• Title/Summary/Keyword: Health service research

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A Study for Improvement of Nursing Service Administration (병원 간호행정 개선을 위한 연구)

  • 박정호
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.3 no.1
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    • pp.13-40
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    • 1972
  • Much has teed changed in the field of hospital administration in the It wake of the rapid development of sciences, techniques ana systematic hospital management. However, we still have a long way to go in organization, in the quality of hospital employees and hospital equipment and facilities, and in financial support in order to achieve proper hospital management. The above factors greatly effect the ability of hospitals to fulfill their obligation in patient care and nursing services. The purpose of this study is to determine the optimal methods of standardization and quality nursing so as to improve present nursing services through investigations and analyses of various problems concerning nursing administration. This study has been undertaken during the six month period from October 1971 to March 1972. The 41 comprehensive hospitals have been selected iron amongst the 139 in the whole country. These have been categorized according-to the specific purposes of their establishment, such as 7 university hospitals, 18 national or public hospitals, 12 religious hospitals and 4 enterprise ones. The following conclusions have been acquired thus far from information obtained through interviews with nursing directors who are in charge of the nursing administration in each hospital, and further investigations concerning the purposes of establishment, the organization, personnel arrangements, working conditions, practices of service, and budgets of the nursing service department. 1. The nursing administration along with its activities in this country has been uncritical1y adopted from that of the developed countries. It is necessary for us to re-establish a new medical and nursing system which is adequate for our social environments through continuous study and research. 2. The survey shows that the 7 university hospitals were chiefly concerned with education, medical care and research; the 18 national or public hospitals with medical care, public health and charity work; the 2 religious hospitals with medical care, charity and missionary works; and the 4 enterprise hospitals with public health, medical care and charity works. In general, the main purposes of the hospitals were those of charity organizations in the pursuit of medical care, education and public benefits. 3. The survey shows that in general hospital facilities rate 64 per cent and medical care 60 per-cent against a 100 per cent optimum basis in accordance with the medical treatment law and approved criteria for training hospitals. In these respects, university hospitals have achieved the highest standards, followed by religious ones, enterprise ones, and national or public ones in that order. 4. The ages of nursing directors range from 30 to 50. The level of education achieved by most of the directors is that of graduation from a nursing technical high school and a three year nursing junior college; a very few have graduated from college or have taken graduate courses. 5. As for the career tenure of nurses in the hospitals: one-third of the nurses, or 38 per cent, have worked less than one year; those in the category of one year to two represent 24 pet cent. This means that a total of 62 per cent of the career nurses have been practicing their profession for less than two years. Career nurses with over 5 years experience number only 16 per cent: therefore the efficiency of nursing services has been rated very low. 6. As for the standard of education of the nurses: 62 per cent of them have taken a three year course of nursing in junior colleges, and 22 per cent in nursing technical high schools. College graduate nurses come up to only 15 per cent; and those with graduate course only 0.4 per cent. This indicates that most of the nurses are front nursing technical high schools and three year nursing junior colleges. Accordingly, it is advisable that nursing services be divided according to their functions, such as professional, technical nurses and nurse's aides. 7. The survey also shows that the purpose of nursing service administration in the hospitals has been regulated in writing in 74 per cent of the hospitals and not regulated in writing in 26 per cent of the hospitals. The general purposes of nursing are as follows: patient care, assistance in medical care and education. The main purpose of these nursing services is to establish proper operational and personnel management which focus on in-service education. 8. The nursing service departments belong to the medical departments in almost 60 per cent of the hospitals. Even though the nursing service department is formally separated, about 24 per cent of the hospitals regard it as a functional unit in the medical department. Only 5 per cent of the hospitals keep the department as a separate one. To the contrary, approximately 12 per cent of the hospitals have not established a nursing service department at all but surbodinate it to the other department. In this respect, it is required that a new hospital organization be made to acknowledge the independent function of the nursing department. In 76 per cent of the hospitals they have advisory committees under the nursing department, such as a dormitory self·regulating committee, an in-service education committee and a nursing procedure and policy committee. 