• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.118-126
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• 2013

We investigated the major trends in health aid financing in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by identifying the primary donor organizations and examining several data sources to track overall health aid trends. We collected gross disbursements from bilateral donor countries and international organizations toward the DPRK according to specific health sectors by using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development creditor reporting system database and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs financial tracking service database. We analyzed sources of health aid to the DPRK from the Republic of Korea (ROK) using the official records from the ROK's Ministry of Unification. We identified the ROK, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) as the major donor entities not only according to their level of health aid expenditures but also their growing roles within the health sector of the DPRK. We found that health aid from the ROK is comprised of funding from the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, private organizations, local governments, and South Korean branches of international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF. We also distinguished medical equipment aid from developmental aid to show that the majority of health aid from the ROK was developmental aid. This study highlights the valuable role of the ROK in the flow of health aid to the DPRK, especially in light of the DPRK's precarious international status. Although global health aid from many international organizations has decreased, organizations such as GFATM and UNFPA continue to maintain their focus on reproductive health and infectious diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Objectives: Dental or maxillofacial emergencies are uncommon during pregnancy, but if they occur, they are challenging to treat due to potential risks. The mother should not be denied necessary medical or dental care because of pregnancy. The aim of the study is to observe outcomes of pregnancy in patients requiring emergency minor oral surgical procedures during gestation and to determine the safety of the pregnant woman undergoing the procedure and the fetus. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 52 pregnant women requiring emergency oral surgical procedures. A standard treatment protocol for treatment of specific entities was followed. Close monitoring and observation were the primary goal of treatment. All patients were followed postoperatively until complete recovery from the surgical procedures and then until birth of the baby. A control group of 52 healthy pregnant patients who did not require oral surgical procedures was considered for statistical analysis. The measurements to calculate observation were fetal loss (spontaneous abortion), preterm birth, low-birth weight, or incidence of any congenital anomalies in the baby and its association with surgical procedures. Results: No fetal loss occurred in any of the cases. However, four patients experienced preterm birth and seven neonates exhibited low birth weights. No congenital abnormalities were discovered. In one instance, a patient who underwent surgery for a mandibular symphysis fracture under general anesthesia in the 31st week of pregnancy experienced labor pain on the fourth postoperative day, requiring an emergency Caesarean section. Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that, compared to the control group, minor emergency surgeries performed during pregnancy have no discernible negative effects on the fetus. These procedures can safely be performed by adhering to our described protocols.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.135-145
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• 2023

Purpose: This was a descriptive study investigating the effect of symptom experience and self-care agency on quality of life among patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease undergoing regular hemodialysis. Methods: The participants were recruited from one general hospital and two private hospitals located in J city. 154 participated and completed structured questionnaires from June 30 to July 18, 2022. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression. Results: The mean symptom experience score was 0.91±0.67 (out of 5), self-care agency was 4.19±0.71 (out of 6), and quality of life was 3.02±0.49 (out of 5). A negative correlation was found between quality of life and physical symptom experience (r=-.39, p<.001) and emotional symptom experience (r=-.39, p<.001). A positive correlation was found between quality of life and self-care agency (r=.66, p<.001). The regression analysis showed self-care agency (β=.48, p<.001), emotional symptom experience (β=-.27, p=.001), and monthly family income (β=.19, p=.002) significantly influenced quality of life, and explained 54.0% of the quality of life. Conclusion: These results suggest to improve the quality of life among patients on hemodialysis, it is necessary to assess and intervene with emotional symptom experiences and develop effective programs with specific strategies to enhance self-care agency.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.17
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• pp.107-133
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze a trend of profitability classified by characteristics of hospitals and to analyze related factors. The data for this study were derived from survey material conducted by the Korean Hospital Association on 33 hospitals in Korea between 1993 and 2002. Profitability was measured in the aspect of investment profit rate and operation profit rate with net profit to total assets, normal profit to total assets and operating margin to gross revenue as dependent variables. Independent variables were classified by general factors (ownership, number of beds, period of establishment, region), financial factors (total asset turnover, liabilities to total assets, current ratio, fixed ratio, inventories turnover, personnel costs per operation profit, material costs per operation profits), composition of manpower and facilities(personnel and area per beds), productivity index(the number of daily patients per medical doctor, the number of daily patients per nurse), the score of quality assurance activities. First, Concerning the specialists per beds or area per beds and profitability of hospitals there was not statistically significant. Second, Those hospitals having the most daily patients per nurse had significantly higher profitability than the others, but the number of daily patients per medical doctor had little effect on the profitability. Thirds, Those hospitals having a higher proportion total asset turnover tended to show significantly higher profitability compared to other hospitals, but the liabilities to total assets and liquidity ratio had a little difference to the profitability. Those hospitals having a higher proportion personnel costs per operation profit and material costs per operation profits tended to show significantly lower hospital profitability compared to other hospitals. Fourth, In regression analysis, hospital profitability had negative relationship with personnel costs per operation profit or material costs per operation profits. While it had positive relationship with total asset turnover, the number of daily patients per nurse. In conclusion, private hospitals had higher profitability than that of public hospitals. Though factors related to profitability of hospital were different according to ownership, it is important for securing appropriate profitability by operating appropriate number of nurse, raising total asset turnover, and reducing personnel costs, material costs per operation profits. This study can be used as a baseline data for planning of hospital management. But the study may be limited in that the results cannot be generalized due to its small sample size. However, this longitudinal observation of 33 hospitals over ten year period has significant merit alone.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.206-214
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• 2020

