• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.301-309
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• 2015

Objectives: To investigate trends in the prevalence of allergic disease over a 9-year period. Methods: Using National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data, the annual number of patients with allergic disease was obtained for each regional subdivisions (small cities, counties, and districts) from 2003 to 2011. Annual populations for each sub-region were obtained and used to calculate the standardized prevalence. To compare prevalence within the study period, data was standardized spatially and temporally. For standardization, demographic data was used to obtain the registered population and demographic structure for 2010, which was used to perform direct standardization of previous years. In addition, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to visualize prevalence for individual sub-regions, and allergic diseases were categorized into five groups according to prevalence. Results: The nationwide outpatient prevalence of allergic rhinitis increased approximately 2.3-fold, from 1.27% in 2003 to 2.97% in 2013, while inpatient prevalence also increased approximately 2.4-fold,. The outpatient prevalence of asthma increased 1.2-fold, and inpatient prevalence increased 1.3-fold. The outpatient prevalence of atopic dermatitis decreased approximately 12%, and inpatient prevalence decreased 5%. Conclusions: There was a large difference between prevalence estimated from actual treatment data and prevalence based on patients' self-reported data, particularly for allergic rhinitis. Prevalence must continually be calculated and trends should be analyzed for the efficient management of allergic diseases. To this end, prevalence studies using NHIS claims data may be useful.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2021

Hepatitis C infection is responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates globally as well as for significant indirect costs. The disease burden caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is comparable to the one caused by human immunodeficiency virus or tuberculosis. Today, simple detection methods, highly effective and easy to administer therapies and efficient preventative measures are available to combat hepatitis C. Nevertheless, in most countries around the world, the World Health Organization target of eliminating this infectious disease and its consequences by 2030 are not being met. Significant gaps in care for hepatitis C sufferers still exist, the shortcomings ranging from education and treatment to aftercare. Hepatitis C infection was and still is not on the radar of most politicians and health authorities. National programmes and strategies to combat the disease exist or are being developed in many countries. However, for these to be implemented efficiently and successfully, clear political commitment, strong civil society actors, well-functioning public health structures and the relevant support from global donors are needed.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.142-151
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• 2000

Objectives and Methods : This study was conducted to investigate chief complaints among famers. The subjects of this study were 640 famers who live in the rural area in Wanju-gun Jeonbuk province. They were received medical treatment by oriental doctors who visited each village from July 1996 to June 1999. The data of this study were collected from their medical charts . Results and Conclusions : The number of female patients was 449(70.16%) and the number of male patients was 191(29.84%). The group of patients above 70 years was 32.81%, 60-69 years 32.03%, 50-59 years 20.15%, 40-49 years 8.90%, and bellow 39 years 6.09%. The most frequent complaint in farmers was low back pain(27.16%) the second was knee joint pain(16.14%), the third was shoulder Pain(12.06%), and the fourth was headache-dizziness(9.59%). The frequency of musculoskeletal disease(64.48%) was most high, and cardiovascular disease(11.33%) was the second, gstrointestinal disease(10.73%) was the third, respiratory disease(3.42%) was the fourth. It is necessary to pay attention to musculoskeletal disease-especially low back pain and knee joint pain- in study and treatment of farmer's disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

The Korean government's strategy to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has focused on non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing and wearing masks, along with testing, tracing, and treatment; overall, its performance has been relatively good compared to that of many other countries heavily affected by COVID-19. However, little attention has been paid to health equity in measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to examine the unequal impacts of COVID-19 across socioeconomic groups and to suggest potential solutions to tackle these inequalities. The pathways linking social determinants and health could be entry points to tackle the unequal consequences of this public health emergency. It is crucial for infectious disease policy to consider social determinants of health including poor housing, precarious working conditions, disrupted healthcare services, and suspension of social services. Moreover, the high levels of uncertainty and complexity inherent in this public health emergency, as well as the health and socioeconomic inequalities caused by the pandemic, underscore the need for good governance other than top-down measures by the government. We emphasize that a people-centered perspective is a key approach during the pandemic era. Mutual trust between the state and civil society, strong accountability of the government, and civic participation are essential components of cooperative disaster governance.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the frequent diseases among the people who had been treated by collaborative treatment of Korean medicine and Western medicine, and to compare their medical use behaviors before and after the collaborative first-stage pilot project between Korean medicine and Western medicine. Methods : 4,467 patients were identified as the patients who are participated in the collaborative first-stage pilot project between Korean medicine and Western medicine during the period between July 15, 2016 and March 31 2017. We used 28,480 records of Korean national health insurance claim data from January 1 2016 to March 31 2017 to analyzed present condition of cooperative medical usage. Also we conducted a paired t test to compare the percentage of collaborative treatment days before and after the pilot project period. Results : We found that the most frequent diseases treated in the pilot project were the diseases of musculoskeletal and nervous system and then 10 major diseases such as H, K, J, C (D), N, L, E, A, H and F disease codes in order. Also it was confirmed that 14 major and 53 medium diseases are included from more than 90% of total patients. As a result of high frequency of medical treatment in Western medicine or Korean medicine is "administration of Korean medicine", which is same as before and within the pilot project. The ratio of utilizing both Western and Korean medical care for the same disease on the same day by both general patients and patients in KCD-7 disease code group C, G, I, M and S had been increased significantly. Conclusions : The pilot project might change the behavior of utilizing the medical care service by increasing the ratio of collaborative treatment of Western medicine and Korean medicine for the same disease on the same day.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제39권1호
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• pp.56-62
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• 2014

