• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.601-616
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• 2022

In the era of the fourth industrial revolution technology, the inclusion of personalized nutrition for healthcare (PNH), when establishing a healthcare platform to prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and inflammatory diseases, enhances the national competitiveness of global healthcare markets. Furthermore, since the government experienced COVID-19 and the population dead cross in 2020, as well as numerous health problems due to an increasing super-aged Korean society, there is an urgent need to secure, develop, and utilize PNH-related technologies. Three conditions are essential for the development of PNH technologies. These include the establishment of causality between obesity genome (genotype) and prevalence (phenotype) in Koreans, validation of clinical intervention research, and securing PNH-utilization technology (i.e., algorithm development, artificial intelligence-based platform, direct-to-customer [DTC]-based PNH, etc.). Therefore, a national control tower is required to establish appropriate PNH infrastructure (basic and clinical research, cultivation of PNH-related experts, etc.). The post-corona era will be aggressive in sharing data knowledge and developing related technologies, and Korea needs to actively participate in the large-scale global healthcare markets. This review provides the importance of scientific evidence based on a huge dataset, which is the primary prerequisite for the DTC obesity gene-based PNH technologies to be competitive in the healthcare market. Furthermore, based on comparing domestic and internationally approved DTC obese genes and the current status of Korean obesity genome-based PNH research, we intend to provide a direction to PNH planners (individuals and industries) for establishing scientific PNH guidelines for the prevention of obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.278-286
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find out the effectiveness of the CPR training for non-healthcare providers by checking the performing ability of the subjects before and after the teaching class. Method: This study was a single primary experimental study designed with pre and post test. Study subjects were 37 office staffs who participated in all test from March, 10th, 2005 to April, 18th, 2005. The tools of this study were CPR performing evaluation sheet and CPR teaching computer program. Data analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, repeated ANOVA and Bonferroni with SPSS 12.0 program. Result: The CPR practice performing ability statistically significant increased by the step of test. The CPR practice performing ability of learning experience group had significantly high score than non experience group. The self-confidence about CPR practice when faced emergency situation was increased after practice training. Conclusion: One to one CPR practice teaching method using simulation by CPR teaching specialists was turned out to be very effective in improving the ability of CPR practice of non-healthcare providers in a tertiary hospital than self-study.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.331-335
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• 2005

The fusion technology of small sensor and wireless communication was followed by various application examples of the embedded system, where the social infrastructural facilities and ecological environment were wirelessly monitored. In addition, this technology represents the primary application area being extended into the healthcare field. In this study, a body area network for ubiquitous healthcare is presented. More specifically this represents a wireless biomedical signal acquisition device characterized by small size, low power consumption, pre-processing and archiving capability. Using this device, a new method for monitoring vital signs and activity is created. A PDA-based wireless sensor network enables patients to be monitored during their daily living, without any constraints. Therefore, the proposed method can be used to develop Activities of Daily Living (ADL) monitoring devices for the elderly or movement impaired people. A medical center would be able to remotely monitor the current state of elderly people and support first-aid in emergency cases. In addition, this method will reduce medical costs in society, where the average life expectancy is increasing.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.214-223
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• 2019

Objectives: Equity in financial protection against healthcare expenditures is one the primary functions of health systems worldwide. This study aimed to quantify socioeconomic inequality in facing catastrophic healthcare expenditures (CHE) and to identify the main factors contributing to socioeconomic inequality in CHE in Iran. Methods: A total of 37 860 households were drawn from the Households Income and Expenditure Survey, conducted by the Statistical Center of Iran in 2017. The prevalence of CHE was measured using a cut-off of spending at least 40% of the capacity to pay on healthcare services. The concentration curve and concentration index (C) were used to illustrate and measure the extent of socioeconomic inequality in CHE among Iranian households. The C was decomposed to identify the main factors explaining the observed socioeconomic inequality in CHE in Iran. Results: The prevalence of CHE among Iranian households in 2017 was 5.26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.04 to 5.49). The value of C was -0.17 (95% CI, -0.19 to -0.13), suggesting that CHE was mainly concentrated among socioeconomically disadvantaged households in Iran. The decomposition analysis highlighted the household wealth index as explaining 71.7% of the concentration of CHE among the poor in Iran. Conclusions: This study revealed that CHE is disproportionately concentrated among poor households in Iran. Health policies to reduce socioeconomic inequality in facing CHE in Iran should focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged households.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.385-395
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• 2022

