• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-83
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• 2013

Recently, the importance of the health care industry is increasing due to the rapid changes in the population structure caused by decreasing in fertility rate and aging population. Therefore expansion of government investment in R&D of the health care industry is needed as the demand of health care is increasing. This study attempts to examine the economic impacts of national research and development for the health care industry using an inter-industry analysis. Specifically, the study investigates production-inducing effect, value added inducing effect, and employment-inducing effect of the health care industry based on demand-driven model. These analyses pay particular and close attention to the health care industry by taking it as exogenous rather than endogenous. Here we present results. First, the production-inducing effect and value added inducing effect was high in common real estate and business services and finance and insurance sector. Second, employment-inducing effect of the health care industry showed the highest levels in wholesale and retail sector, followed by the real estate and business services, agriculture sector. Third, the actual 2009 health care industry-related national R&D investment embracing on the production-inducing effect and value added inducing effect. The health care industry R&D induces the production of 4,932 billion won and the value added of 2163 billion won.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.143-164
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• 2005

The study is to analyze support-related issues, particularly associated with elderly and children care, which have been a fundamental agenda of family welfare policy. We are expected for societal-level controversy on the relationship of family support and social security in the near future because of rapid increase in ageing and divorce rate. Accordingly, we need to establish social consensus on the extent to which both family support system and social support system are responsible for the life maintenance of the elderly and the children from divorced family. We also clarify the various characteristics(including scope, degree, period of time, and need/manageability) of support provided by family members. Considering the changes of family structure and population composition, the policy of supporting the old and children should go for social responsibility. Findings show that civil law and social welfare law have unclear application on the relationship between family support and social security, and contents in family support. In particular, public assistance law strongly emphasizes the principle of family support while social insurance laws provide only limited and insufficient family maintenance. The suggestions of further study on support-related issues are given in the rapidly changing society and the increasing economic instability.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.595-601
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• 1993

Background: Today, tuberculosis continues as an important cause of death in Korea despite the effective treatment and prevention. So we have studied charicteristic distribution of death by pulmonary tuberculosis through epidemiologic survey. Subjects and Method: The mortality data were obtained from 684 pulmonary tuberculosis cases who died in a tuberculosis-centered hospital in Seoul during the period of 5 years from 1986 to 1990. In order to estimate the distribution of death by tuberculosis, t-test and $x^2$-text were performed on the data. Results: 1) 19.9% of patients died among the total 3,441 hospitalized pulmonary tuberculosis cases during 5 years. 2) In distribution of sex and age, male death occupies 81% of total death. Significantly high proportions of younger female death (under 40 years-old) were also observed. 3) In terms of medical security status, medical assistance group occupies 42.3% of medical insurance group while the non-security group also occupies 11.8% of total death. 4) Treatment interruption was observed in 78% of total death. Conclusion: Special attention should be given to the identification, management and follow up of high risk group in nationwide tuberculosis control program.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8993-9004
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• 2014

Background: The incidence rate and the treatment costs of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are high, especially in Thailand. Previous studies indicated that early detection by a surveillance program could help by down-staging. This study aimed to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with the introduction of a HCC surveillance program with no program and to estimate the budget impact if the HCC surveillance program were implemented. Materials and Methods: A cost utility analysis using a decision tree and Markov models was used to compare costs and outcomes during the lifetime period based on a societal perspective between alternative HCC surveillance strategies with no program. Costs included direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs. Health outcomes were measured as life years (LYs), and quality adjusted life years (QALYs). The results were presented in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Thai THB per QALY gained. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were applied to investigate parameter uncertainties. Budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed based on the governmental perspective. Results: Semi-annual ultrasonography (US) and semi-annual ultrasonography plus alpha-fetoprotein (US plus AFP) as the first screening for HCC surveillance would be cost-effective options at the willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 THB per QALY gained compared with no surveillance program (ICER=118,796 and ICER=123,451 THB/QALY), respectively. The semi-annual US plus AFP yielded more net monetary benefit, but caused a substantially higher budget (237 to 502 million THB) than semi-annual US (81 to 201 million THB) during the next ten fiscal years. Conclusions: Our results suggested that a semi-annual US program should be used as the first screening for HCC surveillance and included in the benefit package of Thai health insurance schemes for both chronic hepatitis B males and females aged between 40-50 years. In addition, policy makers considered the program could be feasible, but additional evidence is needed to support the whole prevention system before the implementation of a strategic plan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.6041-6048
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• 2013

