• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.131-144
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• 2015

Objectives : This study investigated the health care utilization patterns and length of stay (LOS) determinants of fracture patients with workers' compensation insurance (WCI) and national health insurance (NHI). Methods : The discharge summary data of 4,394 WCI fracture patients were compared to 28,874 NHI patients. Health care utilization characteristics were compared with a logistic regression analysis, and the LOS determinants were identified with linear regression analysis. Results : The average LOS of the WCI fracture patients was 2.4 times higher than that of the NHI patients. WCI patients used more small or medium sized hospitals, and were more frequently admitted through the emergency room. Females, older patients and patients admitted through emergency room had a significant positive impact on LOS. Conclusions : Healthcare utilization by the WCI fracture patients may include medically unnecessary hospital stays. Therefore, policy makers need to respond appropriately to the inefficient use of health resources by WCI patients.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2016

Analyses were performed with Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. The population was 1,391 Korean workers in total. Subjects who get scores of self-esteem lower than those before the accidents were 539 people(42.34%). On the other hand, subjects who get the same or higher scores of self-esteem than those before the accidents were 802 people(57.66%). The average score of the whole showed 30.09 point that is higher than 29.99 points that were analyzed from primary panel data. The odds ratio of self-esteem is analyzed to find that what is the most important factor for improving self-esteem of the workers group. The result of odds ratio analysis was 1.60 in the not-to-return-to-work group, significantly higher of the score of self-esteem than the return-to-work group. The statistically significant odds ratio of unemployed workers group from the group of workers who return to work prove the academically conventional social norms. This result shows that the workers condition, whether or not they can return to their work, affects the workers' self-esteem. Therefore, the workers' condition for returning to the work should be considered the most important service for Korean workers' compensation and welfare services.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.188-196
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• 2007

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate long-term care needs using RAI MDS-HC and MI-CHOICE among the disabled workers. Methods: Data were obtained from 45 personal care recipients with the disability of mental and nervous system, and analyzed using SAS 9.1 by applying t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, or fisher's exact test. Results: Only 'bed mobility' and 'indoor ambulation' items of ADL and problem activity were statistically significant factors by the level of personal care benefit. By MICHOICE grouping, 20.0 percent of subjects belonged to nursing home group, 51.5 percent were home care service, 28.9 percent were intermittent personal care. Conclusion: Personal care services in industrial accident compensation insurance have been categorized with two groups according to level of disability. But our results could contribute to provide personal care service according to the long term care needs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2024

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive airflow obstruction that is only partly reversible, inflammation in the airways, and systemic effects. This study aimed to investigate the association between low peripheral oxygen saturation levels (SpO₂), and composite indices predicting death in male patients with (COPD). Method: A total of 140 participants with post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC ratio less than 0.7 were included. Three composite indices (ADO, DOSE, BODEx) were calculated using six variables such as age (A), airflow obstruction (O), body mass index (B), dyspnea (D), exacerbation history (E or Ex), and smoking status (S). Severity of airflow limitation was classified according to Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. SpO₂ was measured by pulse oximetry, and anemia and iron deficiency were assessed based on blood hemoglobin levels and serum markers such as ferritin, transferrin saturation, or soluble transferrin receptor. Results: Participants with low SpO₂ (<95%) showed significantly lower levels of %FEV₁ predicted (p=0.020) and %FEV₁/FVC ratio (p=0.002) compared to those with normal SpO₂ levels. The mMRC dyspnea scale (p<0.001) and GOLD grade (p=0.002) showed a significant increase in the low SpO₂ group. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis revealed higher area under the curve for %FEV₁ (p=0.020), %FEV₁/FVC(p=0.002), mMRC dyspnea scale (p=0.001), GOLD grade (p=0.010), ADO (p=0.004), DOSE (p=0.002), and BODEx (p=0.011) in the low SpO₂ group. Conclusion: These results suggest that low SpO₂ levels are related to increased airflow limitation and the composite indices of COPD.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.67-76
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• 2024

