• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 1999

Minnesota state law requires County Extension Committees (CECs). The County Board of Commissioners appoints committee members. Extension Educators are responsible for using CECs to assure the value of Extension work in the County. This paper will explore underlying values, principles and practices that can effect the utilization of CECs in ways that benefit the work of Extension and make the process a good experience for CEC members and Extension Educator. The paper is based primarily on readings in the Journal of Extension, interviews with two Extension Educator, and information provided by the University of Minnesota Extension Service for CEC members.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1125-1147
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• 2014

This study was conducted to develop the health evaluation indicator of pond wetland in order to enhance the quality of eco-experience in rural area. The methods for development of evaluation indicator were consisted of 3 stages; 1st, the precedent assessment protocol was applied to 10 pond wetlands in farm villages, and eco-experience expert survey was conducted to selection the evaluation item and criteria at 2nd and 3rd stages. In the results of applying the precedent assessment protocol, we found out two problems; 1) the evaluation result of value determination and conservation value were too simple, and 2) the score by evaluation items were nearly the same, because evaluation criteria in not precisely for application in rural area. These results were reflected to expert survey. According to the 1st survey results, they suggested that 4 items should be maintained, and 3 items should be deleted, and 2 items should be modified among a total of 9 times. Therefore, it was modified into the evaluation protocol having a total of 8 items. According to the 2nd survey results, the selected evaluation items were generally proper. With regard to items for assessing the health condition of pond wetland, we selected a total of 8 items; (1) Connectivity to forest, (2) Connectivity between water body and wetland connection, (3) Number of Vegetation, (4) Surround land use, (5) Interspersion of Vegetation, (6) Crossing Structure, (7) Wetland size, and (8) Outlet structure. In addition, it was suggested that accessibility, visibility, and trash were need for utilization of pond wetland as a place for eco-experience. It is expected that the selected evaluation indicator can help to utilize the pond wetland as an eco-experience space in rural area, and maintain the pond wetland as a space for conservation of biodiversity.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.107-126
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• 2002

Health sub-centers(HSCs) have played an important role in primary health care in rural area in Korea. The unification of neighboring HSCs was a strategy to improve the role of HSCs. This study was conducted to reveal the efficacy of the unified HSC established in Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si in1997. The utilization patterns of HSC and its related factors, and satisfaction of consumer on HSC were compared before and after unification of two HSCs in Gampo-eup, Yangnam-myeon using questionnaire survey, and also the statistics of medical care services and public health services were compared. Four hundred forty nine subjects were questioned in survey, 156 from Gampo-eup, 147 from Yangbuk-myeon, and 146 from Yangnam-myeon. Following unification, the utilization rates and the frequency of visits in Gampo-eup declined. In all three areas, chronic illness was the common factor influencing the utilization and change in frequency of visits to the unified HSC. Following unification, aspects of consumer satisfaction, for example; accessibility and affordability decreased in Gampo-eup, but increased in both Yangbuk-myeon and Yangnam-myeon. The statistics relating to medical care, X-ray examination, home visiting service, vaccination, and health education showed an increase for the unified HSC when compared to the sum of the statistics for the previous two. The execution rates for other public health services were the same, or a little decreased. Clinical laboratory examinations and the issuing of civil affair documents were new services offered by the unified HSC. It is concluded, the overall consumer satisfaction with the unified HSC was improved. In Gampo-eup, where after unification there was no HSC, it seemed to be a barrier to accessing the unified HSC. The effect of the unified HSC, in the respect of medical care and public health services, was not as significant as expected at the time of being established. Therefore, the strategies to reenforce the unified HSC should be developed to provide all residents with comprehensive primary health care services.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2002

