• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.837-847
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hospital characteristics on employment rate, working period, and retirement of ward nurses in Korea through a retrospective cohort study based on HIRAS data. Methods: Data were obtained from a report on medical care institutions of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRAS). Data from 259,941 nurses who were working for a day or more from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016, at 2,942 medical care institutions were analyzed. Life table method analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were conducted. Results: The employment rates of 5 yeas and 10 years for the total sample were 38% and 28%, respectively. The estimated mean value of the working period was 3,642.7 days (SE: 17.4 days). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses revealed that nurses who were working at the general hospital/hospital, clinic, and nursing hospital were more likely to leave the hospital compared to those who were working at the 3rd general hospital. Nurses who were working at the medical institutions which were located in cities and countries, established by the private foundation, rated lower levels of nursing, and owned an insufficient number of beds, nurses and doctors were more likely to leave their workplace compared to those of the counterparts. Conclusion: This study indicates that hospital characteristics may play a significant role in retirement and working period of ward nurses in Korea. The improvement of hospital conditions to reduce ward nurses' retirement are needed.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.402-408
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• 2018

Background/Aims: With improvements in the survival of liver transplantation (LT) recipients, the focus is shifting to patient quality of life (QOL), and employment is an important factor in aiding the social reintegration of LT patients. This study aims to evaluate the current employment status of liver graft recipients and various factors that may hinder reemployment. Methods: Fifty patients above age 18 who underwent either living or deceased donor LT at a single center from March 2009 to July 2016 were interviewed during their visit to the outpatient clinic. The internally developed questionnaire consisted of 10 items. The Karnofsky Performance Scale and EQ-5D were used to evaluate patient function and QOL. Results: A total of 25 (50%) patients returned to work after transplantation (the working group), and 21 (84%) patients in the working group returned to work within the first year after transplantation. In the non-working group (n=25), 17 (68%) answered that their health was the reason for unemployment. Fatigue and weakness were the most frequent symptoms. Conclusions: The data shows that as many as 50% of total patients returned to work after receiving LT. Fatigue and weakness were the most common complaints of the unemployed group, and resolving the causes of these symptoms may help to increase the employment rate.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.306-313
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• 2015

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the factors associated with initiation and continuation of breastfeeding among Korean women in relation to their employment status. Methods: Data were collected using a web-based self-administered questionnaire from 1,031 Korean mothers living in Seoul with babies younger than 24 months. Demographic characteristics, education on breastfeeding, rooming in, breastfeeding during hospital stay, and breastfeeding knowledge were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with initiation and continuation at 1, 6 and 12 months according to mothers' employment status. Results: Breastfeeding initiation rates were similar regardless of mothers' employment status. Continuation rates decreased for both groups of mothers, but were significantly lower among employed mothers at all duration points. Unemployed mothers who were able to keep their babies in the same room during the hospital stay were more likely to initiate breastfeeding. The factor that was consistently associated with breastfeeding continuation for all duration points among unemployed mothers was whether the mother breastfed during the hospital stay. Higher knowledge scores and having an infant with atopic dermatitis were also associated with breastfeeding continuation at 6 months and 12 months, respectively for unemployed mothers, and receiving education on breastfeeding was associated with 12-month continuation for employed mothers. Conclusion: These results emphasize the significant roles of hospitals for breastfeeding initiation and continuation, with rooming-in, initial breastfeeding practice and education during hospital stay as important practices. In addition, for working mothers to continue their breastfeeding, significant support from the workplace is crucial.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.24.1-24.13
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• 2022

Background: In modern society, depression is serious issue that causes socioeconomic and family burden. To decrease the incidence of depression, risk factors should be identified and managed. Among many risk factors for depression, this study examined socioeconomic risk factors for depression. Methods: We utilized first (2006), second (2008), and third (2010)-wave data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depressive symptom was measured with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Short Form (CES-D-10) in the survey in 2008 and 2010. Three risk factors including job security, employment type and monthly income were measured in the survey in 2006. The association between risk factors and depressive symptom was analyzed by Cox proportional-hazard model. Results: We analyzed data from 1,105 workers and hazard ratios (HRs) for 3 risk factors were significant entirely. In addition, regular worker with high income group is the most vulnerable group of poor job insecurity on depression among male workers (HR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-2.81). Finally, HRs for 7 groups who had at least 1 risk factor had higher HRs compared to groups who had no risk factors after stratifying 3 risk factors. In the analysis, significantly vulnerable groups were total 5 groups and the group who had highest HR was temporary/daily workers with poor job security (HR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.36-4.64). The results concerning women, regardless of job type, were non-significant. Conclusions: This study presented one or more risk factors among poor job security, low income, temporary/daily employment type increase hazard for depressive symptom in 2 or 4 years after the exposure. These results inform policy to screen for and protect against the risk of depression in vulnerable groups.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.54-66
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was to figure out relationships of perceived Technology Readiness Index(TRI), usefulness, acceptance intension, and the recognition of substitute employment of medical personnel on the artificial intelligence (AI) and internet of things (IoT) among main technologies. Methodology: To achieve the purpose, this study utilized structured survey tools to conduct a questionnaire survey of nursing, administrative and medical technology professionals at six university hospitals in Korea metropolitan area. A PLS(Partial Least Square) Path analysis was utilized To analyze the material. Findings: In the relation with the technology readiness and perceived usefulness, it had a positive influence to the perceived usefulness when the optimism and innovativeness were higher and the discomfort was lower. In the relation with the technology readiness and acceptance intension, it showed a positive influence when the innovativeness was higher and the discomfort was lower. In the relation with the perceived usefulness and acceptance intension, it had a positive influence to the acceptance intension when the perceived usefulness was higher. In the relation with the acceptance intension and the recognition of substitute employment, it showed a positive influence to the recognition of substitute employment when the acceptance intension was higher. Practical Implications: Judging based on the above study results and reference reviews, it confirmed that it is necessary to prepare in the level of hospital organization in the $4^{th}$ Industrial Revolution. They should increase the efficiency of human resources through the technological factors or changes of employment types for the additional demands of human resources to handle increasing medical demands or induce to secure necessary abilities which are changing at the right time by performing the $4^{th}$ Industrial Revolution related re-training continuously to develop the value of existing human resources.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2013

