• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of being from low-income families on children's behavior problems and obesity. Methods: The research design was a descriptive survey study, and the participants were 197 children from low-income families who took part in activities at a local children's center. They were selected through convenience sampling. The participants completed a questionnaire, BASC-2 (Behavior Assessment System for Children). Results: The results are as follows: 22.3% had obesity, a rate higher than that of children in general. Further, 37.3% had attention deficit problems, 33.8% had problems adapting to school and 49% had other adaption problem. There was a gender-specific difference with respect to all of the behavior problems. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a lack of an identified child policy for behavior problems and health, and suggest a need for various programs and policies which could lead to development of behavior screening programs for children from low-income families.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.736-767
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• 2016

Recently, the social issue about harmful effects of nano-materials including nano-products to human body and environment have been raised, which were not expected in times past. To prevent the risks of nano-materials on the environment and human body, the regulatory policies are reinforced to ensure public health in world trends. In Korea, governmental department has prepared the policy for 'National nano-safety Management Master Plan' since 2011. However, it is very hard to manage all kinds of nano-materials, due to lack of nano-safety law and a wide range of nano-technology application. This study aims to analyze the current situation of the national policy related to nano-safety management and legislation, and also review the limitation of current system to propose improvement plan for nano-safety.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.17-23
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• 2009

Objectives : This study aimed to provide basic data for future policies regarding the expansion of health insurance, through investigating the current status of Oriental herbal medicine insurance as perceived by the public. Methods : Questionnaire was developed through literature searches, in-depth interviews, item generation and item reduction. The questionnaires were further refined by a focus group. 221 surveys were retrieved from the general public. Results : The in-depth interviews, reveal that the public is aware of the various forms of Oriental herbal medicine formulas, except for the use of mixture of which are soluble granules covered by insurance. The public awareness of the soluble granules turned out to be so low that enhanced awareness of it is required. The public identified decoctions as the most preferred formula as well as the most effective formulas out of all Oriental herbal medical formulas. They also suggested that it should be the first to be included when the insurance policy expands in the future. The public had frequent experienced not choosing Oriental herbal prescription due to the high cost. Insurance coverage of Oriental herbal prescription is much needed. The public indicated that they will make frequent visits to the KMD if the insurance covers Oriental herbal prescriptions. Conclusions : The current status quo of Oriental herbal medicine insurance showed that the public identified decoctions as the most preferred, most effective and the top priority to be covered by insurance.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.9-40
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• 1984

This thesis purports to overview the diverse administrative and organizational factors and plannings developed by the government organizations, municipal or otherwise, to tackle the Han River water pollution issues in the past years. This thesis also looks into the ever-worsening Han River water pollution problems, in particular, in terms of the various government plans ostensibly designed to reduce the pollution level but with little success. Also dealt with are the efficiencies with which the laws and decrees on water pollution the administrative organizations put to use in the prosecution of the diverse antiwater pollution projects involving the Han River basin. From the early 1960's up to the 1970's the government had concentrated on the growth-oriented economic policy with the result that little attention had been paid to the water pollution and other environmental issues that are bound to arise from the massive economic growth. Belatedly, the five-year Hah River Development Project was initiated in 1982 with emphasis on reducing the water pollution level at Hah River to the minimum. The following are the gists of the thesis and recommendations for the future antiwater pollution plans by the administrative organizations: 1. Documents to date indicate that the irrigation projects along the Han River area had been the main focus of attention during the Yi Dynasty and under the Japanese rule of the country. 2. Despite that the water pollution issue became the subject of many debates among the academic and research institutions in the 1960's and in the 1970's, the administrative organizations in charge of the Han River water quality control failed to come up with a concrete plan for the river's water quality control. 3. Nevertheless, the water pollution of the Han River area in fact began in the 1950's, with the unprecedented concentration into Seoul of population and the industrial facilities on a larger scale, in particular, enforced by the government's strong growthoriented policy in its Economic Development plans in the 1960's. 4. Starting in the 1960's, the Han River water pollution level dramatically increased, but the government was reluctant to promulgate or put into effect strong measures to curb the many factors contributing to the river water pollution, thus worsening the environmental issues along the Han River basin. 5. The environmental protection law and other laws and decrees relating to the antiwater and air pollution issues that were subsequently put into effect underwent so many changes that efficient anti-water pollution policies could not be effected for the Han River basin. The frequent organizational reshuffle within the administrative units concerned with environmental problems has resulted in the undue waste in personnel management and finance. 6. The administration on the environmental protection could not be efficiently carried out due to the organizational overlapping. Under the existing law, frequent organizational frictions and inefficiency are bound to occur among the central government offices themselves, as well as between the central government and the Seoul city administration, and among the city's administrative offices over the conservation of the Han River basin and over the river's anti-water pollution issue. 7. In the planning and prosecution of the Han River project, political influences from the president down to the lower-level politicious appear to have been involved. These political influences in the past had certainly had negative influence on the project, nevertheless, it appears that in the recent years, these political influences are not all that negative in view of the fact that they serve as a positive contributing factor in developing a better water quality control project along the Han River basin. The following are a few recommendations based on the data from the thesis: First, officials in charge of the Han River water quality control should pay attention to a careful screening of the opinions and recommendations from the academic circles and from the public should be made so that the government could better grasp the core issues in the environmental problems that require preventive and other necessary measures. Second, vigorous redistribution policies of population and industrial facilities away from the Seoul area should be pursued. Third, the government should refrain from revising or revamping too frequently the laws and decrees on the anti-water pollution, which is feared to cause undue inconveniences in the environmental administration. Fourth, a large-scale streamlining should be made to the existing administrative organization in an effort to do away with the inter- and intra-organizational friction. It is recommended that a secretariat for the Hah River basis conservation be established. Fifth, High-level administrative officials, with a thorough knowledge and vision on the Han River water quality control, should be prepared to better deal with the budgeting and personnel management for the Han River water pollution control not only at the control government, but also at the Seoul city municipal government levels. Environmental issues should be kept distinct from political issues. Environmental issues should not serve as a window-dressing for sheer political purposes. Sixth, the Hah River proiect should also include, along with the main Han River basin, those areas covering North Han River, South Han River, and the tributaries to the main river basin. The 'Han River Basin Water Quality Control Board' should be established immediately as a means of strengthening the current Han River basin water quality control policy. Seventh, in drawing up the Han River proiect, the administrative officials should be aware that Han River basin is a life line for those people in the region, providing them with not only a sheer physical space, but with a psychological living space for their everyday life.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.403-410
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• 2018

