• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.444-450
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• 2020

Background: In this study, we compared the incidents of humidifier disinfectants and incidents of mild hepatitis in Japan to highlight the differences in government response in the health care field in terms of "chain of responsibility". Methods: We examined whether the three mechanisms of action and the chain of responsibility hypothesis were applied to compare the cases of Korea and Japan. The incident of Japan occurred in 1987 in Misawa city, Aomori prefecture. In the 1990s, the safety of blood products increased dramatically. However, relief for infected victims was neglected. Green Cross did not notify the parties. In Korea, in the spring of 2011, a number of lung disease patients were accidentally admitted to a hospital in Seoul, and a female patient with respiratory failure symptoms expired. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted animal tests and the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an order for forced collection of humidifier disinfectants. Results: In the case of Japan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare had to take responsibility for follow-up measures such as the investigation of the cause, so it was tied to a "chain of responsibility". However, in the case of Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare was free from the chain. Conclusion: Through the comparison between the cases of Japan and Korea, we confirmed that whether or not a government organization chooses to conceal responsibility depends on its past behavior, which is whether it is free from the chain of responsibility or not. Therefore, it was reaffirmed that an organization (ministry or department) free from the chain of responsibility must exist within the government.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2016

Osteoporotic fractures (OFs) are critical hard outcomes of osteoporosis and are characterized by decreased bone strength induced by low bone density and microarchitectural deterioration in bone tissue. Most OFs cause acute pain, hospitalization, immobilization, and slow recovery in patients and are associated with increased mortality. A variety of genetic studies have suggested associations of genetic variants with the risk of OF. Genome-wide association studies have reported various single-nucleotide polymorphisms and copy number variations (CNVs) in European and Asian populations. To identify CNV regions associated with OF risk, we conducted a genome-wide CNV study in a Korean population. We performed logistic regression analyses in 1,537 Korean subjects (299 OF cases and 1,238 healthy controls) and identified a total of 8 CNV regions significantly associated with OF (p < 0.05). Then, one CNV region located on chromosome 20q13.12 was selected for experimental validation. The selected CNV region was experimentally validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The CNV region of chromosome 20q13.12 is positioned upstream of a family of long non-coding RNAs, LINC01260. Our findings could provide new information on the genetic factors associated with the risk of OF.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.163-180
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the community based home care service, and make reorientation for better service. The data was collected from the public health center, which was operated for one year, 1997. This case is evaluated and reoriented according to five elements of public health care system; system of resources for public health, organization and administration, health care delivery system of financing, management. In resources for public health, available health personnels are 15 physicians, 17 nurses, 11 nurse aides and 2 other persons. One professional health personnel take care of 609 clients, The equipments used for elderly and the disabled are 6 wheelchairs, 4 walkers, 1 hairwashers and 30 viberations. But these equipments are not enough to deal all clients. In organization and administration, planning and setting goals for community home care are made by the director, supervisor of family department and public health nurse. So there is no regular commitee for home care services in this community. The form of delivery of health care is focused on preventive health care. The important works of public health nurse are health education, preventive care for hypertension, D.M. and vaccination of communicable desease. In finaning system, funds come from central government(8.3%), local goverment(16.7%) and health center itself(3.8%), The services consist of health education, vaccination, clinical test and equipment. There are several local volunteers, which are local hospitals, a college, a christian association, a catholic association, a drivers association and a disabled association. The volunteer groups give physical and mental support to the clients. In management, this health center has three evaluation methods. One is done by local government, one is done by health center itself, and the other is done by clients with questionair. But the evaluation tools are deferent between agency. Home care services must be planned and evaluated. This public health center has to have more personnel, equipments, education for professional kowledge and meetings with community volunteer agencies.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.6
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• 2019

