• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.27
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• pp.3-17
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• 1984

Anaerobic digestion has recently attracted all over the world and Korea also shows no exception. The major benefits of anaerobic digestion are energy production, water pollution control, pathogen reduction and effective manure production. In Korea it was recognized in late sixties that there was a positive need to find alternative energy for farmers household. The main traditional energy sources in rural area were crop residues and forestry products. Therefore Office of Rural Development through its Rural Guidance Bureau disseminated about 29,000 household biogas units from 1969 to 1975 to provide cooking fuel for farmers household and to improve the mode of farmers living standards. The units were welcomed by farmers at that time. Now, however, most of them are not using due to a number of reasons associated with cold winter and some techno-economical problems (in those day, fossil fuel was quite expensive to compare with other prices and since then farmers income was quickly increased). The author studied on bag type household biogas plant to solve some technical problems of existing household biogas plants, but this also has little appeal for the farmers. From 1977 author studied on village scale biogas plant with two pilot plants. From the viewpoint of energy production, COD removal, kill rate of pathogen and fertilizer value, the results obtained from the experiments were quite promising, but the construction cost of the village scale biogas plant was too high for the farmers in Korea. To find most suitable biogas plant for farmers in Korea through the simplifying the biogas digester, the author developed batch-load biogas plant. By feeding coarse crop residues and manures, total solids concentrations of the batch-load biogas plant are about 28 percent which is much higher than continous digester of 5-8 percent. The batch-load biogas plant was welcomed by many farmers in Korea when it was reported on TV and newspapers. The plant was disseminated 154 units in 1982, 766 units in 1983 and 812 units in 1984 as a promissing project. Besides these biogas plant experiments, studies were also conducted 1) to determine gas production rate with agricultural wastes, 2) to evaluate the effect of loading rate, dilution, retention time on biogas production, 3) to project the amount of potencial energy from agricultural wastes.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.88-96
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• 1994

Treatment for the arthritic is mostly on the out-patient basis. The present rheumatologists practicing in Korea do not cover the total number of the patients. Also patients with arthritis need medical treatment for long period of time. Therefore, the number of patients waiting for the treatment is huge in number. This vicious cycle need to be broken in some way. Purpose of this study is to identify the need for home care of the arthritic patients. Nineteen hundred and sixty two subjects were interviewed in one hospital for one month. The following findings were observed : 1. The rates for demanding home care were from 60% to 100% depending on the areas. 2. Reasons for no need of home care were mainly credibility and short distance from the hospital. 3. Time spent for one way transportation was more than 3.3 hours except from Seoul and Kyungki area. The longer they spend time for transportation, the more they want home care services. 4. The number of patients who asked other persons to travel for prescription was 446(22.73%) and average number was 3.26 per year in those 446 cases. 5. Average expenses for transportation and other cost for each time of hospital visit were 21,073won ranged from 8,373 won to 132,571 won. The more spend money for visiting the hospital, the more they want home care services. In order to reduce the physical and economical burden of the arthritic patients living in remote areas, hospital-based home care services are justified on the bases of patients' demand and legislative support.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.65-76
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• 2015

With a rapidly aging population, the proportion of elderly households with low income has been increasing. Despite the poor housing environment, it is not easy to improve their housing environment due to the high cost of modification. However, as many elderly want to keep living in their current houses, it is urgent to improve their housing environment. The purpose of this study was to develop the guidelines on home modification for low-income elderly. This study set the scope of home modification categories through literature analysis in advance to develop the guidelines. Based on the literature analysis and small group workshops, the primary and secondary guidelines were derived and a total of 169 final guidelines were produced based on the scope of home modification categories. Those guidelines were composed of the categories by space, divided into mandatory and recommended by details. Those guidelines proposed in this study were classified and composed under the objective standards, so that they were systemic and objective based on the verification of experts. They are considered to get closer to the user's demand on the basis of the demand of low income elderly for home modification and the improvement categories under the system to support home modification for low income elderly at home and abroad. In addition, as the standards to apply each guideline, separated into mandatory and recommended, was suggested, those guidelines may help expand the scope of improvement under the economic conditions for home modification.