A tooth with primary endodontic disease that demonstrates a periodontal defect might be extracted because of misdiagnosis as severe periodontal disease or a vertical root fracture. The aim of this case report was to demonstrate the long-term survival of endodontically treated teeth, which had been initially considered unsavable. With meticulous evaluation including the patient's dental history, clinical and radiographic examinations, teeth with primary endodontic lesions could be differentiated and saved after proper root canal treatment. Pain history, vitality test, and radiographic examinations, as well as a general periodontal condition check with periodontal probing on an affected tooth, might be the key methods to differentiate endodontic pathosis from that of periodontal disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.163-173
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• 1974

A study on the health care of Ewha Womans University staff, faculty and families was conducted during the period from March 1973 to August 1974 using designed questionaire. A total of 196 persons who were randomly sampled as 27.3% of the total staff and faculty 789 were studied. The response rates were 96.0%. The results and findings obtained from the study are summerized as follow. 1. The sex ratio of the members the faculty and the staff shows 83.2% and the singles are 37.2% of the total. Their mean family size being 4.6 persons per capita, each family has mean number of 2.3 childeren. 2. The median monthly income of a member of faculty amounts \114,000 and that of a staff \43,077. It amounts \79,333 when the median monthly income of both the members of the faculty and the staff are taken. Consequently, it amounts \91,727\ per family (Assumed mean). 3. 71.4% of the total hold the house of their own. A spouses of 59.4% of them are working for the additional income of the family. 4. Their health condition is rated fair, i. e. 92.3% of them enjoy good health. Out of total members faculty and the staff, 20.6% are cared by family physician. 36.2% of them feel that they are burdened by heavy medical expense. 5. 76.7% of them have affirmatively responded that they would purchase medical insurance policy when they were offered. It reaches 84.0% of the total who consider buying the policy for their dependents. 74.0% of them desire to purchase the policy for their spouse's parents. 6. The monthly prevalence rate reaches 17.0% and the hospital admission rate 4.7%.12.3% of them affirmatively responded that they had chronic diseas. The number of sick call per capita counts 0.2 per month and the hospital admission rate 0.05. 7. To examine the nature of their disease, the respiratory disease is rated to be the top and the gastro-intestinal disease comes to the next. As far as chronic disease is concerned, the gastro-intestinal disease is predominent. 8. As to their treatment, 65.4% of them get the physician's treatment and 17.0% treatment of drug purchasing and 7.7% prefer Chinesedrug. 6.6% of them gets no medical treatment at all. 9. The treatment ratio, including drug purchasing and other means, reaches 93.4%. 60.7% of them affirmatively responded that they did not or could not get physician's treatment at least once even though they thought they had to. It is disclosed that 25.4% of them are caused by economical reason. 10. Average medical expense per case amounts \7,116 and monthly medical expense per capita \1,345. Consequently, average monthly medical expense per family amounts \6,185. 11. The medical expense of a family is rated 7.7% of total earnings of the same period.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.84-93
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• 2014

