• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.325-338
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• 2015

Telemedicine, which gives or receives medical information via ICT (information and communication technology), is regarded as innovation in a medical field and its application is various according to offline conditions. For example, the utilization of telemedicine in Korea is unfair because of the administrative discretion, which is the basic unit of telemedicine for its practical operation, in spite of the same diagnostic area. With this mind, this study investigates the cause of regional differences of telemedicine through a case of Kangwon province. Furthermore, the crucial matter is that regional differences of telemedicine are associated with digital divide; therefore, this research considers digital divide triggered by telemedicine. The core results are as follows. First, there are little measures such as increase of the staff, economic compensation for public officials, education of telemedicine facilities; accordingly, only regions, where can accept these insufficient conditions, manage the telemedicine system. Second, the interesting of a mayor or a governor and a head of a health center as a highest decision maker has something to do with different utilization of telemedicine. Third, public health doctors play a role as practical operators in telemedicine, but their stance is skeptic about telemedicine somewhat because of the relationship with the medical association opposing the implementation of telemedicine, unimproved regional health care condition, etc. Forth, it seems that the digital divide caused by the regional differences of the present telemedicine utilization does not led to tangible results and is not turned to another disparity so far, the proper measures are required considering that various health care services based on telemedicine will be extended.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.261-270
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• 2024

