• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-65
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• 1983

As a part of the epidemiological studies of clonorchiasis, this study was conducted to evaluate the current endemicity and the natural transition of the Clonorchis infection in Gimhae Gun and delta area a high endemic area in Korea in recent years, prior to the introduction of praziquantel which will eventually influence the status of the prevalence. The data obtained in this study in 1983 were evaluated for natural transition of the infection in comparison with those obtained 16 years ago in 1967 by the author(Kim, 1974). The areas of investigation, villages and schools surveyed, methods and techniques used in this study were the same as in 1967, except for the contents of the questionnaire for raw freshwater fish consumption by the local inhabitants. 1) The prevalence rate of clonorchiasis in the general population of the villages was 48.1% on the average out of a total of 484 persons examined. The average of those of the riverside-delta area was 65.2% and 43.0% in the inland area. Among the schoolchildren, the prevalence rate was 8.2% on the average out of a total of 1,423 examined. By area, the prevalence rate was 10.8% in the riverside delta area and 2.8% in the inland area. By sex, difference in the prevalence was seen only in the inhabitants of the inland area showing 52.4% in the male and 33.5% in the female. 2) In the natural transition of the infection, the prevalence rate among the inhabitants has decreased from 68.8% in 1967 to 48.1% in 1983, and in the schoolchildren from 56.4% in 1967 to 8.2% in 1983. The reduction rate was higher in the riverside-delta area than in the inland area. 3) In the prevalence rate by age, 11.9% was first seen in the 5-9 age group and the rate gradually increased up to 75.0% in the 50-59 age group. By sex, the rate was higher in the male than in the female in the 20-29 age group and over. 4) In the natural transition of the prevalence rate by age, the reduction rate of the infection during the past 16 years was greater in the younger age groups up to the 40-49 age group and reached the same level in the age group 50-59. Reduction was seen again in the age group over 60s. By sex, the reduction rate was greater in the female than in the male in the 20-29 age group and over. By area, the reduction rate was greater in the riverside delta area than in the inland area, particularly in the young age groups. 5) In the intensity of the infection among the cases, the mean egg out-put per mg feces per infected cases(EPmg) in the inhabitants was 6.3. EPmg of those of the river-side-delta area was 15.4 and that of the in-land was 2.8. On the other hand, in the schoolchildren, EPmg was 3.2, and no difference was seen between the two areas, the river-side-delta area and the inland area. 6) In the transition of the intensity of the infection by area, EPmg among the inhabitants inexplically increased from 7.8 in 1967 to 15.4 in 1983. This was probably caused by uneven specimen collection in the process of sampling the population. EPmg of the inhabitants in the inland area and those of the schoolchildren of both riverside delta and inland areas showed a similar decrease in the past 16 years. 7) The intensity of the infection by age showed a relatively low level in the 20-29 age group and below, and EPmg 5.1-9.5 was seen in the 30-39 age group and over. Sex, Epmg was 5.8 in the male and 4.7 the female. By in 8) In the transition of the intensity of the infection, EPmg decreased from 6.2 in 1967 to 5.4 in 1983. By age, in contrast to the figures of 1967 in which EPmg gradually increased with some fluctuation from 1.1 in the 0-4 age group to peak 10.5 in the 50-59 age group, in 1983 lower intensity of the infection was seen in the age group from 10-14 to 20-29 with the EPmg range of 0.6-2.7. 9) In the distribution of the clonorchiasis cases by the range of EPmg value, 43.2% of the cases were in 0.1 0.9 and 34.6% in 1.0-4.9. As a whole by cumulative percent, 44.6% of them were under 0.9 as light infection and 86.1% of them under 9.9 up to moderate infection. By sex, no difference was seen in Epmg. 10) In the transition of the distribution by the range of Epmg, the cases were distributed up to the range 80.0-99.9 in 1967 and to 60.0-79.9 in 1983. By cumulative percent, in the range of 0.1-0.9 and less, light infection, 34.3% of them were distributed in 1967 and 44.6% in 1983 with about 10% increase. In the range of 5.0-9.9 and less, up to moderate infection, 83.2% in 1967 and 86.1% in 1983 of the cases were seen, respectively. 11) The practice of raw freshwater fish consumption among the inhabitants seems to have decreased in recent years. Those who admitted to raw freshwater fish consumption in the last two years among the infected inhabitants were 59.3%, although 86.8% of them professed to have experience with raw freshwater fish consumption. 