• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.83-86
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• 2011

New epidemics of infectious diseases often involve health care workers. In this short communication we present a case report of a health care professional who became the first case of influenza H1N1 virus to be notified in the United Arab Emirates. There are several issues related to workplace considerations and general public health, including preventive measures, the need for isolation of the patient, dealing with contacts, return to work, and communication with the workforce.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.119-128
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• 2017

This study estimated the optimal nursing workforce and financial costs of providing comprehensive nursing services at hospitals under the national health insurance system. Data on registered nurses, nursing aids, medical institutions, and number of patients were obtained from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The optimal size of the nursing workforce was calculated using the workload model. A bottom-up approach was used to estimate the annual total financial cost of comprehensive nursing services. The number of registered nurses and nursing aids would need to be increased by 81.75% and 83.23%, respectively, in order to fully apply comprehensive nursing care on a national scale. The additional financial costs for comprehensive nursing services at all hospitals was estimated to be as much as 110.39% of the current cost. For the comprehensive nursing service, nurses with a career and newcomers need to be retained at their hospitals, and the validity of the nurse-patient ratio should be continuously checked. The financial shock to the national health insurance system could be minimized by gradually extending the system to all hospitals.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.121-140
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• 2014

Objectives: Recently, the rate of death by chronic disease, is increasing steadily. To prevent this, the public health center will have taken a leading role in the local community medical business through an establish to the national health promotion act and an amendment to the law of public health center in Korea. Results: Accordingly this research, using the Pender's health promotion model which is related with subject health behavior who government employees serve at the public health center have taken important position in the local community health promotion, have comprehended the actual condition of health behavior. For increasing the health behavior practice of subject to comprehend the factor which have effect on health behavior practice, which can be a correct role model in the local community health promotion. A survey was performed on 406 government employees who serve at five public health centers in Seoul. The period of survey was from 25th October, 2010 to 15th November, 2010. The results of this study were summarized as below. 1. Work-related stress, perceptible beneficial obstacle, and self-efficacy were composed by 5 points measure. The results show those work-related stress were $3.06{\pm}0.469$, 74perceptible beneficial obstacle were $3.74{\pm}0.471$, and self-efficacy were $3.49{\pm}0.469$. 2. As for the health behavior by general characteristic, the results have specific differences on age, education level, state of marriage, rank of the position, field of the occupation and employment forms in statics analysis. 3. As for the past health behavior by health behavior characteristic, work-related stress have specific differences on the past frequency of drinking (p<.05) in statics analysis, perceptible beneficial obstacle have specific differences on the past frequency of having breakfast(p<.05), having snacks(p<.05) and doing exercise(p<.05) in statics analysis. Self-efficacy have specific difference on the past frequency drinking(p<.01) in statics analysis. 4. According to the correlation between the factors related with health behavior and health behavior, the health behavior have specific differences on perceptible health condition(p<.01), the past health behavior and perceptible beneficial obstacle(p<.05). Work-related stress and self-efficacy don't have specific relation in health behavior practice. 5. The factors, which effect on health behavior practice have specific differences on the past health behavior, employment forms and field of the occupations. The ability of explanation occupied 54.8% what explained of the health behavior practice by general characteristic, perceptible health condition, employment forms and perceptible beneficial obstacle. Conclusions: According to the correlation between the factors related with health behavior, the health behavior have specific differences on perceptible health condition(p<.01), the past health behavior and perceptible beneficial obstacle(p<.05). The factors, which effect on health behavior practice have specific differences on the past health behavior, employment forms and field of the occupations.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.757-766
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• 2002

Purpose: Recently there have been many changes in health care environments in Korea. To perform public health programs effectively and efficiently, it is necessary to analyze and identify the demand and supply for the public health nurses. Method: The study analyzed experts' opinions regarding the supply of public health nurses, as well as national and foreign statistical data on workforce supply of public health nurses. Two methods for estimating the amount of demand for public health nurses were used: one was applying the indicators of developed countries for public health nurses based on population: the other was to refer to regulations and/or recommended guidelines in Korea. Result: 1) The number of public health centers, public health sub-centers, and primary health care posts have decreased between 1990 and 2001, from 260 to 242, 1318 to 1270, 2038 to 1907, respectively. 2) Between 1997 and 2002, the number of public health nurses has also decreased from 5572 to 5112. 3) In the case of applying regulations, the number (5112) of existing public health nurses falls shortly by 942. 4) In 2001, the Korean population per one public health nurse was 9262. 5) In the case of applying regulations, the number of public health nurses required to meet the demand for health services in 2001 and 2020 is estimated at 5932 and 6347, respectively. 6) In the case of applying the indicators of developed countries, the number of public health nurses required to meet the demand for health service in 2001 and 2020 is estimated at 9.469 and 10.310, respectively. Conclusion and suggestions: Because of the importance of public health industry, public health nurses have been approved as a field specialist and specialized nurse practitioner by the newly revised legal regulation, there have been absence of approval of their role differentiation and capability. In addition, organizational activity and insufficient number of the public health nurses have contributed to the inactive utilization of them. As community public health is focused on caring individuals as well as organizations, it requires more autonomy and special skills than other fields. Therefore, public health nurses need to enhance the capability as health educator, consultant, and information management persons through advanced education course for public health nurses. Public health nurses need to be prepared as advanced nurse practitioners by receiving advanced education courses and field experiences.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.195-214
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• 2012

