• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-169
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide data for the improvement of hypertension management of community health practitioner posts through the study on hypertension management in community health practitioner posts. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 700 community health practitioners and 205 of them responded during the period from March 13, 2003 to May 13. The survey results were analyzed using SPSS program, version 11. Results: The results are as follows; 1. There are two major activities in a hypertension prevention project for community: health education and early detection. About 57% of community health care practitioners perform a health education for community people four times a year. The 64.5% of them used the materials for health education provided from a community health center and 22.1% of them performed a post-evaluation. The main method of early detection of hypertension was measurement of blood pressure of person to visit, which was 96.1%. Other methods included home visiting(89.3%), a referral from community hospitals and other resources(49.1%), health promotion events(39.5%), and a review of medical records(35.7%). 2. For the registration and management of patients with hypertension, about 36% of community health centers used a special form and more than 50% of them have registered patients who were managed by other health care institutions in the community. A computerized program was used for the management of patients with hypertension in 68.5% of them. More than 60% of them responded that it was used for report, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypertension.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2012

Background: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Method: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. Results: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. Conclusions: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.414-433
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to identify the needs which are perceived by one of the familiy members who have head injury parients by traffic accidents in the intensive care units. Subjects were 70 families members of head injury patients admitted to 2 general hospitals NICU located Pusan city, 1 general hospital NICU located Ulsan city from December 1. 1998 to February 28. 1999. For this study, 70 family members were interviewed with aid of a Likert scale which was developed by researcher for this study. For development of the survey instrument, literature review and open questionnaire technique with family members and the nurses working in NICU. The 50needs-items were classified into 7 groups according to the homogeneity of the items with the support of literature review. For the content validity, the instrument was reviewed by 1 nursing professor and the internal reliability of this instrument was Cronbach alpha=0.94 which is highly accepted. Data was analyzed by a SPSS computer program. Data analysis included frequency. percentage, mean, standard variance and t-test or ANOVA. The results were as followings : 1. The general characteristics of head injury patients shows that the male was 74.3%, the female was 25.7% and age distribution shows that the fifty-fifty nine years was 30%, the highest. Of religion the buddhism was the most, The diagnosis distribution shows that epidural hematoma was 32.9% and subdural hematoma was 24.3%. The mentalility distribution shows that semicoma was 31.4% and stupor was 31.4%. Hemiplegia was 42.9% 2. The general charaterisrics of the family needs of head injury patients shows that thirty-thirty nine years was 31.4%, the highest. sex distribution shows that the male was 20%, the female was 80%. Of religion the buddism was the most. 3. The family needs of head injury patients was $3.03{\pm}0.42$, needs for the information of a patient's condition was $3.65{\pm}0.48$, the highest. And needs for the information of care and treatment was $3.48{\pm}0.48$, needs to be supplied with comfortable facilities for family was $3.04{\pm}0.66$, needs to be participate in a patient's care was $2.90{\pm}0.55$, needs to be informed about the available resources was $2.83{\pm}0.59$, needs to be supported emotionally for family was $2.79{\pm}0.55$, needs for religious assistance was $2.51{\pm}0.85$. 4. Examining the family needs of head injury patients according to patient's characteristics, mentality, plegia degree and operation were shown be variables to make an effect on the needs for the head injury patients family. At all, according to severity of head. injury, the family needs of head injury patients was high. 5. Examining the family needs of head injury patients according to their general characteristics, we could know that religion, job. income were shown to be variables to make an effect on the family needs. Through the examination it can be seen that the characteristics of head injury patients and the family needs of head injury patients. In conclusion, the family needs of head injury patients was almost same the family needs of ICU patients. Therefore we must involve the family's care of head injury patients and we must provide exact and repeated explanation, education and support the family of head injury patients. As this study was resulted in selecting the families admitted to NICU of some general hospital, we couldn't stretch the result in our favor. Therefore, continuous studies are suggested.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.560-569
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• 2016