9. Personnel arrangement and working conditions of nurses 1) The ratio of nurses to patients is as follows: In university hospitals, 1 to 2.9 for hospitalized patients and 1 to 4.0 for out-patients; in religious hospitals, 1 to 2.3 for hospitalized patients and 1 to 5.4 for out-patients. Grouped together this indicates that one nurse covers 2.2 hospitalized patients and 4.3 out-patients on a daily basis. The current medical treatment law stipulates that one nurse should care for 2.5 hospitalized patients or 30.0 out-patients. Therefore the statistics indicate that nursing services are being peformed with an insufficient number of nurses to cover out-patients. The current law concerns the minimum number of nurses and disregards the required number of nurses for operation rooms, recovery rooms, delivery rooms, new-born baby rooms, central supply rooms and emergency rooms. Accordingly, tile medical treatment law has been requested to be amended. 2) The ratio of doctors to nurses: In university hospitals, the ratio is 1 to 1.1; in national of public hospitals, 1 to 0.8; in religious hospitals 1 to 0.5; and in private hospitals 1 to 0.7. The average ratio is 1 to 0.8; generally the ideal ratio is 3 to 1. Since the number of doctors working in hospitals has been recently increasing, the nursing services have consequently teen overloaded, sacrificing the services to the patients. 3) The ratio of nurses to clerical staff is 1 to 0.4. However, the ideal ratio is 5 to 1, that is, 1 to 0.2. This means that clerical personnel far outnumber the nursing staff. 4) The ratio of nurses to nurse's-aides; The average 2.5 to 1 indicates that most of the nursing service are delegated to nurse's-aides owing to the shortage of registered nurses. This is the main cause of the deterioration in the quality of nursing services. It is a real problem in the guest for better nursing services that certain hospitals employ a disproportionate number of nurse's-aides in order to meet financial requirements. 5) As for the working conditions, most of hospitals employ a three-shift day with 8 hours of duty each. However, certain hospitals still use two shifts a day. 6) As for the working environment, most of the hospitals lack welfare and hygienic facilities. 7) The salary basis is the highest in the private university hospitals, with enterprise hospitals next and religious hospitals and national or public ones lowest. 8) Method of employment is made through paper screening, and further that the appointment of nurses is conditional upon the favorable opinion of the nursing directors. 9) The unemployment ratio for one year in 1971 averaged 29 per cent. The reasons for unemployment indicate that the highest is because of marriage up to 40 per cent, and next is because of overseas employment. This high unemployment ratio further causes the deterioration of efficiency in nursing services and supplementary activities. The hospital authorities concerned should take this matter into a jeep consideration in order to reduce unemployment. 10) The importance of in-service education is well recognized and established. 1% has been noted that on the-job nurses. training has been most active, with nursing directors taking charge of the orientation programs of newly employed nurses. However, it is most necessary that a comprehensive study be made of instructors, contents and methods of education with a separate section for in-service education. 10. Nursing services'activities 1) Division of services and job descriptions are urgently required. 81 per rent of the hospitals keep written regulations of services in accordance with nursing service manuals. 19 per cent of the hospitals do not keep written regulations. Most of hospitals delegate to the nursing directors or certain supervisors the power of stipulating service regulations. In 21 per cent of the total hospitals they have policy committees, standardization committees and advisory committees to proceed with the stipulation of regulations. 2) Approximately 81 per cent of the hospitals have service channels in which directors, supervisors, head nurses and staff nurses perform their appropriate services according to the service plans and make up the service reports. In approximately 19 per cent of the hospitals the staff perform their nursing services without utilizing the above channels. 3) In the performance of nursing services, a ward manual is considered the most important one to be utilized in about 32 percent of hospitals. 25 per cent of hospitals indicate they use a kardex; 17 per cent use ward-rounding, and others take advantage of work sheets or coordination with other departments through conferences. 4) In about 78 per cent of hospitals they have records which indicate the status of personnel, and in 22 per cent they have not. 5) It has been advised that morale among nurses may be increased, ensuring more efficient services, by their being able to exchange opinions and views with each other. 6) The satisfactory performance of nursing services rely on the following factors to the degree indicated: approximately 32 per cent to the systematic nursing activities and services; 27 per cent to the head nurses ability for nursing diagnosis; 22 per cent to an effective supervisory system; 16 per cent to the hospital facilities and proper supply, and 3 per cent to effective in·service education. This means that nurses, supervisors, head nurses and directors play the most important roles in the performance of nursing services. 11. About 87 per cent of the hospitals do not have separate budgets for their nursing departments, and only 13 per cent of the hospitals have separate budgets. It is recommended that the planning and execution of the nursing administration be delegated to the pertinent administrators in order to bring about improved proved performances and activities in nursing services.

