• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-100
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• 2013

Health damages such as pneumoconiosis and kidney damage, caused by environmental hazardous factors are being reported in health impact assessment conducted on environmentally vulnerable areas, including cement factories and refineries. Current legal system for relieving the environmental victims is not effective enough because the environmental health act does not specify the environmental hazardous factors to be considered for the relief. The aim of this study is to examine the problems of the existing system by making empirical analysis on health damages and afflicted people as well as on cases when afflicted people were able to be covered by remedy system. The results show that, insufficiencies of the relief system are due to the following reasons: First, current Environmental Health Act does not act well as a remedy system. Second, due to its unique nature of environmental health damage, it is hard to identify and prove the cause of health damage and unlawful actions of violators in the process of environmental dispute conciliation and lawsuits against polluters. This paper suggests following solutions on above mentioned problems. First, in defining the range and definition of environmental diseases, negative system should be used alongside with the current positive system. Second, we suggest adding the nature of public law to relief system, in order to ease the legal burden of proof. Third, in case when it is hard to identify the polluters and one cannot expect reliefs for their damage, it is possible to elevate the effectiveness of the relief measure by expanding scope of the search for possible environmental hazardous factors that caused the health damage. It is urgent to improve the relief system so as to secure the environmental rights of Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.500-509
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• 2021

This study investigated the characteristics of a macrobenthos community and sediment environment and assessed the health of tidal flats along the west coast of Korea. A survey was conducted from Ganghwa-do to Mokpo, Jeollanam-do in April (spring) and August (summer) 2017, and April (spring) 2018. The sediment grain sizes in the Chungcheongnam-do region were coarser, and the sediment in the Gyeonggi-do·Incheon, Jeollanam-do, and Jeollabuk-do regions were finer. A total of 140 macrobenthic species were collected from this study and using a cluster similarity analysis of the macrobenthos community, they were divided into four groups. Group2 was associated with Manila clam farm stations, and Ruditapes phillipinarum, Nephtys polybranchia and Lumbrineris nipponica were dominant. Group4 included some sites with finer sediment composed relatively, and Eteone longa and Nemertea unid. appeared at a high frequency. From the health assessment of the western tidal flat, the ISEP and BHI indices had a "High status," and the AMBI index had a "Good status." In conclusion, the tidal flats along the west coast of Korea have good ecological health. However, pollution indicator species such as Theora lata and Capitella capitata have appeared in some areas. Therefore, periodic administration and interventions are necessary to prevent deterioration of the tidal flat environment.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.523-534
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• 2010

Objectives: We assessed impact of performance reporting information about the readmission rate, length of stay and cost of hip hemiarthroplasty. Methods: The data are from a nationwide claims database, National Quality Improvement Project database, of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service in Korea. From January 2006 to April 2008, we received information of length of stay, readmission within 30 days, cost of 22 851 hip hemiarthroplasty episodes. Each episodes has retained the diagnoses of comorbidities and demographics. We used time-series analysis to assess the shifting of patients selections, between high volume (over 16 operations in a year) and low volume institutions, after performance reporting (December 2007). The changes of quality (readmission, length of stay) and cost were evaluated by multilevel analysis with adjustment of patient's factors and institutional factors after performance reporting. Results: As compared with the before performance reporting, the proportion of patients who choose the high volume institution, increased 3.45% and the trends continued 4 months at marginal significance (p = 0.059). After performance reporting, national average readmission rate, length of stay were decreased by 0.49 OR (95% CI=0.25 - 0.95) and 10% (${\beta}$=-0.102, p<0.01) and cost was not changed (${\beta}$=-0.01, p=0.27). The high volume institutions were more decreased than low volume in length of stay. Conclusions: After performance reporting, readmission rate, length of stay were decreased and the patient selections were marginally shifted from low volume institutions to high volume institutions.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.141-152
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• 2023

