• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-103
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• 1998

The elderly population will increase from 5.8% in 1996 to 12.5% in 2020. The related problems of health will also become a very important issue in the future. Therefore it is important to address the problems of geriatric nursing and geriatric health. 87.6% of the aged were ill with chronic degenerative diseases in 1994. In 1995, hospital admission rates (86.8) for those aged 60 or older were higher than that (56.3) of the total age group. Such high medical utilization will increase national health costs. For the development of geriatric nursing, active nursing intervention in various settings combined with education and research should be developed. Considering the health and welfare of the aged and the present status and views in Korea, I suggest the following: First, the health needs of the elderly in the institution, must be met by a plan that fosters geriatric nurses and programmed service development. Second, health service for the residential elderly must be provided in day care centers, short stays, nursing homes and geriatric hospitals. Geriatric nursing services should be provided in home residential areas, public health centers, public health subcenters as well as having, community health practitioners in primary health care posts and home health nurses. Third, geriatric nursing curriculum must be developed adjust to situations and culture of Korea and be included in the nursing curriculum. And gerontological nurse practitioner or geriatric specialist must be fosteraged to provide the professional care for the aged. Geriatric nursing research should be also achived for geriatric nursing improvements.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.353-377
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the performance state and improvement countermeasure of Primary Health care Posts(PHPs). The operation reports of PHPs(1996 330 PHPs, 1999 313 PHPs) located in Kyongsangbuk-Do and data collected by self-administered questionnaire survey of 280 community health practitioners(CHPs) were analyzed. The major results were as follows: Population per PHP in 1999 decreased in number compared with 1996. But population of the aged increased in number. The performance status of PHP in 1999 increased compared with 1996. A hundred forty one community health practitioners(50.4%) replied that the fiscal standing of PHP was good. Only 1.4% replied that the fiscal standing of PHP was difficult. For the degree of satisfaction in affairs, overall of community health practitioners felt proud. The degree of cooperation between PHP and public health institutions was high and the degree of cooperation of between PHP and private medical institutions was high. The degree of cooperation between PHP and Health Center was significantly different by age of CHP, the service period of CHP, and CHP's service period at present PHP. Over seventy percent of CHPs replied that they had cooperative relationship with operation council, village health workers, community organization. CHPs who drew up the paper on PHP's health activity plan were 96.4 % and only 11.4% of CHPs participated drawing up the report on the second community health plan. CHPs who grasped the blood pressure and smoking status of residents over 70% were 88.2%, 63.9% respectively and the grasp rate of blood pressure fur residents were significantly different according to age and educational level of CHP. CHPs received job education in addition continuous job education arid participated on research program in last 3 years were 27.5%, respectively. CHPs performed the return health program for residents in last 3years were 65.4%. Over 95% of CHPs replied that PHPs might be necessary and 53.9% of CHPs replied that the role of PHPs should be increased. CHPS indicated that major reasons of FHPs lockout were lack of understanding for PHP and administrative convenience, CHPs were officials in special government service governors intention of self-governing body. CHPs suggested number of population in health need such as the aged and patients with chronic disease, opinion of residents, population size, traffic situation and network in order as evaluation criteria for PHP and suggested results of health performance, degree of relationship with residents, results of medical examination anti treatment, ability for administration and affairs in order as evaluation criteria for CHP. CHPs replied that the important countermeasures for PHPs under standard were affairs improvement of PHPs and shifting of location to health weakness area in city. Over 50% of CHPs indicated that the most important thing for improvement of PHPs was affairs adjustment of CLIP. And CHPs suggested that health programs carried out in priority at PHP were management of diabetes mellitus and hypertention. home visiting health care, health care for the aged. The Affairs of BLIP should be adjusted to satisfy community health need and health programs such as management of diabetes mellitus and hypertention, home visiting health care, health care for the aged should be activated in order that PHPs become organization reflecting value system of primary health care.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2007

Purpose: To identify the compliance level with therapeutic regimen among patients with hypertension residing in rural communities. Method: A descriptive-retrospective research design was employed. One hundred patients with hypertension using 8 Primary Health Care Posts under W Public Health Center were randomly recruited on the basis of being over 35 years of age. After obtaining written consent, the patients underwent direct interviews with a structured questionnaire carried out by 8 public health practitioners. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were utilized. Results: In a binary logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and occupation, those who were receiving medication (OR=5.34), were undergoing a weight control program (OR=4.45), restricted alcohol (OR=9.93), or smoking cessation (OR=25.59) as recommended by medical or health professionals were more compliant (p<.05) while those under a low salt diet, exercise, and stress management were not significant statistically (p>.05). Conclusions: Further research should be conducted to validate these findings so as to facilitate the development of nursing intervention strategies for improving the compliance of hypertensive patients in respect to medication and life style modification.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2007