31.7% of those who have had experience of the raw freshwater fish consumption denied any further consumption in recent years. From an interview of 543 school-children, 24.1% of them admitted to an experience of raw freshwater fish consumption. However, those who have practised in the past two years comprized 17.9%. Those who denied raw freshwater fish consumption in recent years among those who had such experience were 26.0% out of 131 interviewed. The rate of raw freshwater fish consumption in both inhabitants and schoolchildren were higher in the male than in the female. On the contrary, the rate of those who did not practise in recent years among those who had experience of raw freshwater fish consumption was higher in the female than in the male. 12) The major reason for the reduction of raw freshwater fish consumption among the local inhabitants was the risk of the fluke infection. However, it has become apparent that such change of taste has resulted from water pollution impact which has affected throughout the areas of the freshwater systems in this locality since last several years. 13) In animal survey, Clonorchis infection was seen in 14.8% of 88 dogs examined and 3.7% of 27 house rats examined. It was noted that populations of dogs and cats have increased in the villages surveyed. Although the prevalence rate was lower in the present survey than those of 1967, the significance of the animals as the reservoir host has not changed. 14) Prevalence rate of Clonorchis infection by cercariae in the first intermediate host, Parafossarulus manchouricus, was 0.6% out of 517 snails examined. The infection rate was lower in comparison with 2.3% out of 2,124 examined in 1967. Moreover, sharp decreases in number and distribution of the intermediate host snails in many watershed areas of the huge freshwater systems in this locality seemed to reduce transmission of Clonorchis in connection with the intermediate host stage of its life cycle. 15) Clonorchis infection in the second intermediate fish hosts was relatively low. The mean number of Clonorchis metacercaria per fish in Pseudorasbora parva was 517 in 1983, whereas it was 1943 in 1968 through 1969. Environmental water pollution has also caused the decreased fish population density in these areas, and this has also apparently affected to the practice of raw freshwater fish consumption among the local inhabitants. 16) In conclusion, endemicity of Clonorchis infection in Gimhae Gum and delta area of the Nagdong River has sharply decreased during the past 16 years. The major cause of the regressive transition of the infection was the water pollution of the land water systems of this locality. The pollution has upset the ecosystems comprizing of the intermediate hosts of Clonorchis in many areas, and also affected to a significant extent to the discontinuance of the local inhabitants for raw freshwater fish consumption.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2002

This study was aimed to provide the basic data for the development of effective educational program by reflecting the opinions of the visiting health service workers. The subjects were 144 visiting health service workers in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do area who responded the mail questionnaire. The data were collected from June to July, 2001 using questionnaire composed of the education need, knowledge by subjective appraisal, and experience of education. The major findings of this study were as follows: 1. The number of respondents who received at least one education within recent three years were 43(29.9%) at the central level, 57(39.6%) at the provincial level and 53(36.8%) at the district level. The satisfaction with education was higher at the central level than at the provincial and district level. 2. Knowledges by subjective appraisal on the 'chronic degenerative diseases management' and 'health promotion' was relatively high. while that of 'rehabilitation' was low. 3. The knowledge by subjective appraisal of visiting health service was related with experience of education and license status. The knowledge was higher in registered nurses than in nurse aids. The curricula related to increased level of knowledge of visting health service workers were 'elderly health care', 'rehabilitation' and 'psychiatric-mental health nursing' educations at the central level 'continuing education for the community health practioners' and 'psychiatric-mental health education' at the provincial level and 'elderly health care', 'rehabilitation' 'psychiatric-mental health' and 'acute diseases control' educations at the district level. 4. The respondents preferred elderly health management as the contents of education, officer group education as the method of education, province(30.4%) as the main body of education, exercise and practice as the form of education, 2-3 times per year as the frequency of education, and 3-5days as the period of education. The findings of this study could suggest that future education program should be planned to increae the knowledge level of visiting health service workers by reflecting their educational need.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.245-263
