• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated the factors affecting the quality of life (QOL) of the primary caregivers of home health care patients. Method: The subjects were 110 primary caregivers of patients who were receiving home health care from two home health care centers affiliated with general hospitals in Seoul. Data collection was conducted using five questionnaires. Results: Positive relationships were evident between QOL and social support and perceived health status of the primary caregiver. Negative relationships were evident between QOL and burden and depression. Multiple linear regression analysis for QOL revealed that the most powerful influencing factor was social support. Social support, burden, and depression explained 34.3% of the variance. Conclusion: Burden, depression, and social support are related with QOL of primary caregivers of home health care patients. Nursing intervention strategies directed at this caregiver population are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2023

Objectives: Measuring the quality of care is paramount to inform policies for healthcare services. Nevertheless, little is known about the quality of primary care and acute care provided in Korea. This study investigated trends in the quality of primary care and acute care. Methods: Case-fatality rates and avoidable hospitalization rates were used as performance indicators to assess the quality of primary care and acute care. Admission data for the period 2008 to 2020 were extracted from the National Health Insurance Claims Database. Case-fatality rates and avoidable hospitalization rates were standardized by age and sex to adjust for patients' characteristics over time, and significant changes in the rates were identified by joinpoint regression. Results: The average annual percent change in age-/sex-standardized case-fatality rates for acute myocardial infarction was -2.3% (95% confidence interval, -4.6 to 0.0). For hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, the age-/sex-standardized case-fatality rates were 21.8% and 5.9%, respectively in 2020; these rates decreased since 2008 (27.1 and 8.7%, respectively). The average annual percent change in age-/sex-standardized avoidable hospitalization rates ranged from -9.4% to -3.0%, with statistically significant changes between 2008 and 2020. In 2020, the avoidable hospitalization rates decreased considerably compared with the 2019 rate because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Conclusions: The avoidable hospitalization rates and case-fatality rates decreased overall during the past decade, but they were relatively high compared with other countries. Strengthening primary care is an essential requirement to improve patient health outcomes in the rapidly aging Korean population.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.16-25
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• 2019

Purpose:The healthcare system of South Korea is at the extreme of the dispersed system. Few regulations limit patients from directly visiting higher-level medical institutions for primary care sensitive conditions. As a result, similar to local clinics, general and tertiary teaching hospitals also provide diverse primary care services. Our study aimed to examine the general public's perceptions of their primary care performance. Methods: Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 1000 adults who were living in South Korea with the aid of a questionnaire that included the Korean Primary Care Assessment Tool (KPCAT). The KPCAT consists of five domains, which are the main indicators of primary care performance: first contact, comprehensiveness, coordination, personalized care, and family/community orientation. One-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests were used to compare the KPCAT scores across the three types of medical institutions. Results: Domain-wise analyses revealed two different patterns. With regard to first contact and its subdomains, the highest and lowest scores emerged for local clinics and tertiary teaching hospitals, respectively. However, the other four domain scores were significantly lower for local clinics than for the other two types of medical institutions. Conclusions: Local clinics were perceived to be medical institutions that are responsible for providing primary care. However, the general public perceived only one domain of their primary care to be superior to that of the other two types of medical institutions: first contact. National efforts should be taken to strengthen their other four domains of primary care by training their workforce and providing appropriate incentives.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of an integrated health improvement program for the elderly based on primary health care posts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A single group pretest-posttest design (n=16) was employed to evaluate an integrated health improvement program that took place twice a week for 11 weeks. The program was conducted in a small group of no more than 10 people in compliance with the guidelines to prevent COVID-19 infection. The program consisted of various contents such as making letters using blocks, health education, and talking about one's memories. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: Following the program, social support (Z=-3.50, p<.001) and quality of life of the elderly (Z=-3.74, p<.001) were significantly improved among depression, social support and quality of life. Conclusion: The integrated health improvement program based on primary health care posts, considered in this study, was useful to improve the social support and quality of life of the elderly in the community, and needs to be applied to a larger number of elderly people throughout the community.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.3-23
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was a descriptive study to investigate correlations between self-care behaviors and quality of hypertension management by hypertensive patients being cared by community health practitioners. Method: Participants were 583 people who were prescribed antihypertensive medications at a health clinic located in South Chungcheong Province. The survey was done from June 1 to July 30, 2018. A self-report questionnaire was administered, and data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients with the SPSS 24.0 program. Results: The rate of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension were 97.9%, 99.1% and 92.8%, respectively. The number of hypertensive self-care behaviors was 1.82 (${\pm}0.36$) out of 3 points. The quality of hypertension management was 3.22 (${\pm}0.46$) out of 4 points. There was a moderate correlation between hypertensive self-care behaviors and quality of hypertension management (r=.340, p<.001). Conclusions: Results of this study confirm that the quality of hypertension management by community health practitioners is related to self-care behaviors of hypertensive patients. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the quality of hypertension management by health care specialists for self-management of hypertension patients. In addition, a systematic program to improve the quality of hypertension management by community health practitioner is needed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2008