Purpose The purpose of this study was not only to explore the factors associated with the survival of OHCA(Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest), but to provide ideas for improving the operation of emergency medical system in Korea. Method 90,734 OHCAs(Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest) with a cardiac etiology, who had been transported by 119 EMS ambulances for seven years from 2006 to 2012 in Korea, were analyzed. The data had a multilevel structure in that patient's survival in the same region is interrelated, so two-level (patient-region) logistic regression analysis was applied to adjust this correlation. Results The adjusted OR in group who were given CPR(Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) by a bystander were 1.40 for survival to discharge. In addition, the adjusted OR in the group with an implementation of AED (automated external defibrillator) before arriving in hospital was 2.98 for survival to discharge. we categorized some continuous variables (number of emergency physician, OHCAs volume fo hospital, area deprivation level) into five quintiles. The adjusted OR in the number of emergency physician compared with Q1(lowest) was 1.29(Q2), 2.89(Q3), 3.39(Q4), 4.07(Q5), respectively. the adjusted OR in OHCAs volume of each hospital compared with Q1(lowest) was 2.06(Q2), 3.06(Q3), 3.46(Q4), 4.36(Q5), respectively. Lastly, the adjusted OR in deprivation level compared with Q1(least deprived area) was 0.72(Q4), 0.64(Q5) so that the adjusted OR of survival to discharge tended to decrease in more deprived districts. Conclusion The survival to discharge was better significantly in group given CPR by a bystander and with the implementation of AED before arriving in hospital. The survival to discharge tended to be significantly better in hospitals with a larger number of emergency physicians and higher volume of OHCAs in less deprived districts.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.335-373
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• 2014

According to one Medicare report, in the US, total federal spending on health care expends almost 18 percent of the nation's GDP, about double what most industrialized nations spend on health care. And in 2011, Medicare spending reached close to $554 billion, which amounted to 21 percent of the total spent on U.S. health care in that year. Of that $554 billion, Medicare spent 28 percent, or about $170 billion, on patients' last six months of life. So what are the reasons of this high cost in EOL care and its possible solutions? Much spendings of Medicare on End-of-Life care for the terminally ill/chronically ill in the US has led health economics experts to assess the characteristics of the care. Decades of study shows that EOL care is usually supply-sensitive and poor in cost-effectiveness. The volume of care is sensitively depending on the supply of resources, rather than the severity of illness or preferences of patients. This means at the End-of-Life care, the medical resources are being overused. On the other hand, opposed to the common assumption, "The more care the better utility", the study shows that the outcome is very poor. Actually the patient preference and concerns are quite the opposite from what intense EOL care would bring about. This study analyzes the reasons for the supply-sensitiveness of EOL care. It can be resulted from the common misconception about the intense care and the outcome, physicians' mission for patients, lack of End-of-Life Care Decision which helps the patients choose their own preferred treatment intensity. It also could be resulted from physicians' fear of legal liabilities, and the management strategy since the hospitals are also seeking for financial benefits. This study suggests the possible solutions for over-treatment at the End-of-Life resulting from supply-sensitiveness. Solutions can be sought in two aspects, legal implementation and management strategy. In order to implement advance directive properly, active ethics education for physicians to change their attitude toward EOL care and more conversations about end-of-life care between physicians and patients is crucial, and incentive system for the physicians who actively have the conversations with patients will also help. Also, the general education towards the public is also important in the long run, and easy and official advance directive registry system-such as online registry-has to be built and utilized more widely. Alternative strategies in management are also needed. For example, the new strategic cost management and management education, such as cutting unnecessary costs and resetting values as medical providers have to be considered. In order to effectively resolve the problem in EOL care for the terminally ill/chronically ill and provide better experience to the patients, first of all, the misconception and the wrong conventional wisdom among doctors, patients, and the government have to be overcome. And then there should be improvements in systems and cultures of the EOL care.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.104-114
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• 1998

