• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.81-97
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• 2024

This study examines the effects of adopting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in livestock farm management on farm sales revenue. Using the 2020 Census of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, a nationally representative data set constructed by Statistics Korea, this study focuses on a sample of 9,020 livestock farms in South Korea. We employ Propensity Score Matching (PSM) methods to address the potential selection bias between 2,076 farms that used ICT for livestock farm management and 6,944 farms that did not. The findings consistently show that the use of ICT significantly increases farm revenue, taking into account the selection bias. The utilization of ICT in livestock farms leads to a higher increase in sales revenue, particularly for farms with greater sales.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.323-332
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• 2015

This paper examines the level of the primary care continuity for patients with high blood pressure and the effects of the primary care continuity on their convergence health outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study. A total of 315,791 patients who had received new diagnoses of hypertension. We determined standard indices of continuity of care-MFPC, MMCI, and COC and evaluated their association with study outcomes over three years of follow-up. Outcome measures included hospitalization and emergency room visits. The result of the primary care continuity levels and hazard ratios of health outcome showed that, comparing continuity group, non-continuity group had higher rates of hospitalization by 1.655(95% CI: 1.547-1.771) and emergency room visits by 1.669(95% CI: 1.465-1.903). This paper argues that medical costs of chronic diseases will reduce if low continuity of care turns into high continuity of care.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.267-274
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• 2021

This study used data from the 6rd and 12th year of the Korean Welfare Panel to evaluate the effects of the Personal Assistance Service(PAS) system on the labor market of PAS users' participation. For the purpose of this study, 64 program groups using the Korean PAS and 344 control groups not using the Korean PAS were selected using Caliper matching among the propensity score matching. A chi-square test was used for the difference in characteristics between groups, and a simple difference-in-differences (DID) model and a double-difference multiple regression analysis of DID were performed to estimate the effect of thepolicy before and after the Korean PAS. As a result of the study, it was found that statistically, PAS had no significant effect on the labor market. This is due to the low number of system users, resulting in low post-hoc power, incomplete matching and limited availability of PAS Assistants for Disabled People. Therefore, In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Personal Assistance Service(PAS) system, specialized services and systems that meet the needs of the disabled and household members should be implemented.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.133-142
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• 2023

The use of digital information technology has become important in order to effectively respond to changes in production conditions in Korean agriculture, which are continuously worsening due to a decrease in the rural population, deepening aging, and climate change. Accordingly, this study analyzed the factors affecting farmers' adoption of information devices use and the effect of information devices use on agricultural product sales using the propensity score matching method. As a result of the analysis, it was found that low-age farmers, high-education farmers, and leading farmers are highly likely to adopt use of information devices. For farms with similar characteristics such as age, management size, and farming type, it has been confirmed that farms that have adopted information devices use in agricultural management have higher sales of agricultural products. Therefore, increasing farmers' access to information and the ability to use information devices provides implications that farm income can be improved. The government's informatization support project in the agricultural and rural sectors is important so that farmers can have the ability to distribute informatization devices and utilize agricultural information, and active investment should also be made in information infrastructure.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.61-77
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• 2023

Objective : This study analyzed the correlation between cognitive function and oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL). Methods : Demographic and clinical characteristics were extracted and utilized for subjects aged 45 years or older who participated in the 8th Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging in 2020. The dependent variable was the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, and the independent variable was the level of cognitive function classified by the Mini-Mental State Examination scores. The analysis method used inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Then, the association between cognitive function and OHQoL was analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Results : Among the participants, 4,367 (71.40%) had normal cognition, 1,155 (18.89%) had moderate cognitive impairment, and 594 (9.71%) had severe cognitive impairment. As a result of analysis by applying IPTW, there was a negative correlation between the cognitive function group and OHQoL (normal vs. moderate: β = -2.534, p < .0001; normal vs. severe: β = -2.452, p < .0001). Conclusion : After propensity score matching, mild cognitive impairment showed a more negative association than severe cognitive impairment. Therefore, patients with cognitive impairment require oral health management education to improve OHQoL regardless of the level of cognitive impairment.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.389-396
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• 2024

