• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.203-215
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the relationship between the incidence of national notifiable infectious diseases (NNIDs) and meteorological factors, air pollution levels, and hospital resources in Korea. Methods: We collected and stored 660 000 pieces of publicly available data associated with infectious diseases from public data portals and the Diseases Web Statistics System of Korea. We analyzed correlations between the monthly incidence of these diseases and monthly average temperatures and monthly average relative humidity, as well as vaccination rates, number of hospitals, and number of hospital beds by district in Seoul. Results: Of the 34 NNIDs, malaria showed the most significant correlation with temperature (r=0.949, p<0.01) and concentration of nitrogen dioxide (r=-0.884, p<0.01). We also found a strong correlation between the incidence of NNIDs and the number of hospital beds in 25 districts in Seoul (r=0.606, p<0.01). In particular, Geumcheon-gu was found to have the lowest incidence rate of NNIDs and the highest number of hospital beds per patient. Conclusions: In this study, we conducted a correlational analysis of public data from Korean government portals that can be used as parameters to forecast the spread of outbreaks.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-119
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• 1991

Korea has made a rapid economic development since the last three decades. This has helped Korea narrow the gap in health service differences in resource availability and in quality of care. However urban and rural differentials are still remarkable. This study has maintained that health status of rural residents is inferior to that of urban dwellers. Therefore, this study was carried out to develop policy measures for improving health services in rural areas. In order to achieve the objective of this study the authors collaborated closely and made field visits, interviews and conducted an extensive literature review regarding rural health services. The following policy options are recommended as a summary ; First, the quality of rural health personnel is a single most important factor influencing the level of rural health services. An innovative program for public health doctors to the internship and/or residency training program such as specialty board program of family medicine. Second, dissatisfaction regarding employment of public health doctors is problematic. More rational employment and deployment programs are needed to meet their personal desire. One way to do this is to make it wide open and competitive. Third this study shows how to increase physician productivity in the rural public health sector. Incentive system needs to be elaborated for the career development of rural health workers. University linked job opportunity as clinical professor is an example. Fourth, without straightening the function of health centers and subcenters, the future of rural health services is doomed to failure. Straightening primary health care is one way to enrich the program of public health facilities and reactivating the operation of health center/hospital is another. A close linkage of public facilities with private hospitals is a minimum requirement for the operation of health delivery system within a health district. Fifth, some measures are urgently required to enhance hospital services in medically underserved areas. Financial subsidy, tax exemption, long-term public loans and higher priority of health manpower deployment are some of them. Sixth, new health programs should be in tiated to meet changing needs of peoples in rural areas. Home health care program, hospice program, nursing home, residential program for the elderly are recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.188-199
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aims to understand schools' response to infectious disease, perceived problems and suggestions, with regard to the 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea, in order to improve the infectious disease response system. Methods: Data were collected by focus group interviews with three groups composed of school health teachers, other teachers, and parents in Seoul-located schools. Results: The major theme was "Schools' Discretionary Response in the Absence of the Control Tower." Four major categories and 11 sub-categories were drawn from the findings. Four major categories were as follows: (a) Temperature monitoring caused lots of complaints, (b) Closure decisions were left at the discretion of schools, (c) Precautions are now being more emphasized, and (d) The support system were malfunctioning. Conclusion: The main areas to be improved are as follows: (1) School district offices should have an expanded role in infectious disease response and build cooperative partnerships with health authorities. (2) Preparedness for infectious disease should be strengthened. (3) Temperature monitoring systems should be improved, (4) Closure decisions should be made at a local community level. These are expected to help schools establish advanced infectious disease response systems.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.103-118
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• 1996