Purpose : Enteroviruses are the most common cause of aseptic meningitis. The epidemics of aseptic meningitis in 1993 and 1996 were mostly caused by echovirus type 9. Identification of the causative virus of aseptic meningitis in epidemics, is very important not only for diagnosis but also for epidemiologic purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative virus and investigate the relationship between aseptic meningitis, prevailed in Masan and surrounding areas in Kyoungsangnamdo in 1997, and its clinical manifestations. Methods : One hundred twenty eight cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and 239 stool specimens were obtained from 239 patients(213 children and 26 adult patients) with aseptic meningitis were admitted to Masan Fatima Hospitals from March to October 1997. Viral isolation and serotype identification was performed by cell culture and immunofluorescent test. Enteroviruses not typed by immunofluorescent test was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results : 1) The peak incidence was noted in June. 2) The age of 239 patients(pediatrics-213 cases, internal medicine-26 cases) that were diagnosed ranged from neonate to 35 years, the age of the patients of pediatrics ranged from neonate to 15years(mean 4.9 years), the age of the patients of internal medicine (above 16 years) ranged from 16 years to 35 years(mean 24.2 years). 3) Fifty-three(41.4%) of 128 CSF specimens were positive for enteroviruses, and 163(68.2%) of 239 stool specimens were positive for enteroviruses respectively. 4) Serotypes of 53 enteroviruses isolated from CSF were 16(30.2%) of echovirus type 30, 6(11.3%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 4 of untyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, and 24 isolates of untyped enteroviruses. Of 163 enterovirus isolated from stool were 72(44.2%) of echovirus type 30, 21(12.9%) of echovirus type 6, 1 of echovirus type 4, 17(10.4%) of undetermined subtyped echovirus, 1 of coxsackievirus type B5, 2 of A24, 3 of undetermined subtyped coxsackievirus type B, and 46 isolates of untyped enterovirus. Conclusion : There were epidemics of aseptic meningitis in the central areas of Kyoungsangnamdo from March to October 1997. The main causative organism was thought to be the echovirus type 30, and echovirus type 4, 6, coxsackievirus B5 and A24 were also thought to contribute to the epidemics.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2000

Purpose : We analyzed the demogaphic data md clinical course of Korean children with chronic renal failure (CRF) observed between 1990 and 1999. Patients and Methods : Questionnaires were mailed to all children's hospitals ail through the country. We asked for primary renal disease age and serum creatinine levels at first presentation with CRF and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and modes of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Results : 401 children (254 boys, 147 girls) with CRF, defined as a permanent increase of serum creatinine above 1.2 mg/dl for at least 3 months or until death, were identified. This represents an incidence of 3.68 per million child population per year. Of these patients, 22$\%$ on younger than 5 years, 28$\%$ 5 to 10 years and 50$\%$ 10 to 15 year. Eight five $\%$ of the patients could be classified with a primary renal disease. The most frequent cause is glomerulonephritis (36$\%$), followed by chronic pyelonephritis (21$\%$), renal hrpo/dylplasia (9$\%$), and hereditary nephropathies (7$\%$). Reflux nephropathy (16$\%$) was the most common single cause of CRF. ESRD was reached in 70$\%$ of all patient. 99.3$\%$ of these started RRT. Hemodialysis (HD, 42$\%$), peritoneal dialysis (PD, 35$\%$) and transplantation (TP, 23$\%$) were performed as the initial mode of RRT. A total of 161 TPs were performed (159 first grafts, 2 second grafts). A total of 32 patients died. The main causes of death were dialysis related complication in HD patients and infections in PD patients. Survival rate on any form of RRT was 88.7$\%$ during the mean follow-up period of 37 months. Conclusion Major efforts should be directed toward earlier diagnosis and treatment of reflux nephropathy to prevent occurrence of Of. Dialysis and TP have now become well accepted forms of treatment in Korean children with ESRD.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.41-62
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• 2019