This is a descriptive study to investigate the association between types of menstrual sanitary products used and menstrual discomfort. The participants included 1,484 women who used either disposable sanitary pads or tampons, out of a total of 1,571 women aged 19-40 years and data collection was conducted from September 2020 to August 2021. The survey was conducted through an online and mobile survey platform, with participants proceeding to take part after clicking the 'agree' button. Data analysis involved 1:4 propensity score matching, descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated that among the participants, 94.1% used disposable sanitary pads, while 5.9% used tampons. In the final model, significant influencing factors identified were age 30 or older (β=-.157, p=.043), standing for 1-4 hours at work (β=-.131, p=.040), experiencing sleep disorders (β=.337, p<.001), and tampon use (β=.130, p=.005). Therefore, it is essential for nurses to incorporate information about various menstrual sanitary products' characteristics into their menstrual education for women of reproductive age.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.331-338
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• 2021

This study used data from the 10rd and 15th year of the Korean Welfare Panel to evaluate the effects of the Energy Voucher Program(EVP) on the consumption and expenditure of EVP users' households. The study consisted of program group using EVP and control group not using. Chi-square and t-test were used for the characteristic differences among the groups, and the difference of consumption expenditure was identified by multiple regression analysis. As a result, EVP had a statistically significant effect on the health care costs of EVP users' households, resulting in an increase in health care costs(𝛽=3.06). However, there was no statistically significant effect on the total cost of living, basic cost, education cost, and recreation/entertainment cost. Therefore, in order to increase the effectiveness of the EVP system, it is required to improve the EVP system by expanding the level of benefits and easing the qualification standards for the eligibility for benefits.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.279-297
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• 2021

Purpose: Various changes in nutrition, metabolism, immunity, and psychological status occur through multiple mechanisms after gastrectomy. The purpose of this study was to predict disease status after gastrectomy by analyzing diseases pattern that occur or change after gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using nationwide claims data. Patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy or endoscopic resection were included in the study. Eighteen target diseases were selected and categorized based on their underlying mechanism. The incidence of each target disease was compared by dividing the study sample into those who underwent gastrectomy (cases) and those who underwent endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer (controls). The cases were matched with controls using propensity score matching. Thereafter, Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate intergroup differences in disease incidence after gastrectomy. Results: A total of 97,634 patients who underwent gastrectomy (84,830) or endoscopic resection (12,804) were included. The incidence of cholecystitis (P<0.0001), pancreatitis (P=0.034), acute kidney injury (P=0.0083), anemia (P<0.0001), and inguinal hernia (P=0.0007) were higher after gastrectomy, while incidence of dyslipidemia (P<0.0001), vascular diseases (ischemic heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis; P<0.0001, P<0.0001, and P=0.0005), and Parkinson's disease (P=0.0093) were lower after gastrectomy. Conclusions: This study identifies diseases that may occur after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 2024

Background: Results of studies investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been conflicting. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021, evaluated the impact of obesity on outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 in a Korean national cohort. A total of 1,114 patients were enrolled from 22 tertiary referral hospitals or university-affiliated hospitals, of whom 1,099 were included in the analysis, excluding 15 with unavailable height and weight information. The effect(s) of BMI on patients with severe COVID-19 were analyzed. Results: According to the World Health Organization BMI classification, 59 patients were underweight, 541 were normal, 389 were overweight, and 110 were obese. The overall 28-day mortality rate was 15.3%, and there was no significant difference according to BMI. Univariate Cox analysis revealed that BMI was associated with 28-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.96; p=0.045), but not in the multivariate analysis. Additionally, patients were divided into two groups based on BMI ≥25 kg/m² and underwent propensity score matching analysis, in which the two groups exhibited no significant difference in mortality at 28 days. The median (interquartile range) clinical frailty scale score at discharge was higher in nonobese patients (3 [3 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 6], p<0.001). The proportion of frail patients at discharge was significantly higher in the nonobese group (28.1% vs. 46.8%, p<0.001). Conclusion: The obesity paradox was not evident in this cohort of patients with severe COVID-19. However, functional outcomes at discharge were better in the obese group.