Over the last decade, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have provided an unprecedented amount of genetic variations that are associated with various phenotypes. However, previous GWAS were mostly conducted in European populations, and these biased results for non-Europeans may result in a significant reduction in risk prediction for non-Europeans. An issue with the early GWAS was the winner's curse problem, which led to misleading results when constructing the polygenic risk scores (PRS). Therefore, more non-European population-based studies are needed to validate reported variants and improve genetic risk assessment across diverse populations. In this study, we validated 422 variants independently associated with glycemic indexes, liver enzymes, and type 2 diabetes in 125,872 samples from a Korean population, and further validated the results by assessing publicly available summary statistics from European GWAS (n = 898,130). Among the 422 independently associated variants, 284, 320, and 361 variants were replicated in Koreans, Europeans, and either one of the two populations. In addition, the effect sizes for Koreans and Europeans were moderately correlated (r = 0.33-0.68). However, 61 variants were not replicated in both Koreans and Europeans. Our findings provide valuable information on effect sizes and statistical significance, which is essential to improve the assessment of disease risk using PRS analysis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.310-314
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• 2004

This is the re-arrangement of the 2004 Asia Nutrition & Dietary Supplement Conference organized by ABF(The Asia Business Forum) in Singapore, especially regulatory view of point of health functional foods for Korea, Japan, and China. Foods that may have health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients that they contain are often called 'Functional Foods'. The concept of functional foods has become popular in recent years, first in Japan and later in other countries, including the USA. In USA, The functional foods was controlled by ACSH (the American Council on Science and Health). In Korea, 'Functional Foods'. was defined on the 'The Law for the Health Functional Foods'(Law No. 6727 : effective as of $26^{th}$, Aug. 2002). KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) is the only authority body for approval, advertisement and claims for the Health Functional Foods in Korea. In Japan, the Japan Health Food and Nutrition Food Association controls the approval, regulate functional foods' advertisement and claims under the name of FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses). In China, the State Food and Drug Administration(SFDA) is the only authoritative organization for the application, supervision and administration of health related products. Asia, especially Korea, Japan and China, is one of the leader in the vitamins and dietary supplement(VDS) market. Regulatory issues on restrictions are the most important how to tap into the health functional foods market including Korea.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 2011

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disorder in the elderly population. To identify OA-associated genetic variants and candidate genes, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A total 3,793 samples (476 cases: wrist + knee and 3317 controls) from a community-based epidemiological study were genotyped using the Affymetrix SNP 5.0. An intronic SNP (rs4789934) in the TIMP2 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2) showed the most significance with OA (odd ratio [OR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52-2.81, p = $4.01{\times}10^{-6}$). Furthermore, a poly-morphism (rs1352677) in the NKAIN2 ($Na^+/K^+$ transporting ATPase interacting 2) was suggestively associated with OA (OR = 1.43, CI = 1.22-1.66, p = $7.01{\times}10^{-6}$). The present study provides new insights into the identification of genetic predisposing factors for OA.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.291-300
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• 2014

Background: The efficient knowledge management in hospital organization is generally known as the important activities relevant to employees' knowledge sharing behavior and work performance. This research examined factors affecting employees' knowledge sharing behavior and work performance in top 4 university hospitals. This study is based on individual factors such as incentives, reciprocity, behavioral control, and subjective norms. Also, there are organizational factors such as CEO support, learning climate, IT system, rewards system, and trust. Methods: Data was collected from employees who are working at 3 hospitals university in Seoul and 1 university hospital in Gyeonggi-Do through the self-administered questionnaires. A total of 779 questionnaires were analyzed by PASW SPSS ver. 18.0. (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The significant variables affecting knowledge sharing behavior are behavioral control (in individual factor) and CEO, IT system, and trust (in organization factor). Also the significant variables affecting work performance are incentives, reciprocity, subjective norms, and behavioral control (in individual factor) and CEO support, IT system, reward system, and trust (in organization factor). Conclusion: The personality and organization characteristics factors is important to improve knowledge sharing behavior and work performance of hospital employees. Therefore, to make more efficient knowledge management is to build and system knowledge sharing culture, system, and leadership and to develop practical strategies.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2023

