• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2004

Objective : To determine the quality of life and cost consequences for deaf adults who received a cochlear implant. Methods : The data from 11 patients, post-lingual deaf adults who received cochlear implants from 1990 to 2002, underwent cost-utility analysis. The average age of the participants was 49.6 years. The main outcomes were direct cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) using the visual analog scale (VAS), health utility index (HUI), EuroQol (EQ-5D), and quality well-being (QWB), with costs and utilities being discounted 3% annually. Results : Recipients had an average of 5.6 years of implant use. Mean VAS scores increased by 0.33, from 0.27 before implantation to 0.60 at survey. HUI scores increased by 0.36, from 0.29 to 0.65, EQ-5D scores increased by 0.26, from 0.52 to 0.78, and QWB scores increased by 0.16, from 0.45 to 0.61. Discounted direct costs were $22,320, yielding $19,223/QALY using VAS, $17,387/QALY using HUI, $24,604/QALY using EQ-5D, and $40,474/QALY using QWB. Cost-utility ratios using VAS, HUI, and EQ-5D were all below $25,000 per QALY, except using QWB. Conclusion : Cochlear implants in post-lingual deaf adult have a positive effect on quality of life at reasonable direct costs and appear to produce a net saving to society.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.230-238
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• 2015

This study was analyzed the operational cost of logging and chipping operations in order to develop the efficient logging operation system for the utilization of forest-biomass. Analysis of the operational cost of logging operation systems, the operation system D which include chain saw, tower-yarder, mini-forwarder and truck was calculated the lowest cost to be $68,498Won/m^3$. In the utilization of forest-biomass, the operation system E which include chipping by mini-chipper at the site, forwarding of chips by mini-forwarder, transportation of chips by truck was estimated to be 90,770 Won/Ton. Thus, These results are determined as an effective operating system for logging operation and the utilization of forest-biomass.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2018

Background: In South Korea, 22.3% of women ${\geq}50years$ of age and 37% of women ${\geq}70years$ of age visit the doctor to obtain treatment for osteoporosis. According to the analysis of the National Health Insurance Services claim data between 2008 and 2012, the number and incidence of hip and vertebral fractures increased during the same period. Denosumab, a newly marketed medicine in Korea, is the first RANK inhibitor. Methods: A cost-utility analysis was conducted from a societal perspective to prove the superiority of denosumab to alendronate. A Markov cohort model was used to investigate the cost-effectiveness of denosumab. A 6-month cycle length was used in the model, and all patients were individually followed up through the model, from their age at treatment initiation to their time of death or until 100 years of age. The model consisted of eight health states: well; hip fracture; vertebral fracture; wrist fracture; other osteoporotic fracture; post-hip fracture; post-vertebral fracture; and dead. All patients began in the well-health state. In this model, 5% discounted rate, two-year maximum offset time, and persistence were adopted. Results: The total lifetime costs for alendronate and denosumab were USD 5,587 and USD 6,534, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for denosumab versus alendronate was USD 20,600/QALY. Given the ICER threshold in Korea, the results indicated that denosumab was remarkably superior to alendronate. Conclusion: Denosumab is a cost-effective alternative to the oral anti-osteoporotic treatment, alendronate, in South Korea.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.356-367
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• 2021