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A Study on the Nurses' Contingent Employment and Related Factors (간호사의 비정규직 고용실태 및 관련요인에 관한 연구)

  • Choi, Sook-Ja
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.5 no.3
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    • pp.477-500
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    • 1999
  • Korean labor market has showed remarkable change of the increase in the amount of unemployment and contingent employment since IMF bailout agreement. There is a theoretical position to explain this increase in contingent employment at hospitals with the notion of flexibility. The high flexibility of employment due to the increase of contingent employees is becoming very important part in new business strategy of hospitals. The types of contingent employment of the nurse are part-time employment temporary employment, fixed-term employment, and internship which was introduced in early 1999. Recently, Korean health care industry managers have paid attention to the customer oriented service, rationalization of business administration, service quality control so that they can adjust their business to outer environment. Especially their efforts concentrate on the wage reduction through efficient and scientific control of man power because wage shares about 40% of total cost. This dissertation aims at verifying the phenomena of the contingent employment of the nurse and analyzing the related factors and problems. To rephrase these aims in ordinal: First, verifying the phenomena of contingent employment of the nurse. Second, verifying the problems of that phenomena. Third, analyzing the related factors of the contingent employment of the nurse. To accomplish these research goals, a statistical survey was executed. in which 384 questionnaires-66 for manager nurses, 318 for contingent nurses - were given to nurses working at 66 hospitals-which have at least 100 beds-in Seoul. Among them, 187 questionnaires-38 from manager nurses, 149 from contingent nurses'- 'were returned. Then, the data coded and submitted to T-test, $X^2$ -test, variance analysis(ANOVA), correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, Logistic Regression with SAS program. The research results of the contingent nurses are followings: 1. The average career term at the present hospital 8.4 months: duty-on days per month are 24.2 days: working time per day is 7.9 hours. These results showed little difference from regular nurses. 2. Their wage level is about 70% of regular nurses except for internship nurses whose wage level is 41% of regular nurses. To break down the wage composition, part-time nurses and internship nurses get few allowance and bonus. And contingent nurses get very low level of additional pay except for fixed-term nurses who are under similar condition of employment to regular nurses. These results show that hospital managers are trying to reduce the labor cost not only through the direct way of wage reduction but through differential treatment of bonus, retirement allowance, and other additional pay. 3. The problem of contingent employment: low level of pay; high level of turn-over rate: weakening of union; low level of working condition: heavy burden of work; inhuman treatment. The contingent nurses consider these problems more seriously than manager nurses do. What manager nurses regard problematic is the absence of feeling-belonged and responsibility of the contingent nurses. 4. The factors strongly related with the rate of the number of contingent nurses for the number of regular nurses; gross turn-over nurses; average in-patients per day; staring wage of graduate from professional college: the type of hospital ownership; the number of beds; the gap between gross newcomer nurses and gross turn-over nurses. The factors related with their gross wage per month; the number of beds; applying of health insurance; applying of industrial casualty insurance; applying of yearly-paid leave; the type of hospital ownership; average out-patients per day; gross turn-over nurses. The meaningful factors which make difference by employment type: monthly-paid leave; physiological leave. The logistic regression analysis using these two factors shows that monthly-paid leave is related with the type of hospital ownership; the number of beds; average out-patient per day, and physiological leave is related with the gross newcomer nurses; gross turn-over nurses; the number of beds.

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Clinical Implications of Device-Detected Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