This study is to look at the risk of chronic diseases in adults and oral health behaviors affecting periodontitis by gender. This study selected 3,071 males aged 35 to 65, 4,273 females, and 7,344 people as the final subjects of the study using the sixth original data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. In this study, subjective oral health classified under 'bad' presented 1.69 times(p<0.001) the risk of Periodontitis for males and 1.50 times(p<0.001) for females. There was a 2.01 times(p<0.001) of a risk of periodontitis for male and 1.40 times(p=0.001) of a risk for females. Smokers have a 1.68 times(p<0.001) of a risk for males and 2.07 times(p<0.001) of a risk for females, thus a higher risk for periodontitis for females. The risk of periodontitis was 1.44 times(p<0.001) of a risk for males and 1.30 times(p<0.05) for females when compared in normal hypertension. Obesity was at a rate of 1.199 times(p<0.05) as much for males in the non-military group, 1.202 times(p<0.05) that of females for periodontitis and putting females slightly more at risk. For diabetes, males were at risk of 1.28(p<0.05) whereas it being 1.53 times(p<0.05) for females, compared the average health female. In total, Males were found to be at the greatest risk of periodontitis, while women were at the highest risk for smoking. All parameters except smoking and diabetes show a higher risk of periodontitis for females. As males are more likely to have a higher risk of periodontitis than females, they are considered to be more interested in oral health care and need systematic oral health education and policies to prevent oral diseases.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.5816-5825
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• 2012

As the society has been ageing, senile dementia increase rapidly. Thus social costs of dementia treatment and management increase exceedingly. There is a desperate need of finding out improvements.. For example, foreign countries come with the solutions about this issue by establishing national strategy about Dementia, setting effective Dementia Management in national level and preparing legal systems. Older Welfare Act, Long Term Care Insurance Act for the Aged and Dementia Management Act exist as legal system of improvements. Improvement about this issue is needed due to more effective Dementia management and pushing ahead policies. First of all, the government needs to include dementia checkup into the list of national health insurance checkup toward senior citizen of older than 65-year-old. Secondly, as one of the characteristics of dementia, when more symptoms of dementia appear, there is less effect of treatment. Therefore, in order to reduce the social costs of Dementia, the government needs to promote Dementia prevention industry and early checkups. Thirdly, there is a need of setting a class judgement standard appeasement policy and expansion of using target. The reason of processing this statement is that there are difficulties of satisfying the needs of senior citizens due to current conformity of long-term pay recuperation according to laws of welfare.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2020

