• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2022

About 90.5 % of barge-towing tugs weigh less than 200 gross tonnage and most are served by the master alone. They are also not subject to the regulations on the working hours and manning levels stipulated in the Seafarers' Act. Therefore, the master of barge-towing tugs cannot take sufficient rest during the navigational watch. Moreover, barge-towing tugs do not satisfy the human seaworthiness due to the inevitable performance of the navigational watch which must be alternately undertaken with an unqualified person, called the "Boatswain". Furthermore, there are many cases in which the master or owner of a tug fails to comply with the additionally required minimum manning levels stipulated in the Ship Of icers' Act when a tug tows a barge. This study reviews the following: (1) the regulations on the working hours and manning levels that are stipulated in the Seafarers' Act, (2) the regulations on the minimum manning levels for ship of icers of the tug's deck part that are stipulated in the Ship officers' Act, (3) marine accidents in the barge-towing tugs. As a result I suggested that one additional deck officer should be on board when a tug tows a barge through the revision of the minimum manning level for ship of icer on the deck part in order to prevent marine accidents of tugs effectively. Especially, the Act on the Punishment, etc. of the Serious Accident came into effect on January 27, 2022. If marine casualties occur continuously at sea due by the same cause, and the cause of such marine casualties would be turned out by the fatigue of the ship of icer caused by insufficient institutional arrangements, the administrator of competent Authorities of Maritime and Port could be punished, so it seems to prepare for it.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.69-73
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• 2008

To curb a rapid increase in expenditures for pharmaceuticals, the Korean government introduced a positive list system and a negotiation process for drug prices at the end of 2006. Economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals has begun to have a pivotal role in the listing and pricing of drugs for the Korean National Health Insurance. There are some points to discuss regarding the use of economic evaluation in the listing and pricing in the context of the Korean system. First, the listing and pricing processes have been fragmented, evoking complaints from pharmaceutical companies and delaying the access of new drugs to patients. Second, there is a concern that the positive list system may limit the range and availability of drugs for patients to choose for treatment. Third, the time schedule for de-listing of existing drugs may not be realistic. Fourth, it is not always easy to provide reliable evidence of cost-effectiveness due to a lack of materials. Fifth, there is no consensus on the range of the ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) acceptable to the Korean society. In conclusion, in the near future, it will be necessary to evaluate the achievements that the economic evaluation has provided to the Korean society.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.323-334
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• 2002

Purpose: This study was designed to analyse economical efficiency of home care service by comparing a cost-effectiveness ratio(CER) between hospitalization and home care service. Method: The analytic framework of this study was constructed in 5 stages; perspective of the analysis, measurement of costs, measurement of effects, analysis of CER, and sensitivity analysis. The SAS program was utilized for the general characteristics of the subjects, descriptive statistics, homogeneous test, normality test and difference test. Result: The results were as follows; 1) CER was 35,248,256 of ADL, 7,996,026 of nursing satisfaction, 6,144,946,000 of QALY of patients in the hospital and 11,168,863 of ADL, 2,322,239 of nursing satisfaction, 3,674,556,000 of QALY of patients in the home care center. ICER was 438,067,932 of ADL, -190,044,176 of nursing satisfaction, 8,615,336,000 of QALY. 2) In the sensitivity analysis of sex, age and discount rate, the CER of patients in the home care center was lower than the CER of patients in the hospital. Conclusion: With these findings, it affirmed that home care service had an economical efficiency compared with hospitalization in cerebrovascular disease patients. Therefore, these results will be used to develop governmental policy or expansion of the home care service.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8229-8237
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• 2014

Background: Organized cervical screening has decreased the incidence of cervical cancer. However, screening strategies vary in different countries. Objectives: We performed a systematic review to evaluate the economic aspects of different screening methods. Materials and Methods: We searched databases and then data were abstracted from each study. We evaluated articles based on different types of screening tests as well as screening age and intervals, and using incremental cost effectiveness ratio via calculating quality adjusted life years (QALY), or life years gained (LYG) per cost. We compared the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of each study using GDP per capita. Furthermore, we compared national guidelines with recommendations of cost-effectiveness studies in different countries. Results: A total of 21 articles met our criteria, of which 19 studies showed that HPV DNA testing, 13 suggested an age of 30 years or more, and 10 papers concluded that at least a 5-year or longer interval were the most cost-effective strategies. In some countries, the national guidelines did not match the recommendations of the cost-effectiveness studies. Conclusions: HPV testing, starting at age 30 years or older and repeated at 5-year or longer intervals, is the most cost-effective strategy in any setting. Closer collaboration with health economists is required during guideline development.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.25-34
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• 2016

OBJECTIVES : This is a basic research for the domestic production of airport-airside deicers. This research selected basic materials for deicers appropriate for the pavement of domestic airports by evaluating the deicing performances of basic materials used in international-standard airport deicers and their impacts on pavements. METHODS : Laboratory investigation was conducted to evaluate the asphalt surface tensile strength, concrete scaling impact, ASR impact, and deicing performances of sodium formate (NaFm), potassium formate (KFm), sodium acetate (NaAc), and potassium acetate (KAc), which are the basic de-icing materials commonly used at international airports, approved by the FAA. In addition, the analyses were also performed on the airside deicer urea, which is currently used in domestic airports. RESULTS : Laboratory investigation confirmed that sodium formate, potassium formate, sodium acetate, and potassium acetate had superior surface tensile strength, concrete scaling impact, and deicing performance compared to airside urea, but they also had greater impacts on concrete ASR. Among these materials, sodium formate had the best asphalt surface tensile strength, concrete scaling impact, and deicing performance, while also having the greatest impact on ASR; hence, mitigation plans for ASR were needed, if it were to be used as airport-airside deicer. CONCLUSIONS : It is necessary to consider additional additives to prevent ASR of concrete pavements when developing airport-airside deicers using sodium formate, potassium formate, sodium acetate, and potassium acetate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8265-8270
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• 2016