Background: Various researchers are calculating the health adjusted life expectancy (HALE) at the regional level in South Korea using several methods, most studies merely enumerate the differences in healthy life expectancy based on social characteristics. This study aims to analyze the association between various sociodemographic factors and HALE at the regional level. Methods: To calculate HALE, we utilized the various data sources, including National Health Insurance claims data, and applied the Sullivan's method. We conducted multiple linear regression with regional socioeconomic variables from Korean Statistical Information Service. For the multiple linear regression analysis, we designed three regression models. Model 1 comprised solely socioeconomic variables, model 2 involved both socioeconomic variables and individual health behaviors, and model 3 integrated model 2 with healthcare utilization. Results: The analysis shows that an increase in financial independence (p<0.05), population density (p<0.1), and the number of doctors (p<0.05) associated with an increase in HALE, whereas an increase in the number of beds (p<0.01) was associated with a decrease in HALE. In case of the obesity rate, in model 2 (p<0.1) and model 3 (p<0.05), there was a negative association between HALE and obesity rate. Conclusion: Amidst various variables, it was observed that increased financial independence in specific regions had association with an increase in HALE, highlighting the need for stronger local governance in South Korea. Additionally, the inverse association between hospital beds and HALE suggests several implications, such as the appropriate deployment of healthcare resources. To gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between hospital beds and HALE, further analysis distinguishing different types of hospital beds across healthcare institutions seems necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.119-130
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of individual patient behavior regarding health and medical care level on doctor's diagnoses of hypertension. A X2-test was used to compare therapeutic compliance in individual characteristics and two-stage multilevel logistic regression to identify community variance of the related index of high blood pressure therapeutic compliance using data from 229,229 adults over the age of 19 in a community health survey conducted in 2010. The experience rate of doctors' diagnoses of hypertension was higher for people of older age, higher level of education, higher BMI, and among heavy drinkers (no recipients of basic living). Furthermore, there was a higher rate for those visiting health and medical institutions, having more frequent checks of blood pressure in a month, having a higher stress level, and having depression. Among paid workers, the ratio was lower for employers and owner/operators with more daily exercise (such as walking), infrequent smokers, and private health insurance holders. Doctor's diagnoses of hypertension was affected by individual health behavior and health and medical care level. Further studies employing multilevel analyses considering regional level data should be conducted in the future.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the satisfaction of Korean medicine doctors (KMD) who conducted Korean medicine school doctor program (KMSD). We are going to use study as a foundation for activation KMSD program. Methods : Seoul Korean medicine association and Seoul metropolitan office of education conducted KMSD program for 22 schools in 2017. The program included health lessons, health counseling, and health care programs. After program finished, we carried out self-administered questionnaire survey to KMD who participated in KMSD program and we analysed it. Results : A total of 45 people answered the questionnaire, and 56% of respondents answered as 'Good progress' and 44% answered as 'Bad progress'. The reason for good progress was 'Good cooperation of School' (47.4%). 'Personalized program for participant' (23.68%), 'Support of Seoul Korean Medicine Association' (21.1%). The reason for 'Bad progress' was 'Bad cooperation of School' (37.8%), 'Lack of personal circumstances' (32.4%), 'Lack of motivation' (16.2%). The advantage of KMSD program included 'It is helpful for positive perception of the Korean medicine' and 'Korean medicine can contribute to improving public health, which is the health of schools' was 25%, 'It is helpful in expanding the services of Korean medicines to children and adolescents' was 17.6%, 'Highly satisfaction in participations' was 15.7%. The question of prerequisites for activation KMSD Program included 'Active cooperation of school' was 35.05%, 'Expand teaching materials and programs' was 20.62%, 'Support of Seoul Korean Medicine Association' was 15.46%. Conclusions : We will organize and activate programs of KMSD program and conduct program based on harmony of local community and school support, research of school health program. The program will contribute to improve student health and develop Korean health support program.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.975-987
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of curriculum operation of the basic medical sciences in nursing education at college of nursing, department of nursing and junior college of nursing, ultimately to provide the basic data to improve a curriculum of basic medical science in nursing education. 78 professors who were in charge of basic medical science at 22 colleges of nursing and department of nursing, and 20 junior colleges of nursing responded the questionnaire consisted of 22 question items about the status of objectives, lectures, laboratory practice and characteristics of professors, and mailed to the author. The findings of this study were as follows : 1. The subjects of basic medical science were identified as physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology in the most colleges of nursing and junior colleges of nursing. 2 colleges of nursing and department of nursing(9.1%) and 19 junior colleges of nursing(95%) did not open biochemistry, 1 college of nursing and department of nursing(5%) did not open pathology and pharmacology. 2 Junior colleges of nursing(10%) did not open pharmacology, 1 junior college of nursing(5%) did not open pathology, the other 1 junior college of nursing did not open microbiology. 2. Credits of the subjects were ranged from 1 to 4. Lecture hours of one semester of physiology at school of nursing and junior college of nursing was average 103.6 and average 102.67, that of anatomy was average 127.1 and average 98, that of microbiology was average 109.7 and average 86.33, that of biochemistry was average 105, that of pathology was average 91 and average 94, that of pharmacology was average 86 and average 85.75. 3. Most of schools used 1 textbook for lectures, 3 school of nursing and department of nursing recommended references without using textbook, while all 36 junior colleges of nursing used textbooks. 4. 5 among 10 schools of nursing and department of nursing had a laboratory practice in physiology, 4 among 7 schools in anatomy, 4 among 6 schools in biochemistry, 2 among 6 schools in pathology 5 among 6 schools in microbiology. Not all the schools had a laboratory practice in pharmacology. 4 among 9 junior colleges of nursing had a laboratory practice in physiology. 1 among 4 schools in anatomy, 2 among 7 schools in microbiology. Not all the junior colleges of nursing had a laboratory practice in pathology and pharmacology. 11 among 20 colleges of nursing and department of nursing, 4 among 7 junior schools of nursing used a textbook of laboratory practice. 5. All the subjects at school of nursing and department of nursing responded that content of lectures and laboratory practices of basic medical science should be different from that of medical education, 34 junior schools of nursing responded that content of lecture of basic medical science in nursing education should be different from that of medical education. 33 junior schools of nursing responded that content of practice of basic medical science in nursing education should be different from that of medical education. 6. The final degree of 25 professors who were in charge of basic medical science were doctors of. medicine, that of 5 professors were masters of medicine, that of 5 were doctor of pharmacology, that of 2 were a master of pharmacology, that of 1 was physical science. The final degree of 8 professors who were in charge of basic medical science were masters of medicine, 7 doctors of medicine, 4 masters of nursing science, 4 masters of pharmacology, 2 doctors of nursing, 2 doctors of physical science, 2 doctors of pharmacology and 1 master of public health. 9 full professors, 13 associate professors, 11 assist ant professors, 3 full time instructors, and 6 part time instructors were in charge of basic medical science at college of nursing and department of nursing, 20 part time instructors, 8 associate professors, 6 assistant professors, and 2 full professors were in charge of has basic medical science at junior college of nursing. Based on these results, curriculum of basic medical science in nursing education should be reviewed deeply based on nursing model.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

This study is to analyze the efficiency of oriental hospitals using DEA. The input variables are the numbers of doctors, nurses, medical technicians, and beds. The output variables are the numbers of annual inpatients and outpatients. The statistical analysis tools used are EnPas and IBM SPSS Statistics 19. The result in efficiency analysis by establishment type showed that the national and public hospitals had the most efficiency. In the case of location, the efficiency of the oriental hospitals in Seoul was the highest but those in the Metropolitan areas had a relatively low efficiency. If the number of the beds was generally less than 50 beds, the hospitals were highly efficient, but the hospitals in the medium category of 51-100 beds were low in efficiency. The Logistic regression analysis conducted to analyze the variables that have affected the efficiency of oriental hospitals resulted that the efficiency increased by 1.045 everytime the number of nurses increased by 1.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2010