• Korean journal of health promotion
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Background: Despite increasing the number of newly licensed nurses across Korea, shortages caused by geographical imbalances remains a significant concern. Therefore, understanding nursing students' attitudes to working and living, factors influencing where they first choose to work after graduation is useful in formulating appropriate interventions to retain nurses in regional areas. Methods: A total of 329 senior nursing students from areas outside Metropolitan Seoul completed self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the respondents, 57.8% reported that they planned to work in the region in which their school was located. The three factors ranked as having the greatest influence on their decision to work in non-metropolitan regions were: the cost of living, housing costs, and the proximity to family. Enjoyable aspects of rural life contributed positively to students' intentions to work in non-metropolitan regions, whereas isolation and socialization problems negatively affected their intentions to work in such areas. Conclusions: Greater consideration should be given to improving working conditions and housing environments in non-metropolitan regions.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.547-580
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• 2013

As energy conservation can be realized through changes in the composition of goods and services consumed, there is a need to assess indirect and total household energy consumption. The Korean household sector was responsible for more than 55% of Korea's total energy consumption in the 1995 to 2010 period. More than 69% of household energy consumption was indirect. Thus, not only direct but also indirect household energy consumption should be the target of energy conservation. Electricity consumption became in 2009 the main source of household energy consumption in Korea. Households consume more and more electricity intensive goods and services, a sign of increasing living standards. Decrease in energy intensities of products consumed by Korean households contributed greatly to reduce the increase in the total household energy consumption. However, switching took place towards more energy intensive products, thus the structure effect was negative. It is necessary to direct consumption and production towards much less energy intensive goods and services as to reduce energy consumption or its growth rate. The Korean government should readjust low energy and electricity prices to cost-reflective prices levels as these low prices are one of the main reasons for the consumption of more energy intensive products. This study differentiates prices of oil products and electricity between households and industries, as to allow more accurate estimation.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.423-435
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• 2009

Meal menus were developed and applied for rural elderly of Gangwon and Chungnam areas at agricultural off-season. Amounts of the major nutrients of carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and calorie considered in the menu based on the dietary reference intakes(DRI) of the elderly aged over 65 years were 97.5g, 22.5g, 13.3g, and 600kcal, respectively. In Chungnam, softness and overall acceptance of rice in menu 4, consisted of cereals and rice, kimchi stew with tuna, pan-fried bulgogi mushroom, seasoned dropwort carrot, kimchi, and banana, scored the highest values of 8.5 out of 9.0point hedonic scale (p<0.05). In Gangwon, soup and side dish of menu 3 (rice, frozen pollack pot stew, meatball fried in egg, seasoned sea lettuce, and banana) scored significantly the highest of all (p<0.05). Overall acceptance of all the menus were high over 7.8 without significance in Chungnam. Overall acceptance of the menu 3 scored significantly the highest with value of 8.5 and menu 4 (rice, spicy chicken soup, seasoned bean sprouts, broiled brown seaweed trunk, kimchi, tomato) had significantly the lowest value with value of 7.8 in Gangwon(p<0.05). The total leftover volume of menu 4 was significantly the highest with score of 56g and the menu 4 showed the highest unit cost of 2,900won in Chungnam. However, the total leftover volume of all menus did not show significance ranging from 9g to 19g in Gangwon.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.39-55
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• 2022

In this study, we investigate the interrelationship between housing tenure and childbirth by exploiting the correlation probability effect method that accounts for household heterogeneity. Using the newlywed household panel from 2011 to 2022, we find that home ownership has a positive impact on childbirth in newlyweds. Specifically, newlywed households with housing tenure show a 6.2%p higher birth rate and a 5.7%p higher second childbirth than newlywed households living in rented houses. For the case of first childbirth, we employ the probability effect probit model since the endogeneity was not detected between housing tenure and birth rate. We document the differential effects of housing tenure on childbirth in that the first childbirth rate is higher for households without housing tenures. The negative effects on first childbirth could be attributed to the economic burden due to initial housing ownership, while housing tenure could eventually provide housing stability, leading to positive effects on more than one childbirth. Finally, we identify that households with childbirth over the last year show a 4.2%p and 3.9%p lower probabilities of housing tenure in the total sample and second childbirth sample, respectively. This suggests that the increased living cost due to childbirth could delay home ownership.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.185-191
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• 2020

