• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, health policy making is increasingly based on evidence. Therefore, Korean Terminal Cancer Patient Information System (KTCPIS) was developed to meet such need. We aimed to report its developmental process and statistics from 6 months data. Methods: Items for KTCPIS were developed through the consultation with practitioners. E-Velos web-based clinical trial management system was used as a technical platform. Data were collected for patients who were registered to 34 inpatient palliative care services, designated by Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Family Affairs, from $1^{st}$ of January to $30^{th}$ of June in 2009. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. Results: From the nationally representative set of 2,940 patients, we obtained the following results. Mean age was $64.8{\pm}12.9$ years, and 56.6% were male. Lung cancer (18.0%) was most common diagnosis. Only 50.3% of patients received the confirmation of terminal diagnosis by two or more physicians, and 69.7% had an insight of terminal diagnosis at the time of admission. About half of patients were admitted to the units on their own without any formal referral. Average and worst pain scores were significantly reduced after 1 week when compared to those at the time of admission. 73.4% faced death in the units, and home-discharge comprised only 13.3%. Mean length of stay per admission was $20.2{\pm}21.2$ days, with median value of 13. Conclusion: Nationally representative data on the characteristics of patients and their caregiver, and current practice of service delivery in palliative care units were obtained through the operation of KTCPIS.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-31
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• 2022

Purpose: This study conducted a job analysis of visiting nurses in the process of change. Methods: Participants were the visiting nurses working for the Seoul Metropolitan city. On the basis of the Public Health Intervention Wheel model, two times of the focus group interview (FGI) with seven visiting nurses and one time of the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) with 34 visiting nurses were performed. A questionnaire survey of 380 visiting nurses was conducted to examine the frequency, importance and difficulty levels of the tasks created by using the FGI and DACUM. Results: Visiting nurses' job was derived as the theme of present versus transitional roles. The present role was categorized as 'providing individual- and group-focused services' and 'conducting organization management', while the transitional role was categorized as 'providing district-focused services' and 'responding to new health issues'. The job generated 13 duties, 28 tasks, and 73task elements. The tasks showed the levels of frequency (3.65 scores), importance (4.27 scores), and difficulty (3.81 scores). All the tasks were determined as important, exceeding the average 4.00 scores. The group- and district-focused services of the tasks were recognized as more difficult but less frequent tasks. Conclusion: The visiting nurses exert both present and transitional roles. The transitional roles identified in the present study should be recognized as an extended role of visiting nurses in accordance with the current changing healthcare needs in South Korea. Finally, the educational curriculum for visiting nurses that reflects the transitional roles from the present study is needed.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the needs of the cancer patients and their families and provide basic data to meet with their needs. Methods: This is a descriptive study using questionnaire method. Questionnaire were collected by mail from 76 discharged patients from a hospice ward from May until the end of October, 2004, and data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0. Results: Admitted patients had needs of pain control (85.5%), non-pain symptoms (63.2%) such as vomiting, dyspnea, ascites, etc, and emotional and spiritual problem solving (28.9%, 14.5%). Interests of patients were health care of himself/herself (65.8%), concern for their spouses left alone (32.9%), and future of their children (15.8%). In families' needs of care of 5 areas, "information on patient's status and treatment/nursing care" was shown most high score ($3.48{\pm}0.62$). In detailed questions, they request most 'to inform the prognosis of patients' and the next is 'to inform the reasons that nursing care was required'. The next highest score was to 'inform family roles' ($3.39{\pm}0.64$), and next was spiritual support ($3.11{\pm}0.79$), and emotional support ($3.08{\pm}0.72$). Expectations of family on the treatment were comfortable dying (73.4%) scored the highest. Patients' families were satisfied with volunteer service most in service area (97.4%). The next was pain control (89.5%) and nursing service (77.6%). Conclusion: Health care staff should identify the actual needs of families caring cancer patients and they should operate realistic programme which can give continuous and assistance by reflecting individual needs and characteristics. With these srategies, the quality of life of patients and families can be improved. And then the intervention programme should be developed to measure subjective nursing care needs of terminally ill cancer patients and their families.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 1980

