• Title/Summary/Keyword: Marital-status

Search Result 1,813, Processing Time 0.034 seconds

A Survey on Activities of Community Health Practitioners in Rural Area (농촌지역 보건지료원의 업무활동 분석)

  • Kang, Pock-Soo
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
    • /
    • v.4 no.2
    • /
    • pp.139-148
    • /
    • 1987
  • The community health practitioners (CHP) play an important role in primary health care services to the underserved population in rural area. Time and motion study of 26 CHPs in Kyungpook Province was conducted through work diary method for 6 consecutive days from the time they arrived until they left the primary health post(PHP) during the past 3 weeks from November 16 to December 5, 1987. The allocation of activity time by working category, service category, location of activity and CHP's function was analyzed according to the characteristics of CHPs i. e., age, marital status and experience as CHP. The major findings are as follows : The mean activity time per CHP in a week was 2,918 minutes. The length of their working hours was longer for older, married and more experienced CHPs than others. About 80% of the CHP's activities took place within the PHP and only about 20% occured outside of the PHP. Working hours for the outdoor activities were longer for younger, single and less experienced CHPs than others. The allocation of activity time by working category showed 46.3% in the technical work and 18.7% in the administrative work. Working hours for the technical activities were longer for younger, single and less experienced CHPs than others. The percentage of activity time revealed greatest as much as 63.1% for direct patient care in technical work and 61.6% for record keeping in administrative work. Of the total working hours in a week, direct patient care and public health activities accounted for 29.2% and 16.2%, respectively. Of the indoor activities, working hours for direct patient care were longer than those for public health activities. However, of the outdoor activities, working hours for public health activities were longer than those for direct patient care. The allocation of activity time by CHP's function showed 49.7% in management of common disease, 31.8% in management of PHP and technical supervision of village health workers, 9.5% in MCH and family planning, 6.6% in community health management and 2.4% in community approach. Based on these findings, it was found that CHPs were mainly working in the PHP with a majority of their time being spent for direct patient care rather than preventive and promotive health cares. To enhance the preventive and promotive health services of the CHPs and to involve the activities for community development, refresher course for CHPs should be reinforced and supervision mechanism of the CHPs should be established and operated in Gun- and province-level.

  • PDF

Ethical Dilemma and Empowerment among Dental Hygienists in Some Regions (일부 지역 치과위생사가 경험하는 윤리적 딜레마와 임파워먼트)

  • Kim, Mi-Jeong;Park, In-Suk
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
    • /
    • v.12 no.4
    • /
    • pp.383-391
    • /
    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study was to examine the ethical dilemma of dental hygienists and the level of empowerment among them in an attempt to provide some information on how to alleviate the ethical dilemma of dental hygienists to boost their empowerment. The findings of the study were as follows: The dental hygienists got a mean of 1.58 out of possible four points in ethical dilemma. Among the subfactors of ethical dilemma, they scored highest in ethical dilemma about dental hygienists and profession (1.79), followed by dental hygienists and patients (1.53), life reverence and respect for human rights (1.51) and dental hygienists and cooperators (1.49). As for the general characteristics of the dental hygienists, those who were better educated and who intended to temporarily work just until marriage fell into a more ethical dilemma. The dental hygienists got a mean of 3.05 out of possible five points in empowerment. Among the subfactors of it, they scored highest in support structure (3.52), opportunity structure (3.18), information structure (3.08) and resources structure (3.04). There were significant gaps among the dental hygienists in empowerment according to their attitude toward the dental hygienist job as a profession. There was a significant negative correlation between ethical dilemma and empowerment. Regarding influential factors for the ethical dilemma of the dental hygienists, marital status and empowerment were identified as significantly influential factors, and empowerment had a significant relationship to age, academic credential and ethical dilemma. Given the findings of the study, the development of various intervention programs and empowerment-boosting strategies is required to relieve dental hygienists of ethical dilemma.