Purpose: A cost-utility analysis was performed to assess the cost-utility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens containing doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC) versus paclitaxel and gemcitabine (PG) for locally advanced breast cancer patients in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study in Namazi hospital in Shiraz, in the south of Iran covered 64 breast cancer patients. According to the random numbers, the patients were divided into two groups, 32 receiving AC and 32 PG. Costs were identified and measured from a community perspective. These items included medical and non-medical direct and indirect costs. In this study, a data collection form was used. To assess the utility of the two regimens, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was applied. Using a decision tree, we calculated the expected costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for both methods; also, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was assessed. Results: The results of the decision tree showed that in the AC arm, the expected cost was 39,170 US$ and the expected QALY was 3.39 and in the PG arm, the expected cost was 43,336 dollars and the expected QALY was 2.64. Sensitivity analysis showed the cost effectiveness of the AC and ICER=-5535 US$. Conclusions: Overall, the results showed that AC to be superior to PG in treatment of patients with breast cancer, being less costly and more effective.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3383-3389
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• 2014

Background: Prostate cancer is rapidly increasing in Korea and professional societies have requested adding prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing to the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP), but this started a controversy in Korea and neutral evidence on this issue is required more than ever. The purpose of this study was to provide economic evidence to the decision makers of the NCSP. Materials and Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed on the adoption of PSA screening program among men aged 50-74-years in Korea from the healthcare system perspective. Several data sources were used for the cost-utility analysis, including general health screening data, the Korea Central Cancer Registry, national insurance claims data, and cause of mortality from the National Statistical Office. To solicit the utility index of prostate cancer, a face-to-face interview for typical men aged 40 to 69 was conducted using a Time-Trade Off method. Results: As a result, the increase of effectiveness was estimated to be very low, when adopting PSA screening, and the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) was analyzed as about 94 million KRW. Sensitivity analyses were performed on the incidence rate, screening rate, cancer stage distribution, utility index, and treatment costs but the results were consistent with the base analysis. Conclusions: Under Korean circumstances with a relatively low incidence rate of prostate cancer, PSA screening is not cost-effective. Therefore, we conclude that adopting national prostate cancer screening would not be beneficial until further evidence is provided in the future.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5143-5147
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• 2014

Cervical cancer screening in Malaysia is by opportunistic Pap smear which contributes to the low uptake rate. To overcome this, a pilot project called the SIPPS program (translated as information system of Pap smear program) had been introduced whereby women aged 20-65 years old are invited for Pap smear and receive recall to repeat the test. This study aimed at determining which recall method is most cost-effective in getting women to repeat Pap smear. A randomised control trial was conducted where one thousand women were recalled for repeat smear either by registered letter, phone messages, phone call or the usual postal letter. The total cost applied for cost-effectiveness analysis includes the cost of sending letter for first invitation, cost of the recall method and cost of two Pap smears. Cost-effective analysis (CEA) of Pap smear uptake by each recall method was then performed. The uptake of Pap smear by postal letter, registered letters, SMS and phone calls were 18.8%, 20.0%, 21.6% and 34.4%, respectively (p<0.05). The CER for the recall method was lowest by phone call compared to other interventions; RM 69.18 (SD RM 0.14) compared to RM 106.53 (SD RM 0.13), RM 134.02 (SD RM 0.15) and RM 136.38 (SD RM 0.11) for SMS, registered letter and letter, respectively. ICER showed that it is most cost saving if the usual method of recall by postal letter be changed to recall by phone call. The possibility of letter as a recall for repeat Pap smear to reach the women is higher compared to sending SMS or making phone call. However, getting women to do repeat Pap smear is better with phone call which allows direct communication. Despite the high cost of the phone call as a recall method for repeat Pap smear, it is the most cost-effective method compared to others.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5309-5314
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women throughout the world. Currently, there are various follow-up strategies implemented in Iran, which are usually dependent on clinic policies and agreement among the resident oncologists. Purpose: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to assess the cost-effectiveness of intensive follow-up versus standard models for early breast cancer patients in Iran. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was performed with 382 patients each in the intensive and standard groups. Costs were identified and measured from a payer perspective, including direct medical outlay. To assess the effectiveness of the two follow-up models we used a decision tree along with indicators of detection of recurrence and metastasis, calculating expected costs and effectiveness for both cases; in addition, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were determined. Results: The results of decision tree showed expected case detection rates of 0.137 and 0.018 and expected costs of US$24,494.62 and US$6,859.27, respectively, for the intensive and standard follow-up models. Tornado diagrams revealed the highest sensitivity to cost increases using the intensive follow-up model with an ICER=US$148,196.2. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that the intensive follow-up method is not cost-effective when compared to the standard model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1002-1012
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• 2022

As the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) evolves, studies on autonomous ships have been conducting in the shipping industry. Currently, two or three degrees of autonomous ships is in operation, and a shore remote control of icer (SRCO) monitors vessel operations and intervenes remotely where necessary in the service. However, as the curriculum for an SRCO has not been established internationally, the risk of an accident by an unqualified SRCO is increasing. In this study, specifies the curriculum required for SRCO that consists of suitable existing training and new training under remote control circumstances. This includes Non-technical skill training to enhance the effectiveness of an SRCO. This curriculum can be used for a new SRCO to evaluate training and competency specific safety standards, and to enable existing seafarers to become SRCOs through the necessary training.