Objectives: The incidence and survival rate of colorectal cancer in Korea are increasing because of improved screening, treatment technologies, and lifestyle changes. In this aging population, increases in economic cost result. This study was conducted to estimate the economic burden of colorectal cancer utilizing claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: Economic burdens of colorectal cancer were estimated using prevalence data and patients were defined as those who received ambulatory treatment from medical institutions or who had been hospitalized due to colorectal cancer under the International Classification of Disease 10th revision codes from C18-C21. The economic burdens of colorectal cancer were calculated as direct costs and indirect costs. Results: The prevalence rate (per 100 000 people) of those who were treated for colorectal cancer during 2010 was 165.48. The economic burdens of colorectal cancer in 2010 were 3 trillion and 100 billion Korean won (KRW), respectively. Direct costs included 1 trillion and 960 billion KRW (62.85%), respectively and indirect costs were 1 trillion and 160 billion (37.15%), respectively. Conclusions: Colorectal cancer has a large economic burden. Efforts should be made to reduce the economic burden of the disease through primary and secondary prevention.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.41-70
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify a tendency in patients who seek oriental medical service and factors influencing patient satisfaction. The study was conducted with 1,520 residents of a community during the period from February 5, 2005 through June 30, 2005 using a questionnaire. This study results are summarized as follows : 1. Of subjects who sought oriental medical service, 66.2% had musculoskeletal disorder and connective tissue disease, 18.9% had digestive tract disease, 16.4% had respiratory disease, 8.2% had endocrinemetabolic disease, 7.5% had circulatory disease and the remaining subjects had other diseases(p<0.001). 2. Of subjects who sought oriental medical service for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder, 84.9% preferred acupuncture. Of those who had digestive tract diseases, 47.0% preferred packaged herbal medicine. Of those who had respiratory disease, 63.0% preferred packaged herbal medicine. 3. Acupuncture was the most often sought by subjects with musculoskeletal disorder. Packaged herbal medicine was sought by subjects with respiratory disease, digestive tract disease, endocrine-metabolic disease or circulatory disease. Tablet-type herbal medicine was sought by subjects with musculoskeletal disorder or digestive tract disease. Combined therapy was sought by subjects with musculoskeletal disorder, digestive tract disease, hematopoietic disease or immune disorder. 4. The level of satisfaction with oriental medical service was higher in subjects with circulatory disease, subjects with digestive tract disease, subjects with neurological disorder and subjects with musculoskeletal disorder in descending order. Of total subjects, 39.4% experienced side effects of oriental medical care, 38.1% experienced side effects of herbal medicine. About 51.9% considered the price of herbal medicine costly while 23.2% considered it reasonable. 5. Subjects' knowledge of herbal medicine was measured as $29.2{\pm}3.83$ out of 42 scores or 69 out of 100 points, indicating a low knowledge level. Subjects' knowledge was influenced by occupation, religion, side effects, sex, age, residence area, the type of insurance. These variables explained 15.2% of the variance. 7. Of total subjects, 56.8% were satisfied with oriental medical service. Patient satisfaction varied with occupation, religion, the type of insurance, health state and treatment outcomes. These variables explained 37.3% of the variance. Conclusion : The majority of subjects were satisfied with oriental medical service. However, oriental medical care are not widely used to treat all kinds of diseases while its use skews to a small categories of diseases. It is therefore necessary for the government and oriental medical service providers to develop new therapy approaches for the treatment of a broader range of diseases.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.73-83
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• 2008

The rapid change of the health and medical environment and the globalization of medicine has driven doctors to converge and analyse of new and up-to-date medical information and decide to what to make decision for diagnosis and treatments in clinical practice. Medical environment goes with the changes with social environment such as rapid increase of aging population, changes of disease pattern, formation of new area of experts except doctors, government intervention for the medical system, medical insurance of the charges of medical treatment, a increased desire for human rights. These trends should be adopted rapidly to the education system for the students of medical school. The learning objectives of the preventive medicine was developed in 1995 and underwent necessary revision of the contents to create the first revision in 2006. However, the required educational contents of health promotion and disease prevention have been changed by the new trends of medical education such as PBL and integrated curriculum and the 2006 revision does not satisfy these needs. We formed a task force which surveyed all the Western and Traditional Korean medical colleges to describe the state of preventive medicine education in Korea, analyzed the changing education demand according to the change of health environment and quantitatively measured the validity and usefulness of each learning objective in the previous curriculum. With these results, for the good education for preventive medicine, each Traditional Korean medicine schools need more preventive medicine faculties and teaching assistants and opening of some required subjects such as Yangsaeng and Qigong. And future studies of the learning process and ongoing development of teaching materials according to the new learning objectives should be undertaken with persistence in order to ensure the progress of preventive medicine education.