• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.115-141
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• 2003

The aim of this paper is to describe a long-term trend toward earlier retirement and its reversal since 1985 in the United States, together with changes in socioeconomic conditions and social-policy programs which have contributed to this new development. The American people's recent propensity to retire at relatively younger ages was mainly a result of secular increase in individual wealth that had made it possible for them to enjoy higher standard of living without their participation in labor market activities at older ages. In addition to the introduction of compulsory retirement system, both social security retirement pension program and corporate pension system have also contributed significantly to the declining retirement age and its reversal around the mid-1980s. This paper pays full attention to the set of social policy programs which are currently being used to sustain the recent reversal in ages at retirement. The basic question to be raised here, however, is about whether or not the U. S. government will ave to continue to implement the social policies and programs used to discourage the elderly from retiring at relatively younger ages in the future. In this paper, it is argued that labor productivity growth and improvement in work attitude prior to retirement will help the elderly find little difficulties in having higher standard of living, despite their further lengthening of life expectancy at birth and post-retirement survival chances, the latter being often called the "third life". Most American people hope that the social-policy programs that have promoted early retirement will remain unchanged in the first part of the 21st century while they will put significant financial burden on their future descendants who have to work in the paid labor market. Taking this observation in consideration, this paper concludes that the U. S. government has to focus more on developing the programs that improve work propensity and labor productivity among the currently working-age population rather than continuing to implement the programs that sustain the recent reversal in retirement ages.ment ages.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System (HACCP) is recognized worldwide as a science-based and systematic approach for food safety. This has been initiated to establish the HACCP system in Korean slaughterhouses by suggesting some of effective implementation ways. An awareness level survey using questionnaire for 124 owners and 363 employees of the slaughterhouses, and 170 government officers responsible for HACCP duties was performed. This study shows that only 34.7% of owners, 21.1% of employees, and 57.1% of government officers have good understanding of HACCP, but 93.5%, 88.9% and 93.6% respectively have the willingness of HACCP implementation. Major benefits in HACCP implementation in the slaughterhouse raised by respondents were improvement of hygiene level of the plant (54.1%), increase of meat sale (17.6%), pride of the production of safe meat for human consumption (9.6%) and increase of meat export (7.5%), while major obstacles were financial difficulties (33.2%), poor levels of the facilities and equipments in the plants (27.3%), poor level of personal hygiene (19.4%), and lack of understanding of HACCP (12.3%). The most urgent measures which respondents raised to implement HACCP system effectively in the slaughterhouses at the moment were the Improvement of levels of facilities and equipments in the plants (36.6%), the establishment of HACCP base through education and training (19%), special benefits to HACCP implementing plant (11.8%), and close relationship between government and the industry (10.3%). The present study shows some of effective ways to implement HACCP in slaughterhouses.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.39
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• pp.180-209
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• 1999

As a pioneering study on wife rape, this study focuses on identifying the prevalence, the correlates of the individual social class and domestic violence background, and the perception of wife rape. This study uses the data based on the survey 224 married men and women who reside in Daegu, Korea. The result of this study shows that about 42.4% married men have experienced any type of wife rape. The most prevalent wife rape is force only wife rape(36.4%). Battering rape(12.1%) and sadistic rape(10.4%) are also found as significant coercive sexual issue among Korean couples. Monthly income and child abuse experience are found as significant predictors for the wife rape of married men. In addition, wife's religious enthusiasm is also negatively correlated with wife rape propensity, although the effect is not strong. The living standards is found as a strong correlate of women's propensity of being raped from their husbands. Thus, our practical attention should be given to those who have financial difficulties in low economic status, and to those who have significant child abuse experience, in order to prevent wife rape. Overall, married men and married women show pretty negative perceptions of wife rape, however, some of them are still positive of it. It is interesting that married men show a very defensive attitude against the proposal of establishing legal punishment for the people who commit wife rape. According to the gender, there is a considerable difference between men and women in terms of both the degree of acceptance of, and the demand for legal punishment of wife rape. It is problematic that the married women with a greater experience of being raped by husbands show far greater tolerance of wife rape than those with a less experience of it. These findings give us significant practical implications for social work intervention.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.434-450
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• 2001

