• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.306-313
• /
• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the factors associated with work related injuries of nurses in small and medium sized hospitals. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with nurses in eight hospitals from October 2007 to January 2008. A questionnaire was designed to collect information on nurses' work related injuries, and individual and job related characteristics. The response rate was 65.1%. Data from 294 nurses were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with work related injuries. Result: Of the 294 nurses, 19.1% (n=56) responded as having at least one injury during their job performance. The logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant factors influencing work related injuries were job satisfaction, stress recognition, and hospital's location. Nurses with a higher job satisfaction were less likely to experience work related injuries (OR=0.58). Nurses with a higher stress recognition (OR=2.57) and those working at hospitals in metropolitan cities (OR=3.28) were more likely to experience work related injuries. Conclusions: The result of this study indicated that a substantial proportion of nurses in small and medium sized hospitals had experienced injuries related to nursing job. Interventions to prevent work related injuries among nurses should take into account the job satisfaction, stress recognition, and hospital characteristics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.11
• /
• pp.1807-1817
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study aimed at investigating white striping (WS) and wooden breast (WB) cases in breast meat collected from commercial broilers. Methods: A total of 183 breast samples were collected from male Ross 308 broilers slaughtered at the age of 6 weeks (n = 100) and 7 weeks (n = 83). The breasts were subjected to meat defect inspection, meat quality determination and histology evaluation. Results: Of 183, 4 breasts from 6-week-old broilers were classified as non-defective while the others exhibited the WS lesion. Among the 6-week-old birds, the defective samples from the medium size birds (carcass weight ${\leq}2.5kg$) showed mild to moderate WS degree with no altered meat quality. Some of the breasts from the 6-week-old birds with carcass weight above 2.5 kg exhibited WB in accompanied with the WS condition. Besides of a reduction of protein content, increases in collagen matter and pH values in the defective samples (p<0.05), no other impaired quality indices were detected within this group. All 7-week-old broilers yielded carcasses weighing above 2.5 kg and showed abnormal characteristics with progressive severity. The breasts affected with severe WS and WB showed the greatest cook loss, hardness, springiness and chewiness (p<0.05). Development of WB induced significantly increased drip loss in the samples (p<0.05). Histology indicated necrotic events in the defective myofibers. Based on logistic regression, increasing percent breast weight by one unit enhanced the chance of WS and WB development with advanced severity by 50.9% and 61.0%, respectively. Delayed slaughter age from 6 to 7 weeks increased the likelihood of obtaining increased WS severity by 56.3%. Conclusion: Cases of WS and WB defects in Southeast Asia have been revealed. Despite few cases of the severe WS and WB, such abnormal conditions significantly impaired technological properties and nutritional quality of broiler breasts.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.104-126
• /
• 1995

This study was carried out to assess the utilization of urban health center and its related factors among the urban residents. The survey was carried out for 2,394 households in Taegu and Kyongju by the structured questionnaire from 28 March to 4 April and from 2 July to 9 July, 1994. Well trained interviewers visited 2,630 households in Taegu and Kyongju, and interviewed with housewives. Of the target households, 91.0%(2,394 households) were responded through three-time visiting. The major results were summarized as follows : The fourth and fifth decad utilized the health center more frequently than any other age groups.. The lower income group showed higher rate of health center utilization than those in higher income group in Taegu City. The mean length of residence among residents of Kyongju City is longer than those of Taegu City, and the longer length of residence, the higher rate of the health center utilization. Those who are living together with neonate and infant or elderly people showed higher rate of health center utilization than those who are living without neonate and infant or elderly people in both Taegu and Kyongju. The most common reason for visiting the health center was 'low cost'. The major reasons for not visiting the health center were 'not regular customer', 'poor health center facility', and 'low quality of care'. Vaccination, communicable disease control, outpatient care, public hygiene, maternal and child health program were well recognized as health center activities. In logistic regression for the utilization of health center, the significant independent variables were length of residence and recognize the site of health center in both Taegu and Kyongju. The improvement of quality of health service, physical environment of health center and public relations on health center's activities shoulod be considered for reactivation and reingorcement of health center functions.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.300-305
• /
• 2004