  • Minjae Yoon;Jaewon Oh;Kyeong-Hyeon Chun;Hee Tae Yu;Chan Joo Lee;Tae-Hoon Kim;Hui-Nam Pak;Moon-Hyoung Lee;Boyoung Joung;Seok-Min Kang
    • Korean Circulation Journal
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    • v.53 no.7
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    • pp.483-496
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    • 2023
  • Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with decreased cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits compared to sinus rhythm (SR). Effective biventricular (BiV) pacing is a determinant of CRT success, but AF can interfere with adequate BiV pacing and affect clinical outcomes. We investigated the effect of device-detected AF on clinical outcomes and optimal BiV pacing in patients with heart failure (HF) treated with CRT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 174 patients who underwent CRT implantation between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary center. The optimal BiV pacing percentage was defined as ≥98%. Device-detected AF was defined as an atrial high-rate episode ≥180 beats per minute lasting more than 6 minutes during the follow-up period. We stratified the patients without preexisting AF at pre-implantation into device-detected AF and no-AF groups. Results: A total of 120 patients did not show preexisting AF at pre-implantation, and 54 had AF. Among these 120 patients, 19 (15.8%) showed device-detected AF during a median follow-up of 25.1 months. The proportion of optimal BiV pacing was significantly lower in the device-detected AF group than in the no-AF group (42.1% vs. 75.2%, p=0.009). The devicedetected AF group had a higher incidence of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death than the no-AF group. The device-detected AF and previous AF groups showed no significant differences regarding the percentage of BiV pacing and clinical outcomes. Conclusions: For HF patients implanted with CRT, device-detected AF was associated with lower optimal BiV pacing and worse clinical outcomes than no-AF.

The Effects of the Revised Elderly Fixed Outpatient Copayment on the Health Utilization of the Elderly (노인외래정액제 개선이 고령층의 의료이용에 미친 영향)

  • Li-hyun Kim;Gyeong-Min Lee;Woo-Ri Lee;Ki-Bong Yoo
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.34 no.2
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    • pp.196-210
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    • 2024
  • Background: In January 2018, revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment for the elderly were implemented. When people ages 65 years and older receive outpatient treatment at clinic-level medical institutions (clinic, dental clinic, Korean medicine clinic), with medical expenses exceeding 15,000 won but not exceeding 25,000 won, their copayment rates have decreased differentially from 30%. This study aimed to examine the changes of health utilization of elderly after revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. Methods: We used Korea health panel data from 2016 to 2018. The time period is divided into before and after the revised elderly fixed outpatient copayment. We conducted Poisson segmented regression to estimate the changes in outpatient utilization and inpatient utilization and conducted segmented regression to estimate the changes in medical expenses. Results: Immediately after the revised policy, the number of clinic and Korean medicine outpatient visits of medical expenses under 15,000 won decreased. But the number of clinic outpatient visits in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 won and Korean medicine clinic in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 won increased. Copayment in outpatient temporarily decreased. The inpatient admission rates and total medical expenses temporarily decreased but increased again. Conclusion: We confirmed the temporary increase in outpatient utilization in the medical expense segment with reduced copayment rates. And a temporary decrease in medical expenses followed by an increase again. To reduce the burden of medical expense among elderly in the long run, efforts to establish chronic disease management policies aimed at preventing disease occurrence and deterioration in advance need to continue.

Paracrine effect of the bone morphogeneticprotein-2 at the experimental site on healing of the adjacent control site: a study in the rabbit calvarial defect model

  • Lee, Jin-Wook;Lim, Hyun-Chang;Lee, Eun-Ung;Park, Jin-Young;Lee, Jung-Seok;Lee, Dong-Woon;Jung, Ui-Won;Choi, Seong-Ho
    • Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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    • v.44 no.4
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    • pp.178-183
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the possible paracrine effect of bone morphogeneticprotein-2 (BMP-2) at the experimental site on the adjacent control site for validating a rabbit calvarial defect model as a means of verifying the effect of BMP-2. Methods: Sixteen rabbits were divided into two groups (n=8 in each) according to whether or not BMP-2 would be used. Two circular defects (8 mm in diameter) were created side by side, 2 mm apart, in the calvarium of all of the rabbits. In each animal, one of the defects was grafted with either BMP-2-loaded carrier or carrier material alone. The control defects adjacent to these grafted defects, designated CB (the nongrafted defect adjacent BMP-2-loaded carrier-grafted defect) and CC (the nongrafted defect adjacent to carrier only-grafted defect), respectively, were the focus of this study, and were filled only with a blood clot in all of the animals. Histologic observation and histomorphometric analysis were performed at 2 and 8 weeks (n=4 animals per point in time) after surgery. Results: There was no noteworthy difference in the healing pattern, and no statistically significant differences in histomorphometric parameters such as the defect closure, new bone area, or total augmented area between the CC and CB groups. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that rabbit calvarial defects separated by a distance of 2 mm are suitable for evaluating the effects of BMP-2 and the control defect can be regarded not to be affected by BMP-2 applied defect.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Salt Reduction Program for Employees (직장인 대상 저염화 교육 프로그램의 효과 평가)

