• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.42-54
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• 2010

Automobile emissions have caused a major hydrocarbon pollution problem in the ambient air of many cities around the world. This study was conducted to measure the pollution status of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some urban residential areas in Seoul, Korea. A total of 20 VOCs (11 aromatic and 9 chlorinated species) were identified at 4 urban residential sites in Seoul, Korea from February 2009 to July 2009. Comparison of total VOC (TVOC) concentration data indicated the dominance of the aromatic species with the maximum (72.2 ppbC) at Jong Ro (JR) and the minimum at Yang Jae (33.4 ppbC). The peak concentration of TVOC occurred during spring at all sites with an exception at Gang Seo (GS), where it was recorded during winter. The distribution of individual VOCs at the study sites was characterized by high toluene concentration. A strong correlation of benzene was also observed with other VOCs and criteria pollutants at all sites (except YJ). The overall results of this study suggest that vehicular emissions have greatly contributed to the increase in VOC pollution at all the study sites.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of stress, social support, and marital satisfaction between married immigrant women living in urban areas and women living in rural areas to identify ways to improve their mental health. Methods: Two hundred married immigrant women were recruited from multicultural familysupport centers located in Daejeon City and Chungcheong Province. From July, 2009 to January, 2010, data were collected using self- administered questionnaire. Study instruments were scales for acculturative stress, housewives life stress, support from spouse, and marital satisfaction. Results: Urban married immigrant women had lower levels of acculturative stress and higher levels of support from spouse and more positive marital satisfaction compared to rural women. Both groups reported similar levels of stress in life as a housewife. Factors influencing marital satisfaction in both group were lower levels of acculturative and housewives life stress, higher levels of support from spouse, and living with parents-in-law. Conclusion: Rural married immigrant women may have more problems in adjusting to Korean culture and marriage compared to urban women. Therefore, to improve the physical and psychological wellbeing and marital adjustment of married immigrant women, development of nursing strategies according to area of residence is needed.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.514-524
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the reported experiences of health management among twenty elderly workers living in urban areas. Methods: Corbin and Strauss's grounded theory approach was used to capture the meaning of health management. Theoretical sampling technique was used in the interviews. Using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding, data were collected and analyzed simultaneously. Results: The core category was 'pursuing health to take root in the workplace.' Four stages of the elderly workers' health management were identified as 'awareness of health changes', 'having the will to be healthy', 'utilization of health care resources', and 'reorganization of health habits.' However, when the elderly workers reported limited capacity to manage their health, then two new categories were described: 'awareness of health changes' and 'settlement with current health.' Conclusion: To the elderly workers the concept of working was equated with being healthy. Further, the participants reported having a future oriented view of health and sought health to extend their working lives. The specialized intervention of health management targeting elderly workers in the settlement stage of current health habits should be provided.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.117-137
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• 2004

The purpose of the study is to examine gender differences in health behaviors and the related factors for the urban elderly population. This study utilized the data from the Suwon city health survey of the elderly in 2001. The data consisted of a random sample of 979 (388 males, 591 females) elderly people aged over 65. The results of the study were as follows. First, the elderly people's health behaviors were different by gender. Concerning health risk-taking behavior, the frequencies of smoking and drinking were higher in males than in females. In terms of health promotive behavior, the regular exercise rate was higher in males than in females. Second, there were different factors that influenced health behaviors by gender. The factors that influenced the health risk-taking behaviors were health status factors for male, and socioeconomic factors for female. The factors that significantly influenced the health promotive behaviors were social supports networks for both gender. Therefore, program priorities need to be modulated in accordance with these gender differences in health behaviors. Moreover, different program strategies are needed that reflect the gender differences in health behavior determinants.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 1990

This study was carried out to identify variables related to morbidity perceived by residents who lived in an urban poor community in Seoul city, to analyze correlation between varibles and morbidity, and to find out factors related to the morbidity. Chi-square test, t-test, Pearson's C. C., and factor analysis were employed in this study. The factors labelled by this study are family expenses, housing environment, consumption level, and health care. It may be concluded that a morbidity pattern in specific communicty is strongly associated with socio-economic factors as we observe it at macro level. If the conclusion is acceptable, the health care system should pay attention to reducing the incidence itself through controlling socio-economic aspects of the community and should be reoriented. In this context, the primary health care approach which World Health Organization has advocated can be justified.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Rural Health Nursing
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide the basic techniques in utilizing the systematic home-rehabilitation service with a Minimum Data Set for Home Care (MDS-HC) 2.0 navigator system. Methods: The present study was conducted with 50 persons receiving home-care services from a Welfare Center. Respondents were selected from urban and rural areas in and around the Wonju area. Results: The results showed that MDS-HC2.0 was useful to evaluate the functional status of disabled persons in the fields of health and home-care services. Furthermore, this navigator system provided basic information about the functional health problems of respondents and therefore can provide guidance for health and home care services for disabled persons. Conclusions: Through the present study, a comprehensive model for health and home-rehabilitation was developed. The author believes that respondents will have the satisfaction of high quality service if the developed model is used as the standard in planning and providing home-rehabilitation services.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of an osteoporosis prevention health education on know ledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy and preventive health behaviors of women in an urban area. Methods: A one- group pre-test-post-test design was conducted to identify the effects of an osteoporosis prevention health education. The study was conducted between April and November 2008, and recruited 98 women in Seoul. All participants completed the pretest and posttest measures with self-administered questionaire: Osteoporosis Knowledge Test, Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale, Osteoporosis Self-Efficacy Scale and Osteoporosis Preventive Health Behaviors Survey. Results: The result of the paired t-test revealed statistically significant difference in the perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of osteoporosis and osteoporosis preventive behaviors between pretest and posttest measures. However, the difference in knowledge and self-efficacy between the pretest and posttest measures was not statistically significant. Conclusions: These finding indicate the need for further health education to increase osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy and osteoporosis preventive health behaviors and provide guidance for developing effective osteoporosis prevention health education strategies.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.1-21
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• 2007

