• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.319-342
• /
• 2024

Background: The current study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Fateh Pur Thakyala, an unexplored area of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The exploration and quantification of ethnobotanical knowledge among people of the study area mainly focused during field survey. The study likely focuses on documenting and preserving the indigenous knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants in the region. A total 70 informants (45 males and 25 females) selected randomly to collect data were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The data like demographic characteristics of informants, methods of preparation, life form, modes of application, parts used, and ethnomedicinal uses was documented. The quantitative indices including relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), consensus value for plant part (CPP), rank order priority (ROP), percentage respondent knowledge (PRK), were applied to analyze the collected data. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with fifteen papers published from adjoining areas by Jaccard index (JI). Results: The current study reported 135 medicinally important plants species belonging to 115 genera and 54 families. The dominating family was Asteraceae (14 sp.), followed by Fabaceae (11 sp.), Rosaceae (11 sp.), Lamiaceae (8 sp.), Moraceae (5 sp.), Solanaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae (4 sp.) and Poaceae, Sapindaceae, Rhamnaceae, Mrytaceae, Malvaceae (3 sp.) for each. The study revealed that there were small differences in usage of medicinal plants of different families. The herbaceous life form was dominating the study area with (79 sp.) used as herbal medicines followed by shrubs (23 sp.) and trees (33 sp.). The comparative study of for novelty of species and their uses by JI revealed 13 novel plants species which were not reported earlier from this region. Conclusions: Local inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline. The overexploitation and seasonal fires are major threats for medicinal flora in the area.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.118-131
• /
• 2000

Background : A continuous healthcare quality improvement is needed to provide high quality healthcare service as well as to maintain trust in terms of satisfying the needs of the patients. Recently it also became an essential issue. in hospital management, recognized for it's competitive potentiality among healthcare organization groups. This study was conducted to analyze patient complaints and issues received by the Quality Improvement Department. Its purpose is to improve healthcare qualities within the hospital, as well as establish policies and appropriate strategies in hospital management. Method : From July 1st to September 30th of the year 1999, we analyzed all complaints and issues made by various patients and their families, which were received through 24 hour phone consultation, numerous suggestion boxes, letters and E-mails, The issues were classified into 16 different categories based on a Patient Satisfaction Assessment Tool. All data were segregated according to the departmental frequencies and their contents. To come up with for environmental and patient satisfaction improvement, all complaints or issues were communicated with hospital administrators, medical and nursing staff and employees. Comprehensive customer satisfaction activities including improving phone etiquette were discussed in Customer Satisfaction Team, CQI Team and each Department. All opportunities for improvement were implemented. Feedback actions were discussed. Results : A total of 317 cases were collected. Issues regarding parking and other accommodation facilities were most common complaints that were 14.5% of total. Issues regarding admission rooms (10.7%), admission procedures (10.7%), waiting room environment (8.8%), nurses and nurse assistants (7.6%), physicians (6.6%) and others (23%) followed. Thirteen of 45 departments received more than 8 complaints. The Nursing Department had the most complaint, receiving 9.8% of total complaints. Complaints regarding the Nursing Department were predominantly related to the environment of patient rooms. The Department of Psychiatry for phone etiquette (4.7%), Department of Otolaryngology for the nursing staff's attitude and phone etiquette (4.4%), and the Admission Department followed. As a part of efforts to improve patient satisfaction, a new parking structure was built and reallocation of the parking space was done. Renovation of other accommodation facilities were carried out by hospital administration, Monthly phone call and answering attitude survey was done by QI Department. Based on this survey we made a phone etiquette manual and distributed throughout the hospital. Compare to the last year, Patient Satisfaction Index measured by Korea Productivity Center using National Customer Satisfaction Index was improved 7 points. According to our organization's own study, we confirmed the phone etiquette was improved 11% than last year. Conclusions : Issues related to parking and other accommodation facilities ranked first followed by complaints made regarding the patient care area, the admission and cashier process, and nurses' and doctors' attitude. The Nursing and Psychiatry Departments need improvement regarding phone etiquette. Results were shared and played a vital role in policymaking and strategic planning of the hospital. It is imperative that we keep our database updated by listening to and solving the needs of each patient. The CQI activities can be achieved only by full commitment of the hospital top management supported by related personal.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.23-34
• /
• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate establishment status of the mandatory courses designated by Ministry of Health & Welfare for qualification of sensory developmental rehabilitation specialist(SDRS), within curriculum of baccalaureate occupational therapy(BOT) programs in Korea Methods : This is a narrative study to investigate and analyze certain courses established in curriculums of all 4-years occupational therapy(OT) programs, which is 32 schools. Results : 1) The shared mandatory subject, 'Understanding Children with Disabilities(UDC)', has been established at 9 schools. For the branch mandatory subjects, 'Neuroscience(NS) or Neuroanatomy' has been established at all 32 schools, 'Sensory Processing Dysfunctions and Intervention(SPDI)' or 'Sensory Integration' has been established at 31 schools, and each of 'Assessment & Evaluation for Children(AEC)' and 'Practicum of Sensory Rehabilitation(PSR)' has been established 7 schools for same. 2) For the mandatory courses, all 32 schools were offering designated- and alternative courses of NS, SPDI, AEC, but there was no change in the number of schools offering the practicum course since there was no case of alterative for it. 3) In terms of general provision score, there were 4 schools for score 7, 4 schools for score 6, 2 schools for score 5, 1 schools for score 4, 2 schools for score 3, and 19 schools for score 2. Conclusion : Establishment of the mandatory courses required to the qualification of SDRS among the BOT programs in nation were investigated. Including alternative courses, all the branch mandatory courses except practicum course are established in all the 32 schools. However, the shared mandatory subject, UDC and the practicum subject were established in only few schools. In the provision level evaluation of BOT programs for the SDRS qualification, it is shown that many schools has been started the provision already but still many schools' curriculum did not reflect the willingness and accuracy well. For the schools planning successful accreditation in near future, it is recommended that they prioritize the establishment of the shared mandatory course and the practicum course since these two subjects are recognized as critical factors for that. In addition, it is also needed of comparative inspections for course title and syllabi based on the guideline provided by Ministry of Health & Welfare.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.105-115
• /
• 2017

The present study is to understand the Bongseonsa stream in the National Arboretum fish fauna variation through comparison with historical data and to evaluate the stream health situated. We performed investigations over three times from April to September 2015. In the survey, 2,960 individuals which belonging to 22 species, 8 families were collected. Dominant species by number was Zacco platypus and subdominant species was Zacco koreanus. Seven Korean endemic species (Squalidus gracilis majimae, Microphysogobio yaluensis, Zacco koreanus, Koreocobitis rotundicausata, etc) were observed and showed a ratio of 36.4%. The community analysis revealed that the structure of fish community in the study sampling sites was instability in having dominance 0.79 (${\pm}0.15$), diverse 1.21 (${\pm}0.60$), evenness 0.58 (${\pm}0.15$) and species richness 1.49 (${\pm}0.83$). The values in the Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was averagely 122.9 (${\pm}44.8$) in the Bongseonsa stream and this was showed to have favorable habitat surroundings. As a result of tolerance guild analysis, the total number of sensitive species and intermediate species were higher than tolerant species. Analysis was divided into A and B two groups of fiducial 12.25% in Cluster analysis degree of similarity between study sampling sites. Fish Assessment Index (FAI) was rated A and B grade in Bongseonsa stream that stream health showed favorable. However Wangsuk stream as a urban stream rated C grade and analysed the lowest grade in the whole study sampling sites. There was high correlation beteween FAI and various indexes, dominance, diverse, evenness and sensitive species and intermediate species.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.38-46
• /
• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the minor stress in daily life related to undergoing hemodialysis and the relationship between minor stresses, coping skills, and subjective quality of life among the patients with end stage renal disease. Methods : Seventy seven patients on hemodialysis were enrolled in this study. Minor stress was assessed with daily stress inventory-Korean version(K-DSI), ways of coping checklist identified the use of the following coping strategies:problem-focused, seek social support, emotion-focused coping and wishful thinking. Socio-demographic data were obtained and World Health Organization-Quality of Life Scale(brief form) was also administered to subjects. Results : Participants mean age was $55.92{\pm}13.71$ years. The mean of the event, impact and impact/event (I/E) ratio scores of K-DSI were $29.06{\pm}21.57$, $88.69{\pm}75.88$ and $2.92{\pm}1.11$, respectively. These scores were much higher than normative data of K-DSI. Among the 5 categories of this inventory, the scores of cognitive stressors were highest. 5 categories of the inventory showed positive relationship with way of coping subscales, which showed coefficient of correlation between 0.259(p<.01) and 0.495(p<.001). However, no significant correlation was found between minor stress subscales and quality of life. Hemodialysis patients in our study used more emotional-focused coping methods, which was considered as passive way of cope than problem-orientated coping methods. Conclusion : The main findings of this study indicated that patients on hemodialysis showed higher level of perceived minor stress than normal population. The patients treated with hemodialysis tend to use passive way of coping primarily. For assessing the stress in patients on hemodialysis, clinician has to consider both level of perceived minor stress and the ways of coping the patients primarily use.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.45-63
• /
• 2001

