• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.481-490
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• 2021

There is no qualification system for sonographers in Korea. But the MEDICAL SERVICE TECHNOLOGISTS, ETC. ACT stipulates that radiological technologists can handle ultrasound equipment. However, there is controversy about the scope of the work allowed for radiological technologists to perform ultrasound examinations. Accordingly, the authoritative interpretation of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea, the adjudication of administrative judgment, and the judgment of the courts were analyzed. As a result, the authoritative interpretation expresses that when a radiological technologist performs an ultrasound examination, a diagnosis and specific guidance should be made in real time while the doctor simultaneously watches the radiological technologist's images. In the adjudication of administrative judgment, it was decided that the handling of ultrasound-related equipment was the work of the radiological technologist. The court ruled that it was illegal for a radiological technologist to make a medical judgment on ultrasound examination. In the United States, Canada, etc., the sonographer independently conducts ultrasound examination according to the doctor's prescription, prepares a summary of what they saw and this is passed on to the doctor. Therefore, in Korea, there is a need for institutional improvement so that radiological technologists can perform ultrasound examinations according to doctors' prescriptions without real-time guidance.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-97
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• 2016

Objectives : This study analyzed the factors that determine the use and type of medical examination services (MES) to develop a model explaining the use behavior of MES which could consequently contribute to policy implications for medical examinations. Methods : Based on Anderson's healthcare utilization model, the MES utilization model was developed by including the perceived needs for MES. The data were collected from an online survey of a population aged 20-39 years and from a telephone survey of a population aged 40 years or older, respectively. Chi-Square tests and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were done with SAS version 9.3. Results : Generally, as health status became lower, the use of MES increased. However, patients with two or more chronic diseases were less likely to use private MES compared to patients with one chronic disease. The perceived needs for MES were only related to the use of service and not to the choice of the MES type. Conclusions : There were different results for the significant determinants between the use of the MES and the choice of the MES type. The healthcare industry needs to aware of consumer needs to provide MES based on empirical findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.436-442
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• 2011

An anthropometric survey is one of the most important approaches to use when evaluating the health status of children. Secular trends in body sizes, such as height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, and body mass index showed significant changes over 40 years in Korea. A series of periodic surveys were conducted in 1967, 1975, 1985, 1997, and 2005 by the Korean Pediatric Society and Ministry of Health and Welfare. The quality of data from school health examinations and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has improved, so we can use them now as resources for anthropometric analysis. The final height differences between 1965 and 1997 were 4.5 cm both in boys (168.9 cm in 1965; 173.4 cm in 1997) and girls (155.9 cm in 1965; 160.4 cm in 1997). The differences between 1997 and 2005 were 0.9 cm in boys (174.3cm in 2005) and 0.8 cm in girls (161.2 cm in 2005). There was no difference in final height measurements between 2005 and 2010. An increase in body size at earlier teen ages was pronounced during these decades compared to the previous generation; however, little change has been identified more recently. Body size has been increasing, and obesity has become more prevalent. Systems that gather data should be updated in order to cope with these secular trends. In an upcoming era of secular trends that would be in a slow transition, several surveys that include body measurements should be prepared to meet future needs.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the use of superior general hospitals on public holidays by using the medical use model (Dutton's medical use model) with the medical panel data. The study found that 34.2% of superior general hospital emergency rooms were used on public holidays and the factors which made statistically significant influences on the use of superior general hospital emergency rooms on public holidays were whether patients were operated or emergency care and inspection etc. Also, there was a difference depending on whether the type of establishment of the medical insititution is national or private. In other words, patients who received emergency care and examinations were found to make more frequent visit to hospital emergency room on pubic holiday, compared to patients who underwent surgery and those who visited emergency rooms in the private superior general hospital did so, compared to those who visited emergency room in the national general hospital(OR, 4.4, 3.386, respectively). Therefore, it is necessary to consider the introduction of integrated care of health and social care medical service that focuses on primary care in Denmark, which focuses on patients, and pre-The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale(pre-CTAS) in the UK.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.408-417
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII (2017~2018). Methods: DM was defined as in two ways; 1) doctor's diagnosis (Group 1, n=549), 2) one of doctor's diagnosis, medication, or hyperglycemia (Group 2, n=849). The DR prevalence was measured as the prevalence proportion (%). Risk factors for developing DR were analyzed using multiple logistic regression, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: The prevalence of DR was 25.87% in Group 1 and 20.14% in Group 2. Risk factors for DR were identified as insulin therapy (Group 1: OR=5.31, Group 2: OR=5.27), DM duration ≥10 years (Group 1: OR=2.20, Group 2: OR=3.10), and systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg (Group 1: OR=2.26, Group 2: OR=2.23) for both groups. Conclusion: Considering the DR prevalence, eye examinations education is highly recommended as part of a diabetes management programs in the community. It is also proposed to shorten the eye examination cycle for people with risk factors and establish a referral system to link between screening to treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2018

