• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2013

Background: Patients' trust in their physicians or hospitals is important to guarantee the effectiveness of care and to encourage revisits. This study aimed to identify the relationship between the experience of requesting verification of healthcare benefit coverage via the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) and patients' trust in their physicians or hospitals. Methods: For this population-based study, 800 adult respondents aged 20 to 65 years were recruited using random sampling and telephone surveys. Respondents were divided into two groups: 1) 400 people had experience in requesting the HIRA verification service for the purpose of confirmation of whether the costs they paid were appropriate among metropolitan habitants, and 2) 400 people comprised members of the public who had no experience requesting the verification service. Results: Experience with requesting verification services was likely to lower the patients' trust in medical institutions, but not in their physicians (p<0.05). In addition, patients who were satisfied with their physicians and hospitals were more likely to trust the physicians and hospitals than dissatisfied patients. Conclusion: Patients' trust might be an important factor influencing hospital success. Patients' trust in medical suppliers, such as physicians and hospitals, encourages a positive relationship between medical suppliers and patients. Therefore, medical suppliers must provide appropriate care to patients to improve patients' trust in them.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2013

Purpose: To identify an associations between health care workers' uniforms and health care-associated infection. Methods: Electronic databases, including Ovid-Medline, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, KMbase, and KoreaMed, were searched. The search terms included doctor, nurse, health care worker/staff/assistant, clothing, (white) gown, uniform, (neck)tie, and attire. Only papers published in English and Korean were included. Results: 16 studies were selected from 1,900 references screened. All of the studies were non-comparative studies except for one. Four were conducted with doctors, six with nurses, one with health care workers including physiotherapists and one for medical staff plus visitors in a neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors more frequently changed their uniforms than neckties; therefore, the degree of contamination was more serious in neckties. The cuff zone was more likely to be heavily contaminated than other areas of long-sleeve gowns. Coats become contaminated quickly once worn, and colony counts reached a similar level within the first few hours after wearing them. Wearing a plastic apron or protective clothing did not prevent the bacterial contamination of nurses' uniforms, and the best way to decrease the contamination was changing to newly laundered uniforms before starting every duty. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' uniforms are a potential source of health care-associated infection although there was no robust evidence. The government must establish standards for laundering of uniforms or a requirement for institutions to provide a laundering service for healthcare workers' uniforms.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2009

The nursing home for the elderly has a weak point for evacuation from the fire because most of all the users are suffering from a dementia or paralysis. When it comes to night shift, it is much difficult to get them evacuated due to the lack of staffs. In addition to that, the nursing home for the elderly has such a strict control system for access that does not have a utility for escape opening. That is why they need the differentiated evacuation planning. This study is to consider the point at issues on the present conditions of law, system, and evacuation plans for the nursing home for the elderly that has some difficulties because of impaired functions of residences. This study dealt with the point at facilities and operations of the emergency evacuation system. First of all, for the point at the facilities, I found that it need to be considered on the characteristics of the elderly who has any difficulties of the self evacuation. And the established regulation did not reflect the characteristics of closed area of the nursing home for the elderly. The second, for the point at the operation of the institutions, it is pointed that there seems to be a lack of ways to manage to a emergency situation and educations on the operation staff. And the last, for the point at the operation, the requirement for the managers of fire prevention facilities are similar to that of a normal building. Furthermore there is a lack of corporation with the fire station.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.57-66
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• 2016

Purpose: According to the trend of the global burden of disease, in the future our society is expected to face with gradually increasing problems related to mental health and the demand for the various types of quality mental health facilities. This study investigates whether the accreditation of Mental health facilities serves as a building evaluation tool, and contribute to environmental welfare of the mentally ill. Methods: The facility assessment items related to architectural design are extracted through the analysis about the accreditation program of KOIHA. Extracted items should review if they comply with the relevant regulations, and establish building design standard. Results: This study shows that the accreditation of KOIHA can certify psychiatric hospitals meet the legal requirements, the minimum standard of facilities. But it is not the evaluation of environmental quality. It is difficult to assess the quality of facility in terms of architectural design, because it has no specific standards or the level of assessment. Implications: The accreditation for mental health facilities should be able to provide the right and opportunity to choose a more quality facility for the customer. The introduction of a certification system for the evaluation of environmental quality is required in order to overcome the limitations of the accreditation of KOIHA. Development of design guidelines for mental health facilities that are the basis for certification should be also followed.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.7-15
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• 2017

Purpose: The Korean government has implemented a Barrier Free Certification System since 2008 to create a secure and convenient environment for the socially disadvantaged. The drastic increase in the number of BF-certification facilities is expected due to the revision of the system and increasing the number of certification institutions. An analysis of individual evaluation items needs to be made for the BF-Certification with public confidence. Method: Korean standard, International Standard(ISO/FDIS 21542, 2011), German Standard(DIN 18040-1, 2010), Austrian Standard(${\ddot{O}}NORM$ B 1600, 2017) and Swiss Standard(Norm SIA 500 / SN 521 500, 2009) were investigated and analyzed. A comprehensive improvement plan is proposed by comparing details of the aforementioned standards and the evaluation items of BF-Certification. Results: Many problems arise in applying existing Barrier-free standards due to changes in population structure, environmental change and the use of powered wheelchairs. International standards are being improved to solve these problems. The korean standards also require improving of the Barrier Free Law and Certification System, which reflect these trends. In korean cases, standards such as the size of the doors (width and height), the Unobstructed Manoeuvring Space and Clear Space at the Latch side of the Door are required to improve standards in accordance with international standards. In addition, the expression of laws and evaluation items of BF-Certification should be clearly defined. And the application of visual contrast standards for the enhancement of perceptions presented in international standards should be considered. Implication: Barrier Free related legal standards and evaluation items of BF-Certification that are used in Korea are required to be revised in consideration of social and environmental changes. Comprehensive improvements should be made through detailed review.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.67-75
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• 2017

