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• 2015

While health information-seeking behavior as an indicator of health communication of patients including cancer survivors has been researched, few studies have focused on how socioeconomic position and media use combine to influence health-related information seekers. This study examined social characteristics of health information-seeking behavior taking into account an individual's socioeconomic position and their media use in Korea, a developed country. The data for this study came from a survey of 1,010 respondents drawn from a nationally representative sample in the Republic of Korea. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses for gender-specific effects. We found that men who reported high household income were one and half times more likely to seek health information than those with low income status. We also found that women who performed Internet searches by computer at home were almost two times more likely to seek health information than those who did not. Similar results were found for men as well. Our analyses revealed that socioeconomic position and media use are associated with health information-seeking behavior by gender. Studies on information seekers may bring us more effective health promotion and relevant intervention for people with chronic conditions including cancer survivors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the airborne microbial pollution in hospital environment. Using a mechanical air sampler, microbiological samples were taken from intensive care unit, general ward room, patients wailing room and outdoor of 20 hospitals in Seoul, Korea. The concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi ranged 97-410 cfu/㎥ and 37-77 cfu/㎥, respectively and patients waiting room had highest bacterial count. 10 genera of molds were identified and the most frequently recovered molds were Aspergillus, followed by Penicillium, Alternaria and Cladosporium. Among Staphylococcus species, S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis were predominant and 47% of Staphylococcus species were isolated from intensive rare unit.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-192
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• 2014

This study explores the effects of various factors on the use of nutrition information on food away from home (FAFH). Consumer groups were classified into groups according to their perception of being overweight and obese (correctly perceiving, underestimating and overestimating weight). For this, frequency analysis, a chi-square test, and an ANOVA were conducted to determine any differences between factors, and a logit analysis (SPSS 18.0) was conducted to identify those factors influencing the use of information. Information recognition, intentions to use information and the use on FAFH showed significant differences across the groups. In addition, health inspection, the perception of the intrinsic quality of restaurants, labeling, FAFH expenditure, and some individual characteristics showed significant differences between groups. The information recognition of FAFH had a significant positive effect on information use in all groups. In all groups, labeling had a significant positive effect on information use, and family health concerns had a significant positive effect on information use in the group correctly perceiving weight. The price of domestic food items, household head and household income had significant positive effects on information use in the group overestimating weight.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1156-1162
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• 2014

The study is part of the Chinese beverage selection attributes according to dietary style purchases based on the different dietary styles among different factors and consumer behavior analysis of consumer characteristics. The subjects of study were for the people living in Tianjin China objects directly in the local implementation of the questionnaire survey. A statistical analysis of 455 was conducted using SPSS 19. Using the general statistical analysis and cause analysis and reliability analysis, ANOVA test and cross analysis. Investigation object types related dietary style 20 projects, selection attributes 14 exploratory analysis of the causes, according to the results of dietary style in five factors, respectively of the health oriented, convenience oriented, economy oriented, gourmet oriented, food safety oriented convenient type named pursuit. Selection attributes is to consider three items of the preference factors, production and functional factors, information factors named. Food safety oriented showed a high percentage, Gourmet oriented compared to other types of higher proportion of singles. Food safety oriented production and functional factors to purchase consideration magazine and newspaper has obtained the information. Gourmet oriented production and functional factors to purchase consideration TV and radio were obtained by using the information. Health oriented green tea beverages have been preferred.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.463-472
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• 2013

Beverages can vary in their appropriateness depending on the context of their different uses; therefore, an intention to consume a beverage is likely dependent on the context of its use. This study associated the consumer acceptability of commercial beverage products examined in a previous study (Kim and others, 2013) with its appropriateness under different use contexts. Consumers (n=360) were divided into two conditions: blind and brand. Consumers rated appropriateness for 13 use contexts for each beverage product. The results indicated that the contextual appropriateness were significantly different among the beverage samples and seemed to be positively influenced by the acceptability of beverages. The beverages with higher liking scores were more appropriate in a greater number of contexts, including "when tired", "refreshing", and "rest". However, there were inappropriate contexts (e.g., "while weight watching", "after exercise", "with a meal", and "health care") regardless of degree of acceptability. In the brand condition, some differences in contextual appropriateness were observed when comparing results from the blind condition (e.g., "with a meal", "health care").

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.24 no.3 s.81
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• pp.95-115
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze the affecting factors on male salary workers' pre-retirement plans and pre-retirement planning programs. The focus was on male workers' pre-retirement plans and programs for economy, housing, family relationship, leisure and health care in their elderly life. The major findings were as follows: First, the salary workers estimated their level of economic and health problems among their elderly life as relatively high. Second, the major factors affecting the level of planning for post-retirement were salary workers' age, job satisfaction, and reserved savings for their elderly life. Third, the major affecting factors on participation in pre-retirement planning programs were age, educational attainment, and spouse's job status. From these findings, it can be concluded that salary workers' level of pre-retirement planning and the needs of pre-retirement planning programs differed from their personal characteristics and preferences. Also, salary workers' characteristics related to job and retirement had more important effects on their pre-retirement planning than economic status.