Background: Personal socio-economic abilities are crucial as it affects health inequalities. These multidimensional inequalities across the regions have been structured and fixed. This study aimed to analyze health vulnerabilities by regional cluster and identify regional health disparities of self-rated health, using nationally representative cross-sectional data. Methods: This study used personal and regional data. Data from the Community Health Survey 2021 were analyzed. K-means cluster analysis was applied to 250 si-gun-gu using administrative regional data. The clusters were based on three areas: physical environment, health-related behaviors and biological factors, and the psychosocial environment through the conceptual framework for action on the social determinants of health. And binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the differences in self-rated health status by the regional clusters, controlling human biology, environment, lifestyle, and healthcare organization factors. Results: The most vulnerable group was group 3, the moderate vulnerable group was group 1, and the least vulnerable group was group 2. The group 2 was more likely to have high self-rated health status than the moderate vulnerable group (odds ratio [OR], 1.023; p<0.001). And the group 3 showed low self-rated health status than the moderate vulnerable group (OR, 0.775; p<0.001). However, the moderate vulnerable group had significantly higher self-rated health status than the most vulnerable group (group 2: OR, 1.023; p<0.001; group 3: OR, 0.775; p<0.001). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that community members' health status is influenced by regional determinants of health and individual levels. And these contribute to understanding the importance of specific and differentiated interventions like locally tailored support programs considering both individual and regional health determinants.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 2004

Purpose: The purposes of this study are; to classify executive organizations engaged in MCH programs at 23 advanced public health centers according to each characteristic; evaluate the effectiveness of organizations engaged in MCH programs. Method: This study analyzes me data on the present conditions and evaluates the organizational effectiveness of MCH workers at 23 advanced public health centers. The organizational effectiveness of MCH organization is assessed by both MCH workers and clients who have received MCH services at the three health centers selected from me 23 advanced public health centers. Finally, this study seeks to obtain consensus among experts in the field of MCH. Results: The results are as follows. The executive organizational systems for MCH services are classified into three types: Type I (provides MCH and HP services by MCH org.); Type II(provides MCH and HP Services by HP org); and Type III(provides MCH Services by MCH org. and HP services by HP org.) at leading MCH Health Centers. The evaluation of the organizational effectiveness of MCH org. shows that Type II is the most effective in terms of teamwork, autonomy, service quality, and resource utilization. According to clients' evaluation of organizational system in the field of MCH, Type II is also me most effective. Conclusion: This study suggests that the executive organization for the MCH and HP services for maternity and children should be established in accordance with lifetime health programs in order to efficiently utilize the limited MCH and HP resources at public health centers.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.117-129
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to introduce of the Urbani School Health Kit (USHK) and to investigate the adaptability to Korean situation. Methods: The authors analyzed the contents of USHK developed by the health promotion team at the Western Pacific Regional Office of World Health Organization (WHO WPRO) in collaboration with health promotion experts at University of the Philippine Open University, and by observing health classes using the USHK in Angono elementary school in Manila, Philippines. Results: The following are the characteristics of USHK: 1) The USHK was composed of a teacher's guide and six books targeted to two groups of children: ages 5~6 years and 10~12, and an integrated package containing materials that can be used to support health education and health promotion activities in elementary schools. 2) The USHK could be integrated in the curriculum to reduce the burden of teacher's class preparation time and help teachers conveying clear and accurate health messages in their classes. 3) Several evaluation tools such as pre-test post-test quizzes, self-evaluation tools, observer checklists, and evaluation interview protocols were developed to monitor and evaluate whether USHK was useful, helpful, and appropriate. Conclusions: We found that USHK was a practical tool for supporting health promotion in elementary schools and could be applicable to health promoting schools in Korea if it were modified to address Korean school health problems.