It is to be growing up the interest of community health affairs through visiting nursing care. The health medical treatment of Korea has been changed largely on the period. The juvenile population has decreased. This means that is has took the population consensus of advanced national organization to be increased by the old age. The transition of disease has changed from the contagious disease importance to the chronicity disease omportance because the domestic district population has experienced the sudden urbanization circumstance district population has experienced the sudden urbanization circumstance to be growing up $70\%$ of the whole population. When the nursing service has common function to be delivering from all direction to home, this study is getting the great important phase velocity in order to manage the kernel questional adult chronicity disease of health medical institution at the present age. (1) community over system or with people particularity (2) the first of third step medical treatments. The variety of medical treatments organization has quantity of the delivery manpower and specially between consumers and rdlated person. A qualitative difference is showed at the purpose to be seizing. That research related person is use at district health center in Seoul, by foundation on nurse registration book of H collage hospital and public health registration book. According the chronicity disease. age. and sex. nature agree-able standard 54 people took the content analysis on nurse registration book of total 108 people. The results of the study were as follows: 1. General background factors are houses or kind of medical facilities and number of patients in family. The first medical treatment is more patients than third medical treatment organization. The first medical treatment of economic environment os appering to be worse. 2. The chronicity disease frequency have been different speciality according to medical treatment organization. On case of the first medical treatment. Diabetes and High Blood Pressure were good but Cerebrum Vascular Accident(CVA) showed many for bed case. In addition. the number of family is comparative large exception of CVA on according for moving condition and health more than the first medical treatment. However. family condition. whole family percentage is decreasing preferably through the potential resource is increasing by the number of and the construction of family. The ability of real resource is considered to be low. 3. The average percentage of nurse service has appered to be differed two groups by the first step medical treatment(33.72 times) and third step medical treatment(45.70 times). However, the difference (the first step medical treatment and third step medical treatment) is to be limited to issue the medicine at the service. The condition of nurse care was the indirect nursing care. Supportiong area was to be related to volunteer service and administration support. 4. The various nursing care average percentage of the chronicity disease was increased by orders of Diabetes. High Blood Pressure. and CVA in examination result and the medical treatment. The indirect nursing care was also same. At third step medical treatment, orders of chronicity disease were same. The case of other area on service conditions were increased by order of Diabetes. High Blood Pressure, and CVA. However. it is never appearing the difference at bottleneck affairs nursing care. 5. When the visiting nursing care demand particularly. the average percentage of nursing care from the first step medical treatment that the time under a person is many more than the time over two people. However, there was no difference in statistic. Third step medical treatment is $49.81\%$ at the time under a person. The average nursing care service is appeared by more many when the visiting nursing care demand is a few by 12.83 at the time over two people. 6. By visiting nursing care percentage to be frequency that nursing care averaghe percentage and inter-relation are large. The related factor of the first medical treatment is 0.96. However, the related factor of third medical treatment has shown the decreased 0.49 for the condition of relation more than that. Therefore. the nursing care average percentage is related to the visiting times of a nurse. This result is be showing the obvious fact that the first step medical treatment is few more than third step medical treatment.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2002.10b
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• pp.943-947
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• 2002

Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) contribute to the formation of ozone and PAN which are injurious to health through complex photochemical reactions. Growing consumption of fossil fuels results in significant emission of VOCs and other air pollutants into the atmosphere. This study was carried out to evaluate of Volatile Organic Compounds(VOCs) concentrations in Kumi industrial complex. Ambient air sampling was determined at five sites from August to September in 2002. The Volatile Organic Compounds samples were collected using the silicocan canisters, and were determined by GC/MS which connected preconcentrator system. The Kumi industrial complex of VOCs concentrations were generally similar with Yeochun's but some of VOCs concentrations of Kumi were higher than Yeochun industrial complex's. Also the industrial area was higher than downtown and residential district.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.15-41
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• 2001

Since medical clients and the community they live in are expected to be center of future public health and medical care system, new service programs must be developed with patients focused on in line with widening public access of information and social participation. Patients- focused service shall mean the area- oriented provision of public health service. In this study, health officers working at public health centers, public health sub- centers and medical offices in Jeonbuk- do area were taken for population in order to investigate their attitudes toward and knowledge about the service area assigning system under the public health programs. Findings from the survey to 260 health officers, divided by general category, are as follows : Government officers at public health organizations appeared to have high grade of understanding to the service area assigning system and also great appreciation for the necessity of it. Regarding the timing for the system to be introduced, they support the gradual implementation and, as for the type of service to be provided, they preferred home nursing and treatment of chronic diseases. Highly positive responses were centered on the health classes under the health promotion projects, and as far as health projects for the old are concerned, services for home nursing, for the disabled and for home- alone people are favored most. On the other hand, budgeting, manpower and reorganization are rated as prerequisite to establishment of the service area assigning system. From the viewpoint of system side, the improvement of working conditions is rendered as most urgent, while the information system for establishing the service area assigning system is conceived far from satisfactory. Proper assignment of specialists was noted as mostly important to establish the delivery system for medical service through the service area assigning system by team. As merits of the service area assigning system, it is pointed out that, through the system, health clients can better be managed and the nursing quality will be improved thank to the enhanced specialization. It is also perceived that the district health service is not well prepared to respond to the increased and diversified needs of community people and, furthermore, service programs of health centers have not been fully developed. The most serious problem standing in the way to expansion of health projects is, it is noted, uniformity (formality) of the project. Based on the results of the survey which suggest time has ripen to introduce the service area assigning system, following strategies are proposed to anchor down the system as soon as possible: First, we should introduce the system gradually, starting from the area selected, and in consideration of area specialities, refraining from the hitherto stereotyped way of providing health service. Second, we should seek to properly assign the specialists and improve the working conditions of the assigned officers by securing sufficient budget, since it is a most urgent step to lay foundation for the service area assigning system. Third, best service program should be developed to meet the satisfaction of community people by responding to their needs and solidifying the management of medical clients. Fourth, wide scope of study should further be conducted in order to help this system take roots in the central living of community residents since pilot project on the experimental base attended by specialists only can not win popularity among the masses.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2003