Background: Japanese women in their 40s or older have been encouraged to attend breast cancer screening. However, the breast cancer screening rate in Japan is not as high as in Europe and the United States. The aim of this study was to identify psychological and personal characteristics of women concerning their participation in breast cancer screening using the Health Belief Model (HBM). In addition, the attributes of screening more easily accepted by participants were analyzed by conjoint analysis. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study of 3,200 age 20-69 women, data were collected by an anonymous questionnaire. Questions were based on HBM and personal characteristics, and included attitudes on hypothetical screening attributes. Data of women aged 40-69 were analyzed by logistic regression and conjoint analysis to clarify the factors affecting their participation in breast cancer screening. Results: Among responses collected from 1,280 women of age 20-69, the replies of 993 women of age 40-69 were used in the analysis. Regarding the psychological characteristics based on HBM, the odds ratios were significantly higher in "importance of cancer screening" (95%CI: 1.21-2.47) and "benefits of cancer screening" (95%CI: 1.09-2.49), whereas the odds ratio was significantly lower in "barriers to participation before cancer screening" (95%CI: 0.27-0.51). Conjoint analysis revealed that the respondents, overall, preferred screening to be low cost and by female staff members. Furthermore, it was also clarified that attributes of screening dominant in decision-making were influenced by the employment status and the type of medical insurance of the women. Conclusions: In order to increase participation in breast cancer screening, it is necessary to disseminate accurate knowledge on cancer screening and to reduce barriers to participation. In addition, the attributes of screening more easily accepted were inexpensive, provided by female staff, executed in a hospital and finished in a short time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4727-4731
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• 2013

Background: There have been no large-scale population-based studies to estimate the subsequent risk of primary liver cancer (PLC) among patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). This study aimed to provide relevant data. Materials and Methods: The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database for the years 2000 and 2005 was used. The PLA group were adult inpatients who were newly diagnosed with PLA from 2000 to 2008. The control group was randomly selected and matched with the PLA group in terms of age, sex, and date in which medical treatment was sought other than for PLA. Results: There were 1,987 patients each in the PLA and control groups. In total, 56 had PLC, 48 (2.4%, 601.5 per 100,000 person-years) from the PLA group, and 8 from the control group. After adjusting for potential covariates, the hazard ratio of PLC for the PLA group was 3.4 times that of the control group (95% confidence interval = 1.6-7.3, p <0.001). The PLC risk for the PLA group was significantly higher within the first year after PLA diagnosis (hazard ratio: 35.4) as compared with the control group and became insignificant (hazard ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 0.8-4.9) more than one year after PLA diagnosis. Conclusions: Patients with PLA have a higher rate of PLC than matched controls, especially within the first year after the diagnosis of PLA, suggesting PLA is a warning sign for PLC.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.544-557
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• 2002

This study was performed to evaluate the quality of nutrient intakes of the hemodialysis patients (26 men and 23 women) according to the socioeconomic status by 3-day dietary recall in Daejeon city and Chungnam area, Korea. Mean age of the subjects was 50.7 yrs and BMI was 22.0 $\pm$ 0.4 kg/$m^2$. Education level was divided into two groups ($\leq$ 9 years： LE group, 9 years： HE group), and monthly family income level was divided into three groups (< 500,000 won: LI group, 500,000-1,499,999 won: MI group, $\geq$ 1,500,000 won : HI group). The data were analyzed by Student t-test and Oneway ANOVA using SPSS 9.0 version at p < 0.05 level. Intakes of energy, carbohydrates, cholesterol, potassium, thiamin and riboflavin were significantly higher in HE group than in LE group (p < 0.05). Intakes of all the nutrients except protein and phosphorus were less than Korean RDA, and INQs (Index of Nutritional Quality) of most nutrients were lower than 1.0 but cholesterol, phosphorus. thiamin and niacin being over 1.0 in HE group. MAR (Mean adequacy ratio) of all the nutrients (e.g., energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin) was significantly higher in HE group (0.61 $\pm$ 0.04) than in LE group (0.48 $\pm$ 0.03) at p = 0.036. Intakes of energy, protein (total, animal and plant), fat, cholesterol, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, thiamin and riboflavin were also significantly higher in HI group than in LI and MI group (p < 0.05). Daily intakes of most nutrients were less than Korean RDA except protein ed phosphorus in HI poop, and INQs of thiamin, niacin and phosphorus were higher than 1.0, while those of calcium, iron, vitamin A and riboflavin were lower than 1.0. MAR of energy and 9 nutrients was significantly higher in HI group (0.70 $\pm$ 0.04) than in LI group (0. 56 0.04) and MI poop (0.47 $\pm$ 0.03) at p = 0.000. In conclusion, quality of nutrient intakes, especially energy and protein, was significantly influenced by socioeconomic status such as education and monthly income (p < 0.05). This result suggests that it would be very helpful to develop nutritional education programs considering hemodialysis patients' education levels, and to improve public supports (e.g., medical insurance system, low-rate lease system of dialysis equipments, etc.) focusing on the patients' family income levels f3r their better nutrition and health.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.743-754
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• 1999