Objectives : The exposure to particulate air pollution during the pregnancy has reported to result in adverse pregnancy outcome such as low birth weight, preterm birth, still birth, and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). We aim to assess whether prenatal exposure of particulate matter less than 10 (m in diameter ($PM_{10}$) is associated with preterm birth in Seoul, South Korea. Methods : We included 382,100 women who delivered a singleton at 25-42 weeks of gestation between 1998 and 2000. We calculated the average PM10 exposures for each trimester period and month of pregnancy, from the first to the ninth months, based on the birth date and gestational age. We used three different models to evaluate the effect of air pollution on preterm birth; the logistic regression model, the generalized additive logistic regression model, and the proportional hazard model. Results : The monthly analysis using logistic regression model suggested that the risks of preterm birth increase with PM10 exposure between the sixth and ninth months of pregnancy and the highest risk was observed in the seventh month (adjusted odds ratio=1.07, 95% CI=1.01-1.14). We also found the similar results using generalized additive model. In the proportional hazard model, the adjusted odds ratio for preterm births due to PM10 exposure of third trimester was 1.04 (95% CI=0.96-1.13) and PM10 exposure between the seventh month and ninth months of pregnancy was associated with the preterm births. Conclusions : We found that there were consistent results when we applied the three different models. These findings suggest that air pollution exposure during the third trimester pregnancy has an adverse effect on preterm birth in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.105-121
• /
• 2016

Purpose: This study examined the influencing factors from the Transtheoretical Model on the stage of change in the self-management behaviors, i.e. regular physical activity and diet, among community-residing adults with hypertension in a rural area. Methods: With a cross-sectional descriptive design, 134 adults who had registered and received a prescription for hypertension medication from a public health center in W city were recruited using convenient sampling. The instrument was an interviewer-administered questionnaire on the stage of change, process of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance of physical activity and diet. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, 2-sample t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, and logistic regression. Results: The results revealed significant differences in the process of change, self-efficacy, and decisional balance of physical activity and diet between those who were in the pre-execution stage (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation) and those who were in the execution stage (action and maintenance). Logistic regression showed that consciousness raising and self-efficacy were significant predictors of the execution stage in physical activity, and self-reevaluation, social liberation and self-efficacy were significant predictors in the diet. Conclusion: The relevant processes of change, differentiated according to the stage of change, along with self-efficacy, should be addressed to enhance the execution of self-management behaviors among hypertensive adults residing in the community.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.94-103
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The present study examined relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity and body mass index (BMI) as well as the effects of health-related behavioral and psychological factors on the relationships. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on Korean adults aged 20 to 79 years using data from the 2001, 2005, and 2007 to 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to estimate odds ratios of obesity and mean differences in BMI, respectively, across SES levels after controlling for health-related behavioral and psychological factors. Results: We observed significant gender-specific relationships of SES with obesity and BMI after adjusting for all covariates. In men, income, but not education, showed a slightly positive association with BMI (p<0.05 in 2001 and 2005). In women, education, but not income, was inversely associated with both obesity and BMI (p<0.0001 in all datasets). These relationships were attenuated with adjusting for health-related behavioral factors, not for psychological factors. Conclusions: Results confirmed gender-specific disparities in the associations of SES with obesity and BMI among adult Korean population. Focusing on intervention for health-related behaviors may be effective to reduce social inequalities in obesity.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.365-382
• /
• 2012