Purpose: This study is for the facility eligibility and improvement evaluation analysis for the patient care environment of 7 facilities which has national inpatient isolation units. Methods: For the evaluation, first of all, the patient care environment of national inpatient isolation units are scrutinized by the checklist which is used on from 2014 with the 4 fields of criteria : architectural planning and layout, general requirement and condition for operating the negative pressured isolated patient room, HVAC system, and waste water discharging system. Finally, the evaluation results are compared with that of 2014. Results: The result shows that the average value of facility eligibility is 89.3 percent and which is 8.9 percent higher than the value before the MERS occurred. Implications: It is clear that facility remodeling of 7 institutions is being performed continuously, and the result of facility eligibility evaluation is reflected on design of a new 21 national inpatient isolation units those are going to be constructed from 2016. Therefore, it is expected that this study is used as a practical reference to establish the criteria of patient care environment management and safety management for both infectious disease outbreak and general service condition.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.17-26
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• 2021

Purpose: This study is a case study in which the space was improved by applying the design direction derived through the theoretical basis and service design process to the outpatient department and health examination center in mental health facilities used by various stakeholders. And it aims to present implications through this. Methods: The research method is based on the analysis of the service design process with a focus on literature review. Results: As a result of deriving the design direction, it was organized into 1) improvement of spatial arrangement, 2) improvement of wayfinding system, and 3) creation of comfortable environment. The design improvement plan suggested division of areas, change of nurse station location, creation of a pleasant waiting space for the outpatient department, reinforcement of access, improvement of room relocation and flow, and increased comfort of common spaces for the health examination center. Implications: First, it is necessary to expand research and application of spatial planning and environmental design reflecting the characteristics of patients and environments of mental health institutions. Second, in the medical environment, the divided territoriality should be reviewed for various stakeholders as well as the coexistence. Third, it is necessary to promote medical service and environmental improvement through the service design process.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.107-115
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for related researches on knowledge, attitude, and health belief related to hepatitis B and development of a preventive education program for the rise of its vaccination on college students of dental hygienics and dental laboratory technology majors. The questionnaires were distributed to a total of 252 students from April 26 to 30, 2018. The mean knowledge score of hepatitis B was 11.60 out of 20.0. The mean scores for their attitude and health belief on hepatitis B were 3.51 and 3.10 out of 4.0, respectively. Only 38.9% of the subjects were vaccinated and 53.6% of them were not educated. The factors affecting the vaccination were clinical training experience and prevention education. It is essential to provide healthcare education on knowledge, attitude, and health belief related to hepatitis B and to develop a convergent education program because the students may be manpower for healthcare institutions in the future.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.200-205
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of dental hygienists in Japan. The study explicated the history, core curriculum, National Examination for Dental Hygienists, work roles of dental hygienists, and workplaces of dental hygienists. This study was based on the government policy report on dental hygienists and the information published by each public institution. The latest statistics presented by the institutions were collected through official websites. The employment information of graduates from Hiroshima University was analyzed based on actual field study. The results of the study revealed that social demand for dental hygienists has steadily increased and policies and education have been revised accordingly. The work roles of dental hygienists have expanded to meet the needs of the treatment and those of public health fields. In line with major policy changes, the educational period has been extended from 1 year to 3 or 4 years, while the mandatory credits for graduation have been established. Licensing examinations were being performed by the local governments since 1948 due to the different situations of dental hygienists in different areas. In 1992, they were converted into a single national examination. The work roles have expanded from assisting dental treatments to health guidance, home care, and perioperative care. Consequently, the number of dental hygienists has increased, especially in healthcare facilities for the elderly. Dental hygienists perform various roles. However, the most essential role is to provide the best oral care services to the patient. The expected role of dental hygienists has expanded in alignment with public healthcare needs and support for the elderly. The government and universities are expected to bring about improvements such as diversifying the channels of education and establishing policies to respond to growing patient needs by cultivating excellent dental hygiene professionals.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.577-582
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• 2021

This study was conducted to find ways to restore the domestic medical tourism industry, which was seriously hit by a sharp drop in foreign patients after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kendall's W verification was used by asking expert panel for keyword advice by ranking. The conclusion of the study is that institutions attracting foreign patients need an opportunity to turn the crisis situation into an opportunity by expanding treatment for severe foreign patients. In addition, it is possible to gain familiarity and trust in hospitals in situations where it is difficult to visit overseas through virtual and augmented reality, and to prevent the risk of infection and protect patients in the untact era. In addition, the blockchain can maintain patient information supplementation, share it safely, minimize customer inconvenience by using payment means using virtual currency, and finally, smart healthcare can manage and provide information to patients regardless of location.