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of epidemiological results for the association between occupational exposure as a firefighter and cancer as part of the broader evidence synthesis work of the IARC Monographs program. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify cohort studies of firefighters followed for cancer incidence and mortality. Studies were evaluated for the influence of key biases on results. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate the association between ever-employment and duration of employment as a firefighter and risk of 12 selected cancers. The impact of bias was explored in sensitivity analyses. Results: Among the 16 included cancer incidence studies, the estimated meta-rate ratio, 95% confidence interval (CI), and heterogeneity statistic (I²) for ever-employment as a career firefighter compared mostly to general populations were 1.58 (1.14-2.20, 8%) for mesothelioma, 1.16 (1.08-1.26, 0%) for bladder cancer, 1.21 (1.12-1.32, 81%) for prostate cancer, 1.37 (1.03-1.82, 56%) for testicular cancer, 1.19 (1.07-1.32, 37%) for colon cancer, 1.36 (1.15-1.62, 83%) for melanoma, 1.12 (1.01-1.25, 0%) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 1.28 (1.02-1.61, 40%) for thyroid cancer, and 1.09 (0.92-1.29, 55%) for kidney cancer. Ever-employment as a firefighter was not positively associated with lung, nervous system, or stomach cancer. Results for mesothelioma and bladder cancer exhibited low heterogeneity and were largely robust across sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: There is epidemiological evidence to support a causal relationship between occupational exposure as a firefighter and certain cancers. Challenges persist in the body of evidence related to the quality of exposure assessment, confounding, and medical surveillance bias.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.449-459
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of oral health care in dementia patients living in long-term care facilities and to investigate the effects of this on swallowing function and swallowing-quality of life. The subjects were 60 demented patients who were admitted to long-term care facilities in Gwangju and Jeonnam provinces. Their Oral Health Assessment Tool(OHAT), Clinical Dysphagia Scale(CDS), and Oral Health Impact Profile 14(OHIP-14) were measured. The results of this study were as follows: First, the effect of oral health care on dentition patients using long-term care facilities on swallowing function and swallowing-quality of life was significantly different according to oral care score (p<.05)(p<.01). Second, the relationship between oral health care and swallowing function of dementia patients and swallowing-quality of life. was examined. As a result, oral health care of dementia patients was affected by swallowing function (r=.405, p<.01) the swallowing-quality of life (r=.462, p<.01) and swallowing function were significantly correlated with swallowing-quality of life (r=.351, p<.01). Therefore, the oral health care of users of long-term care facilities was closely related to swallowing function and swallowing-quality of life.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.163-177
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• 2024

Background: This study aims to examine changes in fraudulent claim counts and total reimbursements before and after enhancements in counterfeit claim controls and monitoring of provider claim patterns under the "Proactive self-audit pilot program of fraudulent claims." Methods: This study used the claims data and hospital information (July 2021-February 2022) of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The data was collected from 1,129 hospitals assigned to the pilot program, selected from the providers who filed a claim for reimbursement for intravenous injections. Paired and independent t-tests, along with regression analysis, were utilized to analyze changing patterns and factors influencing claim behaviors. Results: This program led to a reduction in the number of fraudulent claims and the total amount of reimbursements across all levels of hospitals in the experimental groups (except for physicians below 40 years old). In the control group, general hospitals and hospitals demonstrated some significant decreases based on the duration since opening, while clinics showed significant reductions in specified subjects. Additionally, a notable increase was observed among male physicians over the age of 50 years. Overall, claims and reimbursements significantly declined after the intervention. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between hospital opening duration and claim numbers, suggesting longer-established hospitals were more likely to file claims. Conclusion: The results indicate that the pilot program successfully encouraged providers to autonomously minimize fraudulent claims. Therefore, it is advised to extend further support, including promotional activities, training, seminars, and continuous monitoring, to nonparticipating hospitals to facilitate independent improvements in their claim practices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.105-119
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• 2011