Purpose: This study conducted an economic evaluation of hospital-based home care services for the patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery. Methods: A total of 12,483 patients over 18 years of age who had received breast cancer surgery in 26 tertiary hospitals in 2018 were analyzed with the claim data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service using cost-minimization analysis and societal perspectives. Results: There were 156 patients who utilized hospital-based home care services within 30 days after breast cancer surgery, and they received 2.17 (SD=1.17) hospital-based home care service on average. The average total cost was 5,250,028 KRW (SD=1,905,428) for the group receiving continuous hospital-based home care and 6,113,402 KRW (SD=2,033,739) for the group not receiving continuous hospital-based home care (p<.001). The results of the economic evaluation of continuous hospital-based home care services in patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery indicated a total benefit of 953,691,000 KRW, a total cost of 819,004,000 KRW, and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.16 in 2018. Conclusion: Continuous hospital-based home care was considered economically feasible as the total costs for the group receiving continuous hospital-based home care were lower than those of the group not receiving continuous hospital-based home care. Therefore, policy modification and financial incentives are recommended to increase the utilization of hospital-based home care services for patients who had undergone breast cancer surgery.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study is to propose the benefits of reduction measures according to the occupational radon reference level in order to present basic data for radon management guidelines considering domestic circumstances. Methods: This study uses radon data measured in the subway stations from 2015 to 2016. Of the total of 4,643 cases, 4,231 cases were analyzed excluding the 412 cases where the values were below $300Bq/m^3$. Results: Cost-Benefit analysis was done on the results of the field survey on subway work sites. At the exposure level of $400Bq/m^3$, the ratio between the cost and the benefit was highest at 1 : 1.81(the cost was KRW 1,398,568,032, while the benefit KRW 2,5248,772,841). At the exposure level of $600Bq/m^3$, the ratio of cost and benefit was 1: 1.80, at $300Bq/m^3$ it was 1.72, at $800Bq/m^3$ it was 1.71, at $200Bq/m^3$ it was 1.54, and at $100Bq/m^3$ it was 1.40. Conclusions: Radon management in the workplace provides economic benefits and appropriate reduction strategies are needed. In addition, it is necessary to establish and distribute radon exposure assessment procedures and guidelines for the safety and health of employees when exceeding the exposure standard, and guidelines for radon management in the workplace should be established.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Information Technology
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.123-131
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• 2019

In this paper, related studies were investigated by dividing them into cost-benefit analysis, security continuity services, and SW-centric calculations. The case analysis was conducted on A institutions in the United States, Japan and South Korea. Based on this, an improvement model was prepared through comparison with the current system. The SCS(Security Continuity Service) performance evaluation system-based information protection service cost calculation model is proposed. This method applies a service level agreement(SLA) and NIST Cybersecurity framework that are highly effective through cost-effectiveness analysis and calculates consideration based on characteristics, performance criteria, and weights by information protection service. This model can be used as a tool to objectively calculate the cost of information protection services at public institutions. It is also expected that this system can be established by strengthening the current recommended statutory level to the enforceability level, improving the evaluation system of state agencies and public institutions, introducing a verification system of information protection services by national certification bodies, and expanding its scope to all systems.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.163-170
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• 2022

Background: Personal mobility devices (PMDs) have become an increasingly popular transport modality globally. With increasing social interest in and demand for PMDs, the number of individuals visiting emergency departments with PMD-related injuries has also increased annually. This study aimed to evaluate injury patterns and treatment costs for patients treated in the department of plastic surgery in a trauma center. Methods: In this retrospective study, data concerning patients with PMD-related injuries from January 2017 to December 2021 were reviewed. The data retrieved included age, sex, alcohol consumption, helmet use, the type of impact, onset of injury, place of first visit, type of injury, admission status, operation status, and treatment cost. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effects of various factors on cost. Results: Data were collected from 93 patients. Until 2019, the annual number of PMD-related accidents was less than 10; however, this number increased sharply in 2020. The average cost of hospitalization was USD 7,698 whereas the average cost of non-hospitalization was USD 631. Only fractures had a significant association with total cost in linear regression analysis (p< 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of PMD use and related injuries requiring plastic surgery during the study period showed significant health and financial costs both to the patients involved and to society. This cost could be reduced through stricter regulations concerning PMD use, advocating the use of protective gear, and promoting greater awareness of safety measures and of the consequences of PMD-related accidents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.25 no.6_3
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• pp.1207-1219
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• 2022

「Act On Contracts To Which The State Is A Party」 stipulates that the "Construction Standard Production Rate" and "Construction Standard Unit Price" be used as the criteria for determining the estimated price of construction works performed by public institutions. In this regard, issues such as the application scope of the Construction Standard Unit Price, and the effect of budget reduction continue. However, due to the lack of quantitative data on the actual application of Construction Standard Unit Price, it is difficult to objectively evaluate various issues. In order to prepare data for objective evaluation of the Construction Standard Unit Price, this study analyzed the ripple effect of applying the Construction Standard Unit Price based on the bill of quantity. As a result of the analysis, the Construction Standard Unit Price ripple effect in the civil engineering part was 9.2%, and it was analyzed that there was a ripple effect of about 1.9% based on the civil engineering direct cost. In the construction part, the ripple effect was analyzed to be relatively high at 17%, but it was found to have a ripple effect of about 3% in the construction direct cost. Based on the total direct cost, the ripple effect was calculated as 2.2%. Based on the analysis results, it is possible to evaluate the effect of applying the Standard Market Unit Price, and it is expected to be used as basic data to solve issues. As a future study, it is necessary to additionally analyze the ripple effect by Standard Market Unit Price application range (over 10 billion, over 20 billion won, etc.) and delivery system type (comprehensive evaluation, qualification examination, technical bidding, etc.). In addition, it is necessary to study the appropriate ripple effect of the Standard Market Unit Price.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 1989

