• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.749-758
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• 2001

The purpose of the study was to analyze the functional status of low income elderly living at home according to their socio-economic factors, sensory function, health status, medical service utilization, commodity and types of chronic disease. Method: Functional status was defined by the level of mobility, ADL and IADL categorized as independently functional, mildly impaired, moderately disabled, and severely disabled. The data was collected by home-visit interviews with 567 community dwelling adults who were 65 years of age or more with low a income status subsidized by government in ChonAn. Results: 9.9% of community dwelling older adults were severely disabled, and 44.4% were moderately disabled in their functional status. There were significant differences in the functional status by age, education, religion, and types of family structure. The older adults with hearing impairment or dental problems had a significantly higher rate of severe disability. Self-rated health status and medical service utilization were also significant factors to the differences in functional status. The functional status of older adults was also significantly related to the presence of chronic health problems such as chronic back pain, stroke, and Alzheimer-dementia. Conclusion: The results confirmed that community dwelling older adults with low income status were more functionally disabled in comparison to general older adults at national level, while the relating factors to their functional status seemed similar to other studies on older adults. Further studies were suggested to look into functional status longitudinally and focus on the changes of functional status by managing modifiable influencing factors.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.691-704
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• 2016

This study aims to analyze the current situation of Independent loan fund business for disabled for independent and living stabilization of low-income disabled and presented a plan to support effectively. Methods were reanalyzed to obtain the data inside the Ministry of Health and Welfare and conducted a expert survey. The results of this study were First, The budget was 8.1 billion won and target households was 800, but the used budget was about 5.6 billion won(executive rate was 69.3%) and beneficiaries was 384 families. Second, the loan condition was gurantee is 58.5%, pawn is 23.3%, ungurantee is 18.2%. And, the loan type was occupation is 60.0%, car purchase is 35.3%, medical expenses is 2.6% and so on. In addition, 1,735 people apply for a loan fund but 904 people received a loan fund. So, loan rate was 52.1%. Third, business retention rate was 74.7% and close rate was 25.3%. Fourth, expert opinion was government support necessary for the in low-income disabled in social and economic situation of Korea. This study suggested that the loan purpose, loan amount, loan condition, simplified course were needed to consider when establishing policy for low-incone disabled.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.169-181
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of living cost reduction through social welfare services and programs and to suggest the further ways of saving living cost for low-income households. For the research purpose, low-income household type was divided into three representative groups such as senior household, household with school-aged children, and household with the disabled based on the literature review. Four case households which live in permanent rental apartment in Seoul were selected as research subjects. During March 14~April 10, 2010, each household was interviewed to examine the details of monthly income and expenditure structure and types of welfare services receiving. Although some differences exist among cases, there was a definite living cost reduction effect through welfare services and programs from 12% to 150%. Household with school-aged children required diversified education programs corresponding to the children's age. Meanwhile, households including senior and the disabled indicated the necessity of convenient transportation system.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2009

This study examined the cognitive and social development of children of low income, disabled mothers. Sixty-four disabled mothers and their 3- to 5-year-old normally developing children participated. Children's IQ, receptive vocabulary, and social adaptive ability were measured with Korean-Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (Park et al.,1996), Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (Seoul Community Rehabilitation Center, 1995), and Social Maturity Test(Kim & Kim, 1995), respectively. Results showed that IQ and receptive vocabulary scores were lower than average and that verbal IQ was positively related to shared reading time and library use; verbal IQ was negatively related to duration of child-care attendance. Children's social quotient was higher than average and positively related to mother's employment status and amount of books in the home.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.103-118
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• 2010

This study used qualitative data to examine how low-income families confront the child care needs of their children in the midst of changes in public policy. The data were drawn from in-home interviews conducted every 6 months with 22 mothers who were welfare-dependent at the start of the research. This research depicted several life stories of the circumstances of poor children that have not had much previous attention in the literature: the general flows and the special conditions of child care among the low-income families with or without a disabled child were reported. The results in this study suggested that enabling families, through both social support and public funding, find affordable and quality child care would be one pathway to foster self-sufficiency in these families.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 2023

With the development of information and communication technology, modern people are receiving various benefits, and knowledge and use of information and communication technology are becoming essential qualities in modern people's lives. There are people who do not enjoy the rich benefits of this information and communication society, and the so-called 'digital divide' acts as an obstacle that prevents the information and communication from enjoying a rich life. Currently, there are four major information underprivileged classes in Korea, the disabled, the elderly, low-income class and farmers and fishermen, respectively. The purpose of this study is to identify the current status of the digital divide for the low-income class and to analyze the causes of the digital divide. To this end, in this study, we analyze statistics on digital divide at the national level and analyzed the digital divide of low-income class from three perspectives: information access, information capability, and information use. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the lack of information capability was the biggest cause of the digital divide, and in particular, information management ability was the most insufficient among information capabilities.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.154-162
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• 2015

