• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 1998

A major purpose of this article is to provide ethical aspects in public health. This is not intended to establish theoretical and philosopical argument for issues of health care ethics, but intended to describe the necessity of ethics education in public health. The increase in medical science to sustain life and the failure to provide corresponding ethical guideline in public health have created new ethical problems. All members in public health trainning programs should not only have an interest in health care ethics, but also have an ability to reach decisions in ethical problems related to community. The goal of ethics education in public health is not to improve the moral character of health care providers but rather to provide them with the conceptual abilities and decision-making skills they will need to deal successfully with ethical issues in public health research and practice. Obviously. the ultimate goal is to increase awareness of human values in health care.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.443-453
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• 2010

We examined progress in oral health of Korean 5 year olds children and dental public health infrastructure since the National Health Promotion Plan 2010 Oral Health Objectives were issued. We summarize trends in the prevalence of dental caries and trends in national public oral health program activities and budget. The Oral Health Objectives were achieved in 2006. Oral health in Korean preschool children improved considerably by improving of lifestyle and consumption of fluoride containing toothpaste. Although the number of public oral health center and the budget of oral health education were increased, the impact of public oral health program for preschool children was not influential. New oral health program for infants such as fluoride varnish application and strengthening of existing public oral health program should be performed for continuing improvement of oral health in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1999-2004
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• 2013

Asian Americans experience disproportionate incidence and mortality rates of certain cancers, compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Primary care physicians are a critical source for cancer screening recommendations and play a significant role in increasing cancer screening of their patients. This study assessed primary care physicians' perceptions of cancer risk in Asians and screening recommendation practices. Primary care physicians practicing in New Jersey and New York City (n=100) completed a 30-question survey on medical practice characteristics, Asian patient communication, cancer screening guidelines, and Asian cancer risk. Liver cancer and stomach cancer were perceived as higher cancer risks among Asian Americans than among the general population, and breast and prostate cancer were perceived as lower risks. Physicians are integral public health liaisons who can be both influential and resourceful toward educating Asian Americans about specific cancer awareness and screening information.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.326-342
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• 2013

Background: Engaging and Involving stakeholders who have different interests in changing health care policies are difficult task. As the literature on the governance in Korean health care field is rare, this study aims to provide empirical evidence of 'governing health policy'-the ways health care policy is made, implemented, and evaluated from a political perspective. Methods: The authors of this study conducted interviews with elites in policy and clinical areas, which was considered to be the most effective approach to gather in-depth information about the background of changing payment policy as well as the barriers or contributors for making the policy sustainable. A total of 14 experts (3 government officials, 2 representatives from medical profession, 3 professors form academic field, and 6 healthcare providers from New DRG pilot program hospitals) participated in 2 hour long interviews. Results: There was a perception gap of the feasibility and substantiality of new payment system among elites. The score was higher in government officers than those in scholars or clinical experts. Next, the interviewees indicated that Korean New DRG might not sustain without significant efforts to improving democratic aspects of the governance. It is also notable that all interviewees except healthcare providers provided negative expectation of the contribution of new payment system to increase administration efficiency. For clinical efficiency, every stakeholders perceived there was no increased efficiency after introduction of New DRG payment. Like general perception, there was a wide gap between the perception of stakeholders in quality change after implementing the new payment system. Finally, interview participants negatively assumed about the likelihood of New DRG to remain a case of successful reforms. Conclusion: This study implied the importance of social consensus and the governance of health policy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2002

Objective: This study was conducted to automatically improve the completeness and validity of the Daegu Cancer Registry, using cross record linkage of many data sources, and to develop a computerized patient enrollment system for efficient communication among cancer researchers via the internet. Method: We analyzed 10,229 cancer patients who were reported in the National Cancer Registry, and from pathological reports, health insurance cancer claims lists, cancer patient records at hospital information centers and death certificates from the Korea National Statistical Office. Result: We confirmed 4,624 cancer patients and found 897 of new cases from a review of medical chart. The new cases were detected efficiently using cross record linkage. We developed a computerized patient enrollment system, based on a client-sewer model, for the input of cancer patients, and then developed a web-based reporting homepage and patient enrollment system for the internet. Conclusion: This system could manage cancer databases systematically, and could be given to other researchers as a basic database.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 2015