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• 2000

This study was conducted to provide the basic data about the health effects of pesticide exposure among farmers for agricultural health study. We analyzed 412 self-administered questionnaires collected from the male farmers who spray pesticides in Kyoung-ju area, Korea. Survey questions were about chronic symptoms, acute symptoms while pesticide spraying, pesticide intoxication accident, safety rules, protective equipments etc. The correlations among the variables related to pesticide exposure and the factors in acute pesticide poisoning and chronic symptoms of farmers were also analyzed. For chronic symptoms, the prevalence of 'tiredness and languor', 'lumbago', 'nocturia', 'shoulder pain', 'numbness', and, for acute symptoms while pesticide spraying, the experience rate of 'itching sense of skin', 'dizziness/headache', 'fatigue', 'eye glaring' were high compared with other symptoms. For 'experience of intoxication accident by pesticide in family', 7.1% of the subjects experienced the accident and the causes were pesticide spraying, food contamination by pesticide, suicide etc. Among safety rules, 'take a bath after spraying', 'change clothes after spraying' were kept relatively well, and, for protective equipments, hat, boots, mask, gloves, protective clothes(lower) were put on relatively well. The factors associated with acute pesticide poisoning were the extent of keeping safety rules, spraying time, orchard cultivation, agricultural area and spraying days per year etc. And the factors associated with chronic symptoms were acute symptoms while pesticide spraying, agricultural area, farming career, extent of keeping safety rules, extent of agricultural work and the pesticide exposure index etc. From these results, it is suggested that to reduce the health effects by pesticide exposure among farmers, the education to promote to keep safety rules and wear protective equipments, and information services should be recommended. And further studies on the long term health effects of pesticide exposure among farmers are required.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 1996

This study was conducted to reveal the relationship between the oral health status and their Knowledges about the oral health of the freshman of colleges in Taegu city. The evaluation for the oral health status through the oral examinations and their analysis of their knowledges on the periodontal disease were done on 216 males and 205 females from 1st to 30th April, 1993. The obtained results were as follows: The oral health status of 421 subject showed that 35.7% was good, 59.1% fair, and 6.2% poor, respectively. In case of the oral health status of females, 41.9% was good and 4.4% poor, and then in males 27.8% was good, 7.8% poor. The oral health status of the females was better than that of the males(p=0.006). The 52.1% among the good oral health status group answered that the dental plaque is the bacterial membrane causing dental disease, and the 23.1% among the poor oral health status group answered same as the above. The 91.8% among the good oral health status group answered that the periodontal diseases can be prevented, and the same answer came out from 15.4% of the poor group. It was found that the better oral health status group had the better knowledges about periodontal disease(p=0.001). For the question about their experiences in scaling the 30.1% of good oral health status group and the 23.1% of poor group answered that scaling is very helpful to periodontal health(p=0.001). About the experience of the education for tooth brushing, the 53.2% of good oral health status group and the 7.6% of poor group had the experiences to receive the education for tooth brushing(p=0.001). About the frequency and the time of tooth brushing, the 53.4% of good oral health status group brushed their teeth more then 3 times a day and 41.8% of good group brushed their teeth after every meal(p=0.001). The result of multiple regression analysis according to the simplified oral health index indicated that the variable having an effect on the oral health status was the tooth brushing frequency, knowledge of periodontal disease prevention, experience in education of tooth brushing and time of tooth brushing(p=0.001).

