• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.70-78
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• 1998

Alternative medicine is defined as the practices used for the prevention and the treatment of diseases that are not taught widely in medical schools, nor generally available inside hospitals. Alternative medicine or therapy is of growing interest to the general public. We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence and patterns of using alternative medicine such as herbal medicine acupuncture, folk medicine, health food and diet, yoga, qi therapy, shiatsu, chiropractics, homeopathy etc.. Based on 794 completed questionnaires, 484 respondents(61%) reported using at least one form of alternative medicine for their medical problems. The major medical conditions for which they used alternative medicine were back pain(85.6%), arthritis(85.4%), hypertension(85.2%), cerebrovascular disorders(86.4%), and insomnia(84.6%). The types of alternative medicine frequently used were herbal medicine, acupuncture, folk medicine, and health food. The reasons why the vast majority of people sought after alternative medicine was that: less side-effect, it is not harmful, it is more effective, there is a shorter waiting time, and a better explanation fur the conditions and a kinder therapist. We found that the frequency of using alternative medicine in the health care system was high. Physicians need to be more aware that many patients may be using alternative medicine. Further survey of the nation-wide prevalence of alternative medicine, and scientific study into the efficacy of this medicine should be followed. In the meantime, we suggest paying attention to possible harmful effects caused by some sorts of alternative medicine.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.162-171
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• 2010

Purpose: Nursing home quality indicators have been focused widely on result outcomes, not for the environment in that quality of service are delivered, This study aimed to examine structural factors influencing quality management activities in nursing homes. Method: Sample was 170 nursing homes responded to the survey questionnaire which was distributed to the 543 nursing homes nation-wide, Data were collected on structural characteristics, types of services, and quality management activities, Data were analyzed with the descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression. Result: Most of the nursing homes were operated as free of charge by the social welfare ownership. Average number of residents was 52.1 with severe and mild dementia and bedridden status, In terms of quality management activities, 34% of the sample had CQI committee that focused their activities on services delivery process, performance appraisal, record keeping regularly. 30.6% of quality management activities were accounted for by the number of residents with dementia, the ratio of RN to residents, rehabilitation services, and social wefare services in nursing homes. Conclusion: We recommend that more comprehensive quality management activities should be developed as process quality indicators in conjunction with the outcome indicators.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2006

Objectives: Bio-equivalence(BE) test is important not only to ensure the quality of generic drugs, but also to promote drug substitution under the separation of prescribing and dispensing practice(SPD). This study was intended to investigate the perception of consumers, doctors, and pharmacists on the confidence of bio-equivalence(BE) assured drugs. Methods: Nation-wide telephone interview survey was conducted for 1,018 consumers, 800 doctors, and 806 pharmacists from September to October in 2003. Descriptive analysis and ${\chi}^2$ analysis were conducted. Results: Even though people showed higher confidence level for the Bioequivalent drugs compared with Bio-inequivalent drugs, the confidence was generally low. Among those asked about the therapeutic substitutability of original drugs by BE versions, 95.78% of pharmacists responded "positive", while only 39.33% of consumers and 31.13% of doctors said so. The elderly, the less educated, who takes chronic disease medicine, pays high cost of prescription drugs, and are in the low income responded less aware of that. Also most consumers got information such as effect of drugs from either media or doctors. Conclusions: In order for people to believe that BE drugs and original drugs are equivalent, we need to strengthen health education, and to clarify any misunderstanding. It is also necessary for the national policy to provide accurate information about drugs to the public.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

This study investigated consumers' energy saving behavior and perceptions concerning the effectiveness of their energy saving behavior. A nation wide survey was conducted involving 2000 households in urban areas and the data from 1767 households were used for the analysis. excluding cases with incomplete responses. Descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and regression analysis were applied. The results were as follows. First, electricity saving behavior was classified into three categories: Thrift (reducing energy consumption), Purchase (buying energy saving appliances), and Control (checking the energy consumption). Second, consumers rated Thrift as the best way to save energy. Third, education, age, and household income were significantly related to energy saving behavior and perceptions on the effectiveness of energy saving behavior. Consumers using above average levels of electricity tended not to practice energy saving behavior and not to positively evaluate effectiveness of the energy saving behavior. Lastly, the implications for public policies to promote energy saving behavior are suggested.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.503-513
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• 2006