The New Public Health(NPH) is a comprehensive approach to protecting and promoting the health status of each individual member and society as a whole. NHP is not so much a philosophy to broaden the understanding of public health as it is an action plan to address current public health system. This paper's objectives include increasing public and professional awareness of the significant changes in the national public health systems of developed countries and contributing to more effective delivery of public health services in Korea. This paper reviews articles and documents concerning NPH and the public health system, and outlines of the achievements in developed countries since NPH movement began. These include the change in the definition and function of public health, expansion of public health networks, strengthening of public health policy, reorientation of public health delivery systems, promotion of workforce capacity, and the implementation of evidence-based management. To overcome the challenges facing the public health system of Korea, we must prioritize the value of population-based approach, expand the notion of a public health system to encompass all sectors that can influence health, promote a "Health in All Policies" approach, focus on an evidence-based health policy and program, develop core competencies for public health workers, and establish performance standards for public health organizations based on the core functions of public health.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.398-404
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• 2010

Purpose: Concerns had been voiced about an oversupply of optometrists in Korea. So, this study aimed to forecast the supply and demand for opticians for policy implications. Methods: Baseline Projection model combined with demographic method was adopted as the supply forecasting method and so was a ratio method using the number of physician and population using weight of healthcare utilization. Results: Under the 'physician to optician ratio', there would be a surplus of 83~700 opticians in 2010 and an undersupply of 15 to surplus of 6,118 opticians in 2025. Under the 'population to optician ratio', there would be a surplus of 1,055 opticians in 2010 and surplus of 9,376 opticians in 2025. Conclusions: We concluded that there would be oversupply for opticians until 2025, although the shortage and surplus of opticians might depend on the ratio's criteria. Hence, policies would need to be developed that could solve the imbalance in requirements and supply for opticians.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.149-169
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• 2018

Purpose : This study was to develop a strategy for modeling future workforce projections to serve as a basis for analyzing annual supply of and demand for physical therapists across the South Korea into 2030. Methods : In-and-out movement model was used to project the supply of physical therapists. The demand was projected according to the demand-based method which consists of four-stages such as estimation of the utilization rate of the base year, forecasting of health care utilization of the target years, forecasting of the requirements of clinical physical therapists and non-clinical physical therapists based on the projected physical therapists. Results : Based on the current productivity standards, there will be oversupply of 39,007 to 40,875 physical therapists under the demand scenario of average rate in 2030, undersupply of 44,663 to 49,885 under the demand scenario of logistic model, oversupply of 16,378 to 19,100 under the demand scenario of logarithm, and oversupply of 18,185 to 20,839 under the demand scenario of auto-regressive moving average (ARIMA) model in 2030. Conclusion : The result of this projection suggests that the direction and degree of supply of and demand for physical therapists varied depending on physical therapists productivity and utilization growth scenarios. However, the need for introduction of a professional physical therapist system and the need to provide long-term care rehabilitation services are actively being discussed in entering the aging society. If community rehabilitation programs for rehabilitation of disabled people and the elderly are activated, the demand of physical therapists will increase, especially for elderly people. Therefore, healthcare policy should focus on establishing rehabilitation service infrastructure suitable for an aging society, providing high-quality physical therapy services, and effective utilization of physical therapists.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2022

This study attempted to provide the basic data for developing a system to identify the role of medical technologists and ensure an efficient response for quick and accurate diagnostic tests in the COVID-19 era. The research method involved using focus group interviews for a survey and analysis of 15 medical institutions. Eleven sample collection institutions, 10.4 medical technologists, 2.1 minutes of collection time, 5.4 hours of test time, 9,670 tests, 6.2 member test workforce size, and 7 screening center operating institutions were surveyed. The results of the focus group interview analysis revealed that there were no standardized guidelines covering working hours, area, and environment to protect sample collectors and testers in relation to the COVID-19 tests. Also, legal protection measures were insufficient in the event of accidental infections and there were no personnel regulations related to COVID-19. In addition, the professional training of sample collectors and molecular diagnostic testers was required for reliable COVID-19 testing. In conclusion, it is necessary to provide professional education through special test short-term training institutions to cope with emergency infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Legal systems should be put in place to protect the workforce and ensure stability.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.783-794
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• 2019

Purpose: This study identified factors related to the quality of care in nursing homes, and elicited consensus opinions from experts on nursing homes. Methods: A Delphi questionnaire was developed based on a review of the literature using the keywords "nursing homes," "workforce," and "quality of care." A total of two Delphi surveys were conducted with 14 experts. The important and urgent factors related to the quality of care for nursing home residents emerged. Results: A consensus was achieved on the important and urgent factors relating to the quality of care. The related factors were grouped into four sections: Organizational Characteristics, Staffing Characteristics, the Long-Term Care Market and Legal and Policy Issues, and Nursing Processes. In total, 23 items were important factors and 26 items were urgent factors relating to the quality of care. In addition, the unanimous advocacy by the experts for increased hours per resident day for registered nurses (RNs, 41 minutes 59 seconds) was much higher than the current hours per resident day of RNs in Korea. Conclusion: To provide optimal care for residents in nursing homes in Korea, the mandatory and essential placement of RNs with professional knowledge and skills is paramount.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.203-224
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• 2022

This study aims to examine the educational needs of migrant farm workers and farmers in Korea. For developing survey instruments, content analysis of migrant workers & employer training programs, in-depth interviews with farmers and expert reviews had been conducted. Therefore, eight parts and twenty nine educational contents for migrant workers, five parts and twenty educational contents for farmers have been constructed. For data analysis, Borich analysis and The Locus for Focus Model were hired to analyze the educational needs assessment. Results showed that migrant workers' educational priorities were 'basic korean for farming, working attitude in farming, safety guidelines and first aid skills for rural life, safe use of pesticides and protective equipment, driving skills, safe use of agricultural machinery, operation & maintenance of agricultural machinery, pest control by crop', and for the farmers' were 'communication with migrant workers, trouble controls with employment, farming guidance, industrial accident cases and countermeasures, preventing disease and promoting mental health of migrant workers'.