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the emergence of a novel influenza on April 24, 2009, and they declared pandemic on June 11. In Korea, the proportion of influenza-like illness and the consumption of antiviral agents peaked in early November. The government established the Central Headquarters for Influenza Control and operated the emergency response system. In the quarantine stations, we checked the body temperature and collected quarantine questionnaires from all the arrivals from infected countries. We also isolated the confirmed cases in the national isolation hospitals. However, as the community outbreaks were reported, we changed strategy from containment to mitigation. We changed the antiviral agent prescription guideline so that doctors could prescribe antiviral agents to all patients with acute febrile respiratory illness, without a laboratory diagnosis. Also the 470 designated hospitals were activated to enhance the efficacy of treatment. We vaccinated about 12 million people and manage the adverse event following the immunization management system. In 2010, we will establish additional national isolation wards and support hospitals to establish fever clinics and isolation intensive care unit (ICU) beds. We will also make a computer program for managing the national isolation hospitals and designated hospitals. We will establish isolation rooms and expand the laboratory in quarantine stations and we will construct a bio-safety level 3 laboratory in each province. In addition, we plan to construct a bio-safety level 4 laboratory at a new Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) facilities in Ossong.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.154-162
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• 2018

Objectives: Early retirement occurs when one's job satisfaction suffers due to employment mismatch resulting from factors such as inadequate compensation. Medical doctors report high levels of job stress and burnout relative to other professionals. These levels are highest among emergency physicians (EPs), and despite general improvements in their working conditions, early retirement continues to become more common in this population. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing EPs intention to retire early and to develop a probability equation for its prediction. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the 2015 Korean Society of Emergency Physicians Survey was performed. The variables potentially influencing early retirement were organized into personal characteristics, extrinsic factors, and intrinsic factors. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors and to develop a probability equation; these findings were then arranged in a nomogram. Results: Of the 377 survey respondents included in the analysis, 48.0% intended to retire early. Risk factors for early retirement included level of satisfaction with the specialty and its outlook, slanderous reviews, emergency room safety, health status, workload intensity, age, and hospital type. Intrinsic factors (i.e., slanderous reviews and satisfaction with the specialty and its outlook) had a stronger influence on early retirement than did extrinsic factors. Conclusions: To promote career longevity among EPs, it is vital to improve emergency room safety and workload intensity, to enhance medical professionalism through a stronger vision of emergency medicine, and to strengthen the patient-doctor relationship.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 1999

The World Association for Sexology (WAS) will adopt a Declaration of Sexual Rights as basic and fundamental human rights August this year in Hong Kong. Two years ago WAS has been developing a Declaration of Sexual Rights in order to further promote sexual health and protect the sexual rights of everyone. Undoubtedly sexuality is one of the most intriguing subjects in the area of human behavior and psychology, and has been so since antiquity. The influence of sexual factors of human on all aspects of the society has been immense. The varieties of marriage, from traditional to the open marriage model are presented in front of our sight. The influences of women's movement in Korea, which has produced sexual, psychological, economic, political, familial and social changes look so small and the changes are not that much in America. But the profound effects of the women's movement affect on Korean society being realized as man's view of woman and woman's view of herself undergo constant change and reevaluation. With increased sexual awareness on the part of the public owing to mass media, for example AH-U-SEONG aired in TV and with increased emphasis on sexual matters in daily life, more and more physicians are being asked to deal with and manage sex-related problems in their daily practice. Yet, despite the obvious need for informed sexual counseling, doctors are often uncomfortable about sexual matters and many physicians have no special expertise in this area. So physicians concerned in sexology especially such as gynecologists, urologists, psychiatrists and endocrinologists must realize well about sex-related knowledge which is needed for counseling the patient as medical consumer and gap between reality and ideality in sexual diagnosis and treatment. Establishment of management system for the people who have sexual problems is strongly needed to promote sexual health and protect the sexual rights of everyone and for the Sexual Rights as basic and fundamental human rights.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2009

In Sasang constitutional medicine, both disease susceptibility and drug response are considered to be related to the characteristics of an individual's physiology and psychology: a theory which is central to traditional Korean medicine. Based on such observable characteristics, Sasang constitutional medicine classifies people into four constitutional types. Genetic studies of Sasang constitution would help reveal the inheritance patterns and models of the typological traits and, moreover, help with traditional medical diagnosis and treatment. To investigate the heritable aspect of Sasang constitution, we collected various pedigrees from South Korea. The study population has 101 pedigrees composed of 593 individuals. The determination of the Sasang constitution type of each individual was performed by doctors who diagnose the Sasang constitutional type of individuals as part of their professional practice. We calculated estimates of familial correlation and heritability. Parent-Offspring pairs showed the strongest familial correlation of Sasang constitutional type, with the correlation values of 0.21 and 0.28, followed by sibling pairs with the value ranging between 0.14 and 0.25. From the heritability analysis conducted with the Variance-Component method, the heritability of TE (Tae-Eum) type, SY (So-Yang) type, and SE (So-Eum) type were 55%, 41%, and 47%, respectively. This pattern of heritability was consistent with different set of analyses, which suggest the robustness of our result. Our result clearly shows that the Sasang constitution type is heritable, and further genetic analysis based on our result will shed light on the biological mechanism of Sasang constitution.