This study is designed to understand the meaning and nature of raising children with cerebral palsy. It researches the experience of mothers of schoolchildren with cerebral palsy by the research method of hermeneutic phenomenology. The study was conducted from November 10, 1999 to December 20, 2000. When children with cerebral palsy usually show symptoms in the early stage of cerebral palsy, mothers do not take children to a doctor for diagnosis. And, most of mothers have a difficult time to accept the reality; they usually respond to the initial diagnosis with shock, reproach, and deny. When mothers start recognizing the reality, they consider that their children have cerebral palsy due to the their mismanagement during pregnancy, delivery, nursing, and initial treatment. They shelter their children from view and feel guilty that they cannot afford to try folk remedies for their children. As time passes, mothers face conflicts between families in diverse ways. Families put the blame on genetic effects. Mothers-in-law give their daughters-in-law a hard time, husbands shift the responsibility of raising children onto their wives, and trouble arises between families-in-law and mothers native families. When children grow up, it is physically difficult for mothers to take care their children. In addition, they suffer from all the troubles in family due to childrens handicap. Mothers try the diverse methods of bringing up children. However, they start getting tired of raising children as they experience failures and financial difficulties. Mothers feel collapsed recalling the ways of raising children. They feel anxiety, miserable, lonely, and worrying when they think how children would attend school, make friends, and live in the future. In this stage, mothers do their best to raise their children with hope. They tend to compare their children with others without handicap and spend money and time in attempting all the treatments. When mothers and children join the society at school, they find that the society does not understand disabled people, teachers show inconsiderate attitude, friends avoid them, and children hardly follow classes. Such experiences make mothers feel angry and frustrated. However, when children adapt to school, mothers see the possibility that children could accomplish schoolwork. They appreciate teachers help and others consideration. Mothers place appropriate expectations on their children and help them to prepare for the future. I would make following suggestions based on the results. 1. As a primary basic course of rehabilitation nursing intervention, solution-centered nursing intervention system should be developed. The intervention needs to be based on the understanding of mothers, who raise children with cerebral palsy, through in-depth interview. 2. Advance researches on the development of individual nursing intervention should be conducted. Individual nursing intervention needs to prevent and release actual pain focusing on mothers raising children with cerebral palsy. 3. Integrated curriculum that help children with cerebral palsy lead a normal school life with ordinary children should be developed. 4. Basic research on using of facilities and effective application of service volunteer to help children with cerebral palsy in school needs to be conducted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5063-5069
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in most countries of the world. It is ranked first in females in Morocco (accounting for 33.4% of the total cancer burden) and more than 60% of cases are diagnosed at stage III or IV. During the last decade, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has become an important aspect of breast cancer treatment. The objective of this study was to describe self-reported HRQOL in patients with breast cancer and to investigate its associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: A prospective study was carried out in the main oncology centers in Morocco. Quality of life was measured using the Moroccan Arabic versions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C 30 (EORTC QLQ C30) and the Breast Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-BR23). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 1463 subjects were included in the study, with a mean age of 55.6 (SD. 11.2) years, 70% being married. The majority had stage II (45.9%) and a few cases stage IV (12.9%) lesions. The participants' global health mean score was 68.5 and in "functional scales", social functioning scored the highest (Mean 86.2 (SD=22.7)). The most distressing symptom on the symptom scale was financial difficulties (Mean 63.2 (SD=38.2)). Using the disease specific tool, it was found that future perspective scored the lowest (Mean 40.5 (SD=37.3)). On the symptom scale, arm symptoms scored the highest (Mean 23.6 (SD=21.6)). Significant mean differences were noted for many functional and symptom scales. Conclusion: Our results emphasized that the general HRQOL for our study population is lower than for corresponding populations in other countries. This study provided baseline information on the quality of life for a large sample of Moroccan women diagnosed with breast cancer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.745-752
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the development progress of Pacific Park (formerly Atlantic Yard) in Brooklyn, New York City. Along with the Hudson Yards Development in Manhattan, Pacific Park is one of New York City's leading large-scale urban development projects using space right above an existing railway and has attracted worldwide attention. With the resurgence of large-scale development, its advanced form has received social attention. In particular, the development was evaluated as an exemplary development using the Community Benefits Agreement, which benefits local residents. Unfortunately, due to various difficulties, the development has been struggling from delays and changes away from the early stages, which have also caused social concerns and criticism. In this regard, this study examines the development through the process and the public sector's responses to the risk-inducing factors and reactions. The theoretical background of the US urban redevelopment is examined, and the specific changes and major contents of the project are analyzed. The following implications were drawn based on changes and responses in the development process: 1) securing the flexibility and mandatoryness of developers, 2) comprehensive control of the development site, 3) communication with and responding to the public, 4) securing additional financial resources, and 5) verification of new technologies.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5927-5936
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• 2014