A Study on the Environmental Condition and Safety in Dental Radiographic Room (치과 방사선 촬영실의 촬영실태와 방사선 안전관리 실태에 관한 조사 연구)

  • Kang, Eun-Ju;Lee, Kyung-Hee;Ju, On-Ju
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
    • /
    • v.5 no.2
    • /
    • pp.83-88
    • /
    • 2005
  • In spite of relatively low level of radiation dose used at dental clinics, long term exposure may be harmful, so radiation workers at dental clinics must be well aware of its danger. This study was radiation safety management by dental hygienists in order to take preventive measures for dental hygienists and suggest ideas to develop radiation safety training programs. For this, we contacted dental hygienists working at the local dental clinics for 4 months from December of 2003 to march of 2004 and obtained the following findings. 1. Regarding the intraoral radiographic method, the average daily photographing frequency of standard films stood at one to five pieces (47.5%), and the average weekly photographing frequency of digital radiation medicine stood at less than one piece (69.8%), and the average weekly photographing frequency of bitewing films stood at less than one piece (67.7%), and and the average weekly photographing frequency of occlusal films stood at less than one piece (95.5%), and the dentistries whose average weekly photographing frequency of pediatric films stood at one to five pieces accounted for 47.1 percent. 2. Regarding the extraoral radiographic method, the average weekly photographing frequency of panorama film stood at one to five pieces (63.7%), and less than one piece (20.9%), the average weekly photographing frequency of cephalometric film stood at less than one piece (72.3%), and one to five pieces (20.1%). 3. Concerning the radiation safety management training program, only 18.7% of total 278 surveyed attended the training progra., Attendance tendency of the training program by general characteristics showed statistically significant difference according to age (p<0.01), working experience (p<0.001), and marital status (p<0.01). 4. When asked about the protective equipments against radiation exposure, 40.6% of them said "modest", and 71.1% appeared equipped with led apron as a protective tool.

  • PDF

Analysis of the Correlation of Job Satisfaction to Turnover Among Dental Hygienists in the Region of J (J지역 치과위생사의 직무만족과 이직의 상관관계 분석)

  • Ju, On-Ju;Kim, Kyeong-Seon;Lee, Hyun-Ok
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
    • /
    • v.7 no.4
    • /
    • pp.251-256
    • /
    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study was to examine what induced dental hygienists to take up another employment and whether their job satisfaction had anything to do with it in an attempt to help curtail their turnover rate. The subjects in this study were approximately 200 dental hygienists who worked in dental institutions. A survey was conducted from July 24 through September 24, 2006, by using structured, self-administered questionnaires. For data analysis, SPSS 11.5 program was employed to see if their turnover experience was linked to their general characteristics, why they took up another employment, how long they wanted to do that and how their job satisfaction was related to that. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. In regard to turnover experience by age, marital status and career, those who had ever changed their employment accounted for 36.2 percent of the age group from 24 to 26, 83.0 percent of the unmarried ones and 50.0 percent of those whose career was less than one to three years (p < 0.001). By monthly mean income, 50.0 percent of the dental hygienists whose monthly mean income ranged from 1.0 to 1.29 million won had that experience(p < 0.05). The gap between these groups and the others was statistically significant. 2. As for the reason of turnover, working environments were cited most often(28.1%), followed by possibilities(18.0%), relationship with supervisors and colleagues(12.4%), and compensation(4.5%). 3. Concerning a preferred new workplace, 66.2 percent of the dental hygienists who worked in dentist's offices hoped to be newly hired by public dental clinics(p < 0.001). By education, 64.3 percent of the college-educated dental hygienists wanted to work at public dental clinics as well(p < 0.01). 4. The change of employment was under the greatest influence of the possibilities of workplace, followed by workload, pay and relationship with colleagues. All the factors had a negative impact on their turnover. Those who were less satisfied sought new employment more often, and job satisfaction made a statistically significant difference to that. The job satisfaction factors made a prediction of their turnover intention ($R^2=.254$).