  • Kim, Hyun-Hee;Shin, Eun-Kyung;Lee, Hye-Jin;Lee, Nan-Hee;Chun, Byung-Yeol;Ahn, Moon-Young;Lee, Yeon-Kyung
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.350-357
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    • 2009
  • The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of a salt reduction education program. Subjects participating in this study were 251 employees (166 in the "educated" group, 85 in the "non-educated" group) at 8 hospital and industry food service operations in Daegu. After the salt reduction education program was carried out, a salty taste assessment of both groups was conducted. The educated group had statistically significant differences and the noneducated group did not have statistically significant differences. In terms of nutrition knowledge, while the nutrition knowledge of the educated group was increased (p < 0.001), that of the non-educated group rose at a rate of 0.92. In terms of dietary attitude, the educated group exhibited increased preference toward less salty foods when compared to the noneducated group (p < 0.001). Regarding dietary behavior, the score of the educated group was improved (p < 0.001), thereby indicating a preference for less salty taste. This means that nutrition education had influence on dietary behavior. However, after education, sodium excretion for the educated group was not significantly decreased, compared to before education. The results show that there was a positive correlation between salty taste assessment and dietary attitude and behavior for a high-salt diet. There was a positive relationship between attitude for a high-salt diet and sodium intake; when people prefere a more salty taste, they eat more sodium. Therefore, in order to change dietary preference away from salty taste and to decrease sodium intake, a nationwide, systematic and continuous salt reduction education program is needed.

A Study on Community Nutritional Survey for the improvement of National Nutritional Survey - Knowledge, Knowledge Practice, Attitude, Food Practice - (국민영양조사 개선을 위한 지역사회 영양조사연구 - 지식, 실기, 태도, 식행동을 중심으로 -)

  • Kang, Ji-Yong;Wie, Cha-Hyung;Ha, Eun-Hee;Kwak, Jung-Ok;Kim, In-Sook
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.147-158
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    • 1997
  • The purpose of this study is to develop the nutritional survey indices such as the Knowledge(K), Knowledge Practice(KP), Attitude(A), and Food Practice(FP) as effective materials of the nutrition education and evaluation in spreading community nutrition service. These materials were applied to two groups(126 rural people and 117 urban people) from August 1st to September 10th, 1996. We investigated actual conditions of objects about K, KP, A, FP by interviews. Also we measured serum cholesterol levels of all objects by Accutelend G.C. The results of the research turned out as follows; 1). In the comparison of the nutritional Knowledge scores, the average score of urban people was much higher($84.2{\pm}2.4$) than rural people($42.1{\pm}3.1$). 2). In the scores of the Knowledge Practice, urban people had also significantly higher score than rural people. But only 19.5% of urban people had high scores between 80 and 100, and 42.4% of urban people and 87.3% of rural people had scores between 0 and 40. 3). The average scores of the Attitude were not significantly different between urban and rural people. The average scores of the Food Practice were not significantly different between urban and rural people. 4). In cholesterol measurements, only three of 243 people were in the abnormal high levels(more than 250mg/dl), and they are all over 60 years old, and two of them were rural people. 5). The people who were younger in age, higher in educational level and spent more money for foods had higher scores on K, KP, A and FP. And the people who were younger in age in age and more money spent for foods had higher scores on FP. Regression analysis showed that the serum cholesterol levels were not associated with the scores of FP.

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Role of Print and Audiovisual Media in Cervical Cancer Prevention in Bangladesh

