• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1976

Reorganization of myun health care service is one of the main issues in health care delivery in rural Korea. The fundamenta, concept of the role and function of the myun health subcenter is that it is the basic unit of rural health care service and is to provide comprehensive health care service through the integration of curative and preventive services. The aim of this study is to analyze the patterns of curative activities in the myun health subcenter in terms of the most prevalent types of diseases, necessary diagnostic methods and required equipment, types of treatment, necessary drugs and materials, and finally the cost of curative services. The population on which this study was done was the 1596 patients who visited the two myun health subcenters (Sunwon Myun and Naega Myun) in Kang Wha County, the area of the Yonsei University Community Health Teaching Project, during period from May 1, 1975 to June 10, 1976. For the patient's record in the clinic, problem oriented medical records were used. Decisions regarding the disease classification, the diagnostic methods used and selection of the most appropriate and adequate medical treatment were made by a group of three experienced physicians after reviewing the medical records which had been written by public physicians who were treating patients in the study area. The records were reviewed by resident staff members of the Department of Preventive Medicine, of Yonsei University College of Medicine. A brief summary of results of the study is as follow: 1. 29.9% of the patients who visited the clinics were ages between 0-4. No sex difference was observed among patients less than 20 years of age. However, among patients over 20 years old, females predominated. Thus it is evident that the majority of patients were either children or mothers and grandmothers. 2. The distance from the individual villages to the myun health subcenter was one of important factors in determining the ratio of clinic visits. However, other factors such as the activities of the health workers also affected the rates substantially. 3. The most common 25 diseases comprised 90.2% of all the diseases recorded. Acute respiratory infection (25.5%), Skin (12.7%) , diarrheal diseases (6.8%), neuralgia and back pain (4.9%) and. all other injuries (3.9%) were the five most common diseases. 4. Of all the diseases diagnosed and treated, 9.2% required simple laboratory tests for diagnosis, 6.5% required X-ray examination, and altogether 13.6% required either laboratory test or X-ray examination. 5. Treatment and management of 42.0% of the cases could be accomplished with simple, inexpensive drugs, 12.8% required the use of more expensive drugs (mostly antibiotics) and injections were required in 19.7% of the cases. Minor surgery and referral were necessary in 5% of the cases. 6. The cost for diagnosis and treatment was estimated with a standard which was set by general concensus. The average cost of diagnosis was 144 per case and the cost of treatment was 726 per case, The Total average cost per visit was 870.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.19 no.2 s.20
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• pp.203-212
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• 1986

Hypertension is one of the most well known risk factors for cerebrovascular or coronary heart disease and is a major public health problem. Early detection and treatment of hypertension are essential, but the compliance of treatment on hypertension is not easy to achive. Hypertensive workers are being detected by the annual screening under the Labour Standard Law in Korea but the solidified control system for them is not existing. This study about workers 'Motive-Belief-Action in non-drug and drug treatment of their hypertension would be worthwhile to interpret how the workers actually behave in coping with hypertension, and also would be advisable to construct the follow-up program in Korea. In the field research process two criteria were used to select sample group. The first criterion included the workers who were screened to be hypertensive with their blood pressure above 160/95 in this survey. The second one was used to classify study-group respondents who had known their hypertension by successive annual screening. From such criteria a total of 156 male workers were sampled in 21 industries, the author interviewed them using the structured questionnaire which consisted of Belief-Motive-Action items about non-drug and drug treatment for hypertension with open-ended question on symptom of hypertension. The summary is as follows: 1) Sixty-one percent of respondents had ever checked their blood pressure somewhere besides the annual screening. 2) Most respondents(97.2%) complained no symptoms of hypertension at all. 3) Belief level of non-drug treatment was relatively high (82.1%-64.7%), but motive(55.1%-28.2%) and action(38.5%-16.7%) levels were low. 4) Belief level of drug treatment was relatively lower than that of non-drug treatment, blue collar workers showed higher artier level of drug treatment than white collar workers, and correlation coefficient between belief and motive on drug treatment was lower in group of not-recognizing their family history of hypertension than recognized group. Such findings indicated that belief on drug treatment of hypertensive workers would be problematic. 5) White collar workers showed significant lower correlation coefficients between Motive and Action of salt restriction, restriction of fatty diet and relaxation than blue collar workers. 6) Mild hypertension group showed low levels of Motive and Action of non-drug treatment(salt restriction, restriction of fatty diet and relaxation) and also showed low correlation coefficient between Belief and Motive of above non-drug treatment.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2019