The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify the homecare needs of patients with cancer and to provide a basis of interventions. One hundred and two patients at one general hospital in Gyeongnam responded to a questionnaire developed on the basis of care needs perceived by nurses caring for hospitalized patients with cancer. The questionnaire was a Likert type 5 point scale with 56 items on five need categories ; 1) informational 2) physical care : 3) emotional care 4) socioeconomic care and 5) special care needs. Internal consistency of this questionnaire was Cronbach's $\alpha$＝.9101 for total items. The data was collected from March 1st to May 31th, 1998, by two graduate nurses. In the data analysis, mean & standard deviation were calculated to identify the degree of care need of each item, and the t-test & ANOVA were done to determine the effects of patients' demographic background on their care needs. The findings are summarized as follows ; 1) The mean score of total of need items was 3.048. Of the four need categories the highest score was informational at 3.4, followed by emotional care, 3.063, physical care, 2.623, and socioeconomic care, 2.599. 2) In the informational need category there were four subcategories with 19 items. Medication and pain control had the highest score, 3.755 ; second was diet and exercise, 3.613 ; third was disease and treatment process, 3.337 ; and last was personal hygiene and infection prevention at 2.687. 3) In the physical care need category there was nine items, IV infusion for nutrition and management of treatment complication was above 3.2 points and the remaining items were in the 2.847-2.070 score ranges. 4) In the emotional care need category there were seven items. The highest need was in support for relationships with health personnel, 3.673. The need for support of religions beliefs and support for having a religion were low at about 2 points. 5) In the socioeconomic care need category there were six items. Support for medical insurance expansion and financial support were above 3 points. Legal support and support for caring of children were low in the care needs. 6) In the special care need category the there were 15 items. Informational need about immunization and informational need about effects of disease on growth and development were high, above 4.1 points. Need for decubitus care and prevention, sitz bath and incontinence care were low, below 2 points. 7) There were significant differences in degree of care need according to admission rate, education level, marital status, religion and caregiver's religion. In conclusion, homecare needs perceived by hospitalized patient's with cancer was moderate, but informational need was higher than direct care need, leading to the conclusion that the provision of sufficient information to patients with cancer at discharge is needed. Nursing interventions should be developed considering the patient's background.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2018

Objectives While Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is highly prevalent in Korea, studies examining its Korean medical treatment are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to assess current Korean medical treatment practice patterns for TMD. Methods A preliminary questionnaire was developed to investigate current practice patterns of TMD treatment and underwent further revision through external review. The final questionnaire was distributed as a web-based survey to 18,289 potential respondents by email. Results The response rate was 2.23%. Most participants replied that they received multiple Korean medicine interventions for TMD treatment consisting of such methods as acupuncture, chuna manipulation, electroacupuncture. The percentage of treatment services among uncovered services, which need to be covered by national health insurance was high in the order of pharmacopuncture, chuna manipulation, and herbal medicine. The most commonly used diagnostic examination tools for TMD was Physical examination and next was Imaging diagnosis. The frequency of TMD treatment was the highest at 2~3 times per week (76%) and the period was from 4 to 12 weeks (63%). Conclusions This survey study helps determine current practice patterns of TMD, and recognizes the need for use of diagnostic devices in TMD treatment. These results are further anticipated to provide basic data for clinical practice guide lines (CPGs).

• Informatization Policy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.22-41
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• 2011

Current socioeconomic condition in South Korea is characterized by growing country with highly unemployment rate. Enhancing service industry, therefore, is one of the important government policy issues. In addition to quantitative growth of service industries, OECD comparisons between countries as shown in the competitiveness of the domestic service industry, followed by a very low-level, enhancing the competitiveness of service industries are also important issues of national policy. In particular, finance, education, insurance industry, such as relatively large enterprises have entered the service industry to remain competitive and comparable, but the case of small service industries, has shown a very low level of competitiveness. Thus, the world's leading technology and IT infrastructure can be applied to small and medium-sized service industry in order to improve productivity, customer satisfaction, and service infrastructure, resulting in improving competitiveness. The purpose of this study is to develop government supporting policy issues by analyzing the current usage of IT, problems and requirement analysis, and critical success factors for applying IT to small and medium-sized service industries. For a survey 2,000 samples are collected from service companies. The results show that IT usage is very important to improve competitiveness in small and medium sized service industry. In addition, customized it solutions are needed to satisfy different characteristics of service industry depends on types of business. Finally, government supporting programs of IT has to be improved. The results would be able to provide directions and guide lines of IT utilization in service industries.