In this intangible good-oriented, modern service economy era, we have to first understand the characteristics of the healthcare service in order to enhance the competitiveness of the healthcare industry and achieve continuous growth. In addition, service nature and characteristics should be reinforced so that connections can be made to the organizational job performance. To achieve the aforementioned results, this study analyzes the direct effects service nature and characteristics have on job performance in the healthcare industry and investigates the indirect effects with individual personality as the moderating effect. While conducting this study, a total of 340 healthcare workers were surveyed. Survey data from a total of 315 workers were used for analysis during empirical investigation of the research hypothesis. According to the analysis, it was proven that interactivity and horizontality among service nature and characteristics have a positive (+) effect on job effectiveness. This means that customer needs can be identified at customer touchpoints to quickly and accurately provide customers with the products and services they want, while horizontality among service nature and characteristics have a positive (+) effect on job effectiveness. This means that customer needs can be identified at customer touchpoints to quickly and accurately provide customers with the products and services they want, while horizontal communication enhance from department to department and from colleague to colleague within the organization can be linked to job performance. Also, with regards to the relationship shared between the customer or the patient, the job performance of healthcare workers may also improve if they provide customers with their desired service as an expert at the same level. In a rapidly changing healthcare environment, if the healthcare service nature and characteristics are put into practical use, it will be possible to propel the growth of hospitals and sustain it while investigating the moderating effects of individual personality, a partial moderating effect was observed for self-esteem and growth desire. As the study on service nature and characteristics came about only just recently, there is a needs for futher research. The study focuses on the healthcare service industry and hopefully, it will serve as a base study that can be applied to different service industries as well.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2016

A total of 228 dental hygienists working in dental hospitals and clinics in the Busan and Gyeongnam areas were surveyed between August 1, 2015, and October 15, 2015. The factors influencing infection control awareness and implementation levels among the dental hygienists were investigated to prepare basic data with the goal of establishing guidelines for systemic infection control. Treatment preparation support for infection control positively correlated with equipment and facility support (r=0.4343, p<0.01), treatment skill and information support (r=0.231, p<0.01), infection control education support (r=0.266, p<0.01), infection control awareness (r=0.354, p<0.01), and infection control implementation levels (r=0.442, p<0.01). Equipment and facility support positively correlated with treatment skill and information support (r=0.418, p<0.01), infection control education support (r=0.422, p<0.01), infection control awareness (r=0.404, p<0.01), and infection control implementation levels (r=0.454, p<0.01). Infection control education support positively correlated with infection control awareness (r=0.348, p<0.01) and infection control implementation levels (r=0.405, p<0.01). Infection control awareness positively correlated with the infection control implementation level (r=0.879, p<0.01). The factors influencing the awareness of infection control include treatment preparation support, equipment and facility support, treatment skill and information support, and infection control education support. The influencing the infection control implementation level include treatment preparation support, equipment and facility support, infection control education support, and treatment skill and information support. To enhance the awareness of infection control and implementation levels amongdental hygienists, an infection control system must be established and implemented A rigorous system for evaluating dental clinics must also be established to ensure an ideal dental treatment environment and to protect patients' health and safety.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2005

Terminal pediatric patient include congenital metabolic abnormalities, chromosome aberrations, congenital anomalies, neuromuscular diseases and other incurable conditions as well as malignant tumors. One third of these diseases are cancers, and two thirds of cancers are lymphadenoma and leukemia. Terminal pediatric patient may feel fear, anger and frustration against treatment process in hospitals, lose control of themselves and stay in helplessness due to restrictions within controlled hospital environment. This study examined the relationship between hospitalized childrens behavior and music using Contextual Support Model of Music Therapya theory stating therapeutic music environments possess three elements of Structure, Autonomy support and Involvement, and increase childrens active engagement. Focused on these three therapeutic elements, this study analyzed music therapy cases of terminally ill children to examine the relationship between childrens behavior and music as environmental supportive medium in the environment. This study is on a single case case subject, a 10-year-old girl with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Nine sessions of music therapy activities were conducted and analyzed using qualitative method. Focusing on three therapeutic elements of Contextual Support Model, analysis of sessions was made on the basis of activities specifically designed for this study. Main music therapy activities included singing while playing musical instruments, singing while listening to music through CD player, making up songs, and searching for song lines. The findings of this study are as follows: a) in terms of Structure, music therapy suggested a direction for effective musical activities for terminally ill children by providing environments where child can sing, play musical instruments and make up songs; b) in terms of Autonomy support, music therapy encouraged childs voluntary participation by giving her chances to make choice while singing or playing musical instruments; c) in terms of Involvement, child could gain positive approval of the therapist and conduct musical activities in cooperation with the therapist. Music therapy serves as supportive medium in the environment, develops spontaneity and self-reliance in emotionally depressed children, and promotes voluntary attitudes in the restricted hospital environment. Based on the positive effects of music therapy, more studies need to be conducted with an approach to more various terminal pediatric patients.