This study analyzed the impact of direct and indirect subsidies on profitability in general hospitals in Korea. The data were collected from medical institution accounting information disclosure system of 270 general hospitals from 2016 to 2018. The analysis index used the ratio of net profit to business revenue for profitability, and Subsidies index the ratio of subsidies to business revenue(state subsidies for facility investment purposes, Fund related to essential business, research revenue and contribution revenue). According to the study, the ratio of state subsidies, which are direct subsidies, was very high at 57.30 percent for public institution hospitals. ratio of Fund related to essential business, which is a tax reduction effect with indirect subsidies, had the highest at 6.69 percent for Private University Hospitals. which are Indirect subsidies for deficit or operational assistance, research revenue ratio had the highest 2.8 percent for National University Hospitals, contribution revenue ratio had the highest 36.4 percent for public institutions. As a result of looking at the impact of subsidies on profitability, Nation University Hospitals had the lower the ratio of Fund related to essential business and the ratio of research revenue, the higher the net profit ratio of Business revenue. Medical Corporation Hospitals and Foundation Hospitals had the higher the ratio of Fund related to essential business to business revenues, the higher the net profit ratio of business revenue. These results mean that profitability may fluctuate depending on the utilization of funds related to essential business.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.47-67
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• 2007

This paper aims at suggesting several ways lo change financial vulnerability and to improve managerial capability of local public hospitals (LPHs) in Korea through the identification of factors affecting profitability. Several findings of the research are as follows: To begin with, LPHs exhibited a statistically significant difference in their profitability from one another, according to tile analyses of their profitable margins from tile general characteristics. It depends on the number of hospitals in the area, the population of the hospital-built area, the number of competing hospitals, the number of staff per 100 beds, the opening of special clinic, the educational function, and the capacity of rooms. However, there was no variable in the managerial characteristics, presenting a significant difference, in contrast with hospitals which have been managed by private companies and made a great amount of profits. Second, according to the analyses of profit differences in behavioral effort-characteristics, a statistically significant difference was revealed upon the basis of the efforts to improve the clinic service, invite special patients, and shorten the period of being hospitalized. Third, the result of analyses about the difference of profitability from medical care and finance is statistically significant in the rate of labor cost, the rate of management cost, bed-occupancy rate, and the period of being hospitalized. Fourth, according to the analyses of the factors influencing the net profit ratio of the entire capital, Adjusted explanatory power(Adjusted $R^2$) was shown up to 65.2%, which is high. To compare the adjusted explanatory power stage by stage, the first stage model applying only two variables such as structural and strategic characteristics exhibited 23.8%, and the second stage model adding financial characteristics showed 51.5%. The explanatory power was much improved up to 65.2% when the third stage model incorporated the outcome of medical care performance. When the return on investment(ROI) was examined by using the multi-variate linear regression analysis at the final model of third stage, it was found that ROI had a positive relationship with the increase rate of patients, labor costs per doctor, and medical care rate of socially protected inpatients. However, it revealed that ROI had a negative relationship with the ratio of labor costs, the number of patients per managerial staff, and occupancy rate of rooms, respectively. The research suggests that in order for LPHs to increase profitability, LPH, should make efforts not only to attract patients to the hospitals without any discrimination of the patients depending on their financial status, but also to develop efficient management methods to reduce labor costs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 1976