To analyze the impact of air pollution control on electricity generation cost, a computer program was developed. POGEN calculates levelized discounted power generation cost including additional air pollution control cost for coal power plant. Pollution subprogram calculates total capital and variable costs using governing equations for flue gas control. The costs are used as additional input for levelized discounted power generation cost subprogram. Pollution output for Rue Gas Desulphurization direct cost was verified using published cost data of well experienced industrialized countries. The power generation costs for the year 2001 were estimated by POGEN for three different regulatory scenarios imposed on coal power plant, and by levelized discounted power generation cost subprogram for nuclear power. Because of uncertainty expected in input variables for future plants, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis were made to check the importance and uncertainty propagation of the input variables using Latin Hypercube Sampling and Multiple Least Square method. Most sensitive parameter for levelized discounted power generation cost is discount rate for both nuclear and coal. The control cost for flue gas alone reaches additional 9-11 mills/kWh with standard deviation less than 1.3 mills/kWh. This cost will be nearly 20% of power generation cost and 40% of one GW capacity coal power plant investment cost. With 90% confidence, the generation cost of nuclear power plant will be 32.6-51.9 mills/kWh, and for the coal power plant it will be 45.5-50.5 mills/kWh. Nuclear is favorable with 95% confidence under stringent future regulatory requirement in Korea.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.23-38
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• 2022

Purpose - This research intends to find out whether R&D cost stickiness shows differentiated aspects depending on exports in Korea. A cost behavior that indicates a lower rate of costs decrease when sales decrease than the rate of costs increase when sales increase is called cost stickiness. This sticky cost behavior is caused by considering the adjusting costs. This study aims to empirically verify that R&D cost stickiness is greater in export firms than in non-export firms. We also investigate the effect of exports on R&D cost stickiness is nonlinear. Design/methodology - We obtain data for the analysis from Kis-Value and TS2000 from 2012 to 2020. This study tests for R&D cost stickiness of exports using the cost stickiness model developed by Anderson et al. (2003) that is used in a lot of prior literature. To explore the nonlinear behavior of R&D cost stickiness we include a quadratic term of exports in our model. Findings - The results of our analysis are as follows. First, we observed that R&D costs of export firms are more sticky than that of non-export firms. Our result indicated that export firms are less likely to reduce R&D costs in decreasing sales periods in preparation for future sales recovery. Second, our empirical evidence shows that export firms view R&D costs much favorably. However, we hypothesize that the effect of export intensity on R&D costs may not necessarily be linear. Our result shows the effect of exports intensity on R&D stickiness is thus nonlinear, forming a reverse U-shaped curve. When export intensity exceeds a certain threshold, the growth rate of R&D costs appears to be viewed negatively. Firms with relatively high export intensity do not support R&D costs, viewing them as taking away firms' resources from other more productive costs. On the contrary, those with export intensity under the threshold view R&D costs as beneficial and therefore promote further R&D costs when revenue decreases. Originality/value - The results of this research can contribute academically to the expansion of empirical research on R&D cost stickiness. R&D cost stickiness varies by industry. As a result of our research, the managers of export firms recognize the importance of R&D to lead innovation. We expected that this research contributes to further studies on R&D costs and cost stickiness. Second, this research has implications from a business perspectives. Our findings of export firms' R&D stickiness suggest that export firms' managers should consider keeping the stickiness of R&D when revenue decreases because it is essential for exporting firms to maintain their R&D stickiness to secure long-term competitiveness. R&D stickiness can be used on a practical basis to emphasize the need for continuous investment in exporting firms' R&D activities.