The purpose of this research is to seek for efficient method of health improvement program for the old and to offer basic material for the development of community's public health service. This study investigated into the yangseng life level of the old and the factors which affect their yangseng life, and was to offer basic materials for oriental medicine-based health improvement plan which is appropriate for each community. The 818 surveys were conducted upon the old who are above 65 and who live in Jeollabukdo, and the results from the survey are as follows ; 1. The rural area showed more percentage of old people, the old who live alone and who have job compared to urban area. More people in rural area were found to live at their own expense. Additionally, there were more people who had high education in urban area and who have disease in rural area. 2. The total yangseng level of recipients was 94.20, and the average was 3.25. The average of urbanite was 3.26 and it was 3.23 for who live in rustic area, but there found no significant difference. All the old live in both urban area and rural area showed the highest score in morality yangseng and lowest in sex-life yangseng. 3. There found no difference upon regions, but the recipients show high yangseng level when they are male, have spouse, live with them, have factors including high education background, job, religion and hobby, or have confidence in their health. They also show high yangseng level when they do not have any disease in progress. 4. According to the results of general traits and yangseng level of each category, the old who live in urban area show higher exercise yangseng level than the one in rural area, and there is no significant difference upon the region in other categories. There were some cases which general traits and regional characteristics mutually affected each other. In conclusion, the yangseng level of the old is affected by individual traits and habits rather than the regions in which they live. The old who live in rural area are required to focus on exercise more, since the exercise yangseng level of them were lower than the ones of urban area. Moreover, there were some cases which general traits and regional characteristics mutually affected each other, so it requires further in-depth study about the correlation.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.726-734
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and classify the characteristics of potential damage from hazardous chemical accidents in 229 administrative units in South Korea by reflecting the social and environmental characteristics of areas where chemical accidents can occur. Methods: A number of indicators were selected through preceding studies. Factor analysis was performed on selected indicators to derive factors, and cluster analysis was performed based on the factor scores. Results: As a result of the cluster analysis, 229 administrative units were divided into three clusters, and it was confirmed that each cluster had its own characteristics. Conclusions: The first cluster, "areas at risk of accident occurrence and spread of damage" was a type with a high potential for accident damage and a high density of hazardous facilities. The second cluster, "Urban infrastructure damage hazard areas" appeared to be a cluster with high urban development characteristics. Finally, the third cluster 'Urban and environmental damage hazard areas' appeared to be a cluster with an excellent natural environment. This study went further from the qualitative discussion related to existing chemical accidents to identify and respond to accident damage by reflecting the social and environmental characteristics of the region. Distinct from the previous studies related to the causes of accidents and the response system, it is meaningful to conduct empirical research focusing on the affected areas by analyzing the possibility of accident damage in reflection of the social and environmental characteristics of the community.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.411-424
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• 2019

This study analyzed the factors affecting urban residents' expectations and participation in community gardens to present basic data of guidelines for community garden management. Urban citizens valued the necessity of community gardens overall, especially residents with outdoor gardens. The experience of private gardens was important in perceiving the need for community gardens, which are public spaces. The creation of community gardens had high expectations for social aspects such as improving quality of life, health promotion, and community revitalization. In particular, residents living in individual housing have high expectations for revitalization of the community, and community gardens can be a mediator for forming and maintaining local communities. Through this, the citizens' perception on the role and function of the garden as a community space could be examined. Expectations for quality of life, health promotion, and community revitalization are factors affecting the necessity of community garden. Participation was high in the creation and management of the community garden, and the necessity of community gardens, expectation for community revitalization, and expectation for environmental purification are factors that affect participation in the management of community gardens. The amount of donations that the residents are willing to pay for community garden management was KRW 75,222 /year on average. Overall, residents with higher need for community gardens and higher social expectation showed higher participation. Urban citizens have high expectations for community gardens, and they perceive the importance of social aspects more than personal aspects such as community revitalization and quality of life. As a strategy for increasing community involvement, it is necessary to set up the processes, determine participants' composition and roles, and establish a system to promote participation. Considering welfare aspects such as community revitalization and improvement of residents' quality of life, motivation and administrative support for participation in the creation and management of community gardens will serve as important factors.