Presently, there is increasing demand for geriatric nursing care because of increasing preparation of elderly population due to extended age. Of particular importance in determining the effectiveness of nursing care given to the elderly is the attitude of the nurse toward the elderly patient. Knowledge of the various changes that usually occur with aging will enable the nurse to help an aged Person maximize his potential in illness and in health. The objectives of this study were : 1. To delineate the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care. 2. To learn the influencing factors affecting the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care. The study population defined and randomly selected is 225 nurses at one general hospital, one private hospital, two national hospitals in Seoul during the period of October l0th -20th, 1975. The questionnaire method was used. Respondents were 140 nurses. X$^2$- test and t- test were employed in analyzing the data. The questionnaire form included 54 statements which concerned the attitudes of nurses to-ward geriatric nursing care. It was divided into five areas : 1) General characteristics of study population. 2) The nurse's concepts of elderly. 3) Care of the geriatric patient. 4) Interpersonal relationship with geriatric patient. 5) Teaching of the geriatric patient. Each of the 54 statements of the questionnaire was considered to be either Positive or Negative. A Positive response was assigned the value of＋1 , and a Negative response or no response was assigned the value of O. The results of the study were as follows : 1. The Investigation of attitudes of nurses toward geriatric nursing care. a. Data indicated , respondents have negative attitudes in their. concepts of elderly (74.3%) b. Data indicated respondents have positive attitudes in care of geriatric patient (64.3%). c. Data indicated respondents have positive attitudes in interpersonal relationship with geriatric patient (85% ). 4. Data indicated respondents have positive attitudes in teaching of geriatric patient (89.3%). 2. The results of study regarding the five hypothesis were as follows : a There was significant difference in the mean scores between the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care and level of education of the nurse. b. There was no significant difference between the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care and clinical experience, but there was significant difference between care of the geriatric patient and clinical experience. c. There was no significant difference between the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care and shift most frequently worked, but there was significant difference between care of the geriatric patient and shift most frequently worked. d. There was no significant difference in the mean scores between the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care and marital status, but there was significant difference in the mean scores between interpersonal relationship, teaching of geriatric patient and marital status. e, There was no significant difference in the mean scores between the attitudes of nurses toward the geriatric nursing care and experience with elderly, but there was significant difference in the mean scores between care of geriatric patient and experience with elderly.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.405-419
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• 1997