  • PDF

Determinants of Consumer Preference by type of Accommodation: Two Step Cluster Analysis (이단계 군집분석에 의한 농촌관광 편의시설 유형별 소비자 선호 결정요인)

  • Park, Duk-Byeong;Yoon, Yoo-Shik;Lee, Min-Soo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
    • /
    • v.17 no.3
    • /
    • pp.1-19
    • /
    • 2007
  • 1. Purpose Rural tourism is made by individuals with different characteristics, needs and wants. It is important to have information on the characteristics and preferences of the consumers of the different types of existing rural accommodation. The stud aims to identify the determinants of consumer preference by type of accommodations. 2. Methodology 2.1 Sample Data were collected from 1000 people by telephone survey with three-stage stratified random sampling in seven metropolitan areas in Korea. Respondents were chosen by sampling internal on telephone book published in 2006. We surveyed from four to ten-thirty 0'clock afternoon so as to systematic sampling considering respondents' life cycle. 2.2 Two-step cluster Analysis Our study is accomplished through the use of a two-step cluster method to classify the accommodation in a reduced number of groups, so that each group constitutes a type. This method had been suggested as appropriate in clustering large data sets with mixed attributes. The method is based on a distance measure that enables data with both continuous and categorical attributes to be clustered. This is derived from a probabilistic model in which the distance between two clusters in equivalent to the decrease in log-likelihood function as a result of merging. 2.3 Multinomial Logit Analysis The estimation of a Multionmial Logit model determines the characteristics of tourist who is most likely to opt for each type of accommodation. The Multinomial Logit model constitutes an appropriate framework to explore and explain choice process where the choice set consists of more than two alternatives. Due to its ease and quick estimation of parameters, the Multinomial Logit model has been used for many empirical studies of choice in tourism. 3. Findings The auto-clustering algorithm indicated that a five-cluster solution was the best model, because it minimized the BIC value and the change in them between adjacent numbers of clusters. The accommodation establishments can be classified into five types: Traditional House, Typical Farmhouse, Farmstay house for group Tour, Log Cabin for Family, and Log Cabin for Individuals. Group 1 (Traditional House) includes mainly the large accommodation establishments, i.e. those with ondoll style room providing meals and one shower room on family tourist, of original construction style house. Group 2 (Typical Farmhouse) encompasses accommodation establishments of Ondoll rooms and each bathroom providing meals. It includes, in other words, the tourist accommodations Known as "rural houses." Group 3 (Farmstay House for Group) has accommodation establishments of Ondoll rooms not providing meals and self cooking facilities, large room size over five persons. Group 4 (Log Cabin for Family) includes mainly the popular accommodation establishments, i.e. those with Ondoll style room with on shower room on family tourist, of western styled log house. While the accommodations in this group are not defined as regards type of construction, the group does include all the original Korean style construction, Finally, group 5 (Log Cabin for Individuals)includes those accommodations that are bedroom western styled wooden house with each bathroom. First Multinomial Logit model is estimated including all the explicative variables considered and taking accommodation group 2 as base alternative. The results show that the variables and the estimated values of the parameters for the model giving the probability of each of the five different types of accommodation available in rural tourism village in Korea, according to the socio-economic and trip related characteristics of the individuals. An initial observation of the analysis reveals that none of variables income, the number of journey, distance, and residential style of house is explicative in the choice of rural accommodation. The age and accompany variables are significant for accommodation establishment of group 1. The education and rural residential experience variables are significant for accommodation establishment of groups 4 and 5. The expenditure and marital status variables are significant for accommodation establishment of group 4. The gender and occupation variable are significant for accommodation establishment of group 3. The loyalty variable is significant for accommodation establishment of groups 3 and 4. The study indicates that significant differences exist among the individuals who choose each type of accommodation at a destination. From this investigation is evident that several profiles of tourists can be attracted by a rural destination according to the types of existing accommodations at this destination. Besides, the tourist profiles may be used as the basis for investment policy and promotion for each type of accommodation, making use in each case of the variables that indicate a greater likelihood of influencing the tourist choice of accommodation.