As there is no case study with current status, measurements or description on the state of actual site of rural area only, the delivery of actual conditions about such an area is significantly limited. The purpose of this study is to pinpoint issues with housing conditions of low-income family with disabled members in the rural area. For such a purpose, 25 households of disabled people have been visited for interview, on-site research and survey, of which results are summed up in this paper as following: First, average monthly income of such family turned out to be KRW 480,000, most of which is from the government subsidy. High ratio of such families has resided in a house with average size of approximately 56m2 for about 24 years. Secondly the most needed maintenance work with top priority was for the toilet, and many of the interviewees expressed their discomfort about small size of their bathrooms and inconvenient facilities therein. Thirdly, most of such houses had too high thresholds that posed danger and inconvenience. Such thresholds had average height of 13cm, which can be considered as completely inconsiderate of disabled users. Fourth issue was that these people needed safety handle that will enable them to stand up or to be in the standing posture in the living room and bedroom where they spend most of their time. Fifthly, they wanted finishing materials with waterproof functionality as well as replacement of finishing materials and wallpaper which were too old and caused hygiene issues. As these issues represent, current housing for disabled people in the rural area turned out to be poor and risky space rather than the place where difficulty of individual situation can be resolved or their disability can be complemented. Thus it can be determined that now is the time to arrange the solutions for such housing difficulties and to establish customized housing plan to ensure safety and convenience.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.275-296
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• 2012

Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University The national health insurance system in Korea is characterized as relatively high out-of-pocket payments, which are the principal source of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). The objectives of this study are to estimate the incidence of household CHE and to clarify the characteristics that affect the occurrence and recurrence of household CHE using the Seoul Welfare Panel Survey database for 2008 and 2010. Thresholds to estimate CHE were 10% and 20% of the total household income (T/X), and 25% and 40% of the income excluding food share (T/Y). Determinants of the occurrence and recurrence of CHE at the threshold of T/X=10% were analysed using multiple logistic regression models. Out of the 3,665 households that responded in 2008 survey, households with CHE were 12.07% (T/X${\geq}$10%), 5.34% (T/X${\geq}$20%), 6.84% (T/Y${\geq}$25%), and 4.44% (T/Y${\geq}$40%). Risk factors associated with household CHE included living with a spouse, non-Medicaid beneficiary, householder unemployment, low household income, the number of disabled members, poor subjective health, and the number of chronic diseases. A total of 41.78% of households with CHE in 2008 repeatedly experienced CHE in 2010. Risk factors of CHE recurrence included decreased household income and an increase in chronic diseases over the two time periods, the number of members with disability or chronic diseases, and the presence of cancer patients in 2008. Households with lower socioeconomic and health status had a higher financial burden on health care than do their counterpart households. There is a need to enhance society-wide financial protection from health spending among vulnerable citizens in Seoul, particularly, households with low income, disabled members or cancer patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2023

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that people with disabilities are more likely to be impoverished and affected by excessive medical costs than people without disabilities. Public transfer income (PTI) reduces financial strain in low-income households. This study examined the impact of PTI on catastrophic health expenditures (CHE), focusing on low-income households and households with Medical Aid beneficiaries that contained people with disabilities. Methods: We constructed a panel dataset by extracting data on registered households with disabilities from the Korea Welfare Panel Study 2012-2019. We then used a generalized estimating equation model to estimate the impacts of PTI on CHE. A subgroup analysis was carried out to assess the moderating effects of family income levels and health insurance types. Results: As PTI increased, the odds ratio (OR) of CHE in households that contained people with disabilities decreased significantly (OR, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 0.94; p<0.001). In particular, PTI effectively reduced the likelihood of CHE for low-income households (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.89; p<0.001) and those who received medical benefits (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.89; p<0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the positive effect of PTI on decreasing CHE. Household income and the health insurance type were significant effect modifiers, but economic barriers seemed to persist among low-income households with non-Medical Aid beneficiaries. Federal policies or programs should consider increasing the total amount of PTI targeting low-income households with disabilities that are not covered by the Medical Aid program.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-90
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• 2024

Purpose In this paper, among the four information vulnerable groups(disabled, elderly, low-income, farmers and fishermen), the mediating effect of digital device usage attitudes in the effect of digital information utilization level of farmers and fishermen with a large digital information gap with the general public on life satisfaction was verified. Design/methodology/approach This study summarizes existing research related to the digital information gap between farmers and fishermen, and the empirical analysis is based on hierarchical regression analysis based on the 2022 Digital Information Gap Report (survey data on 2,200 farmers and fishermen) published by the Korea Intelligence Information Society Promotion Agency. Among the four major information vulnerable groups (the disabled, the elderly, low-income groups, and farmers and fishermen), attitudes toward using digital devices were examined in terms of the impact of the level of digital information use on life satisfaction among farmers and fishermen, who have a relatively large digital information gap with the general public. It was verified as a mediating effect. Findings As a result of the empirical analysis, attitudes toward the use of digital devices were found to play a mediating role in the impact of the level of digital information use on life satisfaction.