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of leisure programs over 8 weeks on elderly women 60 and over who lived in a rural area. Did the program affect feelings of depression and self-esteem? Method: The leisure programs in this study included rhythm gymnastics for elderly women, recreation, balloon art, paper folding, viewing movies, shuttle cock game, exhibition and evaluation activity. As a Quasi-Experimental study, the design of this study was a Nonequivalent Control Group Pretest-Posttest Design. Results: It was shown that leisure programs for elderly women for 8 weeks, consisting of rhythm gymnastics, self-introduction, hobby activities and recreation can reduce depression and enhance the feeling of self-esteem in elderly women in the rural area. Conclusion: It is concluded that public health centers in rural areas should conduct leisure programs during the farmers' slack season, and that the community halls for elders can contribute to improving the life quality of elderly women by being more affirmative and positive if they develop as healthy and active cultural centers where elderly women will want to come and participate.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.270-281
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was done to determine if osteoarthritis (OA) patients living in rural Korea would have a benefit from a structured group program focused on self-help strategies. Methods: A hundred and twenty-six patients with OA were recruited from nine Primary Health Care Posts. The experimental group received a 6-week self-help education program while the control group received usual care. T-tests and c2-tests were used to determine the homogeneity between the experimental and control groups. Independent sample t-tests were performed to determine the effect of the treatment program. To guard against such likelihood, the level of significance of t-test was determined by Bonferroni correction within the study constructs. When significant group differences were found in study variables at baseline, analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) were used for group comparisons of outcome variables. Results: The experimental group reported more significant improvement in fatigue, difficulty with physical activity, depression, quality of life, self-efficacy, and health behaviors than did the control group. The experimental group also showed improvements in range of motion and muscle strength as compared to the control group. Conclusion: A self-help group education program was an effective and powerful strategy to promote physical and psychosocial health in OA patients

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2007

Purpose: In this study consumers' preference for housing for elderly people was analyzed as well as the recognition by elders of silver town facilities, and their preference for service provided by silver town. The study was done to provide basic data for the development of silver town facilities that are low in cost and high in efficiency. Methods: A sample research was used in this study to analyze the understanding of old age, silver town, and service preference. Results: First, interest and intention to live in silver town was very positive, however low cost was also preferred and that is quite different to current silver towns of Korea. Second, women have more understanding of, requests for, and intention to move into silver town facilities than men. Women's demands for silver town facilities must be reflected in the development strategy of silver towns. Third, the most important part of activating silver town facilities is price strategy. Government political support is required in order to keep silver town move-in costs affordable. Fourth, silver towns must function as total service complex towns. Conclusion: This study is meaningful as efficient operation of silver town is suggested rather than facility degradation to achieve price reduction. This result is important to the development of silver towns based on consumer preference, as it suggests a development direction that is focused on securing differentiated services and programs.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.757-766
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• 2002