  • PDF

An Analysis of Work Stress of Physical Therapist and Reaction (물리치료사의 업무 스트레스 현황과 대응수준 -부산지역을 중심으로-)

  • Dong, Jong Ick;Ryu, Hwang Gun;Bae, Sung-Kwon
    • The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
    • /
    • v.2 no.1
    • /
    • pp.37-55
    • /
    • 2008
  • This study aims to enhance work efficiency and satisfaction by offering data that make a physical therapist cope with stress coming from the job efficiently by identifying and analyzing the job satisfaction and work stress perceived by a physical therapist, and the level of reaction of a physical therapist. The study distributed survey questionnaires to 300 physical therapists working in medical institutions in Busan via mail and by visit from March 3, 2007 by selecting them simply and randomly from the physical therapist list, and collected the questionnaires by March 20, 2007, 103 respondents were working at 17 general hospitals including a university hospital, 65 respondents at 12 medical centers, and 79 respondents at 39 doctor's offices. The study collected 251 copies, which showed the collection rate of 83.7%, and analyzed 247 copies (82.3%) excluding 4 copies of insincere answers. As a research tool for measuring job satisfaction the study used a tool employed for research into the job satisfaction of physical therapists who work at medical institutions in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk by Kim Hee-Gwon(1992) and research regarding job satisfaction by Jeong Jeong-Hee(2004) as well as research regarding the factors of job satisfaction by Flippo(1980) & Seberhagen(1970) after adjusting the research tools to the purpose of the study. Also for questions about work stress, the study employed nurses' job stress measurement tool developed by Kim Mae-Ja and em Mi-Ok(1984) by modifying the tool to the purpose of the study, and for a measurement tool for reaction to stress, the study used a tool employed for research into reaction to stress of nurses at general hospitals by Choi Eun-Deok(2005) without modification. For data analysis, the study used the SPSS12.0 as a statistical method, and then used t-test or ANOVA for verifying actual numbers, percentile, average :score, standard deviation, rank, and difference. Also, the study conducted which is a post-test method for variables that show a significant difference at the level of p<.05 level after the analysis. The findings include the following. 1) The respondents' job satisfaction score was 3.21 points on the average (out of 5 full points). The peer relationship ranked the highest, posting 4.02 points on the average, and the job satisfaction with rewards was proven the lowest, posting 2.51 points. For the job satisfaction level by characteristics, there were significant differences (p<.05) in gender, hospital type, weekly working hours, monthly working days, number of patients per day, department in charge of therapy, and number of peers, and there was no significant difference in characteristics other than that. 2) The respondents' work stress score was 2.72 points (out of 5 full points) on the average. The respondents were shown to be under the highest stress when they suffered from excessive workload, posting 3.49 points on the average, and they were shown to be under the least stress when they had a conflict with peers at another department, recording 1.90 points on the average. for the job stress level by the characteristics of job, there was a significant difference in the reflection of job assessment(p<.05). 3) 1n respondents' reaction to stress, most of them were shown to make efforts in coping with stress, posting 2.80 points (out of 5 full points). For their experience of being wider stress, they answered that 'they felt depressed (2.85 points)" for their experience of coping with stress, they answered that 'they were indifferent to it or thought about something else' (2.62 points). Also, for their efforts in coping with stress, they answered that 'they were motivated to remove their strain by taking leave, playing, or using their preferences' (3.52 points), which ranked higher. For the level of reaction to stress by characteristics, there were significant differences by age, gender, marital status, total service years as a physical therapist, monthly working days, and department in charge of therapy(p<.05). It is necessary to offer correct information by conducting an in-depth analysis of the stressful situations of physical therapists who exert efforts in rehabilitating patients at hospitals by factor, and seeking management plans based on the research results. Also, it is necessary to develop a program for coping with stress efficiently for removing stress and to conduct research into the understanding and cooperation of administrators and persons in charge of physical therapists for reducing physical therapists' stress at hospitals.