Purpose: To support implementation of comprehensive, person-centered healthcare, this study aimed to explore immigrant women's public health center (PHC) service experiences and needs while considering Photovoice's feasibility for this purpose. Methods: This qualitative study included 15 marriage-based immigrant women. Participants were recruited from churches and multicultural family support centers using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through four focus group interviews and were subjected to inductive content analysis. Results: Five categories of experiences were identified: language barriers, hectic environment, affordable and practical primary healthcare, feeling ignored and discriminated against, and feeling frustrated. In addition, five categories of needs were identified: language assistance services, ease of access, healthcare across the lifespan, expansion of affordable healthcare, and being accepted as they are. This study provides preliminary evidence that the Photovoice approach can facilitate the interview process in a qualitative inquiry involving participants with limited ability to express their perspectives in the researchers' language. Conclusion: Study findings highlight the need to implement institutional policy and procedural changes within PHCs and to provide culturally competent, personcentered care for South Korea's marriage-based immigrant women and other ethnic minority populations. The findings also provide evidence-based direction for PHC service planning.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2023

This study examined the trend of healthcare status and compared the status of South Korea and other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) using the OECD health statistics 2022. We used the OECD health statistics from 2022 and a position value for relative comparison (PARC) index to compare the five elements of the healthcare system. The study also used a Mann-Kendall test to analyze the trend of the PARC values from 2000 to the present year. The findings of the study indicate that many South Korea's PARC values were higher than the OECD median. But practicing physician in supply part and medical cost were lower than OECD median but the trend significantly increased. Medical accessibility part and quality of care part except primary care, and mental health had a high relative position but the trend did not increased significantly. After outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, there were changes in medical accessibility. Health screening and vaccinations showed an overall decline in 2020 compared to 2019. These results suggest that policymakers need to take necessary steps for a sustainable healthcare system in the country.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2018

The epidermis which is stratified by epithelial tissue renewal based on keratinocyte differentiation protects the organism from various environmental insults by forming a physical barrier. Autophagy is a mechanism which mediates lysosomal delivery and degradation of protein aggregates, damaged organelles and intracellular microorganisms. Recent reports have shown that autophagy has critical roles for proper terminal differentiation to stratum corneum via removing metabolic organelles and nuclei. However, whether increasing autophagy can activate epidermal differentiation is unknown. Here, we screened a library of natural single compounds and discovered that betaine specifically increased the LC3 positive cytosolic punctate vesicles and LC3-I to LC3-II conversion in HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line, indicating increased autophagy flux. mTOR pathway, which negatively regulates autophagy, was not affected by betaine treatment, suggesting betaine-induced autophagy through an mTOR-independent pathway. Betaine-induced autophagy was also observed in primary human keratinocyte and skin equivalent. Furthermore, epidermal thickness was increased in skin equivalent under betaine treatment. Overall, our finding suggests that betaine as a novel regulator of autophagy may induce epidermal turnover and improve the skin barrier abnormality of the aged epidermis.

• 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 Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.266-278
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate healthcare consumers' interest in patient safety on social media using structural topic modeling (STM) and to identify changes in interest over time. Methods: Analyzing 105,727 posts from Naver news comments, blogs, internet cafés, and Twitter between 2010 and 2022, this study deployed a Python script for data collection and preprocessing. STM analysis was conducted using R, with the documents' publication years serving as metadata to trace the evolution of discussions on patient safety. Results: The analysis identified a total of 13 distinct topics, organized into three primary communities: (1) "Demand for systemic improvement of medical accidents," underscoring the need for legal and regulatory reform to enhance accountability; (2) "Efforts of the government and organizations for safety management," highlighting proactive risk mitigation strategies; and (3) "Medical accidents exposed in the media," reflecting widespread concerns over medical negligence and its repercussions. These findings indicate pervasive concerns regarding medical accountability and transparency among healthcare consumers. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of transparent healthcare policies and practices that openly address patient safety incidents. There is clear advocacy for policy reforms aimed at increasing the accountability and transparency of healthcare providers. Moreover, this study highlights the significance of educational and engagement initiatives involving healthcare consumers in fostering a culture of patient safety. Integrating consumer perspectives into patient safety strategies is crucial for developing a robust safety culture in healthcare.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2018

Purpose: The research looks at differences between the 'General ward' and the 'Comprehensive nursing ward' in Seoul Medical Center, regarding the facility improvements and changes in nursing services. It investigates and analyzes spatial problems and improvement needs through a survey and conduct investigation of staffs. It is to propose the primary data for the architectural planning of the future ward with the comprehensive nursing service. Methods: Targeting the comprehensive nursing ward, changes of the physical environment and spatial problems are analyzed through a field survey, behavior investigation, present-condition investigation, and floor plan analysis. Results: The workforce is increased by approximately twice the amount of the nursing staffs in the comprehensive nursing ward, compared to the pre-general ward. When utilizing the general ward, various spatial problems arise due to the restrictions of the facility condition. Because Sub N.S is an important facility as a part of the nursing work function in the ward of the comprehensive nursing service, the opinions of staffs must be considered when selecting a location and composing a space. Implications: It can be used as a primary data for the comprehensive nursing ward when architectural planning of a new hospital.