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate the status of bowel health behaviors, prevalence of constipation and risk factors related to self-reported constipation in high school students. Methods: The study subjects were 1,882 students of six high schools located in a metropolitan city, who were selected by the accidental sampling from June to August, 2002. We analyzed the data by frequency analysis, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression using SPSS ver. 10.0. Results: The result of this study were summarized as follows: 1. A prevalence rate of self-reported constipation was 25.2%. A rate in male students was 13.4% and in female students 36.5%. 2. In regard to therapeutic behavior, 52.1% of study student with change in bowel habit had not find particular counsellor, 38.9% of the student had counselling with parents. 16.3% of students in constipation group had taken laxative medicine for treating the constipation. 73.5% of the student in constipation group had suffered from anal pain during defecation, but 48.0% in normal group. 41.6% of the student in constipation group had a experience of rectal bleeding after defecation, but 23.7% in normal group. So constipation related symptoms distribution had showed statistically significant difference between two group. 3. From the multivariate analysis by self-reported method, the risk factors related to the constipation were sex(female), experience of diet for weight reduction, absence of the breakfast and intake of vegetable more than 3 times per weeks. Conclusions: we had reconfirmed that we should improve eating habits to prevent and treat the constipation in a result of this study. Intervention that is target to girl students, abstain from weight reduction diet, regularity of taking meals, intake more vegetables, stress management should be provided to prevent the constipation especially in Korean high school students. Further prospective designed study are needed to establish the causal-effect relationship between so many risk factors with constipation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.89-100
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was to find the effected factors on customer satisfaction for medical service and the willingness to revisit among hospital users Methods: The data was collected by a questionnaire survey from February 1 to April 30, 2004, and 600 samples have been analysed among users of university hospital, private hospital and public hospital in a local city. Results and Conclusions: The satisfaction total score to use hospital was 113.54 points(out of 175 point), these scores were constituted 39.10 points(out of 55 point) on satisfaction score for kindness of hospital employee, 36.28 points(out of 60 point) for equipment utilization and service formality, 18.59 points(out of 30 point) for environmental status and 19.57 points(out of 30 points) for reliability in medical examination and treatment service. The factors effected on satisfaction total score to use hospital were type of visiting hospital, age of customer, convenience to visit the hospital, experience of using other hospitals(R2=0.171). The effected factors of willingness to revisit scores were such as satisfaction score in medical examination and treatment service, satisfaction score of kindness hospital employee, experience of health examination and age of customer($R^2=0.370$). In conclusion, to raise the response's willingness to revisit. This must be reinforced by employee's kindness education and medical service quality.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-137
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was factors affecting self-efficacy of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in adults. Therefore, the provide basic data for strategy development to improve the performance rate of bystander CPR. Methods: The data were collected from 164,165 adults of the 2016 Korean Community Health Survey. The survey method was 1:1 interview with households, and the survey period was from August 16, 2016 to October 31, 2016. The survey variables were as follows: self-efficacy of CPR, awareness of CPR, training experience of CPR, demographic characteristics, medical characteristics, health promoting behaviors, and safety practices. Results: The rate of self-efficacy of CPR in adults was 60.6%. Factors affecting self-efficacy of CPR were age, sex, residence, education level, occupation, marital status, any CPR training, CPR training within the last 2 years, CPR training with manikin within the last 2 years, emergency room visit within the last 1 year, physical activity status, drive a bicycle, seat belts on rear seat, seat belts when riding a bus were statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, in order to improve the self-efficacy of CPR in adults, the recent experience rate of CPR education, the practice rate of health promotion behavior, and the practice rate of safety behavior should be improved. The government should expand the provision of education programs to improve the self-efficacy of CPR and actively prepare national-level public advertisements strategies.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.485-496
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• 2022