  • PDF

A Study on Health Behaviors and Problems of Female Retail Workers (유통업 여성 근로자의 건강 문제와 건강 행위에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Souk-Young;Yun, Soon-Nyung
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
    • /
    • v.11 no.1
    • /
    • pp.127-145
    • /
    • 2000
  • The objectives of this study are to identify health behaviors and health problems. and the relations between health behaviors and health problems of female workers in the retail business. The number of subjects were 200 female workers of 6 department stores in Seoul and Kyonggi area, whose jobs last more than 6 months as retail employees. The data was collected during 2 months from July 1 to August 30, 1998. The Cornell Medical Index Health Questionnaire(CMI) was used to measure their health problems, while health behaViorn were investigated in terms of 'smoking', 'alcohol', exercise', 'diet', and 'sleeping'. The data were analyzed with frequency. percentage, t-test, ANOVA test, and $X^2-test$ by SPSS PC+ program. The results of this study are as follows: 1. Out of health problems. Digestive symptoms occupied the highest percent number. nervous ones the second and cardiovascular ones the third among physical health problems of retail female workers. The most frequent mental health problem was 'adequacy' and the next, 'tension' and 'anger', 2, Health problems according to general characteristics of subjects were shown that the younger or the unmarried complained more than the older or the married, especially in the items of 'eye and ear', 'respiratory system', 'cardiovascular system', 'digestive tract', 'nervous system', 'adequacy', and 'depression'. The longer working duration they have had, the more they complained of 'respiratory system' and 'adequacy'. The lower academic careers complained of 'nervous' than the higher ones with statistical significance. 3. The analysis of daily health clinic notes showed that respiratory complaints were the highest percent, successively followed by digestive tract, nervous one, external injury, musculoskeletal system, urinary-reproductive system and others. 4. The level of their health practice was generally low in smoking, diet habit and alcohol intake, exercise, sleeping, very low especially in smoking, diet, alcohol intake, and exercise among them all. 5. Present smokers and ones with past experience complained of physical and mental health problems of 'respiratory system', 'digestive tract', 'skin', 'nervous', 'urinary-reproductive system', 'fatigability', adequacy', 'depression', 'anxiety', 'anger' and 'tension', than non smokers, with statistical difference. Workers without having breakfast and with irregular diet had more complaints on 'digestive tract', 'adequacy' and 'tension', than those who had regular dietary habit. The less the subjects slept, the more they complained of eye and ear, cardiovascular system. The subjects who drank alcohol complained more digestive problem. However, whether they exercise or not did not affect physical and mental health problems in a significant manner. 6. The subjects' age and marital status were statistically significant relating to health behaviors, as the younger or unmarried recorded a low level of health practice in smoking, drinking, dietary habit. Based on the results, the suggestions are made as follows: 1. Health education program on smoking, alcohol intake, diet habit is needed to improve health problems and health behavior of female retail workers. 2. The unmarried workers of late teen and twenties, who are transitional period from teenagers to adulthood are important targets for health promotion program especially for maternal health. 3. Better working environment with sufficient time and facilities for workers to relax is required to promote female sales workers' health. 4. Further research is required to identify the relation between workers' visual fatigue and intense lights for the display of goods.

  • PDF

Risk Factors Related to Uterine Leiomyoma in Korean Women - A Retrospective Study - (한국인 여성에서 자궁근종 발생에 관여하는 인자들에 대한 연구 - 후향적 연구 -)