Background : Public hospitals suffer worsening shortage of physicians and face great pressure of recruiting doctors. This study is aim to identify the factors associated with retention of physicians who are working in public hospitals. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional and self-administered questionnaire survey in July, 2011. A total of 333 physicians responded from the 31 public hospitals. We analyzed the difference of job retention across the variables among doctors stratified as salaried and public health doctors. We used chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results : To the salaried doctor, longer work period(OR=2.04 in 3rd quartile), professional autonomy(OR=2.69), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=2.39) affect to the higher job retention whereas complain of low income(OR=0.33) and complain of poor clinical environment(OR=0.26) affects to the lower job retention. To the public health doctors, community connections such as hometown(OR=6.27), spouse factors(OR=3.49), and positive attitude toward public health(OR=3.19) affect to the higher job retention. But longer work period(OR=0.17 in 3rd quartile) affects to the lower job retention. Conclusions : Associated factors of job retention vary across physician's status. Professional autonomy has major impact on the job retention to the salaried doctor. And familial factors as well as community relationship have greatest impact to the public health doctor. Positive attitude toward public health is associated with the higher job retention to the both of salaried and public health doctors.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.264-272
• /
• 2023

Background: Private health insurance supplements the coverage of national health insurance in Korea. In this situation, the subject of the study is to identify the healthcare utilization of people with physical and mental illnesses according to private health insurance. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Health Panel Survey 2018. The study population consisted of 813 individuals with physical and mental illnesses (PMI). Multiple logistic regression analysis and binominal logistic regression analysis were conducted about the utilization of emergency, inpatient, and outpatient medical services of people with PMI depending on enrollment in private health insurance (PHI). Results: The results of this study indicated that individuals with PHI utilized emergency and outpatient medical services less frequently compared to those without PHI. Conversely, having PHI was associated with a higher utilization of inpatient medical services compared to not having PHI. Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals with PMI who had PHI exhibited a higher frequency of visits to emergency and outpatient medical services compared to those without PHI. However, the significance of this trend was not observed in the case of emergency medical services. On the other hand, individuals with PMI who had PHI showed a lower frequency of visits to inpatient medical services compared to those without PHI. Conclusion: In conclusion, there was a significant relationship between having PHI and the utilization of medical services in people with PMI. There is a need for a follow-up study considering the type of mental illnesses, length of stay, and health outcome of people with PMI depending on having PHI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.19
• /
• pp.8499-8502
• /
• 2014

The incidence rate of breast cancer in developed countries is almost three-fold higher than in developing countries. Iran has had one of the lowest incidence rates for breast cancer in the world, but during the recent decades a marked increase has been seen. The purpose of this study was to investigate some established risk factors of breast cancer in Iranian women. A study of 11,850 women participating in abreast screening program was conducted. The 197 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 11,653 healthy women were compared. Logistic regression was performed to investigate associations of reproductive and anthropometric factors with breast cancer risk. Family history of breast cancer (OR=1.94, 95%CI=1.35-2.78), occupation (OR= 1.65,95%CI=1.20-2.25), education level (OR=0.50,95%CI=0.28-0.91), parity (OR=0.27, 95%CI=0.12-0.59), menopausal status (OR=3.15, 95%CI=2.35-4.21), age at menarche (OR=0.33, 95%CI=0.15-0.70), and age at the first pregnancy (OR=4.10, 95%CI=1.13-14.77) were related to the risk of breast cancer. Decrease in parity may to some extent explain the rising trend of incidence of breast cancer incidence in Iranian women.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.18-32
• /
• 2009

The goal of this study was to predict the health outcomes of lung cancer surgery based on the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). An attempt was likewise made to assess the prognostic value of such data for predicting mortality, survival rate, and length of hospital stay. A medical-record review of 389 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer was performed. To evaluate the agreement, the kappa coefficient was tested. Logistic-regression analysis was also conducted within two years after the surgery to determine the association of CCI with death. Survival and multiple-regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between CCI and the hospital care outcomes within two-year survival after lung cancer surgery and the length of hospital stay. The results of the study showed that CCI is a valid prognostic indicator of two-year mortality and length of hospital stay, and that it shows the health outcomes, such as death, survival rate, and length of hospital stay, after the surgery, thus enabling the development and application of the methodology using a systematic and objective scale for the results.