The objective of this study is to give basic materials for selection and improvement of contents of safety education, which is substantially helpful to elementary students, by analysis of contents of safety education in some subjects and assessment of the needs of elementary students for safety education. For this purpose, this study was analyzed the contents of safety education in five subjects for elementary school and conducted the survey of 883 students in some elementary schools in Seoul from April 7 to 22, 2000. The results were as follows; 1. As a result of analysis of the proportion of contents regarding safety-related education in some subjects, Physical Education occupied the highest proportion (14.09％), and that was followed by Practical Subject (9.55％) and Moral Education (9.34％). However, the proportions in Social Study and Natural Science were very low, 1.85％ and 1.31％ each. In total lines of these five subjects, the numbers of line regarding safety education was contained by 5.78％. 2. Analyzing the proportion of domains of safety education in five textbooks, the Meaning of Safety and Basic Principles occupied the highest portion (29.5％), and that was followed by the Home Safety (24.0％), the Safety in School (17.1％), and the Play and Leisure Safety (14.0％). The Coping with Accidents and First Aid, the Safety from Fire and Explosion, and the Traffic Safety occupied relatively low portion, 6.9％, 5.7％, and 2.8％ each. 3. As a result of analysis of the proportion of the safety education domain in each subject, the Meaning of Safety and Basic Principles occupied the highest portion (23.6％) in Moral Education, the Home Safety (12.7％) in Practical Subject, and the Play and Leisure Safety (10.9％) in Physical Education. 4. Most of the participants in this survey experienced the Home Accidents (71.1％). And also, they experienced the Play and Leisure Accidents (57.9％), the Accidents in School (49.7％), the Traffic Accidents (45.3％), and the Fire and Explosion Accidents (24.7％) in order. 5. In the average proportion of the needs of participants for safety education in each domain, the Coping with Accidents and First Aid has the highest point (4.05). And, that was followed by the Home safety (3.79), the Safety from Fire and Explosion (3.73), the Meaning of Safety and Basic Principles (3.65), the Play and Leisure Safety (3.50), the Safety in School (3.37), and the Traffic Safety (3.35). The average proportion of the needs for safety education of total domains was 3.66. 6. In the needs for safety education regarding the feature of participants, it showed higher scores in female students than male ones (p〈0.001), in lower grader than higher grader (p〈0.05), and in the students born to wealth than those born poor (p〈0.05). Also, the children who recognize the necessity of safety education showed higher scores of the needs for safety education (p〈0.001). And it also showed the same results of high score to the children whose parents did the safety education (p〈0.00l) and to the children and their parents who have the higher degree of practicing safety (p〈0.001), and these differences were statistically significant. 7. In the extent of preference for methods of safety education, it showed high score to the Field Learning, followed by the Audio- Visual Education, the Discussion, and the Instruction of teacher. In the extent of preference for subjects regarding the contents of safety education by each domain, it showed high score to the subject of Safety for 4 domains - the Meaning of Safety and Basic Principles, the Traffic Safety, the Safety from Fire and Explosion, and the Coping with Accidents and First Aid. And also, they preferred Moral Education for 2 domains - the Home safety and the Safety in School, and Physical Education for a domain of the Play and Leisure Safety. 8. While 27 of 36 detail items was contained the contents of safety education, the proportion of needs of participants for safety education showed more than average 3.00 score in 34 of 36 detail items. However, none of 9 detail items was included in five textbooks. Also, 2 detail items - the Coping with Disasters and the Safety from Poisoning - were included together 2 parts; One part had the higher ranked 7 items acquired by analysis of the needs, and the other had the higher ranked 7 items acquired by analysis of the contents. But, except those 2 items, none of items were matched with each part.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.224-230
• /
• 2013

BACKGROUND: Perchlorate(${ClO_4}^-$) is an anion that is extremely water-soluble and environmentally stable. It mostly exists in the form of sodium perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate and potassium perchlorate which are used in rocket fuels, propellants, ignitable sources, air bag inflation systems and explosives. Perchlorate can be taken into the thyroid glands and interfere with iodide uptake. The determination of perchlorate in agricultural products is important due to its potential health impact on humans. The objective of this study was to determine the perchlorate concentrations in the samples of various agricultural products and soils. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, samples of cereal(Rice, Barley, Corn, Bean), vegetable(Spinach, Lettuce, Sesame, Chives, Chili, Pumpkin, Tomato), fruit(Apple, Pear, Tangerine, Grape) were analyzed for perchlorate contents. Perchlorate concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that agricultural products respectively contained perchlorate concentrations in the range of : cereals N.D.~$7.46{\mu}g/kg$, vegetables $0.52{\sim}23.06{\mu}g/kg$, fruits $0.19{\sim}2.66{\mu}g/kg$. Bioconcentration factor was in the order of : vegetables > cereals > fruits. Bioconcentration factor was highest follwed by Sesame 37.88, Corn 21.51, Spinach 10.57, Tangerine 4.39, Chives 2.89 and Lettuce 1.90. The recoveries of perchlorate from spiked agricultural products and soils ranged from 87.72~111.26% and 102.09~111.23%. CONCLUSION(S): The health risk assessment results obtained in this study are lower than the RfD(Reference Dose, 0.0007 mg/kg/body weight/day) value as suggested by the Integrated Risk Information System(US IRIS). Our results indicate that, people currently exposed to perchlorate from agricultural products consumption are considered as safe.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.187-202