In order to develop the indicators which evaluate the management effectiveness for the protected forest areas in Korea, candidate indicators were listed based on literature and experts interviews, then questionnaire survey on the experts were conducted. 5 elements of context, planning, input, process, output and outcome and 32 indicators were selected. Context element includes 6 indicators of 1) documentation and assessment of values; 2) documentation and assessment of threats, 3) influence of government policy, 4) related regulations, 5) community cooperation and 6) the structure of management organization. 6 indicators of Planning element were 1) the management objective, 2) protected area design, 3) protected area size and number, 4) representation, 5) standards and categories and 6) management planning. Input element of 3 indicators were 1) management staff, 2) funding, 3) establishment and application of information. Process element were consisted of 1) governance, 2) management guidelines, 3) human resource management, 4) law enforcement, 5) eco-management, 6) disaster management, 7) education program and 8) research and monitoring. The element of outputs and outcomes were 1) accomplishment of plan, 2) accomplishment of program, 3) private land management, 4) threats change, 5) biodiversity change, 6) ecosystem health and vitality, 7) impact on community, 8) international management level and 9) visitors' satisfaction and variation in civil compliant. It is recommended to have further research on evaluation methods development by applying those above developed indicators for the protected forest areas to ensure the practicality of the indicators.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.780-787
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine activities of daily living (ADL) of older adults admitted to Korean long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), and to explore the patient and organizational factors that have an impact on the ADL of this population. Methods: A secondary analysis of the Korean minimum data set (K-MDS) of patients (N=14,369) and of the profiles of LTCHs (N=358) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service was done between January and July 2008. The outcome variable was ADL score 6 months after baseline assessment. Multi-level linear regression was employed to explore the patient and organizational factors that affected ADL scores. Results: Of the patients, 45.4% had a baseline ADL score of between 31 and 40, with a score of 40 indicating that the patient was entirely dependent for all items. None of the organizational characteristics were significantly associated with effects on the ADLs of older adults who had been in a LTHC for at least 6 months. However, patient characteristics, such as age, baseline ADL, frequency of physical therapy, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pressure ulcers, and having a tube or catheter, were significantly associated with ADL 6 months after baseline. Conclusion: In order to maintain and improve the ADL of older adults in LTCHs, we should develop strategies to prevent urinary and fecal incontinence, pressure ulcers, unnecessary tubes or catheters, providing adequate physical therapy. Additional studies should include more detailed information regarding nursing staff, including RN hours for direct care, education level and turnover.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2003

The assessment of environmental impact on NO$_2$ (or TSP) emitted by vehicles is important for local residents from the point of view of their health and environmental protection. In the course of field investigations, correct concentrations are measured and meteorological data are observed for numerical simulation. To determine background concentration for numerical simulation, annual average concentrations of NO$_2$ (or TSP) are estimated using the Puff-Plume model. If the estimated result affects the environment, it must be considered in the environmental conservation activity. To make the process of a estimation of environmental assessment more easily, this system is developed. Moreover, this system was supplied a Graphic User Interface (GH) for the user who calculated the concentration of air pollution exhausted from the traffic on general roads except special roads such as interchanges and entrances to tunnels. This system can offer not only the numerical result but also a graphic display. Even a beginner who is not a professional programmer can calculate the result easily.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.121-131
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• 2018

Climate change has caused changes in environmental factors that have a direct impact on agriculture such as temperature and precipitation. The meteorological disaster that has the greatest impact on agriculture is drought, and its forecasts are closely related to agricultural production and water supply. In the case of terrestrial data, the accuracy of the spatial map obtained by interpolating the each point data is lowered because it is based on the point observation. Therefore, acquisition of various meteorological data through satellite imagery can complement this terrestrial based drought monitoring. In this study, Evaporative Stress Index (ESI) was used as satellite data for drought determination. The ESI was developed by NASA and USDA, and is calculated through thermal observations of GOES satellites, MODIS, Landsat 5, 7 and 8. We will identify the difference between ESI and other satellite-based drought assessment indices (Vegetation Health Index, VHI, Leaf Area Index, LAI, Enhanced Vegetation Index, EVI), and use it to analyze the drought in South Korea, and examines the applicability of ESI as a new indicator of agricultural drought monitoring.