• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.21-42
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• 2008

This study investigates economies of scale, cost complementarity and economies of scope for healthcare organizations using econometric approaches. The economies of scale appear to exist in each service provided by a hospital such as inpatient treatment services, outpatient treatment services, and other patient treatment services, respectively. When we test all services in aggregate level, it also indicates that the healthcare industry on average exhibits the economies of scale of 6 percent, which implies that scaling up hospital sizes will bring substantial cost savings to them Evidence shows that cost complementarity exists between outpatient services and other services for patients and, i.e., these other services for patients experience the reduction in marginal costs as the outputs of the outpatient services increase. For the economies of scope, they are present in most service areas; aggregate level services, outpatient services, and other services for patients, respectively. Inpatient treatment services, however, do not show any evidence of the economies of scope. Results show that the economies of scope are achieved by the general hospital type that provides all service areas such as inpatient treatments, outpatient treatments, and other services for patients. The existence of the economies of scope provides the rationale for extending the existing line of business in a hospital into more diverse areas of services where its benefit comes in the form of cost savings. In sum, it overall provides evidence that the M&As in this industry are encouraged to achieve cost reductions from the economies of scale and scope by changing the size and the output mix.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.151-157
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of physical therapy service utilization and user satisfaction depending on the experience with therapeutic exercise or ultrasound intervention among elderly persons using senior centers. Methods: The subjects were adults aged over 60 years (total 215) recruited in 40 senior centers located in each province in South Korea. Subjects responded to questions concerning overall demographics factors, utilized characteristics of physical therapy service and 12 variety user satisfactions with effectiveness, facilities, and therapist using a survey instrument. The collected data were analyzed by Fishers' exact tests and t-tests using the SPSS 21.0 program to compare the results of elderly persons who had or had not experienced exercise therapy or ultrasound therapy. Results: The participants that experienced ultrasound therapy or therapeutic exercise reported significantly higher overall results pertaining to effectiveness of physical therapy and a clear explanation from physical therapist's satisfaction than those who were non-experienced. Satisfaction with pain relief was significantly higher among elderly who experienced therapeutic exercise than those who did not. Those who underwent ultrasound therapy showed significantly higher satisfaction with facilities and location than those who did not. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that satisfaction among users differs by type of physical therapy. In the future, physiotherapy services provided in senior centers needs to be designed to improve the effectiveness of physical therapy, professionalism of physical therapists and comfort of facility.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.48-55
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• 2023

Objective : This study aims to investigate the concept of mental health literacy, its evolution, and its significance in modern healthcare practices. Methods : This paper reviews the evolution of mental health literacy, examining pertinent studies both within the country and internationally. It also addresses the limitations and challenges associated with mental health diagnoses. Results : Findings from various studies indicate that public awareness and recognition of mental health issues are generally inadequate. Identified causes of mental health conditions by study participants point to personal and societal influences, while biological factors are frequently neglected. In South Korea, there is a notable preference for non-professional support over psychiatric interventions. Conclusion : This study highlights the growing importance of mental health literacy in today's society, emphasizing the need for accurate understanding of mental health issues and effective treatment approaches. Similar to physical health literacy, mental health literacy should be considered a basic human right. This perspective marks a shift from a knowledge monopoly held by experts to the inclusion and active involvement of 'people with lived experience' in the mental health service system.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.75-92
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• 2000

The purpose of study was to improve the quality of the welfare service for the elderly people in Iksan city. For the purpose, this study consists of three main subjects. (1) A analysis about the socio-demographic characteristics of the elderly. (2) A analysis about the experience of the welfare services for the elderly people. (3) A analysis about the demands of services on elderly related institutions or voluntary service groups. For the data set 204 the elderly people living in Iksan city, were chosen. The data were analyzed with SPSS program were frequency, percentage, chi-square. The major findings were as follows : The 70.1% of the elderly experienced of the welfare services. The most of the elderly people experienced of the elderly rotated institutions or voluntary service groups did not satisfy about services. The elderly people hoped to get the services about health, tour, education.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2011

This study was designed to evaluate the beekeeper's consciousness for diagnosis and treatment on a disease of honey-bee in Daejeon and Jeollanamdo in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of 14 questions. Of 231 randomly selected respondents between February and May 2010, 47.6% was consult a 'club (colleague)', 89.2% treated a 'doctoring oneself', 84.4% was recognize a bee as 'domestic animal', 77.5% was not recognize a veterinarian as field of treatment, 38.5% was acquire know-how by a beekeeper. Therefore these results suggest that the beekeepers are relying a lot on individuals experience for the diagnosis and treatment on the disease of honey-bee, the apiculture techniques was gained much by oneself. Korean beekeeping association was played a role as well, but related-university, agriculture research & extension services and veterinary service laboratory was not played a role in the country.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.80-91
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of the study quantitatively investigates the experience of unmet healthcare service utilization by rural populations in vulnerable areas during the COVID-19 pandemic based on Andersen's behavior model. At the same time, this study attempts to describe the experiences of unmet healthcare service utilization among participants in vulnerable rural areas by analyzing qualitative contents through open-ended question. Methods: Data were collected from October to November 2022 using Qualtrix, a web-based survey platform. A total of 863 participants completed an online survey. Quantitative data were analyzed using 𝑥² test and logistic regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The factors affecting participants' unmet healthcare service utilization were type of residential area and underlying disease. The qualitative analysis identified; four categories and nine sub-categories. Conclusion: Based on these findings, it is necessary to develop a disaster nursing response model according to the type of residential areas and the number of people.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.211-217
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• 2012

