• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.402-413
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to explore factors related to amount of service use for elders with long-term care needs. Methods: A descriptive-correlation design was used. The sample included 259 elders and their primary caregivers who had cared for the elders for at least 6 months. Data on long-term care need assessment, service use and interviews with primary caregivers were analyzed. Results: There was no significant relationship between the sociodemographic characteristics and the amount of services use. Amount of service use differed significantly by Long-term care classification. The mean scores for class 1, 2 and 3 were 22.68, 21.47 and 17.87 days respectively. Primary caregiver relationship with the elders and the number of family-friend helpers were also significant. Multivariate regression analysis showed that gender, marital status, activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, and secondary caregiver support explained 17% of the total variance of service use among these elders (F=3.50, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that critical factors including secondary caregiver support and individual background, and other functional dependencies except for physical function should be considered in accurately predicting the amount of service use for community dwelling elders with long-term care needs.

• 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.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.195-209
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• 2011

This study examined the prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care need among community-dwelling middle-aged and older people in Korea. Data were from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study on Ageing (KLoSA), a national survey of 10,254 non-institutionalized adults aged 45 or older. Having unmet care needs was defined as needing personal assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) but having no available helper. Weighted logistic regressions were fitted to examine factors associated with unmet care needs. Overall, 7.3%, 14.5%, and 41.8% of subjects among the middle-aged, younger old, and older old, respectively, reported care needs of these, 34%, 33%,and 24% had unmet needs. Factors associated with unmet needs differed among the three groups: Education and income level were negatively associated with unmet needs among the middle-aged, but living alone was the only factor positively associated with unmet needs in both the younger and older old. The prevalence of and factors associated with unmet care needs differ by life-stage. Needed are home- and community-based care and services to meet the need for personal assistance among the elderly living alone in a community.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.105-111
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• 2018

Based on the Statistical Yearbook of 119 Emergency Medical Services in 2017 (National Fire Agency, 2018) and Population Projection by Province: 2015~2045 (Statistics Korea, 2017), this study analyzed the effects of population changes, such as low fertility and aging on the use of ambulance services in the future. The population of Korea is expected to decline after peaking in 2031, but the number of elderly people aged over 70 is expected to continue to increase. The rates of emergency ambulance transport (REAT, the number of patients transferred per 1,000 inhabitants) are not changed significantly, compared to the recent trends, but the ambulance services for elderly over 70 years of age will increase exponentially. Therefore, the population changes due to low fertility and aging is accompanied by a quantitative and qualitative change in ambulance services, and from the long term perspectives, it is necessary to consider not only the effective response of ambulance services due to aging, but also the adjustment of existing jurisdictions due to population changes and the relocation of manpower and resources.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.209-228
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• 2017

Previous studies have noted mothers' roles as active health information seekers, health managers, and caregivers for their family members. However, little is known about health information needs and seeking behaviors among Korean mothers of young children living in the United States. Using paper-based surveys, this study found that vaccination, child dental health, parenting, nutrition and diets, and physical exercise were ranked as the five most important health topics by the Korean mothers of young children aged 0 to 10 years old in this sample. Furthermore, this study revealed that mothers of boys evaluated the importance of two topics significantly higher than those of girls: circumcision (t=3.16, p < .01) and breastfeeding (t=2.47, p < .05). Also, age of child was an important factor influencing mothers' information needs in three health topics: child dental health (F=5.292, p < .01), physical exercise (F=7.107, p < .01), and child skin care (F=5.640, p < .01). Implications for developing health information services are also discussed.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aims to contribute to the prevention of dental diseases and health care in the elderly by investigating the relationship among the experiences of chronic diseases, dental health status, and the behaviors in the Korean elderly people. Methods: A total of 2,856 elderly people aged 65 or older were selected as the final analysis subjects using data from the 6th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2014). Chronic diseases were defined as 'cardiocerebrovascular diseases', 'diabetes', 'chronic respiratory diseases', and 'cancer' diagnosed by the doctors. For the statistical analysis, SPSS 21.0 for Windows was used. Descriptive analysis and a Chi-square test were conducted to investigate the relationship among the experiences of chronic diseases, general characteristics, dental health status, and the behaviors in the Korean elderly. Finally, logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship among the experiences of chronic diseases, dental health status, and the behaviors. Results:The prevalence of Cardiocerebrovascular diseases was significantly higher in the 3-4 group of community periodontal index with the score of 1.36 (95% CI 1.03-1.00) than in the 0-2 group. The prevalence of Cardiocerebrovascular diseases was significantly higher in the group without dental examination during the past one year with the score of 1.29 (95% CI 1.00-1.66). The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher in the uncomfortable speaking state group with the score 1.46 (95% CI 1.12-1.91). The prevalence of cancer was significantly higher in the partial denture needs group with the score 1.67 (95% CI 0.98-2.83). Conclusions: Regular dental examinations and dental health care for the elderly with chronic diseases showed that periodontal health and residual teeth could be maintained and managed. Therefore, continuous customized dental health services should be implemented for the elderly with chronic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.19-30
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• 2008