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between employment transitions and suicide ideation among the echo generation. Methods: This study used survey data from the 2008 and 2010 Seoul Welfare Panel Study (Wave I, II). The sample population was restricted to the echo generation aged between18 and 31, and the total of 882 samples were included in the final dataset. Employment transitions were categorized into four groups. The groups were defined as 'employed-employed', 'unemployed-employed', 'employed-unemployed', and 'unemployed-unemployed'. We used logistic regression to find out the association between employment transitions and suicide ideation among the echo generation. Results: 'Employed-unemployed' and 'unemployed-unemployed' groups were likely to have an association with depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 1.51; OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.56 to 1.59) accordingly. 'Unemployed-unemployed' group also was related to suicide ideation (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.36 to 1.42). Interestingly, 'unemployed-employed' group showed a strong association with suicide ideation among the echo generation (OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 3.75 to 3.95). Conclusion: Experience in unemployment increases the risk of depression and suicide ideation. Moreover, the precarious job also increases the risk of suicide ideation.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2021

Purposes: This study aims to identify factors affecting dental university hospitals' profitability and understand recent their business condition. Methodology: Data from 2016 to 2019 was collected from financial statement, public open data in 8 dental university hospitals. For the study, multiple regression test with stepwise selection was applied. Findings: First of all, 9 out of 19 independent variables were selected by stepwise selection. As a result of multiple regression test with selected independent variables and the dependent variable(operating profit margin ratio), the factors affecting hospitals' profitability were the number of dental unit chair, hospital location, debt ratio, total capital turnover ratio, employment cost rate, material cost rate, management expense rate, the number of patient per a dentist. Practical Implication: To improve dental university hospitals' profitability, hospitals specifically analysis and manage their cost such as employment, material and management cost and seek effectiveness by managing the proper number of patient per a dentist.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2021

Background: This study aims to determine whether the new 6-year pharmacy curriculum is designed to help students in their career path based on the employment status of the current 2+4 pharmacy school graduates. Methods: An online survey was conducted to the pharmacists who graduated from Woosuk University College of Pharmacy between 2015 and 2021. The survey questions included the current employment status of the graduates and their feedback on the clinical pharmacy curriculum at Woosuk University. Results: There were a total of 104 graduates who responded to the survey out of 312 graduates of whom the school had current contact information. Most of the graduates are currently working in a community pharmacy (63.5%), followed by hospital pharmacy (27.9%) and pharmaceutical industry (4.8%). Although most graduates were satisfied with clinical pharmacy courses at our college, many thought there needs to be a reinforcement or improvement in the curriculum, including pharmacotherapy and pharmacy practice experiences as well as social pharmacy courses. Conclusion: Based on our study, clinical and social pharmacy are the courses that teach the knowledge and skills required in community and hospital pharmacy and yet, are most in need of improvement. As most graduates work in a community or hospital pharmacy, it is necessary to improve our pharmacy curriculum so that they can learn and demonstrate their clinical skills effectively.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.25-44
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• 2005

Despite of increasing importance of management in healthcare administration and demand for the professional managers in hospitals, there have been few studies on the issues of competencies and qualifications of mid-managers for effective role performance. This article uses hospital mid-managers' judgements to discuss them in Korean hospital settings. Based on 67 questionnaires completed through the mail survey, the data were analyzed by chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. The result shows that knowledge of management skills in healthcare field is the most necessary area in general. Specifically, 'problem-solving ability' is the most important competency, followed by communication and planning capabilities. The mid-managers tend to consider the hospital employment history more important than the academic level. They also present the willingness to recruit the candidates with bachelor degrees rather than those with master or Ph.D. degrees. It is suggested that the candidate with bachelor degree and hospital employment over 6 to 10 years is the most qualified for a mid-manager in hospitals. The study results presented in the paper will provide the direction to improve the educational program and also the insights toward a advising strategy for job consultation for students majored in health service administration.