The main purposes of the nutrition and clinical surveys were to provide baseline information on the nutritional status of pre-school children in rural health demonstration project areas of the Korea Health Development Institute (KHDI) for nutrition guidance services for the MCH target group. The survey covered a total of 222 pre-school children and 135 mothers in Okgu Gun, Cholla Pukto Province from August 10 to August 17, 1979. The survey results are summarized as follows: 1) Family Environment Seventy percent of the households had more than three children, and the mean family sire was 6. Sixty-nine percent of the mothers and 47% of the fathers of the surveyed households were educated at or below the primary school level. The majority, 70% of the mothers, were aged between 20 years and 35 years. 2) Anthropometric Measurements and Hemoglobin Value 4.5% of the children were lower than 80% weight for age of the Korean standard, and 5.4% were lower than 85% arm circumference for age of the Jelliffe's standard resectively, and those were suffering from protein-energy malnutrition. Angular stomatitis were observed on 66.2% of the subjects. Mean hemoglobin value was 11.1g/100m1, and 44.2% of the subjects were categorized as anaemia. 3) Food and Nutrient Intake of animal foods was very low, ranging from 2.9 to 17%. Consumption of eggs was less than 2% of total food intake, and intake of legumes was also very scanty, between 0.8 to 3.7%. These data present evidence of very poor protein intake, quality as well as quantity. Energy intake of children was 60.0 to 64.4% of the recommended allowance, and mean protein intake only met 47.4% of the recommendation. Low intake of vitamins except thiamin were also found. 4) Mother's Nutrition Knowledge Eighty-five percent of the mothers were entirely ignorant regarding the 'five basic food group' which is most important fact on food and nutrition guidance. Mean knowledge score from 14 basic questions about food and nutrition was as low as 5.1. There was a significant positive correlation between mother's educational level and nutrition knowledge score. 5) Family Planning Variable There were significant correlation among maternal, family planning variables, and some of the nutritional and physical measurements. The study revealed that the mother's educational level and nutrition knowledge score are more crucial factors than the family planning variables on effecting food intakes on children. Recommendation : According to the results of the surveys, there were high incident rates of nutritional anaemia and angular stomatitis among pre-school children, and most of rural women had very limited knowledge about food and nutrition. As a main part of the health education activities, the community health workers should provide nutrition education to the village mothers to improve the nutrional status of young children in rural areas. Nutrional promotion at the primary health care level should be mainly based on appropriate nutrition education.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.72-81
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• 2022

As new disasters such as COVID-19, MERS, and earthquakes appear in modern society, the nation's ability to manage uncertain risks is becoming more important. The government is promoting a disaster safety management policy closely related to daily life by reinforcing on-site response capabilities. Therefore, in order to respond more effectively to disasters that have recently been enlarged, complicated, and delocalized, there is a limit to only disaster-related organizations in the public sector. It is necessary to check it and find ways to develop it. In the event of an unpredictable national disaster or infection, the government needs disaster safety management measures closely related to daily life. Accordingly, as an efficient response and strategy such as procedures and methods for funeral support at the scene of a national disaster were needed, a designated funeral home was introduced. In the event of a major disaster, a large number of casualties that exceed the daily work level of the relevant department occur and rapid changes in relief, medical care, funeral and administrative procedures occur accordingly. The purpose of this study is to derive basic operating directions and prompt funeral support plans for funeral homes designated for national disaster preparedness.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.636-652
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• 1992

This study identified the impact of childhood cancer on the Korean family. The purpose was to contribute knowledge for family nursing and pediatric hospice care practice with sick children and their families. This descriptive study was conducted during a 6 month period with children who were being treated for cancer at six university hospitals in Seoul. The data were gathered from members of 68 families ; 24(Group A), with a child newly diagnosed with cancer : 27(Group B), with a child under treatment and without complications, and 17 (Group C), with a child in relapse. Medical records, structured questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The questionnaires and interview schedules had been used previously in Martinson's research in the USA and China. The findings, conclusions, and suggestions are as follows. 1. The impact of childhood cancer on the family. Members of the family experienced fear, helplessness, guilty feelings, and anger at the time of the initial diagnosis and at relapse. Mothers complained of headache, anorexia and poor appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbance, and bad dreams. Many of the fathers either lost or changed jobs, and all working mothers stopped working. Half the parents reported changes in their marital relationships such as frequent quarrels but also stronger unity. Family members perceived cancer as the most frightening disease. Change in their world view was expressed as living on faith understanding suffering, determining to live a better life, wanting to live an upright life and valuing health as the most important. Religious activities are found most helpful through this difficult experience. Financial debt due to the treatment and care of the sick child, burdened 22 families. The above mentioned impact was most evidant in Group B(those presently undergoing treatment) and Group C(those in relapse). Findings indicate that nursing care should embrace the family of a child who is being treated for cancer. 2. Characteristics of the child with cancer The majority of the children in this sample had a diagnosis of leukemia. Their mean age was 6.8 and the ratio of boys to girls was 1.12 ; 1. The mean hospitalization frequency was 13.5 times and the mean duration of illness was 16.8 months. Most of 1.he children perceived cancer as the most frightening disease ; 32.7% of the children described their sickness as serious. Children in Group C were hospitalized more frequently, stayed in hospital for longer periods, and expressed their sickness as quite serious more often than the other two groups. These findings indicate how much comprehensive pediatric hospice nursing care services are needed along with relevant research and nursing education. 3. Characteristics of the families. The mean age of the father was 39.5 and the mother, 36,6 ; they are in their most productive life period. Mothers especially expressed feelings of financial uneasiness and powerlessness about giving up their jobs, and guilty feelings for not providing enough care and concern to other children due to taking care of the sick one. The burden of caring for the sick child can bring negative changes in family dynamics which they think provoke potential health problems in members of the family These findings suggest a need for nursing support and counselling resources. Findings also suggest the need for ethical inquiry about such questions as who should give information to the child in regard to diagnosis and prognosis, when, and how. Other suggestions included : 1) Quality health care for childhood cancer such as home care and pediatric hospice programs should be established. 2) Special and practical consideration for long-term patients should be made in the present insurance coverage. The reimbursement period for long-term patients should be lengthened. 3) Further in-depth qualitative studies are needed. 4) Education programs including guided practice experience for pediatric hospice care practitioners are needed.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.513-538
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• 2013