This study has comparatively analyzed the primary success factors in smoking cessation among new enrollees and re-enrollees of a smoking cessation clinic in order to find out how to efficiently operate smoking cessation clinics at public health centers. The study was conducted with 262,837 smokers aged 19 or over who were provided with smoking cessation services for more than 6 months after being registered with the smoking cessation clinic at public health centers(250 clinics nationwide) from July 16, 2006 to July 15, 2007. After dividing smokers into re-enrollees and new enrollees of the smoking cessation clinic, the success rate of and success factors for smoking cessation over 6 months have been investigated. The success factors in smoking cessation have been compared between new enrollees and re-enrollees of smoking cessation clinics. The results can be summarized as follows: First, the success rate of smoking cessation for 6 months at smoking cessation clinics of public health centers was higher in new enrollees (46.3%) than in re-enrollees (41.1%). Second, the common factors that had an influence on the success of smoking cessation of both new enrollees and re-enrollees of the smoking cessation clinic included age, social security, service, frequency of counseling, number of cigarettes per day, and alcoholic problems. Third, compared to new enrollees, re-enrollees had a higher success rate of smoking cessation as they got older. In terms of the success rate of health insurance, on the contrary, new enrollees were better than re-enrollees. Fourth, the study showed a higher success rate in smoking cessation in both new and re-enrollees if they had no alcoholic problems. In particular, a higher success rate was observed in re-enrollees when there were no alcoholic problems. To efficiently operate smoking cessation clinics at public health centers, this study confirmed that counseling should be tailored depending on the types of enrollees in the program.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.497-521
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• 2012

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of social capital, health risk behavior and health status on medical care utilization by the elderly. The data and Research method Data were obtained from the 4th wave survey of the Korea Welfare Panel Study. 4,087 household members aged 65 years and over were subject to analysis. Descriptive statistics are used to describe the basic features of the data in a study. we performed a structural equation modeling(SEM) analysis to evaluate the effect of social capital and mediating effect of health risk behavior and health status. Results Results showed that factors related to medical care utilization of the elderly were different depending on types of service (inpatient and outpatient service) except health status. Age, higher social capital, more health-risk behavior and poorer health status were associated with increased use of inpatient service. Social capital was found to have a positive direct effect on it. Also, social capital had an indirect effect on reducing use of inpatient services by improving health status. On the other hand, lower age and higher household income tended to increase use of outpatient service, while higher social capital and higher health status were inversely related. Social capital had a direct effect and an indirect effect on reducing use of outpatient service and, at that time, health status played a mediating role. Conclusions Social capital may contribute to improve health status and indirectly reduce medical care utilization of the elderly by enhancing their health status. These results provide evidence that more policy and strategy considerations should be needed for the elderly to strengthen their social capital in order to enhance their levels of health and more efficient utilization of medical care.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to define the underserved emergency medical services (EMS) areas in Daejeon metropolitan city, as well as to identify their distinctive characteristics in public health perspectives. Methods: An underserved EMS area was operationally defined as an area in which it is difficult to arrive at an emergency medical center within 30 minutes. Using a cost-weighted distance algorithm with a geographic information system (GIS), the underserved EMS area was calculated. The characteristics of the underserved areas were analyzed by the Chi-square test. The SPSS statistical software package was used to perform the statistical analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided, and a p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Twelve administrative sectors ('Dong' in Korean) were included in the underserved areas, accounting for a population of approximately 8,100 citizens. The relationships between underserved EMS area and populations of agriculture, fishery, and forestry; citizens who are recipients of national basic livelihood security program; disabled; or aged 65 or older were statistically significant. Conclusion: It was found that 12 administrative sectors were included in the underserved EMS areas. Revealing underserved EMS areas using GIS analysis based on a cost-weighted distance algorithm of road data was an effective analytic method. However, as this study was confined to Daejeon City, South Korea, a nation-wide study should be performed to provide a more accurate conclusion.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.451-459
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• 2020

Background: Although Korean government have been adopting several policies to expand coverage of National Health Insurance (NHI) program, the coverage rate is still below average across Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. This study was to identify public perception on appropriateness of coinsurance rate and factors associated with coinsurance rate in National Health Insurance. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 507 participants over aged 20 years were recruited from telephone surveys. Respondents experienced at least one and more visiting medical facilities due to medical problems in last 12 months. Demographic factors, socioeconomic positions, and experiences on medical utilization were measured in order to identify factors associated with perception appropriateness of coinsurance rate. Results: The 49.9% (n=209) of the public responded that the coinsurance rate of NHI program was appropriate. There were no differences in positive perception according to socio-demographic factors and experiences on medical utilization except for gender, residential area, and felt expensive when using medical services. People who felt burden of medical expenditure were more likely to perceive coinsurance rate inappropriate (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-3.58) Conclusion: In spite of the relatively low coverage rate of NHI, this study identified that 49.9% of the public perceived the current coinsurance rate was adequate. However, people who felt the burden of medical expenditure were still had a negative perception of the coinsurance rate needed to decrease the coinsurance rate.