• Journal of muscle and joint health
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.46-54
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study was designed to explore the stage distribution of subjects according to stages of change for exercise and to identify factors that could discriminate subjects in various stages. Methods: The sample consisted of 182 subjects who had metabolic syndrome. The instruments used in this study were the stage placement instrument for exercise, the metabolic syndrome knowledge and metabolic syndrome health belief scale, and the metabolic syndrome exercise self efficacy scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square, ANOVA, and discriminant analysis by using the SPSS 19.0 program. Results: For exercise stages, exercise efficacy, occupation, and exercise benefit showed high standardized canonical discriminant function coefficients. Subjects in precontemplation/contemplation stage for exercise were more likely to have occupations, had less exercise efficacy and exercise benefit than those in other stage. Conclusion: This study implies that the level of exercise efficacy and exercise benefit of subjects in precontemplation/contemplation stage need to be enhanced in developing exercise program incorporating the stage of change for metabolic syndrome patients.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.505-529
• /
• 2022

Radon is a radioactive gas that causes lung cancer deaths. The contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to estimate the value of a statistical life(VSL) of 2.054 billion won for the death due to residential radon in Korea. Residential radon is assumed to have caused 2,330 deaths in 2020, of which the estimated social cost is 4.78 trillion won. When a national compulsory standard of 200Bq/m³ is set for residential radon concentration, the number of lives saved is estimated to be 691, leading to a social benefit of 1.42 billion won. This study reports the origin, characteristics and health risk of residential radon, and emphasizes the importance of a dramatic increase in the budget for residential radon reduction policies.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.46-60
• /
• 2004

Background : Recently, we have experienced various changes in the healthcare environment. Healthcare organizations are facing a financial crisis due to more competitive relationships among themselves as well with low health insurance fees. The purposes of the current study were: (1) to develop a data warehouse-based system for evaluating and monitoring the case management activities, and (2) to measure and analyze its effects. Methods : In order to collect the data for the study, the database on discharged patients was utilized at a university hospital located in Seoul from June 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. Initially, a data warehouse was built for the case management system. The case management activities were analyzed using structured methodology to establish the case management system. Results : The findings of this study were as follows: (1) A case management system was developed to make it possible to monitor of healthcare quality and resource utilization. The Case management System included monitoring functions regarding utilization reviews, critical pathways, and clinical indicators. (2) Utilizing the case management system, unplanned readmissions were documented among total discharged patients during two months from November 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002. The unplanned readmission rate was 2.3%(276 patients) in total of 11,960 discharged patients. Among them 81 patients(0.7% of total discharges, 29.3% of unplanned readmission) were readmitted to the same physician in charge under the same diagnosis. No significant differences were found in the demographic variables such as gender and age among the patients. (3) After implementing the case management system, 2.9% of average length of stay reduced. Applying cost-benefit analysis, the 2.9% reduction of length of stay represents net profit of ${\backslash}$ 279,592,000 in the year of 2004. In addition, applying value acceleration analysis, cumulative net benefit of ${\backslash}$ 1,481,000,000 was expected by the year of 2007. Also we were able to expect ${\backslash}$ 247,800,000 of cumulative benefit for the prospective 5 years in value linkage analysis. It represents average ${\backslash}$ 787,700,000 of pure net benefit a year. Conclusion : The value of present study would be not only implementing the knowledge management system into the existing case management activities, but also evaluating its effects and estimating its financial benefits. This study suggested that the case management system would be a supportive tool for monitoring and improving the quality of healthcare, and a cost-effective tool for increment of healthcare organization's financial benefit.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.6
• /
• pp.551-558
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this research was to investigate how university students' nutrition beliefs influence their health behavioral intention. This study used an online survey engine (Qulatrics.com) to collect data from college students. Out of 253 questionnaires collected, 251 questionnaires (99.2%) were used for the statistical analysis. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) revealed that six dimensions, "Nutrition Confidence," "Susceptibility," "Severity," "Barrier," "Benefit," "Behavioral Intention to Eat Healthy Food," and "Behavioral Intention to do Physical Activity," had construct validity; Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliabilities were tested for item reliability. The results validate that objective nutrition knowledge was a good predictor of college students' nutrition confidence. The results also clearly showed that two direct measures were significant predictors of behavioral intentions as hypothesized. Perceived benefit of eating healthy food and perceived barrier for eat healthy food to had significant effects on Behavioral Intentions and was a valid measurement to use to determine Behavioral Intentions. These findings can enhance the extant literature on the universal applicability of the model and serve as useful references for further investigations of the validity of the model within other health care or foodservice settings and for other health behavioral categories.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.88-99
• /
• 1993

There has been investments by firms to protect workers' health and to improve their health status. Most of the investments are made on the ground of legal requirement. However many argue that the amount of investments made falls short of the legally required level. One of the reasons why firms are not active in undertaking required investments is that they are not certain whether such investment is economically beneficial to them or not. Using CBA (Cost-Benefit Analysis), this study investigates whether firms' investments on workers' health are economically justifiable or not. All kinds of expected costs and benefits are itemized and calculated, and costs are compared with benefits. The result shows that if firms fully undertake the legally required investments, total expected costs amount to W453.2 billion and expected benefits accruing to reductions from medical care costs, workers compensation costs, litigation costs in case of legal suit, work days lost, and etc. comes up to W2,086.8 billion. In other words, economic benefits from firms' investment on industrial health far outweighs their costs. As the economy grows, the probability of having various occupational disease increases. It is well conceivable from this study outcome that, the higher the probability, the greater the social loss would be, and the greater the benefits from proper investments on workers' health.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.531-541
• /
• 2013