Background: In comparison with other industries, the construction industry still has a higher rate of fatal injuries, and thus, there is a need to apply new and innovative approaches for preventing accidents and promoting safe conditions at construction sites. Methods: In this study, the effectiveness of a new incentive system-the surprising incentive system-was assessed. One year after the implementation of this new incentive system, behavioral changes of employees with respect to seven types of activities were observed. Results: The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the new incentive system and the safety performance of frontline employees. The new incentive system had a greater positive impact in the first 6 months since its implementation. In the long term, however, safety performance experienced a gradual reduction. Based on previous studies, all activities selected in this study are important indicators of the safety conditions at workplaces. However, there is a need for a comprehensive and simple-to-apply tool for assessing frontline employees' safety performance. Shortening the intervals between incentives is more effective in promoting safety performance. Conclusion: The results of this study proved that the surprising incentive would improve the employees' safety performance just in the short term because the surprising value of the incentives dwindle over time. For this reason and to maintain the surprising value of the incentive system, the amount and types of incentives need to be evaluated and modified annually or biannually.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.38-46
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in the needs of primary health care posts before 2008 and after 2009. Methods: For the final analysis data on 1,905 public health centers and 1,521 public health practitioners were analyzed. The chi-test was used to examine differences between the employees before and after 2008 in general, and T-test for differences in core competencies and job training needs. The test was carried out during June and July, 2017. Results: There were statistically significant differences in general characteristics, future health clinic function, necessity for core competency education, and for job education. Conclusion: Information on the need for new job training should include information the use of public health center information systems, drug mechanisms, medication guidance, discrimination of major symptoms, treatment for common diseases, patient referral and follow-up, health management for elders, dementia management, and chronic disease management. In future job training, it is necessary to elaborate intensively details and evaluate effectiveness.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.467-496
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• 2012

Public participation in the decision making for scarce health resources is important because health policy requires trust based consensus, which can be achieved by public's understanding and involvement of related policies. In the past, opportunities for interaction between health policy decision makers and lay public were rare in Korea. As political impulses towards public participation in health policy have increased, a few of deliberation methods were attempted. However, there is little research, reporting such cases with a critical examination of relevant theories and previous studies. We first critically review the literature on public participation within theories of democracy, governance, and empowerment. Next, we report a case of a citizen council experiment, which was held to examine public's preferences among different benefit options regarding new drugs and medical technologies. Specifically, in an one-day long citizen council with a total of 28 lay public, twelve questions of whether a drug or a technology should be included in the benefit package of health insurance were asked. Pre- and post-surveys investigated participants' perception of public engagement in health policy. Although it was experimental, the citizen council ensured that lay public could be careful enough to rationally compare the costs and benefits of different options and collectively make decisions. Further, results from pre- and post-survey showed a strong willingness of members to be involved in health care decision making. In the conclusion, we emphasize that better theories and methods need to be developed for more cases of citizen participation in health care policy and management.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to suggest new direction for domiciliary care for elders provided by public institutions in rural areas. Method: The participants in the study were elders using one of 11 public health care institutions, of which 8 operated day care services exclusively, and 3 operated both day care and short-term respite care services. A survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire that included items on general characteristics of the service users, conditions of the services, personnel, financial status, facilities, and perception of the tasks of the staff. Result: The service content of the day care centers included Western and Chinese medical service, physical services, activities of ADL, nursing care services, meal services and transportation services. Domiciliary care centers provided a wide variety of health and social welfare service for elders. Personnel consisted of 3 to 8 staff for day care centers and 7 to 10 for domiciliary care centers. Both types of centers rely on financial support from local government for operation. The perception of the staff was the need for operation of these centers by public health facilities such as public health centers and sub-centers. Conclusion: The result suggest a need to activate the function of public institutions to provide domiciliary care for elders. For this new change, the role as a social support system must be developed.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2012

This study conducted a survey and field investigation on the application of the Public Obligation System for new & renewable energy in public buildings, as well as energy consumption of each building according to their uses. The findings are as follows: (1) Since the introduction of the Public Obligation System (until June 30, 2011), there was average 1.4 new & renewable energy facilities established at 1,433 places. Preference for solar energy facilities was the highest at 57.8%. (2) The revised act sets the obligatory supply percentage of new & renewable energy for each public building: it is 9.0% for a tax office, 4.2% for a dong office, 8.2% for a public health center, and 12.6% for a fire station. All the public buildings except for fire stations failed to meet 10% expected energy consumption, a revised standard. (3) Energy consumption of each public building was 120.6TOE for a tax office, 124.3TOE for a dong office, 166.4TOE for a public health center, and 174.6TOE for a fire station. The energy consumption was comprised of 80% electric power, 18% urban gas, and 1% oil. (4) Electric power consumption per person in the room was high at a dong office, and fuel consumption per person in the room was high at a public health center. In addition, electric power consumption per unit space was high at a public health center, and fuel consumption per unit space was high at a fire station. (5) In all the four public buildings, power load had the highest basic unit percentage at average 55%, being followed by heating load (21.2%), cooling load (15%), and water heating load (7%). A tax office and fire station had 2% load due to cooking facilities.