Purpose: This study focused on analysing costs per home health care nursing visit based on home health care nursing activities in medical institutes. Method: The data was collected in three stages. First, the cost elements of home health care nursing services were collected and 31 home care nurses participated. Second, the workload and caseload of home care nursing activities were measured by the Easley-Storfjell Instrument(1997). Third, the opinions on improving the home health care nursing reimbursement system were collected by a nation-wide mailing survey from a total of 125 home care agencies. Result: The cost of home health care nursing per visit was calculated as 50,626\. This was composed of a basic visiting fee of $35,090{\\}({\fallingdotseq}355$)$ and travel fee of $15,536{\\}({\fallingdotseq}15$)$. The major problems of the home care nursing payment system were the low level of the cost per visit, no distinction between first visit and revisits, and the limitations in health insurance coverage for home health care nursing services. Conclusion: This study's results will contribute as a baseline for establishing policies for improvement of the home health care nursing cost and for applying a community-based visiting nursing service cost.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was done to develop strategies for better education and career adaptation of nursing students by investigating the recognition and intentions of nursing students and graduates on the nursing and a future career. Method: Data was collected from a survey conducted between the 1st of October and 5th of December, 2007. Participants were 113 students and 37 graduates of one nursing college. Result: The majority of participants thought that atmosphere and relationships were important criteria to choose a job. Most of them selected nursing major not because their aptitude but because of its professionalism and job stability. Most wanted to go to graduate school and were interested in a nurse specialist program, especially for critical and emergency care. The preferred nursing role changed from recovery care to health promotion as they advanced in their studies. They thought work overload and fatigue from three shift as barriers for a longer stay as a clinical nurse. Conclusion: This study is meaningful in a way that it suggests some strategies for promoting nursing professionalism and adaptation to working field. In order to generalize the results of this study, replicate studies need to be conducted with nation-wide samples.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.541-564
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• 2011

This study aimed to investigate health outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients such as mortality and length of stay in hospital and to identify factors associated with the health outcome according to the comorbidity index. Nation-wide representative samples of 3,748 adult inpatients aged between 20-85 years with acute myocardial infarction were derived from the Korea National Hospital Discharge Injury Survey, 2005-2008. Comorbidity index was measured using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression, logistic regression analysis in order to investigate the effect of comorbidity on health outcome. According to the study results, the factors associated with length of hospital stay of acute myocardial infarction patients were gender, insurance type, residential area scale, admission route, PCI perform, CABG perform, and CCI. The factors associated with mortality of acute myocardial infarction patients were age, admission route, PCI perform, and CCI. CCI with a higher length of hospital stay and mortality also increased significantly. This study demonstrated comorbidity risk adjustment for health outcome and presented important data for health care policy. In the future study, more detailed and adequate comorbidity measurement tool should be developed, so patients' severity can be adjusted accurately.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2009

An anatomically detailed elderly human body model is under development. Using the anthropometric database of domestic nation-wide size survey, SizeKorea, a standard size and shape of 50th %tile elderly was constructed. Through the local recruitment process, a male volunteer with 71 years of age, 163cm of height and 63kg of weight has been selected. The exterior (skin) and interior (skeleton and organ) geometries were acquired from whole body 3D laser scan and various medical images such as CT, X-ray, and Ultrasonic of the volunteer. A particular attention has been paid into the combining process of exterior and interior geometries especially for joint articulation positions since they were measured at different postures (sitting vs. supine). A whole ribcage of PMHS which possessed similar anthropometry and age of standard 50th %tile elderly was prepared and dissected for the precise gauge of cortical rib bone thickness distributions. After completing the morphological construction of elderly human body, the finite element modeling will be processed by meshing elements and assigning mechanical properties to various biological tissues which reflect the aging effect.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.117-123
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to extract the actual condition on the provision of rural new villages which are provided by public sectors such as rural modernized village, advanced rural village, happy village and rural new town in Cheon Nam provincial area. This study perform literature survey, research articles and data to analyze and classify. In the case of rural modernized village multiple regression analysis is carried out to look at the relationship of constructed lots with supplied lots. The outcome of the study show that the average size of new rural village is $32,497m^2$ and $52,542m^2$ in the case of rural modernized village and advanced rural village respectively, furthermore it shows that quiet large amount of villages are not sold as a proportion of 48% which is lower than nation-wide ratio of 55%. This study suggests the reasons for low sale of new villages and change of government rural village policy and process from public based planning to private based planning.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.595-602
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• 2012

Main objective is to examine visitors the image, awareness of Saemangeum to examine its image, awareness, expected projects, and areas of improvement. This can establish measures for publicity and nation-wide participation. Main results are as following. First, visitors are broadly distributed to all age groups. Majority of visiting is travel and rate of returning visit is high as well. Second, the Saemangeum project is positively recognized and it is expected to be a prime development of the west coast in the future. Third, TV has significantly contributed to the visit to Saemangeum but the internet has larger effects in younger generations. Furthermore, rest and experience facilities, accommodations, and food items are major areas of improvement. Fourth, visitors have high expectations for tours, leisure, and ecosystems. Therefore, efforts should be made to become the Mecca of greed-development and cultural tourism. Fifth, many people replied that Saemangeum is an assistance to the national development but water quality management should be continued. In addition, the public participation should be made centrically cultural and economical participations.