• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2009

By the rural area health care special law in 1980, Primary health care posts were established in rural areas as fundamental elements of the national health system. Nurses have been deployed to the posts after taking an education course mandated by the special law. However, health care posts have confronted environmental changes over the past 30 years such as an aging and decreasing rural population and advanced traffic systems, which make it necessary to reshape their form and role. Therefore, some guidelines are suggested for future role enlargement of health care posts by analyzing their current management and duties. The guidelines are as follows: 1) enlarging the portion of prevention and management of chronic degenerative diseases, 2) development and practice of diverse health promotion programs, 3) extension of primary health care for the increasing older population, 4) development of health programs for married immigrants, 5) practice of timely maternal child health programs, 6) development of adequate health care posts for low-income people in rapidly urbanizing rural areas and in poor areas in big cities, and 7) revision of laws and institutional arrangements for the role enlargement of health care posts to match social changes and customer needs.

• 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.1 no.1
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• pp.95-108
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• 1991

The World Health Organization and its member states, in 1978, declared that primary health care is a key to attain the goal of Health for All by the goal of Health for All by the yeas 2000. As a member state of WHO, the Republic of Korea has participated in the declaration of ALMA-ATA and committed to put national efforts for devedoping and implementing primary health care approach with the spirit and content of this Declaration. Since 1978, to translate the spirit of the Declaration into realization, Korean goverment has developed a new category of health manpower such as Community Health Practitioners serving people living in remote rural areas and Village Health Workers serving voluntarily their own village, strengthened the function of Health Centers and Health Subcenters through their reorientation and improved the infrastructure by their new construction or renovation. While primary health care is viewed as an essential health care in Korea, there are some circles who follow a narrow definition in referring to the health care at the periphey of a health system, which is erroneous. Considering the PHC is accepted as the best alternative approach to health care to solve problems that modern health systems are facing, we propose the followings as desirable health policy directions that modern health systems are facing, we propose the followings as desirable health policy directions which might translate the persopective into action at the national level after reviewing past and current PHC approach in Korea : 1. To improve the equity through the reduction of gaps between those who have access to health care and those who have not. 2. To reinforce multisectoral approach and intersectoral coordination through the re- establishment of the National Health Council or establishment of equivalent organization at the central level. 3. To stengthen community participation through lacal people's empowerment by leadership training, changing planning process from the top-down approach to bottom-up and giving the priority to human resources rater than technology, 4. To reinforce the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs through upgrading its role and function to Coordinate Ministries which involve human welfare policies, and creating a Division which is in charge of PHC in the Ministry.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2000

The occupational health nursing guideline for primary care was developed by the Korean Academic Society of occupational health nursing and the organization for occupational health nurses (currently known as the Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses) in 1993. Since then, there have been many changes in the health care environment and job performance of occupational health nurses. Appropriate revisions are necessary of the guidelinea based on this background. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of the occupational health nursing guideline for primary care and to analyze the characteristics of primary care activities by occupational health nurses. The questionnaire was mailed to 150 occupational health nurses(OHNs) with the response rate of 64%. The results can be summarized as follows; 1. 65.6% of OHNs have been using the guideline for primary care and 75.9% of them agreed that the guideline was be helpful for their job. 2. Common symptom care, emergency care and chronic illness care were more frequently implemented than occupational disease care by OHNs. In manufacturing industries, emergency care was more frequently implemented than chronic illness care in contrast to the service industries. 3. Most frequent common symptoms treated by OHNs were indigestion, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and coughing. In the case of chronic illness, OHNs more frequently treated diseases of the gastro-intestinal system, skin and sensory organs, and the respiratory system. Emergency care for bruises, burn, and abrasions was more frequently provided. VDT syndrome was the most common occupational disease cared by OHNs in manufacturing and service industries. 4. OHNs prescribed the medicine for external application more frequently than internal medicine. Remedy for colds, analgesics, vitamins, and digestives were more frequently used. From these results, we suggest that the guideline should be revised to emphasize the activities consisting problem finding such as health assessment, physical examinations, monitoring and screening, and to renew the drug list in the range of over- the counter medication (OTC). In the future, the guideline will include the strategies for the role as the case manager.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2008