This research has been conducted to provide the spinal cord injured patients with comprehensive necessity of and backup data for their rehabilitation in the community and make the aware of importance of overall community support to patients. The data was collected through questionnaire made to 83 patients charged to general hospital in Jeonbuk Province between 1 and 31 March 1997 to analyse the patients ability on activities of daily living through the research on general characteristics and Modified Barthel Index(MBI). As a result the outcome of the research was as follows : 1. Sexual distribution represented that 57 male (68.7%) and 26 female(31.3%) and in the age distribution majority group was 36 thirties (43.4 %) most active in social activities. 2. Analysis on occupation of patients showed majority group was in technicians, 21 people representing 25.4 % and the major cause of injury was traffic accident, 45people representing 54.2%, fall down, 17 people representing 20.5% and industrial accident, 13 people representing 15.7%, respectively. 3. In the multiple choice questionnaire on complications, the rate of appealing pain was highest and spasticity, pressure sore, contracture, depression which restrict the patients from activities of daily living ability were also appeared. 4. The theoretical points in MBI Should lie between 1 and 115 and the average point be 58 but the average point of the MBI among 83 patients was 63. 5. The MBI point by the level of injured represented statistically critical difference(P<0.001) and the MBI points tested by Duncan's Multiple Area Testing in lumbar(80.1) and in thoracic (65.8) represented critically higher than the one in cervical(42.5). 6. In the distribution of the method of Urination after spine injury, the intermittent catheterization represented highest numbar of 34(41.1 %). Testing by Duncan's Multiple Area Testing, as we found the critical difference in the analysis on MBI points(P<0.001), the point in independent self voiding patients ($90.87{\pm}29.34$) was higher than the one in other self voiding patients(P<0.05). 7. In th category of social activities after spine injury, the number of people classified in others, 41 people representing 49.5% was highest and in the MBI points of the spinal cord injured people in religious activity, hobby activity, private club, occupation was critically higher than the people classified in miscellancous(P<0.01) who are the spinal cord injured people and mostly depend on their family's assistance at home in their daily activities.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.10-20
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• 1988

This study was conducted to compare the maternal charactristics, and birth weight of infants delivered at five different categories of medical facility in Taegu to examine the risk level of pregnant women and children by the medical facility for delivery. The study population included 1,410 pregnant women who delivered a baby at one of nine medical facilities (3 university hospitals, 2 general hospitals, 2 private clinics, 1 midwife clinic, 1 MCH center) in Taegu in April, 1987(April and May, 1987 for K university hospital), Pregnant women were interviewed to ask the age and educational level of woman, payment of medical fee, birth order, delivery method. Birth weight of infant was obtained from medical record. Mean ages of the women delivering at the university hospitals(27.5 years) and at general hospitals(26.7 years) were higher than those at midwife clinic(25.4 years) and at MCH center(26.1 years). Also, mean years of school education were higher in women of university hospitals(12.7 years) and general hospitals (12.2 years) than in women of midwife clinic(9.2 years) and MCH center (9.3 years). The percentages of women covered by the medical insurance were far greater in the university hospitals(78.1%) and general hospitals(82.9%) than in private clinics(44.3%) , midwife clinic(29.1%) and MCH center (5.4%). Infants born at the MCH center were mostly the second birth (47.3%) while 56.0% to 61.7% of infants born at all the other medical facilities were the first birth more women delivering at the university hospitals had history of spontaneous abortion as well as still birth than the women delivering at the other medical facilities. The preform birth rate (11.4%) and low birthweight incidence rates(5.8-13.0%) in university hospitals were significantly higher than those of other medical facilities. Accordingly, c-section rates showed a wide variation among the medical facilities. Study findings revealed that most of women delivering at the university hospitals and general hospitals are in the middle of or upper socio-economic class and obstetrically high risk group regardless of socioeconomic class while the wome delivering at the midwife clinic and MCH center are low risk group of low socioeconomic class. Therefore, the data of a specific medical facility are highly limited in interpretation and can not be generalized.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2012

Objectives: While there have recently been efforts to improve public health service at a governmental level, there is actually insufficient research on awareness of the roles related to public health service among hospital employees. This study examined role perception and function performance related to public health service among the medical staff in a national hospital. Methods: 15% were randomly sampled from each type of occupation among the medical staff in a national university hospital, a survey was conducted in 323 persons, and there were a total of 265 participants (80.2%): 103 doctors(38.9%), 98 nurses (37.0%), and 64 others (24.1%). Results: The hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles as public health service providers in terms of six required items for public health service: 1) services for supporting establishment, implementation, and assessment of public health service policies, 2) participation in the health service activities and support services by central or local governments, 3) technological support and educational services for private health service institutions, 4) health service for unprivileged brackets, 5) health service that requires association with other areas dealing with geriatric, disabled, and mentally-disordered people, and 6) health service for children and mothers. Conclusions: In general, since the hospital employees had insufficient awareness of their roles and responsibilities as public health service providers, it is necessary to secure manpower exclusively in charge of public health service and provide education about strategic public health service.