Objective : We searched and collected the various ways of taking medicine in Naegyeong, Dongeuibogam and studied the possibilities to apply the traditional ways of taking medicine to the current way of taking medicine. Method : We collected all the ways of taking medicine in Naegyeong and classified the ways according to the relative importance, urgency, pathosis, time of disease, and, the conditions of patients. Result : Medicinal forms are decoction, pills, trituration, and thin porridge. Various kinds of water and the prepared rice forms were used. A single herb was boiled and its water was used to take the medicine. Also, liquor and honey were used to take medicine. More than two herbs or special prescriptions were boiled and the extract water was taken. The same medicine was taken by different boiled water according to the condition and age of a patient, time, acute or chronic illness, and, severe or mild disease. Conclusion : There are a lot of pills and trituration prescriptions in Naegyeong, Dongeuibogam. Water, various rice preparations, and several herbs are used to take these prescriptions. The reason is that these ways of taking medicine promote the medicinal effect and fast treatment to maximize the medicinal effects. From now on, the in-depth and mutilple studies are needed based on this research.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.371-376
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• 2009

In this article, we reviewed the literature on risk assessment (RA) models with and without molecular genomic markers and the current utility of the markers in the pharmacogenetic field. Epidemiological risk assessment is applied using statistical models and equations established from current scientific knowledge of risk and disease. Several papers have reported that traditional RA tools have significant limitations in decision-making in management strategies for individuals as predictions of diseases and disease progression are inaccurate. Recently, the model added information on the genetic susceptibility factors that are expected to be most responsible for differences in individual risk. On the continuum of health care, from diagnosis to treatment, pharmacogenetics has been developed based on the accumulated knowledge of human genomic variation involving drug distribution and metabolism and the target of action, which has the potential to facilitate personalized medicine that can avoid therapeutic failure and serious side effects. There are many challenges for the applicability of genomic information in a clinical setting. Current uses of genetic markers for managing drug therapy and issues in the development of a valid biomarker in pharmacogenetics are discussed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.315-322
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• 2009

Objectives : Knowledge about the management status of diabetic melitus (DM) is essential to improve diabetic management. Moreover, low income is associated with poor adherence to treatment and increased mortality. This study was performed to evaluate the management status of DM in low-income patients in a rural area. Methods : We enrolled 370 patients with type 2 DM living in Gokseong county, JeollaNamdo. A well-trained examiner measured the height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Carotid ultrasonography was used to measure carotid artery carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT) and plaque. anklebrachial index (ABI) was used to evaluate peripheral artery disease. A fundoscopic examination was performed to evaluate diabetic retinopathy. A history of diabetes complications and health-related questionnaires were also completed. Results : The age of diabetic subjects was 68.7$\pm$8.7 years and the duration of diabetes was 8.9$\pm$8.2 years. Most (63.5%) had hypertension, and 45.7% had triglycerides below 150 mg/dl, 38.1% had low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) cholesterol below 100 mg/dl, 48.7% had urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) below 30 mg/g. Less than half (45.9%) achieved the goal of HbA1c less than 7% suggested by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). 10.6% had peripheral vascular disease, 11.9% had retinopathy, and 60.8% had chronic kidney disease. Conclusions : DM management in low income patients is very poor and requires further work to improve.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.63-80
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• 2006

Public health oriental medical doctor has played a great role in providing oriental medical treatment and oriental medical health program with public health medical services, the basic infrastructure, however, is not sufficient. In this study, the researcher surveyed the treatment working or service condition of public health oriental medical doctor. 1. The payment, allowance of doctors are fixed upon the law and guideline according to the financial status of local government. The branch of public health center has more support like an official residence with expenses. 2. The public health center mainly has assitants and ratio of full-timer is more than the branch public health center without any assistants if any, they are temporary employee 3. The public health center has 5.22 beds while the branch has 3.14 beds. The daily average number of patient for public health center is 15.01 while the branch has 8.7 More than half of outpatients are over sixties with musculoskeletal disease. 4. Regarding the traveling clinic, the public health center put into more operation than the branch. The 3rd year serving public doctor gives negative about the traveling clinic much more than 1st and 2nd year serving public doctor. The treatment service condition of public doctor of the public health center is better than the branch doctor, but we are on the point of role-changing as health promotion and preventive treatment to bring up motivation, education and competence strengthening for execution the local-bound health program.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.69-87
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• 2024