Purpose: The Study of vaccination for infants and children business in Primary Health Care Posts from 1980 to 2009. Method: look for national essential vaccination look for the change of vaccination by the times in Primary Health Care Posts and the rate of vaccination for infants and children by a administrative report statistics survey of a vaccine delivery system of Public health care institutions investigation about assistance details of vaccination cost in order to raise the rate of vaccination for infants and children. Results: In 1980s, there are many infants and children management object, but now there are rapidly decreasing infants and children management subject of a Primary Health Care Post because of rural exodus phenomenon of 1990's and a low birthrate of 2000's. Currently, the infants and children that registed, and managed to a Primary Health Care Post is most multi-cultural families. A multi-cultural family assistance program is provided these infants and children to the objects. Conclusions: Infant vaccination execution in Primary Health Care Posts showed to high vaccination rate because the prevention of vaccination delay or omission of the interior child who raised geographical accessibility to object sons nowadays it difficult to management of transportation of vaccine and storage management for a little shroud objects limited and management of inoculation business in quality. A main problem is as follows. There are a little vaccine transportation, trouble of proper temperature maintenance of a storage process, and having a lot of vaccine abolition as a little objects, educational training shortage of health care practitioner regarding to execute an inoculation. Therefore, vaccination business needs measures for management in quality in Primary Health Care Posts.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of follow-up care for stroke survivors on primary caregivers' quality of life. Quasi-experimental research was conducted in which an experimental group and a control group-each of 15 stroke survivors and their primary caregivers-were consecutively sampled. Data collected from July to September, 1999 by interview using a structured questionnaire with both the experimental and the control groups. After a month, the two groups were given the same questionnaire. The experimental group was also given a telephone follow-up every week for a month, as well as a home visit. The survey instruments used in this study were Saha and Cooper's "Modified Barthel Index" (11 items) for checking the stroke survivors' level of activities of daily living, and a modified form of Jeong's "Quality of life" (18 items) for primary caregivers' QOL level. The obtained data were analyzed by percentage, t-test, $X^2$-test, Kruscal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation coefficient by SAS/PC program. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in the stroke survivors' ADL level, though the level of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. 2. There was a statistical difference in the before and after treatment of the primary caregivers' QOL level. In conclusion, the follow-up care program had a useful effect on the quality of life of primary caregivers.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.278-289
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was a survey to provide basic data about nursing interventions for improving the quality of life among family caregivers for the elderly by examining their care burden, burnout, and quality of life, and by confirming the correlation between each of them. Method: The subjects were 215 people in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province who understood the purpose of this study and participated voluntarily from April 1 to June 4, 2007. Data was analyzed by the SAS program. Result: 1. Concerning primary caregivers of the elderly, it was found that their care burden was slightly high, burnout was high and quality of life was good on the whole. 2. When it comes to the correlation among care burden, burnout, and quality of life among family caregivers, it was found that burnout increases in proportion to care burden, quality of life decreases as care burden increases, and bigger burnout leads to a lower quality of life. Conclusion: The quality of life among primary caregivers should be improved by reducing their care burden and burnout. Thereby, a priority might be considered for admission to nearby, comfortable nursing homes or failing that, home visiting services, rather than family support in the home.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify current quality control (QC) practices of primary care clinics participating in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in Korea. Methods: A nationwide survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among the primary care clinics participating in the NCSP, which were selected by a proportionate stratified sampling. The questionnaire consisted of general information about the responding clinics and the scope of QC activities undertaken. A total of 360 clinics responded and the set of data was then analyzed with Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 360 respondents, 332 (92%) reported that they were involved in the QC activities. Most frequently performed QC activities were 'maintenance of facility and instruments' (89%) and 'staff training' (85%). The analysis revealed, with statistical significance (p<.05), that there was an association between certain characteristics of the clinics and the scope of QC activities. These findings also indicated that the diversity of QC practices varies according to the size of the clinics. The clinics screening more types of cancer, those with more screenees, and those with more employees were more likely to implement various QC activities including 'maintenance of facility and instruments', 'external quality control', and 'management of screening data'. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the current status of QC activities conducted among primary care clinics participating in the NCSP. The results of this survey can be used as a basis for further development of policies on quality management of small- and medium-sized primary care clinics in Korea. However, further studies encompassing various aspects of QC activities and management of primary care clinics are needed to assess the current situation in a concise manner.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between educational needs and the caregiving burden of primary caregivers with stroke patient. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted in 2016 with 115 primary caregivers for stroke patients at a university hospital. The caregiving burden and educational needs were investigated using structured questionnaires via interviews. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, the t-test or ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.0. Results: The scores of caregiving burden and educational needs of primary caregiver with stroke patient were $77.65{\pm}1.66$ and $123.33{\pm}2.37$, respectively. The caregiving burden was associated with health status in primary caregivers' general characteristics. The caregiving burden and educational needs of primary caregivers have a significant correlation (r = .44, p <.001). Conclusions: Educational needs of primary caregivers with stroke patient are associated with their caregiving burden. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a primary caregiver centered intervention program considering educational needs to improve their caregiving burden. Also, to promote quality of nursing, there is the need to increase the educating competency of nurse and nursing professionalism of clinical nurse using various educational training program.