Various types of assistive devices have been developed for upper limb amputees over the years, with myoelectric prosthesis particularly aimed at improving user convenience by enabling a range of hand gestures beyond simple grasping, tailored to the size and shape of objects. In this study, we developed a five-finger myoelectric prosthesis mimicking human hand size and finger movements, utilizing motor and worm gear mechanisms for stable and independent operation. Based on this, we designed a control system for independent finger control through electromyographic signal input, proposed a state transition-based hand gesture conversion algorithm by selecting representative eight hand gestures and defining conversion condition parameters. We introduced training and usability evaluation methods, and conducted usability assessments among upper limb amputees using dedicated tools, confirming the potential for commercial application of the algorithm and observing adaptive capabilities and high performance through iterative evaluations.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.63-89
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• 2013

The purpose of this paper is to explain the entropic measures could cause the organization to increase the entropy. The organization as an open system has a tendency to input new energy to adapt itself to the change in its surroundings. This intention of inputting energy into organization is based on the second law of thermodynamics, the laws of entropy.Entropy is a measure of disorder, or a measure of progressing towards thermodynamic equilibrium. The entropy of an isolated system increases. Organizations have to open to their environment, have to do something to reduce their entropy. But, this attempt to reduce entropy entails another entropy. This study shows the side effects by giving examples of illegal receipt of worker's compensation insurance. The implications through the cases of illegal receipt of workers' compensation are as follows. Firstly, organizational policy is that inaction in itself may be the best policy, unless we always think the action best. Secondly, public organization should be careful in substituting business management in the private sector such as customer satisfaction(CS) for the value in public sector. Thirdly, the setting the expiration date of organizational policy could be the way to slow down the degree of entropy.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.405-422
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• 2010

Occupational musculoskeletal disorders currently account for the largest proportion of the occupational illnesses in Korea. In this research, status of musculoskeletal disorders among the occupational illnesses was examined through workers' compensation claims data. Types and characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders were looked at other data set as well. The data sets included epidemiological investigation data reported by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, and data collected from occupational disease surveillance reports and Korean occupational health-related scientific journals. Number of cases, incidence rate and insurance benefits for occupational musculoskeletal disorders in Korea are increasing every year. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is shifted from large enterprises group to small-and-medium group, from manufacturing to service sector, and from production workers to office and professional workers. Although low back pain is still most common, its occurrence characteristics is gradually shifted from traumatic to cumulative while musculoskeletal disorders are somewhat seemingly moved from lumbar to upper limb body part. Musculoskeletal disorders were observed to be more diverse and prevalent in epidemiological investigations or surveillance data rather in workers' compensation claims data. Musculoskeletal disorders occurrence is related to demographic factors, occupational psychosocial factors, and ergonomic risk factors at workplace for which appropriate preventive measures needed to be made accordingly.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.294-297
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• 2012

Previous studies on the vast increase in suicide mortality in Southeast Asia have indicated that suicide rates increase in parallel with a rise in unemployment or during periods of economic recession. This paper examines the effects of economic recession on suicidal rates amongst agriculture, fisheries, and forestry workers in Korea. Monthly time-series gross domestic product (GDP) data were linked with suicidal rates gathered from the cause of death records between1993-2008. Data were analyzed using generalized additive models to analyze trends, while a polynomial lag model was used to assess the unconstrained time lag effects of changes in GDP on suicidal rate. We found that there were significant inverse correlations between changes in GDP and suicide for a time lag of one to four months after the occurrence of economic event. Furthermore, it was evident that the overall relative risks of suicide were high enough to bring about social concern.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.393-400
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of extrinsic and intrinsic compensation on organizational commitment. It is also analyzed whether the compensation selection may play a moderating role between the types of compensation and organizational commitment. A total of 295 questionnaires from 12 Chinese companies are used for data analysis. The empirical results show that the types of compensation have a positive effect on organizational commitment. It is found a moderating effect of compensation selection only between extrinsic compensation and organizational commitment. The results reveal that more focus on external compensation and adopting a flexible benefit plan are necessary to improve organizational commitment.

• Korean Architects
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• s.560
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• pp.74-81
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• 2015