Objectives : This study is to investigate the current National Health Insurance Database cohort studies related to complications of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and suggest the design of Korean medical epidemiological studies of PD. Methods : Nationwide longitudinal studies of PD patients in South Korea were collected through Pubmed and the Korea Citation Index (KCI). We selected cohort studies that used the National Health Insurance Database in Korea and targeted Parkinson's disease patients. Studies published before February 2024 were categorized according to study designs. We examined variables and covariates, enroll dates and matching methods. Results : Of a total of 536 studies, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies used the National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database and among them, 5 used sample data and one senior database. Studies can be classified into two types. 11 cohort studies were comparing PD patients and non-PD patients. Another type was 4 PD patients cohort studies. Most studies used two diagnostic codes (G20 and V124) for inclusion criteria. Enroll periods were from 2002 to 2017, and follow-up periods were from 7 to 14 years. 16 studies considered age and sex as covariates. 15 studies used the propensity score matching method to increase the level of causality. There was only one study related to the Korean medical treatment. Conclusion : In future cohort studies on Korean medical treatment, more attempts should be made to reveal the effect of the treatments on PD patients by defining inclusion criteria for patient groups, covariates, exposure variables, and assessment indicators more operatively.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.376-381
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• 2018

For the control of oak wilt caused by Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae, an antifungal microorganism, Streptomyces blastmyceticus, was used as a potential agent. Culture suspension of S. blastmyceticus was injected into Quercus mongolicae in the research forest of Kangwon National University by $ChemJet^{(R)}$ trunk injection and Macro-infusion at root flare injection. $Alamo^{(R)}$ (a.i., propiconazole 14.5%), a fungicide currently used for the control of oak wilt in USA, was also treated by both methods to compare the efficacy. For preventive efficacy, culture suspension of the pathogen was inoculated at 1 month after injection of either agent. Tested trees were cut at 3 months after treatment, stained with 1% Fuchsin acid, and then non-conductive area (NCA) and re-isolation frequency (RIF) of oak wilt fungus were compared among treatments. While NCA was the highest as 47.3% in pathogen only treatment, it was the lowest as 16.0% in sterilized water treatment by Macro-infusion. NCAs of Alamo treatment by Macro-infusion and ChemJet injection were 25.3% and 32.1%, respectively. NCA of S.blastmyceticus treatment by ChemJet injection was 32.3%, similar with Alamo treatment's by ChemJet injection. All treatments by either injection method showed significantly lower NCA compared to the pathogen only treatment. These results indicate that S. blastmyceticus injection shows the preventive efficacy against oak wilt disease by suppressing the growth of pathogen injected. NCA of Macro-infusion injection of sterilized water was lower as 16.0%, compared to 21.3% of ChemJet injection. It means that Macro-infusion is more effective in translocation of sterilized water than ChemJet injection by even distribution. RIF from wood discs of treated trees showed high in pathogen only treatment, but relatively low in S. blastmyceticus treatment. RIF results were correlated with NCA results. From the above results, it was confirmed that S. blastmyceticus showed preventive efficacy against oak wilt disease by ChemJet trunk or Macro-infusion at root flare injection.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2015

Objective : There are many documents that explain efficacy of herbal medicine products (HMP), however, explanations on efficacy are not consistent with the clinical use. The objective of this study is to identify the differences between herbal medicines used in clinics and Korean Medicine literatures. The disease was restricted in low back pain (LBP). Method : In order to investigate HMP for the treatment of LBP, we selected five Korean medical documents as reference and searched for key words related to LBP. Five databases were Information on Herbal prescription published by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 56 Herbal Medicines covered with Health Insurance, Guideline for prescribing herbal medicines announced by Ministry Health & Welfare, Explanation on Herbal Medicines published by Korean Pharmaceutical Association, website of Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (http://www.health.kr/). The keywords were 'low back pain', 'lumbar', 'pain', 'myalgia', 'neuralgia', 'arthralgia', 'arthroneuralgia', and 'sciatica'. We also utilized the result of retrospective cross-sectional study in five university hospitals to investigate HMP used in practice for LBP. Results : From five databases, the number of searched HMP was 25, 12, 40, 12 and 38 respectively and 83 remained after removing duplications. There were 43 kinds of HMP used in clinical practice and only 20 (46.51 %) were included in one or more databases. Conclusion : This study suggests the necessity for reorganizing efficacy of herbal medicine. Standardizing explanation on herbal medicine should reflect the clinical conditions in further study.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.434-444
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• 2013

Background: Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers (RCC) were established for the prevention and treatment of cardiocerebrovascular disease and funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the measurement tool of public benefits in RCC. Methods: Through the intensive literature review, experts surveys and their repetitive feedback, we selected the 46 items about the public benefits in RCC. Development of measurement tool involved content validity test using Content Validity Index (CVI), construct validity test through factor analysis and reliability test. Results: Thirty-five items were selected by content validity test, which CVI was 0.08 or higher. Through the construct validity test, 32 items in 7 factors were derived. And Cronbach's alpha was 0.951. Finally, public benefits measurement tool is composed of 32 items in 7 factors which are comprehensiveness of health care services, market complement, emergency care, cost, governance, quality improvement, and government control. Conclusion: Though we developed the measurement tool of public benefits in RCC, it would be utilized to measure the public benefits of various health agencies.