Background: From January 2018, a policy was applied to differentially apply the co-payment for medical expenses of 15,000 won or more from 30% to 10%-30% for each medical fee. This policy lowers the burden on the medical use of the elderly, and it is necessary to analyze the effect of the policy by confirming changes in medical use and supply behavior after 2 years. Methods: The National Health Insurance Service's national medical use database was used. As for the analysis method, first, the medical use and medical supply behavior change over the age of 65 years were confirmed, and second, in order to check the net effect of the policy, the 66-year-old as the experimental group and the 63-year-old as the control group were selected as the control group. The propensity score matching was performed using the variables of age, living alone, income quartile, residence, disability, chronic disease, and co-morbid disease scores, and then it was analyzed using the difference in difference analysis method. Results: The share of the number of treatments under 15,000 won decreased from 37.0% in 2017 to 20.2% in 2018, while the share of the number of treatments under 15,001-20,000 won increased from 8.0% to 22.7%. It was confirmed that the reason for the increase in the cost of treatment per treatment was the result of the increase in the amount of physical therapy and examination. As a result of the policy effect, the burden of co-payment per person was reduced, and as a result, the number of hospital visits per person and the total medical cost per person increased. Conclusion: The self-pay rate differential policy reduced the burden of medical expenses for the elderly and confirmed the increase in medical use. However, the interpretation of the increase in medical use was not able to distinguish whether the unsatisfactory medical care was satisfied or the inducement demand. Efficient allocation of resources is a more important point in the future when the super-aged society is in front. It is necessary to prepare a plan to induce rational medical use within a range that does not impair the medical accessibility of the elderly.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 1989

In order to desirable attitudes of health subcenter personnel, affecting to utilization of a rural health subcenter for primary health care, a study carried out, through analyzing the specific survey datas of 228 out of 1151 total house-holders in a rural community, Su-Dong Myun, Yam-yang-ju kun, Kyung-Gi Do in Korea, and the medical re-cords of total out-patients of health subcenter in this district during 1981-1988. The following results were obtained: 1) The annual utilization rate showed decreasing tedency such as 723 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1981, 652 in 1982, 618 in 1985, 54H in 1984 and 341 in 1987, since 1981. 2) The utilization Rate in 1987 was unusually the lowest with 341 per 1,000 inhabitants in decreasing tendency, steadily. 3) In advatage on utilization of health subcenter for primary health care in a rural area, 68.8% of the respondents answered that it was in comprehensive health care with the highest rate and next order in near distance from living place with 16.7% in easy and simple process to utilize with 9.2% and in lower medical cost with 5.3%. 4) The order of desirable image of rural health subcenter personnel for primary health care was of good attitude(57.0%), of good skill(29.0 %) and of wide knowledge(14.0%), 5) The order of desirable image of doctor for primary health care in rural health subcenter was of good skill(.44.3%), of good attitude(36.8%) and of wide knowledge(18.9%), and nurse was of good attitude(76.8%), of good skill(14.0 %) and of wide knowledge(9.2%). 6) The percentage order by good attitudes of rural health subcenter personnel was the highest in responsibility(38.2%), kindness(26.3% ), proprieties(14.9%), sincerity(12.7%) and notion of duty hours(6.6%). 7) The statistical datas in health subcenter was written and kept, without distinction of definition of new and old patients, by month and for suitable method of medical expenses of medical insurance and medicaid by clerical convenience. 8) In future, the organization of health subcenter must be unified, systematized and rationlized for primary health care. Health subcenter must be organized by 3 parts of function(medical care, health service and clerical affair) and then function of health subcenter will be more activated by clerical activities.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.28-40
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• 1990

Rapid industrialization has induced the migration of rural people to urban areas. Such migration has created enlarged the existing low income group. Residents of low income area have increased health risk owing to their poor living environment, low income. overwork and inappropriate health care. The general objective of this study was to group the pattern of medical care utilization of low income group. The specific objectives were to identify disease prevalence and medical care utilization of low income group. To meet the objectives of this study, household interview method was applied. A total of 1845 households in 5 areas such as Bongchon 5th Dong, Bongchon 2nd Dong, Sanggae 5th Dong, Sanggae 4th Dong, and Shinrim 7th Dong were visited and interviewed by field team during the period from April 19 to May 3. 1989. The major findings obtained from the information collected were as follows : The Number of room per household used was one to two rooms. The employment state of the head of household disclosed that 88.6% had a job and the remaining 11.4% were unemployed. The average monthly income was 502,770won. however, 30% of the total income was less than 300,000 won in Bongchon 5th dong area. and 34.5% in Shinrim 7th Dong area. 41.3% of households had debts, which was consisted of household expense(33.4%), income formulation(22.7%) and medical care cost(15.9%) etc. Prevalence rate of diseases during the preceding 30days before the date of the household interview was 387.7 per 1000 persons. The prevalence rate of female was higher than that of male. 8.9% of the sick persons wasn't receiving any medical treatment, and the main reasons of which were lack of economic availability(43.3%) and feeling of non treatment needed(33.7%). According to the study results it was found that the prevalence rate of chroic diseases and the disabled in low income resident areas was higher than that in the other areas. Therefore, the health status of this group should be improved through PHC approaches. In addition. in order to prevent the diseases and promote the health of those people, the health center as well as health subcenter should be strengthened.