This study aims to clarify the socio-economic factors which have an effectiveness on the social support in rural areas and analyze how it relates to the Individual Health promotion behavior. It is advised to improve social support in the community. The target population was all residents with no chronic and no serious disease who live in five villages of Chuncheon in Kangwon province during July of 2002. This study was done by the interview survey using questionnaire which was composed with questions about Medical Outcomes Study-Social Support Survey(MOS-SSS) and the health promotion behavior. MOS-SSS was translated to Korean and modified to be suitable for the study. The functional and social support variables were also added. The health promotion behavior was formed through the questions about whether or not stop smoking, stop drinking, the excise, the health examinations, attending health education, and hormone replacement therapies. The results are as follows; 1) the case of low-educated, divorce or separation to death, or the subject of social assistance, the social support was low. 2) the case of high social class, the social support was high. 3) there were no significant findings in the health status. 4) according to the analysis of correlation of health promotion behavior, the group with the most social support showed a high percentage of getting health examinations, attending health education, Hormone replacement therapies. However, the adjusted rate of smoking and drinking of trying to stop smoking and stop drinking resulted in low figures. The well-structured social support which the community can provide should be firstly given a priority for the group with low-income, low-educated, divorce or separation to death, and social assistance who are provided poor social support. Moreover, the social support service should be actively reflected to the health promotion program in the community.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.17-26
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• 2002

Reducing the level of stress and insomnia by aromatherapy is proposed as a method of self-care and health promotion in the future. Of the people who received aromatherapy from July, 1999 to February, 2000 at the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Center at the Gyeongu City Health Center, 48 people agreed to participate in a questionnaire survey, presented before and after their aromatherapy, and the data were analyzed. When the people received aromatherapy at the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Center, they inhaled the aroma from a vaporizer and when at home, they inhaled from a tissue, gauze or washbowl. Two sessions per week (2 hrs./session) were provided at the Center in the total 1-month duration of the therapy. The oil made from a blend of clarysage, geranium, rose at a ratio of 3:2:1 was used for relieving stress, and the oil made from a blend of clarysage, lavender, and lemon at 2:2:1 ratio was used for relieving insomnia. The scores of stress of 92.5 17.5 points before aromatherapy significantly reduced to $87.4{\pm}4.2$ points after therapy(p<0.01), and the scores of insomnia of $2.5{\pm}1.2$ points before aromatherapy significantly reduced to $1.0{\pm}1.1$ points after therapy(p<0.01). The reduction in stress and insomnia from aromatherapy was more significant in those who were experiencing high levels of stress and insomnia. Therefore, stress and its related insomnia can be effectively relieved with proper application of aromatherapy. With benefits such as little side-effects, convenient and simple education, low cost, and the do-it-yourself feature. aromatherapy can be expanded into a self-management program for promoting health of the community people.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.301-314
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• 1999

To evaluate the ischemic heart disease risk factors and analysis on the its relationship between risk factors and ischemic heart disease on EKG findings in a rural area, We conducted cross-sectional health screening test for 1304 persons aged over 30 years. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, BMI and Waist/hip ratio, smoking data and EKG data were collected. Hypertension was classified by the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and the cutpoints of hyperlipidemia was used National Cholesterol Education Program. The cutpoint of hyperglycemia was used National Diabetes Data Group and those for obese was 30%. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Prevalence of definitive hypertension was 41.2% in males and 41.6% in females. The prevalence of hypertension showed Increasing tendency according to age increase(p<0.05). 2. Prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 20.6% in males and 20.4% in female. In females prevalence of hyperlipidemia showed increasing tendency according to age increase(p<0.001). 3. Prevalence of obese was 23.4% in males and 28.8% in females. Upper body type was predominant in females, but lower body type was predominant in males. 4. Prevalence of hyperglycemia was 11.0% in males and 12.1% in females. The prevalence of hyperglycemia showed increasing tendency according to age increase(p<0.01). 5. The smoking rate was 63.7% in males and 2.6% in females. 6. On the EKG findings, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was 6.7% in males and 7.5% in females. 7. The prevalence of Ischemic heart disease was higher in hypertension than normal in females and higher in obese than normal in males. In males and females the prevalence of ischemic heart disease was higher in hyperglycemia than normal and higher in upper body type than lower body type. But there is no statistical association among them.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.87-100
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to suggest the way to improve the tobacco control program of public health centers in Korea. Methods: A survey with a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among 246 persons in charge of tobacco control work in public health centers nationwide in December, 2006. Frequency analysis was performed with a final sample of 212 respondents with SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Results: The duration of engagement in tobacco control work was less than 3 years among 86.7% of respondents, and 87.3% of respondents had other duties besides tobacco control. Almost all public health centers conducted a campaign with posters or leaflets, and smoking prevention education among adolescents. The actual priority for programs was based on the community diagnosis in only 33.5% of the cases. Only 1.9% of respondents complained lack of budget, on the other hand, 44.7% of respondents appealed insufficient number of personnel. The route of knowledge and skill was largely dependent on self-learning or information from colleague. Collaboration with other related department was done well in 39.5% of the cases. The majority of respondents was satisfied with the general support from central government. Conclusions: To improve the tobacco control program of public health centers, it is needed the reinforcement of capacity and specialty among personnel, priority setting and performance of programs based on the scientific evidence, induction of community participation, utilization of community human resources, development of education and training course for practical skill, effective networking among departments.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2009