Modern agriculture is being transformed into smart agriculture to maximize production efficiency along with changes in the 4th industrial revolution. However, rural areas in Korea are facing challenges of aging, low fertility, and population outflow, making it difficult to transition to smart agriculture. Among ICT technologies, simulation allows users to observe or experience the results of their choices through imitation or reproduction of reality. The combination of the three-dimension (3D) model and the greenhouse simulator enable a 3D experience by virtual greenhouse for fruits and vegetable cultivation. At the same time, it is possible to visualize the greenhouse under various cultivation or climate conditions. The objective of this study is to apply the greenhouse climate management model for simulation development that can visually see the state of the greenhouse environment under various micrometeorological properties. The numerical solution with the mathematical model provided a dynamic change in the greenhouse environment for a particular greenhouse design. Light intensity, crop transpiration, heating load, ventilation rate, the optimal amount of CO₂ enrichment, and daily light integral were calculated with the simulation. The results of this study are being built so that users can be linked through a web page, and software will be designed to reflect the characteristics of cladding materials and greenhouses, cultivation types, and the condition of environmental control facilities for customized environmental control. In addition, environmental information obtained from external meteorological data, as well as recommended standards and set points for each growth stage based on experiments and research, will be provided as optimal environmental factors. This simulation can help growers, students, and researchers to understand the ICT technologies and the changes in the greenhouse microclimate according to the growing conditions.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.67-77
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• 2022

Objective: This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an individually tailored program based on self-measurement of blood glucose on health behavior and HbA1c in diabetes and pre-diabetes patients. Methods: The program consisted of seven sessions for 12 weeks which were carried out every two weeks. Almost all sessions were progressed on untact method except for the first and last session. The 71 subjects were assessed for their knowledge of diabetes, health behavior, the experience of self-measurement of blood glucose, body mass Index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at before and after the program. They were also evaluated on their degree of utilization of blood glucose measurements after the program. Results: Each mean score on their knowledge of diabetes, health behavior and the experience of self-measurement of blood glucose was significantly increased from 14.77, 25.50, and 2.70 to 15.41, 28.40, and 4.81, respectively. Each mean score on both BMI and HbA1c (n=53) was significantly decreased from 24.47kg/m² and 7.27% to 24.01kg/m² and 6.67%, respectively. The post-HbA1c had a significant negative correlation(r=-0.415) with the degree of utilization of blood glucose measurements. The degree of utilization of blood glucose measurements had a significant positive correlation(r=0.581) with post-health behavior. Conclusions: The program shows effectiveness in improving HbA1c in Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes patients. The post-HbA1c might be related to the degree of utilization of blood glucose measurements which might be related to the health behavior.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.36
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• pp.391-400
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• 2018

To ensure a user-centered treatment environment, hospital construction needs an approach that is not centered on functional aspects such as efficiency or economic feasibility but on the consideration of needs as reflected in user psychology and behavior. Patients who are physically and psychologically vulnerable experience psychological pressure when they are placed in an unfamiliar environment. Most of existing studies however focus on the evaluation of the physical environment, without paying attention to the psychological or behavioral approach to anxiety and stress that patients may experience in a special environment that a hospital may be to them. This study examines general hospital inpatients to understand the usage of major space available and their satisfaction with privacy. This study provides useful primary information needed for the user-centered design of general hospital for improved patient health and welfare. For the purpose of the study, literature review, site investigation, and survey were conducted. Major functional space and privacy in general hospitals were studied, and the site investigation was performed to identify the plans and their status. Survey was also performed to understand the usage of functional space and satisfaction with such space usage as well as satisfaction with privacy. The findings were as follows: (1) Space usage was rated as average in general. It was found that patients used their rooms and lobby on a daily basis. By age, the usage was highest in the group in their 40s; the usage was relatively lower in the groups in their 30s or younger. (2) Space satisfaction was above average, indicating that patients were fairly satisfied. Satisfaction was highest in the lobby space designed with distinct features. By case, satisfaction was highest in Case B, characterized by its wide horizontal space in the rural settings. (3) Satisfaction with privacy in hospital was average, indicating that the demand for privacy was relatively higher but what patients receive in return was lower than their expectation. It was also found that satisfaction with privacy was a crucial element that affected the overall satisfaction with hospital.