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Jordanians. Breast cancer patients suffer from several negative consequences after treatment and these include pain, fatigue, sexual problems, appearance and body image concerns, with psychological dysfunction. This could affect the patient quality of life and psychological well-being. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published quantitative data on the quality of life and psychological well-being of breast cancer patients in Jordan. The objective of this study was to obtain such data and assess predictors with calculated scores. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted among breast cancer patients in Jordan diagnosed in 2009 and 2010, assessment was performed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Breast Module (QLQ-BR23) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Clinical, demographic and psychosocial indicators that could predict patient quality of life scores were collected. Results: The number of patients interviewed was 236 (mean age=$50.7{\pm}10.7$ years). The mean Global Health score for the QLQ-C30 was $63.7{\pm}20.2$ SD. Among functional scales, "social functioning" scored the highest ($mean=78.1{\pm}28.6$ SD), whereas "emotional functioning" scored the lowest ($mean=59.0{\pm}SD\;33.5$). For the QLQ-BR23, the worst scores within the functional scales were for "body image" ($mean=52.1{\pm}36.8$ SD) and "future perspective" ($mean=52.9{\pm}38.5$ SD). The worst symptom was "upset by hair loss" ($mean=69.8{\pm}43.0$). The mean HADS scores was $18.{\pm}9.0$ SD. Out of study participants, 53% scored abnormal on the anxiety scale and 45% on the depression scale. Severe depression and severe anxiety were detected among 8% and 14% of study participants, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for individual scores were similar to those reported in published studies, such as the presence of recurrence since baseline, family history of cancer, low educational status, current social problems, extent of the disease, presence of financial difficulties, and employment status. Conclusions and Recommendations: Breast cancer survivors in Jordan have overall good quality of life scores when compared with patients from Western countries. However, their psychological wellbeing is more impaired. There is an urgent need for psychosocial support programs and psychological screening and consultation for breast cancer patients at hospitals of the Ministry of Health in Jordan.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.121-135
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• 1999

This study investigated the location conditions, spatial linkage structures, and firm specific problems of small firms of the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area by sectors and by areal distribution. The major locational advantages were closeness to customers and suppliers followed by accessibility to inter-state highways. These results were supported by spatial linkage structures in which within-region linkages occupied a greater portions of linkage, showing the importance of small firms in the regional economy. The linkage patterns showed distance decay effect with high elasticity. While there were no significant differences of locational conditions and spatial linkage structures of small firms between core and peripheral area, a slight difference was identified among sectors. Chemical related manufacturing firms show different locational conditions and spatial linkage structure with weak within-local linkages. The main locational disadvantages were lack of qualified labor, undesirable neighborhood, heavy tax, and space shortage. Considering the biggest problems such as lack of qualified labor, difficulties in sales/marketing, low accessibility to financial resource, and technological inability, the inter-related cooperative business networks among firms and regional institutions, consulting companies, chamber of commerce, and universities are needed to stimulate regional economic development and survival of small firms.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