As a childcare program of TaeHwa Christian Women's Institution in 1921, the childcare system in Korea was incepted. Since then, the political foothold of childcare system has steadily been advancing to provide high quality services to young children. In almost a hundred-year-history of public childcare in Korea, depending on the changes enforced on the related laws and regulations and varying perspectives over time, the administration office accountable for childcare policies has been authorized to the Ministries of Health, Social Affairs, Education, Labor, Home Affairs, Rural Development Administration, and/or others. But as of 1991, under the enactment of Infant and Child Care Act, it was changed to be administered by the unified authority of the Health and Social Welfare Ministry. Then, in 2004 and 2007, its statutory authority, respectively, transferred to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and back to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Staring of the Infant and Child Care Act in 1991, Korean childcare policies have been managed by the dual systems of the Education Ministry and the Health and Social Welfare Ministry each holding jurisdiction over kindergartens and childcare centers, respectively. Faced with the recent marked decline of birth rate, diverse childcare policies are currently implemented in the pursuit of finding means to enhance the quality of childcare and to develop policies for the restoration of the low birth rate. This study presented distinct features of current childcare policies and discussed about future directions and challenges of these policies.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.160-169
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• 2020

This study was conducted to identify the linkage and cooperation experiences in public case-management services of visiting health care practitioners. Focus group interviews were conducted with three people in charge of providing visiting healthcare services in public health centers. A semi-structured interview questionnaire was developed in advance through discussions among researchers In response to the interview questions, study participants described in detail the success and failure factors associated with linkage and cooperation that they experienced while providing visiting healthcare services. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively to identify the main themes and sub-themes reflecting visiting nurses' experiences with linkage and cooperation. The three main themes were: 'Guidelines act as positive performance factors for community-based linkage and cooperation', 'Unstable employment and lack of an integrated system act as barriers to linkage and cooperation', and 'Necessary for multidimensional approach to promoting linkage and cooperation'. Based on these results, the authors propose the development of clear linkage and cooperation standards and procedures, thereby ensuring job security for visiting nurses. Moreover, an integrated information system should be developed and implemented.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.245-269
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• 2013

Self-sufficiency has been recognized as one of the most important welfare goals for women in the domestic violence field since the welfare reform in the U.S. A qualitative research design was conducted to explore the self-sufficiency experience of Korean-American single mothers with the history of domestic violence in poverty. The meaning of 'self-sufficiency' to participants is that a continuing task or process in life to move toward being independent mentally as well as economically. Their challenges toward self-sufficiency include the period of restoration of their potentials for self-sufficiency destroyed by domestic violence victimization and divorce, and the period of developing their sustainability for self-sufficiency. Their needs for 'help and support similar to care from the woman's parents' home', 'welfare service of select and concentration', 'mature dependency and self-sufficiency', and 'self-sufficiency from survival to dream come true' to cope with the challenges formentioned are reported. Concrete strategies for the development of self-sufficiency polices and services sensitive to immigrant single mothers with the history of domestic violence are suggested.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.307-329
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• 2014

Medical tourism involves patients intentionally leaving their home country to access non-emergency health care services abroad. Growth in the popularity of this practice has resulted in a significant amount of attention being given to it from researchers, policy-makers, and the media. Yet, there has been little effort to systematically synthesize what is known about the effects of this phenomenon and key choice factors. This study seeks to figure out, using conjoint analysis, what factors Chinese medical tourists place importance on maximizing utility when selecting their destination and propose selection attributes that can lure medical tourists to Korea. Results showed that, of destination attributes, medical technology competitiveness proved be the most important and of lower levels, international accreditation proved to have the highest utility. This article presents the findings of valuable insights to medical institutions, travel agencies and related firms in their marketing activities.