Objectives : Firefighters are always under stress due to their job environment, and they are likely to become psychologically vulnerable due to continuous exposure to traumatic events, which is a stressful situation that requires emergency standby at all times. The aims of this study were to examine mental health factors for each division of firefighters and to see the relationship between sleep and somatization symptoms among them. Methods : General characteristics and related inspections were conducted through self-reporting questionnaires for 1,264 firefighters working at Chungbuk fire stations. Several mental health factors were investigated by the Insomnia Severity Index, Severity of somatic symptoms, Impact of Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Resilience Scale, Alcohol Dependent Screening Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Depression Scale and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results : Among the mental health variables, the relationship between insomnia and somatization varies significantly depending on types of work. It was reported that the first aid team was significantly higher than the fire suppression and rescue team. Post-traumatic stress, depression and drinking also differ significantly depending on types of work. The first aid team reported more posttraumatic stress than the fire suppression team and more depressed mood than the rescue team. The administration part had more alcohol consumption than the fire suppression or first aid team. Resilience was significantly higher in the rescue team than the first aid team. No significant differences between the types of work about stress and suicide risks. Insomnia, stress, and post-traumatic stress were significant predictors of somatization among firefighters. Above all, insomnia was significant mental health variable affecting somatization. Conclusions : Various mental health factors were different according to the types of work in firefighters. The First aid team was more vulnerable to mental health variables such as insomnia and somatization than other divisions. Insomnia is the most important cause of somatization in firefighters, so it is recommended that they be treated for insomnia and to prepare institutional policies.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.19-48
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• 2008

In order to verify the risk of onset of the illnesses based on gender, age, and monthly income 1,739 subjects from Hongcheon county, Gangwon province were selected. Questionnaire on demographic sociology, health condition, existence of illnesses(cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac disorders), and usage of public health services was surveyed from October 1, 2006 to October 20, 2006. Following conclusions were reached on the basis of the questionnaire : - For demographic sociological peculiarities, gender, age, occupation, and education level were evenly distributed. Most were under normal marriage(67.38%), health insurance(86.39%), 494(36.0%) individuals with less than monthly income of 1 million won, 494(36.0%) individuals with monthly income between 1 and 2 million won, 219(16.0%) with monthly income between 2 and 3 million won, and 164(12.0%) individuals with more than 3 million won, thus showing relatively low income. - For health status, 1,199(70.28%) individuals are non-smokers, 209(45.63%) individuals smoke $10{\sim}20$ cigarettes a day, 754(44.02%) individuals exercise less than twice a week are the major sector of the population. 1,518(88.10%) individuals have regular checkup more than once and 1,131(65.49%) stated their health condition less than average. - For comparison of existence of illnesses between genders, there was no statistical significance on cancer, stroke, and diabetes. But statistical significance was shown on hypertension(P value 0.025), arthritis(P value 0.000), and cardiac disorders(P value 0.016). Statistical significance was seen in the age comparison, and OR(confidence interval) drastically increased with increase in age. - There was no difference between the primary health clinic(P value 0.000), most visited clinic(P value 0.000), selection criteria(P value 0.000), and satisfaction on efficacy(P value 0.000). There was a tendency preferring hospital than public health center with increase in income. - For correlation between the existence of illnesses among different income levels, except for cancer(P value 0.172), statistical significance was seen in hypertension(P value 0.000), stroke(P value 0.003), diabetes (P value 0.001), arthritis(P value 0.000), and cardiac disorders(P value 0.000). The number of individuals suffering from illnesses and ratio all decreased for all illnesses with increase in income. - After adjusting confounding factors(gender, age, income, marriage, occupation, education) and male (1) as the standard, OR (confidence interval) of cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac disorders were 0.47(0.11${\sim}$2.05), 1.27(0.89${\sim}$1.81), 0.58(0.21${\sim}$1.59), 0.71(0.41${\sim}$1.23), 1.79(1.34${\sim}$2.39, P<0.01), and 1.46(0.72${\sim}$2.96), respectively. Risk of arthritis is significantly high in female and 20's (1) as the standard, OR(confidence interval) of cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, cardiac disorders were 1.01(0.96${\sim}$1.07), 1.06(1.04${\sim}$1.07, P<0.01), 1.05(1.01${\sim}$1.10, P<0.01), 1.06(1.03${\sim}$1.08, P<0.01), 1.05(1.03${\sim}$1.06, P<0.01), and 1.06(1.04${\sim}$1.09, P<0.01), respectively. Risk of onset for illnesses significantly increased with yearly aging except for cancer. - For comparison between monthly income after adjusting confounding factors(gender, age, income, marriage, occupation, education), with less than 1 million won (1) as the standard, OR(confidence interval) of cancer for 1 to 2 million won, 2 to 3 million won, and more than 3 million won were 0.23(0.03${\sim}$2.16), 2.53(0.41${\sim}$15.43), and 1.73(0.15${\sim}$19.50), respectively. OR(confidence interval) of hypertension were 1.12(0.76 ${\sim}$1.66), 0.68(0.34${\sim}$1.34), and 2.04(1.08${\sim}$3.86, P<0.01), respectively. OR(confidence interval) of stroke were 0.96(0.30${\sim}$3.08) for 1 to 2 million won, and 0.80(0.08${\sim}$8.46) for 2 to 3 million won. OR(confidence interval) of diabetes were 0.73(0.38${\sim}$1.38), 0.65(0.24${\sim}$1.71), and 0.69(0.24${\sim}$2.01), respectively. The values were 0.76(0.55${\sim}$1.03), 1.14(0.75${\sim}$1.73), and 0.90(0.56${\sim}$1.46), respectively for arthritis. OR(confidence interval) of cardiac disorders were 1.15(0.53${\sim}$2.48), 0.63(0.13${\sim}$3.12), and 1.20(0.28${\sim}$5.14), respectively. Risks of cancer, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and cardiac disorders were dependent of monthly income, and stroke and diabetes decreased with increase in income. Summarizing above data, arthritis was significantly higher in women and increase in age by each year brought significant increase in the chance of onset in hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and cardiac disorders except for cancer. Stroke and diabetes decreased with increase in income. Above findings can be applied and reflected in public health policies at the national level, and it can also be applied at the personal level for individual health maintenance and prevention.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.482-495
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• 2019