• /
• 2017

The Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Science publishes the Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science (KJCLS) as the official journal for the Korean Association of Medical Technologists. This year, 2017, marks the 50th anniversary of KJCLS. The original name was "the Korean Journal of Medical Technologists" (Volume 1, 1967~Volume 26, 1994), which was replaced with the "Korean Journal of the Clinical Laboratory Science" (Volume 27, 1995~Volume 35, 2003) and "the Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science" (Volume 26, 2004~Present). The purpose of this study was to provide a framework for further development of KJCLS. In 1998, the National Research Foundation of Korea began the journal assessment service. The major domestic databases are KCI, KOFST, and KAMJE; the major international databases are SCI Index; SCI Core, SCI-Extended), SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and PUBMED. KJCLS has been registered with KCI of the National Research Foundation of Korea since 2014. More than 1,300 articles have been published, which all have made tremendous contributions to the field. To index KJCLS in the journal databases, we measured the value to understand the vocational level and social position. KJCLS is faced with a great challenge; immense effort will be needed to accomplish the original goal of KJCLS to become an internationally recognized journal. Ultimately, the goal of the Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and the Korean Association of Medical Technologists should be to register KJCLS in databases such as KCI and SCOPUS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.378-394
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Screening of preschool-age children for nutrition programs to improve dietary intake and behaviors requires cost-effective and easily administered validated assessment tools. The purpose of this study was to develop a parent/caregiver-administered instrument for measuring diet quality and behaviors of preschoolers as a nutrition quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P). Methods: Development of NQ-P was carried out in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 24-h dietary record was selected as the gold standard reference tool. The 38 items of the NQ-P checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analysis of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Self-administered questionnaires were delivered to parents who recorded 24-h dietary intakes of 100 responders aged 3~5 yr. Pearson's correlation was used to measure the level of agreement between questionnaires. Item reduction was performed, and 20 items were selected based on survey results, expert reviews, and priorities of national nutrition policy and recommendations. The 412 nationwide subjects sampled through daycare centers completed the 20-item checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-P was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. Results: After analyses of exploratory factors, NQ-P items identified three dimensions of diet (balance, moderation, and environment). The three-factor structure accounted for 49.28% of the total variance. Standardized path coefficients were used as weights of the items. The NQ-P and three-factor scores of the subjects were calculated by the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. Conclusion: A food behavior checklist for preschoolers' NQ would be a useful and suitable instrument for evaluating nutrition adequacy and dietary quality of Korean preschoolers.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.150-157
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to suggest a convenient method of monitoring the gingival state through plaque detection. Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence-Digital (QLF-D), which can assess mature plaque, can be used to assess the oral hygiene status of individuals and to establish an adequate intervention plans for them. The subjects of the study participated in the clinical training at Department of Dental Hygiene, N University. The subjects completed questionnaires on general characteristics and oral hygiene methods. Then, photographs of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth of the subjects were taken using the QLF-D. After the oral examinations, gingival state was recorded according to the $L{\ddot{o}}e$ & Silness's Gingival Index (GI). In addition, a plaque control record was calculated in percentage using disclosing agent. The analysis of the relation between the plaque control record and the QLF-D scores showed positive correlation (r=0.638, p<0.001), and the analysis of the relation between the QLF-D scores and the gingival bleeding index scores also showed positive correlation (r=0.562, p<0.001). Besides, the study classified the participants into healthy gingiva group and the gingivitis group according to the classification criteria of GI, and when the difference of QLF-D scores between the groups was analyzed, the QLF-D scores were statistically significantly higher (t=-2.785, p=0.007) in the gingivitis group ($1.71{\pm}1.545$) than the healthy gingiva group ($0.74{\pm}1.290$). When the differences in mean values of the QLF-D scores were analyzed against and the gingival bleeding index scores, the QLF-D scores of 0 and 1 belonged to the category of normal gingival state while the QLF-D scores of 2, 3 and 4 belonged to the category of gingivitis state. Therefore, it is deemed that the red fluorescence detected by the QLF-D from the mature supragingival plaque can be used for monitoring the state of gingivitis.