Purpose: Recently there have been many changes in health care environments in Korea. To perform public health programs effectively and efficiently, it is necessary to analyze and identify the demand and supply for the public health nurses. Method: The study analyzed experts' opinions regarding the supply of public health nurses, as well as national and foreign statistical data on workforce supply of public health nurses. Two methods for estimating the amount of demand for public health nurses were used: one was applying the indicators of developed countries for public health nurses based on population: the other was to refer to regulations and/or recommended guidelines in Korea. Result: 1) The number of public health centers, public health sub-centers, and primary health care posts have decreased between 1990 and 2001, from 260 to 242, 1318 to 1270, 2038 to 1907, respectively. 2) Between 1997 and 2002, the number of public health nurses has also decreased from 5572 to 5112. 3) In the case of applying regulations, the number (5112) of existing public health nurses falls shortly by 942. 4) In 2001, the Korean population per one public health nurse was 9262. 5) In the case of applying regulations, the number of public health nurses required to meet the demand for health services in 2001 and 2020 is estimated at 5932 and 6347, respectively. 6) In the case of applying the indicators of developed countries, the number of public health nurses required to meet the demand for health service in 2001 and 2020 is estimated at 9.469 and 10.310, respectively. Conclusion and suggestions: Because of the importance of public health industry, public health nurses have been approved as a field specialist and specialized nurse practitioner by the newly revised legal regulation, there have been absence of approval of their role differentiation and capability. In addition, organizational activity and insufficient number of the public health nurses have contributed to the inactive utilization of them. As community public health is focused on caring individuals as well as organizations, it requires more autonomy and special skills than other fields. Therefore, public health nurses need to enhance the capability as health educator, consultant, and information management persons through advanced education course for public health nurses. Public health nurses need to be prepared as advanced nurse practitioners by receiving advanced education courses and field experiences.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.112-127
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to develop performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare through the study the major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare. Various literature review was conducted to study the performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare of advanced countries and Korea. Mail survey was conducted from national wide PHC(public health centers), sub health centers and primary health care posts. of the surveys mailed, 2,293 centers(67%) were returned within the allotted and we included in the analysis these who completed the questionnaire. Data was analysed by SPSS for windows 12.0. The major results of the research were as follows; Firstly, major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare in the multivariate analysis were jurisdictional families per manpower(OR:0.78, 95%CI:0.64-0.94, P=0.011), weaken poorly families per manpower(OR:0.42, 95%CI:0.35-0.50, P<0.001), business vehicles per manpower(OR:1.13, 95%CI:1.04-1.24, P=0.007) type of public health center(OR:4.42, 95%CI:3.32-5.90, P<0.001), region of public health center(OR:0.53, 95%CI:0.32-0.89, P=0.017). Secondly, performance indicators for quality of public health center based home healthcare were developed as basic investigation, registration, intervention and discharge level. Preparing for Activation of public health center based home healthcare in Korea, the result application as follows is possible. Firstly, we can conclude that the major factors of registrated weaken poorly residents in the community based home healthcare are jurisdictional families per manpower, weaken poorly families per manpower, type of public health center, region of public health center, business vehicles per manpower. Secondly, the new developed performance indicators which are divided into basic investigation, registration, intervention, discharge for public health center based home healthcare could be applied it for improving quality of home healthcare services.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.125-142
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• 2002

This study was carried out to purpose drawing up the efficient method of rural residents' health management, analyzing factors having influences on the behavioral intention and the behavior of hepatitis B vaccination of rural residents, using the theory of planned behavior(TPB). Surveying the first questionnaire about TPB to 439 people of rural adults over 40-year old who participated to hepatitis B examination program was made from March 14 to April 23 in 2001 at two primary health care posts in a city in Gyeongsangbuk-do and the second survey for hepatitis B vaccination was made to the last subjects of 332 people(75.6%) that had been proved as subjects of inoculation against the hepatitis B as the result of examination after two months of notification. In the behavioral intention rate of hepatitis B vaccination of the subjects within a month, 100%(the top) was 45.2%, 80-90%(the middle) was 21.1% and under 70%(the low) was 33.7%. In simple analysis, vaccination intention was related with significantly health security type and economic status(p<0.05). And vaccination intention was related with significantly all variables of attitude toward behavior and subjective norm, and economic power of utilizing medical facilities and perceived power variable of perceived behavioral control(p<0.01). The vaccination rate of the subjects within a month was 31.3%. In simple analysis, the vaccination rate was higher significantly in the lower the age was, the higher the educational level was(p<0.01), the larger the family was, and subjects having transport(p<0.05). And the vaccination rate was higher in the higher the economic power was and the higher the perceived ability was. As the results of making generalized logit analysis for behavioral intention, the more positive the subjective norm was, the higher was the score of the perceived behavioral control, the intention was higher significantly in the top class on a basis of the low class of behavioral intention. In multiple logistic regression analysis for vaccination(behavior) using intention and perceived behavioral control as dependent variables, it showed that perceived behavioral control variable only influenced significantly. The higher was the score of perceived behavioral control, it showed that they got the more vaccination(p<0.01). And even in the result having analyzed, adding the significant general characteristics variables in the simple analysis to the independent variable, the higher was the score of perceived behavioral control, it showed that they got vaccination more.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.41-50
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• 2010

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of hypertension prevention and management programs (HPMPs) in rural Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 700 community health practitioners working at primary health care posts (PHCPs). The questionnaire had four domains, which were hypertension management, hypertension prevention, the PHCP environment, and evaluation system, each with different maximum weighted values (WVs). Weighted values of 100 indicate the best effectiveness for the HPMP in all four domains. Results: The average WVs and percent effectiveness of all four domains combined was 61.65 (62%); the hypertension management domain was 28.81 (72%); the hypertension prevention domain was 23.44 (67%); the PHCP environment was4.29(43%); and the evaluation system was5.10(34%). Conclusion: The HPMPs were generally effective, and hypertension management was the most effective. The environment of PHCPs and the evaluation system of HPMPs should be improved to increase the effectiveness of the HPMPs.