  • Hong, D.G.;Chung, M.J.;Kim, B.S.;Lee, J.M.;Cho, Y.L.;Lee, T.H.;Chun, S.S.
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
    • /
    • v.33 no.3
    • /
    • pp.159-170
    • /
    • 2006
  • Objective: The purpose of this study is to find out risk factors related to uterine leiomyoma in Korean women and to compare with the results of previous western studies. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out. All the cases of uterine leiomyoma (n=244) were diagnosed surgically or sonographically between Jannuary 1998 and December 2004. Total of 269 controls not having uterine leiomyoma were collected from patients who visited Kyungpook national university hospital for routine gynecologic check-up or treatment of their gynecologic or obstetric diseases other than uterine leiomyoma. Data were collected through review of medical records and interviews and analyzed with $x^2$ and logistic regression model. Results: In multivariate analysis, patient's age (OR 1.070; 95% CI 1.041~1.099), number of artificial abortion (OR 1.182; 95% CI 1.018~1.374) and alcohol drinking (OR 1.865; 95% CI 1.231~2.824) had significantly positive correlation with uterine leiomyoma. The duration of lactation was the only factor which had negative correlation (OR 0.985; 95% CI 0.972~0.998). BMI, parity, age at menarche, the duration and interval of menstruation, caffeine consumption and marital status did not show any correlations. Conclusion: In this study, patient's age, number of artificial abortion, and alcohol drinking were the risk factors of uterine leiomyoma in Korean women and the result was similar to that of western studies. Though we couldn't find out the specific risk factors related to the development of uterine leiomyoma in this study, but it has a great meaning to be the first trial in Korean women. The role of information bias should be carefully evaluated and further multicentered, randomized, controlled prospective studies will be needed to know the possible risk factors among Korean women.

Housewives' Knowledge Level of Herb Medicine and Its Related Factors (가정주부의 한약에 대한 지식수준과 관련요인)

  • Suh, Ho-suk;Nam Chul-Hyun;Park Chan-Woo;Kim Sung-Jin;Lee Mi-Kyung;Ha Eun-Pil
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.6 no.1
    • /
    • pp.95-95
    • /
    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to examine housewives' knowledge level of herb medicine and its related factors in Korea. Data were collected from 667 housewives from April 1, 1999 to June 30, 1999. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. According to general characteristics of the subjects, 29.1$\%$ of the subjects was over fifties. 28.6$\%$ was primary school graduate. while 25.5$\%$ was high school graduate. In case of job, the unemployed was 67.0$\%$ and professional/clerical worker was 19.6$\%$. 82.0$\%$ had spouses and 45.7$\%$ believed in Buddha. 50.8$\%$ of the subjects lived in big cities and 76.7$\%$ was the middle class. In case of their health condition, 33.4$\%$ was in good health, while 5 1.1$\%$ suffered from certain diseases and 43.9$\%$ was not satisfied with health conditions. 2. The proportion of experience in taking herb medicine was 86.4$\%$. The marital status and health condition were significantly related to the experience in taking herb medicine. When the respondents took diseases, 68.0$\%$ of them were experienced in folk remedy. The variables of age and religion were significantly related to experience in folk remedy. 3. According to the respondents opinions of the effect of the folk remedy, 'effective' was 78.5$\%$ and 'common' was 17.6$\%$, while 'not effective' was 3.9$\%$. 59.3$\%$ of the respondents thought that the folk remedy had scientific basis. 4. In case of information sources on herb medicine, 59.7$\%$ of the respondents obtained the information from TV or Radio. 13.7$\%$ of them got it from magazines related to Oriental medicine and 13.3$\%$ of them obtained it from newspapers or related books. The information sources were significantly related to age and health condition. The knowledge level of herb medicine was 20.76${\pm}$2.66 point on the basis of 30 points. The knowledge level was significantly related to age, occupation, health condition, information sources, experience in taking herb medicine, and opinions of scientific basis of the folk remedy. 5. The respondents marked 2.23${\pm}$0.64 points on the basis of 3.0 points in the question of the effect of taking herb medicine in summer, 2.30${\pm}$0.61 points in the question of the relationship between taking deer antlers and becoming clear-headed, 2.72${\pm}$0.56 points in the question of ginseng, 2.51${\pm}$0.56 points in the question of the relationship between taking herb medicine and being harmful to the liver, 1.94${\pm}$0.74 points in the question of taking herb medicine during the period of pregnancy, 1.84${\pm}$0.78 points in the question of the relationship between menstrual irregularity and motherwort, 2.00${\pm}$0.83 points in the question of the relationship between taking herb medicine and getting fat, 1.76${\pm}$0.89 points in the question of the relationship between Ssanghwatang and cold, 2.15${\pm}$0.76 points in the question of taking honey, and 1.45${\pm}$0.77 points in the question of selecting foods during the period of taking herb medicine. 6. The factors influencing decision of taking herb medicine were experience of taking herb medicine, intention of receiving treatment by folk remedy, occupation, health condition, and age. As seen in the above results, the knowledge level of taking herb medicine during the period of pregnancy, the relationship between menstrual irregularity and motherwort, Ssanghwatang, honey, and selecting foods during the period of taking herb medicine was very low. Therefore, it is necessary to develop education programs in order to provide community residents with basic knowledge of herb medicine. In doing so, the government, Oriental medical doctors, and associations related to herb medicine must make great efforts.