Purpose : The present study aimed to investigate the of the based on their oral health status and the study findings will provide the basic data for establishing future oral health related policies for the elderly. Methods : A total of 50 elderly participants were selected for the study. Oral examinations were performed by a single trained dental hygienist, the oral health status was classified according to the use of dentures, presence of temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) noise, presence of TMJ pain, presence of trismus, presence of preferred chewing, and number of residual teeth. An oral health-related survey using the in-person interview method was conducted by two dental hygienists and 30 types of foods were selected for the assessment of chewing ability. For data analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's Rho analysis were performed to investigate the association between oral health status and chewing ability. Result : The results of the present study revealed that there was a statistically significant positive (+) correlation between the number of residual teeth and chewing abilities. In other words, as the number of residual teeth increased, chewing ability increased as well, with the differences being statistically significant. Conclusion : Improvement of oral health in the elderly is a fundamental aspect of healthy aging. Therefore, the implementation of more efficient oral health care policies for the elderly is required as We move toward a super-aged society.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.45-54
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide a survey of patients with dementia registered and managed by primary health care posts. Method: Computation of 2016 dementia data registered in Health Care Center programs of 14 municipalities in ChoongNam province was analyzed. Data collection was done based on a pretest for dementia prevention and general management of registered dementia patients. Results: Results showed; Screening tests for dementia, 40% of population 60 or over, average number of cases, 174, average number of dementia registrants, 3.1, programs for prevention, approximately 70% special policy measures and 28% cognitive rehabilitation programs, counseling and education operating well overall, average number of dementia registrants/clinic 11.8, with women accounting for 70%, elders with less than 3 years of education, 75%, residence type cohabitation by married couples, 41%, and elders with Alzheimer type dementia, 64%. Conclusion: During early detection of dementia and follow-up examinations, high-risk groups (women, elders) should receive a dementia examination. In management of dementia there is a need to develop various programs including physical, economic, and emotional support not only for patients, but also for families. Health care managers also need systematic education to give them expert knowledge of dementia and management of dementia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.345-350
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• 2007

Objectives: To determine the disparity in the rate people undergo health examinations according to socioeconomic position (SEP) and the changes in this disparity with time. Methods: Seoul citizens' health profile data from 1997 to 2005 were analyzed. The study subjects were 40 years old and over, and the total number of subjects was 6,601 in 1997, 8,994 in 2001, and 8,819 in 2005. Those aged 60 years and over were eliminated from the analysis of subjects' occupation. We used education, family income and occupation as indicators of SEP. The age-standardized health examination attendance rate for each year was calculated according to the education, family income and occupation. The odds ratios (ORs) from multiple logistic regressions were adjusted for age. Results: The disparity in the rate of attendance according to the SEP decreased from 1997 to 2005 but still existed. Even though the disparities among the subgroups according to education, family income and occupation were not that high, the disparity between the group with the highest SEP and the other groups was considerable. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that unequal access to health examination services according to socioeconomic position still exists. This disparity has decreased recently but the disparity according to level of education was the greatest.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to estimate the relationship between health behavior and follow-up needed for results of health examinations. Methods: The participants were 2,245 adults over age 19. Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey VI-1 was used. Health behavior was defined as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, hours of sleep and BMI. Those who needed follow-up care after a health examination were defined as having abnormal blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar, or abnormal blood cholesterol. Results: The proportion needing follow-up was 77.4%. The odds ratio (95%CI) for needing follow-up for blood pressure for men was 1.59 (1.18-2.15) with excessive alcohol consumption over one month, and 2.33 (1.73-3.13) with obesity, and for women, 3.55 (2.66-4.74) with obesity. For blood sugar in men it was 1.59 (1.18-2.15) with excessive alcohol consumption and 2.33 (1.73-3.13) with obesity, and for women, 3.55 (2.66-4.74) with obesity. For low HDL-C in men it was 0.53 (00.40-0.72) with excessive alcohol consumption and 2.39 (1.81-3.15) with obesity, and in women, 0.73 (0.57-0.94) with excessive alcohol consumption and 1.66 (1.29-2.14) with obesity. For high triglycerides it was 2.37 (1.42-2.39) with smoking and 2.34 (1.70-3.22) with obesity in men and in women, 1.51 (1.05-2.16) with obesity. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that obesity is associated with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL-C, and high triglycerides.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.147-159
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• 2000

The NIOSH health hazard evaluation program (HHE program) was created in response to the mandate to determine the toxic effect and potential health hazard of workplace exposure, which is found in Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, A primary benefit of HHE program is its ability to provide current health hazard data to employers and employees, which assists them in identifying solutions to occupational health and safety problems in their workplaces, The HHE program also stimulates research in the development and review of sampling methods and diagnostic tests and may prompt additional exposure assesment efforts and toxicological and epidemiological studies. HHE projects also provide human exposure-toxicity data that are used to asses the validity of existing occupational health standards and to support criteria for new standards of recommendation, The HHE request is classified into four categories: 1) category 1: As a administratively invalid, 2) category 2: These are valid requests for which a site visit is not essential to an appropriate response, 3) Category 3 : These are valid requests for which a site visit is necessary for an adequate evaluation, 4) These are valid request which present a complex problem or an opportunity for research, To carry out HHE program one or methods of investigation might be used: 1) direct observation and evaluation of production processes and employee work practices 2) employees exposure level and air contamination level 3) medical test or physical examinations of employees 4) private, confidential interviews with employees 5) review of employer's record of injuries and illness, employee exposure data, medical tests and job histories. After investigation and analysing the data, NIOSH issues a final report, giving finding and recommendation.