Background: An important function of the regional public hospital is to satisfy the basic medical needs of the community through the stable provision of high-quality medical services. The purpose of this study was to identify the relevance index (RI) of the regional public hospital and to identify the factors that affect the RI. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2017 regional public hospital operation evaluation report and 2017 medical monitoring report for vulnerable area. RI of the regional public hospital was a dependent variable, and multiple regression analysis was performed with observed variables of medical supply-demand condition, medical supply, and medical supply structure. Direct effects and indirect effects were confirmed by the analysis of structural equation models (SEM) to see if there were mediating effects. Results: The RI was 13.1%, and the average of all percentage refined diagnosis-related group (RDRG) was 29.4%. Factors affecting RI were medical supply-demand conditions, medical supply, and medical supply structure. As a result of multiple regression analysis, RI was higher when high percentage RDRG of the regional public hospital (t=4.117, p<0.05), the size of regional public hospital location (t=-2.554, p<0.05), and the population of regional public hospital location (t =-2.415, p<0.05) were smaller. The results of the SEM analysis show that the higher the medical supply-demand conditions, the more direct effect of decreasing the RI and the indirect effect of decreasing the effect of reduction through the medical supply (direct effect=-1.322, total effect=-0.573, p<0.01). The higher the medical supply structure, the more direct effect on the RI (direct effect=1.047, p<0.05) and the higher the medical supply, the more indirect effect of RI through the medical supply structure (total effect=direct effect=0.619, p<0.05). Conclusion: It has been confirmed that the provision of medical services can affect the RI the regional public hospital which should be considered in carrying out future policies.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2022

Aim : The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the awareness level of the mandatory employment system for the disabled and the help of the employment increase on the health status of the disabled. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to raise awareness of the compulsory employment system for the disabled and to suggest a way to improve the health of the disabled. Methods : In this study, the first data of the second wave of the 2016-2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled was used to analyze the participation of the disabled in economic activities. a total of 1,648 subjects were analyzed using the chi-square test and generalized estimating equation (GEE). Results : Compared to the group knowing about the compulsory employment system for the disabled, in the group who did not know about the compulsory employment system, the cognitive level was significantly higher for subjective health status (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.573, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.252-1.977) and chronic diseases (OR: 1.407, 95% CI: 1.091-1.816), Compared to the group that the compulsory employment system for the disabled is helpful in increasing employment, the group that said it was not helpful at all had depression feel (OR: 2.330, 95% CI: 1.219-4.452) and subjective health status (OR: 2.052, 95% CI: 1.232. -3.416) significantly affected. Conclusion : It was found that the lower the level of awareness and help of the compulsory employment system for the disabled, the negative impact on their health status. Therefore, it is necessary to promote employment growth by raising awareness of the employment system for the disabled. Furthermore, in order to improve the health of the disabled, public relations plans to increase the understanding of the disabled on the system and policies to protect the disabled people who lose their will to work due to difficulties in accessing employment were enacted, and Changes to a disability-friendly working environment should be activated so that participants can participate.