Purpose: This study was done to examine the relationship among knowledge, health belief, and preventitive behavioral intention related to venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with lower-limb musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This transversal descriptive study looked at 145 adult patients with lower-limb musculoskeletal disorders, who were hospitalized in C hospital in G city. Data were collected from September 29 to October 6, 2012. Knowledge, health belief and preventitive behavioral intention were measured by structured questionnaires. Date were analyzed by descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation, using the SPSS program. Results: The mean score of knowledge related to VTE was low. The mean scores of health belief and preventitive behavioral intention related to VTE were moderate or higher than average. Preventitive behavioral intention positively correlated with knowledge, perceived benefit, and health motivation. Whereas, there was a negative correlation between preventitive behavioral intention and perceived barriers. Conclusion: These results suggest that developing a health care program which is able to enhance knowledge, perceived benefit, and health motivation related to VTE and reduce perceived barriers, is essential in order to promote preventitive behaviors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.571-577
• /
• 2006

Health benefits from implementing air quality control measures were assessed using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP). BenMAP developed by US EPA is a GIS-based software tool that estimates the health impacts and associated economic values connected with changes in ambient air pollution. Once a set of BenMAP-required data was collected, the health benefits from implementing Seoul Air Quality Management Plan (SAQMP), an official AQ improvement plan for Seoul Metropolitan Area, was assessed using BenMAP. The PM10 concentrations assuming the SAQMP implemented successfully were predicted with the MM5 (Mesoscale Meteorological model version 5)/CMAQ (Community Multiscale Air Quality) model. A PM 10 exposure related premature mortality function was adopted trom a well-known epidemiology study. Economic valuation functions driven from benefit transfer methods were utilized. Through the SAQMP, PM10 concentrations were estimated to be lowered by $15{\mu}g/m^3\;to\;75{\mu}g/m^3$ depending on air quality modeling grids. 5,569 premature deaths (95% CI $3,264{\sim}7,809$ deaths) could be avoided in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. The economic value of the deaths avoided was estimated to $13.2 billion $(95%\;CI\;$890\;million{\sim}$28.2\;billion)$ using the benefit transfer value. BenMAP could be a useful tool for developing effective air quality improvement policy, enabling the policy makers to anticipate the effects of regulatory changes on people's health and the economy.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.624-633
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study was to develop and test a theoretical model based on the revised health belief model explaining osteoporosis prevention behaviors among postmenopausal women under 65. Methods: This secondary data analysis included 342 postmenopausal women under 65 from original data sources of a total of 734 women. The measured instruments were scales for osteoporosis awareness, osteoporosis health belief scale (benefit, barrier, susceptibility, severity, and health motivation), self-efficacy, and osteoporosis prevention behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 20.0 and AMOS 20.0. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 55.2 years and the mean age of menopause was 51.10. The hypothetical model of osteoporosis prevention behaviors was relatively fit. Osteoporosis prevention behaviors were significantly explained up to 62% by expectation factors (relative benefit, self-efficacy, health motivation) and modifying factors(knowledge only). Expectation factors of health belief had a mediation effect between modifying factors and prevention behaviors. Conclusion: This study partially supported the revised health belief model for explaining osteoporosis prevention behaviors. It provides a basis for developing an educational program focusing on expectation factors and knowledge with the aim of behavioral changes for osteoporosis prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.314-322
• /
• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the structural relationships among the benefit sought, satisfaction, and loyalty of green tea consumers, including the moderating effect of age. Data were collected from 658 residents of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do Province who were 20-years-old and older and who had purchased green tea. The SPSS 15.0 and LISREL 8.80 statistical package were used for the analysis, and frequency, reliability, an exploratory factor analysis, a confirmatory factor analysis, and a path analysis were conducted. The results showed that the health benefit and enjoyment among benefit sought had a positive effect on satisfaction. Satisfaction of green tea consumers had a positive effect on loyalty. The analysis indicated that age moderated the relationship among benefit sought, satisfaction, and loyalty. The results could enable green tea marketers to develop marketing techniques that could expand green tea consumption.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.51-64
• /
• 2022

This study aims to investigate relationships between lifestyle and benefit sought of rural healing tourists. For data collection, a total of 3,000 copies of questionnaires were collected by nationwide online survey. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 26.0. The factor analysis identified seven dimensions of the lifestyle : conservative, sports activity orientation, health orientation, consumption orientation, achievement orientation, adventure orientation, and personal orientation. Five dimensions of benefit sought were identified as psychological recovery, outdoor activities, rest, rural experience, and exercise. The results of the canonical correlation analysis indicated that adventure orientation of lifestyle and psychological recovery, outdoor activities, rural experience, exercise of benefit sought were highly correlated. This means it is important to place an emphasis on psychological recovery, outdoor activities, rural experience, and exercise for tourists looking for an adventure away from everyday life. Rural healing tourism marketers should consider lifestyle aspects as the most important factors affecting benefit sought of rural healing tourism.