Humans are exposed to toxic element arsenic (As) from air, food and water The current study was performed to investigate the levels of arsenic in the internal organs (liver, kidney cortex, lung, cerebrum. abdominal muscle and abdominal skin) and to find out correlation with age and interrelationship between tissues in Korean human bodies who had lived in Seoul or Gyeonggi Province and Honam district. The tissues from 43 Korean cadavers were digested with microwave digestion system and arsenic was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The mean recovery percentages of arsenic In liver were about 80％ and artenic concentrations in human tissues were almost uniform. The mean level of arsenic in internal tissues were at follow ; liver 44.556${\pm}$25.199 ppb, kidney cortex 42.652${\pm}$22.082 pub, lung 31.020 ${\pm}$ 17.504 ppb. cerebrum 35.703 ${\pm}$22.191 ppb, muscle 43.413${\pm}$26.619 ppb and skin 42.106${\pm}$25.8,11 ppb. No significant difference was found in the levels of arsenic between sexes. Meanwhile significant differences between districts where they had lived were found in all tissues tested. The levels of arsenic in the tissues of cadavers who had lived in Seoul Gyeonggi Province were higher than those of Honam district. In addition a positive correlation between As concentration and age was observed only in the cerebrum (p < 0.05). A significantly high correlations between tissues were observed in all tissues tested. This result also shows that the distribution of arsenic is uniform in internal tissues.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.791-797
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• 2016

Background: Punjab state is particularly reporting a rising burden of cancer. A 'door to door cancer awareness and early detection campaign' was therefore launched in the Punjab covering about 2.67 million population, wherein after initial training accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and other health staff conducted a survey for early detection of cancer cases based on a twelve point clinical algorithm. Objective: To ascertain unit cost for undertaking a population-based cancer awareness and early detection campaign. Materials and Methods: Data were collected using bottom-up costing methods. Full economic costs of implementing the campaign from the health system perspective were calculated. Options to meet the likely demand for project activities were further evaluated to examine their worth from the point of view of long-term sustainability. Results: The campaign covered 97% of the state population. A total of 24,659 cases were suspected to have cancer and were referred to health facilities. At the state level, incidence and prevalence of cancer were found to be 90 and 216 per 100,000, respectively. Full economic cost of implementing the campaign in pilot district was USD 117,524. However, the financial cost was approximately USD 6,301. Start-up phase of campaign was more resource intensive (63% of total) than the implementation phase. The economic cost per person contacted and suspected by clinical algorithm was found to be USD 0.20 and USD 40 respectively. Cost per confirmed case under the campaign was 7,043 USD. Conclusions: The campaign was able to screen a reasonably large population. High to high economic cost points towards the fact that the opportunity cost of campaign put a significant burden on health system and other programs. However, generating awareness and early detection strategy adopted in this campaign seems promising in light of fact that organized screening is not in place in India and in many developing countries.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.694-703
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the quality of life and its predictors in low income Korean aged. Methods: This was a predictive correlational study. An accessible sample from the population of people who were 65 and over and were supported by the basic livelihood security system was 1,040. Quota sampling with strata of state division in the nation was chosen. Quality of life and its predictors in the subjects were measured. Results: The mean quality of life in the subjects was 47.0$\pm$10.7. Predictors of this study significantly explained 54.3% of the total variance of quality of life. Depression was the most significant predictor of quality of life. Health problems, district, social support, leisure activity, and health behavior had effects on quality of life. Conclusion: This finding indicates that quality of life in lower income Korean aged is different from other populations by economic status. Demographics, health status and social status were predictors of quality of life in the aged with a small income.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2955-2960
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• 2012

Background: Health disparities exist among and within countries, while developing and low income countries suffer more. The aim of this study was to quantify cancer disparities with regard to socioeconomic position (SEP) in 22 districts of Tehran, Iran. Method: According to the national cancer registry, 7599 new cancer cases were recorded within 22 districts of Tehran in 2008. Based on combined data from census and a population-based health equity study (Urban HEART), socioeconomic position (SEP) was calculated for each district. Index of disparity, absolute and relative concentration indices (ACI & RCI) were used for measuring disparities in cancer incidence. Results: The overall cancer age standardised rate (ASR) was 117.2 per 100,000 individuals (120.4 for men and 113.5 for women). Maximum ASR in both genders was seen in districts 6, 3, 1 and 2. Breast, colorectal, stomach, skin and prostate were the most common cancers. Districts with higher SEP had higher ASR (r=0.9, p<0.001). Positive ACI and RCI indicated that cancer cases accumulated in districts with high SEP. Female disparity was greater than for men in all measures. Breast, colorectal, prostate and bladder ASR ascended across SEP groups. Negative ACI and RCI in cervical and skin cancers in women indicate their aggregation in lower SEP groups. Breast cancer had the highest absolute disparities measure. Conclusion: This report provides an appropriate guide and new evidence on disparities across geographical, demographic and particular SEP groups. Higher ASR in specific districts warrants further research to investigate the background predisposing factors.