Purpose: To analyze health programs of the PHCP (Primary Health Care Posts) Method: From August 2006 to July 2007, data on the general quality and health program of the PHCP was requested by official letter and replies were received via E-mail. From December 8 to December 30, 2007, data from 1,268 (66.8%) PHCP out of 1,897 PHCP were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 Win program. Results: The average population covered by each PHCP is 878.3 people. For the health and special programs, Community Health Practitioners report high motivation for programs on health promotion, management of chronic illness, social welfare (40-50%). Demand by the residents was reported at 10% and increases in the health of the residents were attributed to high interest and demand. Volunteer work was 83.3% for bathing, 54.5% for equipment support and 46% for exercise programs. As elders make up 30% of the population in rural areas, there is an increasing demand for volunteer work in bathing programs. Conclusions: As the number of elders in the population increases and there is an increased need for more medical treatment for older people who are sick, the role of PHCP must be strengthened to include visits to homes of community residents. Where financial support for the PHCP is difficult, it is necessary to develop sound data on demographic characteristics of the population in order to develop efficient and effective health promotion programs. The finding that 54.7% of the population need management of chronic illness has difficulty in seeing a physician indicates a need to enhance the health care delivery system by strengthening the role of the Community Health Practitioners and including them in the civil service system to ensure stability of the PHCP.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to identify Community Health Practitioner's (CHP's) perception of barriers to research utilization Method: Participants were 153 CHPs working in Chungbuk Province. Modified Barriers Scale was utilized in the research, and 4 sub-scales were nurse factor, organization factor, research factor and communication factor. Data was analyzed by using SPSS/WIN12.0. Results: Research factor showed the highest barrier score among four sub-scales, and nurse factor was the lowest. CHPs with membership in any nursing academic society showed lower scores on the four sub-scales. Those who had taken a course related to research were less likely to see the research factor or communication as barriers. Barriers to research utilization were not associated with work experience years or to demographics. Conclusion: It is highly recommended that CHPs be trained in research methods and evidence-based practice and that research articles be written more clearly.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the knowledge, attitude and prevalence status of Clonorchiasis Sinensis (C.S.) for inhabitants in the Nakdong riverside area. Method: Data were collected from December 16, 2008 to January 10, 2009. Participants were 552 people who responded to a questionnaire and had a stool examination. Results: The overall prevalence of C.S. was 13.8%. As for knowledge of C.S., the Clonorchiasis group had a mean score of 10.78 $({\pm}3.54)$ on a 17-point scale compared to a score of 10.58 $({\pm}4.15)$ for the negative group. The intended behavioral change related to risk of infection, according to presence of infection or not, was not significant but the Clonorchiasis group had a greater desire for behavioral change intention than the negative group. Conclusion: These results suggest that prevalence investigation of C.S. in all areas in the Nakdong riverside is needed and indicates that it is necessary to set up persistent and systematic management programs for patient care and prevention of C.S..

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.3-23
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was a descriptive study to investigate correlations between self-care behaviors and quality of hypertension management by hypertensive patients being cared by community health practitioners. Method: Participants were 583 people who were prescribed antihypertensive medications at a health clinic located in South Chungcheong Province. The survey was done from June 1 to July 30, 2018. A self-report questionnaire was administered, and data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS 24.0 program. Results: The rate of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were 97.9%, 99.1% and 92.8%, respectively. The number of hypertensive self-care behaviors was 1.82 (${\pm}0.36$) out of 3 points. The quality of hypertension management was 3.22 (${\pm}0.46$) out of 4 points. There was a moderate correlation between hypertensive self-care behaviors and quality of hypertension management (r=.340, p<.001). Conclusions: Results of this study confirm that the quality of hypertension management by community health practitioners is related to self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the quality of hypertension management by health care specialists for self-management of hypertension patients. In addition, a systematic program to improve the quality of hypertension management by community health practitioner is needed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.133-145
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• 1999

The purposesof the study are to analyze the community nursing center in U.S.A and to develop the model of nursing care system based on nurse-midwifery clinic in community for women's health in Korea. 1. In America nursing center is defined as nurse-anchored system of primary care delivery or neighborhood health center. Nursing centers are identified the following four types: (1) community outreach centers, which are similar to traditional public health clinics: (2) institutional-based centers following the mission of a large institution, such as a hospital or university: (3) wellness/health promotion centers, which offer screening, education, counseling, triage, and health maintenance services: and (4) independent practice. Nursing centers are a concept of services provided by nurses in practice arrangements in a community. Nursing centers offer a variety of services, ranging from primary care provided by advanced practice nurses with medical acute management and nursing care to the more traditional education, health promotion, screening wellness and coordination services. Some services, such as the care provided by advanced practice nurses are reimbursed under various insurance plan in some instances and states, where as others, such as preventive and educational services, are not. Thus, lack of reimbursement has threatened the survival of some centers. Licensing of nursing centers varies by state and program and accreditation of nursing centers is also limited. 52% of centers are affiliated with another facility and 48% are freestanding centers. The number of registered nurse at the nursing centers ranges from just one to 115, with a mean of eight RNs peragency and a median of three. Nursing centers avail ability varies: 14% are open 24 hours, 27% have variable short hours, 23% are open 6-7 days per week, and 36% are open Monday- Friday. As the result of my visiting three health centers in Seattle and San Francisco, the women's primary care nurse practitioners focus on a systematic and comprehensive assessment of the health status of women and diagnosis and management of common physical and psychosocial health concerns of women in ambulatory settings. Therapeutic nursing strategies are directed toward self-care, risk reoduction, health surveillance, stress reduction, healthy nutrition, social support, healthy coping, psychological well-being, and pharmacological therapy. They function as primary care providers for the well ness and illness care of women from adolescence through the older adult years and pregnant families. 2. In Korea a nurse-midwife practices independently for pregnant women's health including childbearing family at her own clinic in community. Her services are reimbursed under national health insurance but they are not paid on a fee-for-service schedule covering items. Analyzing the nursing centers in America, I suggest that nurse-midwifery clinics offer primary care for women and home care for chronic ill patients. The health law and health insurance policy should be reovised in order to expand nurse-midwife's and home care nurse's roles at nurse-midwifery clinic.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.122-140
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• 2019

Providing free primary care to everyone is an important goal pursued by many countries under universal health care programs. Countries like India need to efficiently utilize their limited capacities towards this purpose. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, patients incur substantial travel and out-of-pocket expenses for getting primary care from publicly-funded facilities. We propose a set-covering optimization model to assist health policy-makers in managing existing capacity in a better way. Decision-making should consider upgrading centers with better potential to reduce patient expenses and reallocating capacities from less preferred facilities. A multinomial logit choice model is used to predict the preferences. In this article, a brief background and literature survey along with the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model are presented. The working of the model is illustrated with the help of numerical experiments.