Objectives: In September 2008, an outbreak of diarrhea occurred among students attending Y school in Yeongcheon-si. Shigella sonnei was cultured from some of the rectal swabs. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to determine the source of the infection and the mode of transmission of the shigellosis outbreak. Methods: The index case lived in the D rehabilitation facility in Gyeongsan-si and an additional epidemiological investigation was carried out there. The cases could not be questioned due to their mental handicaps. The teachers were interviewed instead. A patient case was defined as a resident with diarrhea more than one time a day from September 18 to September 26, 2008 or a resident with confirmed Shigella sonnei at the Y school or the D rehabilitation facility. Results: The attack rate was 1.2% (8 persons) among 659 persons in the Y school and D rehabilitation facility. Five persons were microbiologically confirmed to have the infection and three persons were diagnosed on the basis of symptoms. Shigella sonnei was cultured from five of the 659 rectal swabs. However, 80 environmental specimens including drinking water, preserved foods, and cooking utensils were negative. All eight patients were Y school students and had been living in group boarding and lodging. Six of them lived in the D rehabilitation facility and two lived in the dormitory at the Y school. Five cases showed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns that were identical for Shigella sonnei. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the infection source of the shigellosis outbreak, in the two places, were identical. It is likely that the infections initially spread from a teacher or volunteer and then among the students.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.76-86
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the frequency of urinary incontinence among the rural elderly people and its related factors. Methods: Informations have been obtained through interviews from the 464 rural residents of advanced age over 65 years on September 1st through November 30th, 2007, in Chungnam Province. Results: As for the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence, the group with the experience rate of 「every day」 were 9.5% and 「occasionally」 35.5%, with the total of 45.0%. The higher rates of urinary incontinence were in the elderly women(58.5%) than in the elderly men (29.8%), in the more advanced in age, in the higher educated, and in the groups with higher monthly income. Based on life styles, the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence was significantly higher in smoking groups and non-drinking groups. Based on subjective senses of health, it was more highly associated with the groups who reported that they were not healthy, that they concerned themselves about health, that they had physical disability, that they had forgetfulness, and they needed assistance in terms of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living(IADL) than their respective counterparts. By the result of multiple logistic regression, sex, age, smoking status, anxiety, physical disability, amnesia, and IADL was indicated the affecting factors to the prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusions: The above results reveal that the rate of urinary incontinence was higher in the elderly women than the elderly men, and in more advanced age. Moreover, its rate increases in the groups with undesirable life styles or lower senses of subjective and physical health conditions. It is highly suggested that efforts to manage urinary incontinence of the elderly need to be narrowed to the more advanced, especially those with lower standards of health conditions.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.243-256
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was to investigate fear of falling and related factors in elderly living alone based on fall experience. Methods: Participants were 404 elderly women(faller=148, non-faller=256) over 65 years who were homebound living alone in Jeollanam-do Province. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using questionnaires from April $23^{th}$ to June $9^{th}$ 2013. The questionnaires consisted of demographic variables, fall experience, Fear of falling questionnaire(FOFQ), Falls Efficacy Scale(FES) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression(CES-D). The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS version 14.0. Results: The fear of falling and the influential factors were different according to fall experience. Regression model for fear of falling in fallers significantly accounted for 46.1%(F=6.71, p<0.001); difficulty of performing activity, depression, fall-efficacy, static balance and assistive devices. Regression model for fear of falling in non-fallers significantly accounted for 55.2%(F=15.16, p<0.001); fall-efficacy, environmental hazards, difficulty of performing activity, risk of nutrition, housing type, dizziness and assistive devices. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that fall is an important health problem for elderly women living alone, and show fall experience for factors influencing fear of falling. These results could be used in the developing fall prevention programs.