Housewives' Knowledge Level of Herb Medicine and Its Related Factors (가정주부의 한약에 대한 지식수준과 관련요인)

  • Suh Ho-Suk;Nam Chul-Hyun;Park Chan-Woo;Kim Sung-Jin;Lee Mi-Kyung;Ha Eun-Pil
    • Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
    • /
    • v.6 no.1
    • /
    • pp.96-116
    • /
    • 2002
  • This study was conducted to examine housewives' knowledge level of herb medicine and its related factors in Korea. Data were collected from 667 housewives from April 1, 1999 to June 30, 1999. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. According to general characteristics of the subjects, 29.1% of the subjects was over fifties. 28.6% was primary school graduate. while 25.5% was high school graduate. In case of job, the unemployed was 67.0% and professional/clerical worker was 19.6%. 82.0% had spouses and 45.7% believed in Buddha. 50.8% of the subjects lived in big cities and 76.7% was the middle class. In case of their health condition, 33.4% was in good health, while 51.1% suffered from certain diseases and 43.9% was not satisfied with health conditions. 2. The proportion of experience in taking herb medicine was 86.4%. The marital status and health condition were significantly related to the experience in taking herb medicine. When the respondents took diseases, 68.0% of them were experienced in folk remedy. The variables of age and religion were significantly related to experience in folk remedy. 3. According to the respondents opinions of the effect of the folk remedy, 'effective' was 78.5% and 'common' was 17.6%, while 'not effective' was 3.9%. 59.3% of the respondents thought that the folk remedy had scientific basis. 4. In case of information sources on herb medicine, 59.7% of the respondents obtained the information from TV or Radio. 13.7% of them got it from magazines related to Oriental medicine and 13.3% of them obtained it from newspapers or related books. The information sources were significantly related to age and health condition. The knowledge level of herb medicine was $20.76{\pm}2.66$ point on the basis of 30 points. The knowledge level was significantly related to age, occupation, health condition, information sources, experience in taking herb medicine, and opinions of scientific basis of the folk remedy. 5. The respondents marked $2.23{\pm}0.64$ points on the basis of 3.0 points in the question of the effect of taking herb medicine in summer, $2.30{\pm}0.61$ points in the question of the relationship between taking deer antlers and becoming clear-headed, $2.72{\pm}0.56$ points in the question of ginseng, $2.51{\pm}0.56$ points in the question of the relationship between taking herb medicine and being harmful to the liver, $1.94{\pm}0.74$ points in the question of taking herb medicine during the period of pregnancy, $1.84{\pm}0.78$ points in the question of the relationship between menstrual irregularity and motherwort, $2.00{\pm}0.83$ points in the question of the relationship between taking herb medicine and getting fat, $1.76{\pm}0.89$ points in the question of the relationship between Ssanghwatang and cold, $2.15{\pm}0.76$ points in the question of taking honey, and $1.45{\pm}0.77$ points in the question of selecting foods during the period of taking herb medicine. 6. The factors influencing decision of taking herb medicine were experience of taking herb medicine, intention of receiving treatment by folk remedy, occupation, health condition, and age. As seen in the above results, the knowledge level of taking herb medicine during the period of pregnancy, the relationship between menstrual irregularity and motherwort, Ssanghwatang, honey, and selecting foods during the period of taking herb medicine was very low. Therefore, it is necessary to develop education programs in order to provide community residents with basic knowledge of herb medicine. In doing so, the government, Oriental medical doctors, and associations related to herb medicine must make great efforts.

  • PDF