Purpose - The distribution of agricultural products is changing due to recent shifts in environmental free trade. Specifically, the competitiveness of domestic agricultural products has weakened as a result of the Korea-China Financial Trade Agreement. Agricultural producers are faced with increasing difficulties and organized production centers are growing in importance daily. To overcome this crisis, agricultural producer organizations are vying for environment-friendly agricultural certifications, Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). In particular, as consumer demand for higher safety grows, farmers are increasing their certification rates. Therefore, this certification system is expected to help strengthen the competitiveness of agricultural producer organizations. Research design/data/methodology - Organized production centers are classified by certification. A survey was conducted with 91 organizations using factor analysis and logistic regression analysis for the examination. The factor analysis results are as follows. Raw material procurement, education·specialization, marketing, joint business, organizing ability, business management, effectiveness, certification, and larger organizations were classified as the nine types of factors. These factors affect the organized production centers and are used in the logistic regression analysis. The purpose of such research and analysis is to suggest a direction for future production center policies. Results - The basic statistical results are as follows: analysis of the producer organizations of 91 sites, average number of members per site of 1,624, and average sales of 25,961 million won. Additionally, the average income per farmer is 175 million won, and the pooling system rate is 53.5%. The factor analysis results are as follows. Factor 1 consists of contract cultivation, ongoing shipment, selection subdivision, traceability, and major retailer management. Factor 2 consists of manual cultivation, specialty selection, education program, and R&D. Factor 3 consists of advertising, various dealers, various sales strategies, and a unified sales counter. Factor 4 consists of agricultural materials co-purchase, policy support, co-shipment, and incentives. Factor 5 consists of the co-selection and pooling system. Factor 6 consists of co-branding and operating by the organization's article. Factor 7 consists of the buy-sell ratio and rate of operation of the agriculture promotion center. Factor 8 consists of bargaining power in volume and participation rate of farmer certification. Factor 9 consists of increasing new subscribers. The logistic regression analysis results are as follows. Considering the results by type of certification, the environment-friendly agricultural certification type and the GAP certification type have a (+) influence. GAP and HACCP certification types affecting the education·specialization factor have a (+) influence. Considering the results for each type of certification, the environment-friendly agricultural certification types on the effectiveness factor have (-) influence; the HACCP certification types on the organizing ability and effectiveness factor have a (-) influence. Conclusions - Agricultural producer organizations should develop plans as follows: The organizations need to secure education for agricultural production; increase the pooling system ratio for sustainable organizational development; and, finally, expand the number of agricultural producer organizations.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-53
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• 2006

The objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the strategy of hospital specialization by analyzing the differences in expected and perceived services, perceived service quality, satisfaction, and intentions to revisit and recommend the hospital to others between general and specialty hospitals. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire from patients admitted to four study hospitals: two speciality and two general hospitals. The questionnaire was developed based on SERVQUAL to measure five dimensions of service quality. Four hundreds questionnaires were distributed to inpatients or their guardians and 282 returned questionnaires were used in the analyses. The significance of the differences in study variables between specialty and general hospitals were tested by t-test and $x^2$-test. The factor analysis result confirmed the construct validity of 28 questions asked to measure service quality and resulted in four dimensions of service quality: reliability, assurance, tangible and empathy/responsiveness. Cronbach's Alpha ranged from .9013 to .9358, that confirmed the internal consistency of answers. The study results indicated that patients who used specialty hospitals had higher levels of expected and perceived service, a higher level of perceived service quality, and higher levels of service satisfaction than patients who used general hospitals. Percents of patients who had the intention to revisit the hospital and to recommend the hospital to others were higher among patients in specialty hospitals. The most frequent reason to choose the hospital was the excellence of doctors in both general(29.9%) and specialty(43.8%) hospitals, that was followed by convenient transportation(15.3%) and someone know works at the hospital(15.3%) in general hospitals and other's recommendation(14.6%), and nice amenities(13.1%) in specialty hospitals. Although there were no significant differences in clinical department, age, and sex of patients between general and specialty hospitals, patients who visited speciality hospitals had higher levels of education and income than their counter part in general hospitals. These results suggested that specialty hospitals performed better than general hospitals. Specialization could be a viable strategy to tide over recent financial difficulties experienced by hospitals, particularly small- and medium-sized hospitals.