To identify health behavior of Peptic ulcer patients among all employees in Korea and examine relevant factors to present basic data for improving Korean adult employees' health conditions and quality of living, 3,515 employees aged 20 to 69 were sampled from the group that responded to the question concerning the presence of Peptic ulcer in the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for the third year (2009). After logistic regression analysis was carried out to see the effects of working conditions, harmful factors, shift work, stress perception, and experience of depression on the presence of Peptic ulcer, it was found that unsafe or unpleasant working conditions led to higher risk of getting Peptic ulcer, that flexible workers were more likely to get Peptic ulcer, and that depression or stress perception exerted almost no effect on Peptic ulcer. With the increase in the number of flexible workers, increasingly more interest is taken in the effects of shift work on health; occupational Peptic ulcer tends to become chronic as compared with the condition in the general population and reappear even after recovery in many cases; therefore, it is necessary to take special management measures by estimating the number of those at a risk of getting Peptic ulcer and by finding out its risk factors.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2011

In 1967, the problem of occupational lead exposure came to public attention in Korea. Since then, regular progress has been made in lowering workplace lead exposures, instituting new workplace controls, and implementing health examinations of exposed workers. Past serious lead poisoning episodes made it possible to introduce biological monitoring programs on a voluntary basis in high-lead-exposure facilities in Korea. Industry-specific occupational health services for lead workers in Korea during the last 22 years can be categorized into three phases. During the first phase (1988-1993), efforts were directed at increasing awareness among workers about the hazards of lead exposure, biological monitoring of blood zinc protoporphyrin began, and a respiratory protection program was introduced. During the second phase (1994-1997), a computerized health management system for lead workers was developed, blood-lead measurement was added to biologic monitoring, and engineering controls were introduced in the workplace to lower air-lead levels to comply with air-lead regulations. Finally, during the third phase (1998-present), a new biomarker, bone-lead measurement by X-ray fluorescence, was introduced. Bone-lead measurement proved to be useful for assessing body burden and to demonstrate past lead exposure in retired workers. Occupational health service practice for lead workers, including the industry-specific group occupational health system, has brought considerable success in the prevention of lead poisoning and in reducing the lead burden in Korean lead workers during the last several decades. The successful achievement of prevention of lead poisoning in Korea was a result of the combined efforts of lead workers, employers, relevant government agencies, and academic institutes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.89-99
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze safety and health managers' perceptual maps on the effective educational contents and its methods of workplace safety and health education. Self-administered survey was successfully conducted to 582 workers who were 339 in manufacturing, 68 in construction, and 175 in service & others by industry classification. Survey sites were recruited based on business size, incidence of occupational accident, and compliance of workplace safety and health education regulation. Questionnaire included personal factors, workplace factors, and needs of safety and health education at work. Male workers were 85.3% and more than 50% were in their 30s and had university education. Overall needs of educational contents and its methods were greater in manufacturing and services than construction. Two dimensional properties of effective educational contents perceived were 'knowledge structure' which divided to safety and health, and 'behavior outcomes' which divided to indirect and direct. Two dimensional properties of educational methods were 'class activity' which divided to experience-based and verbal-based and 'class participation' which divided to passive and active. Effective educational contents and its methods perceived by safety and health managers commonly included the characteristics of direct, case-based, and participation.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.79-93
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• 2005

The purpose of the study is to identify Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) and their potential health insurance applicability in Korea, using the correlation and regression analysis with the empirical data provided by Korean Health Insurance Review Agency(KHIRA). Here, ACSC would be thought of as conditions that when timely and effectively treated in the outpatient medical services can help reduce the risk of hospitalizations. As for ACSC, reducing accessibility for outpatient visit results in increasing hospitalization. In this respect, the ACSC concept is popularly adopted as one of the performance indicators of the national health system. As one of main results, fortifying the accessibility to necessary health care in a way of sharing appropriately the role with private health insurance can lead to the efficiency of national health care delivery systems in view of total health care expense, in particular in a case of ACSC children. Lastly, we would like to strongly suggest that the disease treatment data set reported to KHIRA needs to be opened to private insurance companies only for illness experience investigation.