  • Nessa, Ashrafun;Hussain, Muhammad Anwar;Ur Rashid, Mohammad Harun;Akhter, Nargis;Roy, Joya Shree;Afroz, Romena
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.14 no.5
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    • pp.3131-3137
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    • 2013
  • Background: Visual inspection of cervix with acetic acid (VIA) is offered at 252 centers in 64 districts of Bangladesh. VIA+ve women are managed at colposcopy clinics of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and 14 Medical College Hospitals (MCHs). This research work has been supported by 'UICC Cancer Prevention Campaign' programme. Objectives: This study explored the role of print materials and electronic media to improve cervical cancer screening in the present socio-cultural context of Bangladesh. Methods: This study was performed from January to August 2011 at two upazilas of Bangladesh (Singair with screening facility and Sonargaon without screening facility). Data were collected by focus group discussion (FGD) with women, husbands and community people before and after intervention. Information on cervical cancer screening and VIA camps was disseminated using advertisement through local cable line of the television, microphone announcement, service providers and leaflet throughout the week prior to a VIA camp. Three-day VIA camps were organized at the upazila health complex (UHC) of both upazilas. Quantitative data was gathered from women at the camps on source of information on VIA and the best method of awareness creation. Results: The population was aware of "cancer" and a notable number knew about cervical cancer. Baseline awareness on prevention and VIA was low and it was negligible where screening services were unavailable. Awareness was increased fourfold in both upazilas after interventions and half of the women and the majority of the community people became aware of screening and available facilities. Cable line advertisement (25.5%), microphone announcement (21.4%), and discussion sessions (20.4%) were effective for awareness creation on VIA. Television was mentioned as the best method (37.4%) of awareness creation. Conclusion: Television should be used for nation-wide awareness creation. For local awareness creation, cable line advertisement, microphone announcements and health education at Uthan Baithaks/ EPI sessions can easily be adopted by the government.

Cognitive Function and Its Related Factors Among the Elderly People Affiliated with Long-term Care Insurance Services in Rural Areas (일부 농촌지역 장기요양급여노인들의 인지기능상태와 관련 요인)

  • Shin, Eun-Sook;Cho, Young-Chae
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.12 no.10
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    • pp.4493-4501
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    • 2011
  • This study was performed to determine the levels of MMSE-K among the elderly people affiliated with long-term care insurance services in rural areas, and to reveal its association with related variables. The interviews were performed, during the period from March 1st, to May 31th, 2009, to 410 elderlies in rural areas. As a results, The prevalence of cognitive functions among all subjects were 80.5% of severe cognitive impairment, 11.7% of mild cognitive impairment, and 7.8% of normal. The prevalence of cognitive functions were lower according to the higher grade of long-term care insurance. And the prevalence of cognitive functions were lower in the group of lower educational level, unemployed, live alone, lower monthly income, bear for living expenses by sons and daughters and medical aid, lower visual acuity, with urinary incontinence, with amnesia, without regular exercise and lower frequency of going out than their respective counterparts. The hierarchial multiple regression analysis was used to reveal the explanatory powers of factors influencing on the cognitive functions level. Such factors as age, bear for living expenses, visual acuity, urinary incontinence, amnesia, regular exercise and grade of long-term care services were significantly influenced with cognitive functions. especially the factors of health status were significantly influenced with cognitive functions.

Concept Analysis of Self-help Groups (자조그룹에 대한 개념 분석)

  • Lee, Eun Nam;Eom, Aeyong;Eun, Young;Cho, Kyung-Sook;Lee, Kyung-Sook;Song, Rhayun;Kim, Jong Im;Shin, Gyeyoung;Lim, Nan-Young;Lee, Myung Sook;Bak, Won-Sook;Oh, Doo Nam;Choi, Mi-Kyung;Choi, Hee Kwon
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.1-10
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    • 2014
  • Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the attributes of self-help groups, their antecedents and consequences relating to self-help groups. Methods: We used the Walker and Avant (2010) method using the key word "self-help groups" the Korea Education and Research Information Service (www.riss4u.net), Pubmed, CINAHL and ProQuest for articles on this topic published between January 2000 and March 2013 were searched. Ultimately, 64 domestic and 21 foreign papers were selected for in-depth analysis. Results: The attributes of self-help groups are as follows: 1) members share common experiences and are supportive of each other; 2) members set goals for individual change; 3) groups are self-monitoring; 4) groups learn problem-solving processes through voluntary and active participation; and 5) groups are small and meet regularly. The antecedents of self-help groups are as follows: 1) an intervention by an expert; 2) a diagnosis of their illness; 3) motivation to change individuals' state; and 4) educational desire. The consequences of self-help groups are the relief of symptoms, the improvement of physiological parameters and quality of life, the decrease in depression, stress, and anxiety, the improvement of illness-related knowledge and self-help activity, and a change in beliefs. Conclusion: Self-help groups can be used as an intervention strategy to help people with chronic illness manage their own problems.