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Health Status and Use of Health Care Services of the Elderly Utilizing Senior citizen Centers (경로당 노인의 건강상태와 건강관리서비스 이용 관련요인 분석)

  • Shin, Sun-Hye;Kim, Jin-Soon
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.99-113
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    • 2002
  • For this study a sample of 205 people, 66 males and 139 females, over 65 years of age, residing in C-gu of S-si and utilizing senior centers, were selected, The objective of the study was to provide basic data for health promotion program development provided by health centers. A questionnaire was used to collect date on general characteristics, health status, social health status and utilization rate for health services. The instruments used in this study were the Lawton scale, to measure daily routine function, the MMSE-K developed by Folstein and modified to fit the Korea situation, for mental health status, and the CES-Dtool developed by Radloff, for emotional health status. the SPSS Window program was used to calculate percentages. Tests of significance were done using t-test and ANOVA. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify variables influencing the use of health services. The results are as follows : Of those utilizing senior citizen centers, 40.9% of males and 17.3% of the female thought they were healthy. The average score for IADL was 7.4. The daily routine of female respondents consisted of buying household articles and drugs, and other IADLs such as riding the bus or subway alone. These resulted in a higher score compared to males. For emotional health, 7.6% of the males reported depression compared to 21.6% of the females. For mental health, 48.5% of the males and 28.8% of the females were found to be in the group suspicious for dementia. On social health, 57.6% of the males and 62.6% of the females reported no intimate human relations. Of those older people who had close human relations, 52.5% of the males indicated a friend as the closest person and 53.8% of the females, their children. On use of health services, there was a significantly higher need for mobile medical care services treatment for those with lower education levels and status of window/widower. There was a significantly higher need for health exmination services for those with lower levels of exercise, greater satisfaction with sleep, higher levels of oral health care, and higher social contacts. In conclusion, there is a need to provide varied programs for the promotion of health, along with parallel resolution of social, psychological and economic issues. It is recommended that health services for elderly people provided by the health centers be implemented with full recognition of these characteristics and differences.

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A Study on status of school health and analysis of factors affecting school nursing activities in the secondary school in Seoul (서울지역 국민학교(國民學校) 양호교사의 학교간호업무(學校看護業務) 수행정도(遂行程度)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究))

  • Kim, Eun Hee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.50-65
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    • 1988
  • This study was conducted in order to grasp the condition of about the school nurse's service and to offer the basic materials of improving the school health service. The objects were comprised of 98 volunteered school nurses who take service in the elementary school. The material of this study was the questionaire suited to the purpose of this research which has been made through studying references and this questionaire has been corrected and revised three times. All the questionaire written by school-nurses. The results are as follows; 1. General features of the objects of study Average age was 35.9 and average career was 9.2 years. Except working as school-nurse, the past career was that average clinical-field was 3.4 years and health service was 4 months. Their educational level was as high as 72.4% of the objects were graduated from above 3 years college and 89.8% were married. 76.5% have religions and 94.8% were working at with national and public schools. 99.0% were doing only nursing service. 2. The conditions of the school health resources. The ratio of school-nurse to students was one to 2630. School-nurse to classes, one to 49.3, and school-nurse to teachers, one to 54. For total amount of a year budget of school health, from three hundred thousands to fifty nine hundred thousands won was most common. Expenses for purchasing medicine were used most. 58.2% of school-nurses hasn't known a year budget. There was an organization for school health in 74.2% of schools. 42.9% of nursing rooms were in the center of school and 88.8% were on first floor. Nursing room were used alone without being used by another purpose and the room size of 71.6% was below 10 pyong. 3. The conditions of school health service Average users of nursing room were 413 a month. The most of them had digestive trouble. Sending letters to home was 15.9 times a year. The most contents of letters was about health education. Object spent much time managing nursing room. 4. The degree of school health service When 2 points was given to "perform" and 1 point was to "not perform" the total average was 1.75, health education 1.89, environmental management 1.86, plan of project and evaluation 1.83, management of nursing room 1.82, health management 1.78, run of school health organization 1.32. 5. Correlation between the school health services and variables (1) The part of project plan and evaluation of school health service has relationship to existence or none-existence of school health organization (P<0.01), past health service career (P<0.05), number of classes (P<0.01), number of students (P<0.01), sending letters to home about health education (P<0.01) and number of users (P<0.05). (2) The part of nursing room management has relationship to ages (P<0.05) past clinical career (P<0.05), number of classes (P<0.05), number of students (P<0.05) and sending letters to home about health education (P<0.01). (3) The part of health education has relationship to existence or none-existence of school health organization (P<0.05), past clinical career (P<0.05), the ratio of health management to school nurse's all work (P<0.05) and the ratio of health education to school nurse's all work (P<0.01). (4) The part of environmental management to ages (P<0.01), career as a school-nurse (P<0.01), salary step(P<0.01), sending letters to home about health education (P<0.01), sending all letters to home (P<0.001), the ratio of health management to school nurse's all work (P<0.05), the ratio of health education to school nurse's all work (P<0.05) and area of school-nurse's room to be used. (5) The part of school health organization management to number of classes (P<0.05). (6) The part of health management to number of classes (P<0.05), sending letters to home about health education (P<0.001), sending all of letters to home (P<0.01) and the ratio of health management to school nurse's all work (P<0.05). (7) The part of school health service to ages (P<0.05), past clinical career (P<0.05), past health career (P<0.01), number of classes (P<0.05), number of student (P<0.05), sending letters to home about health education (P<0.05), sending all letters to home (P<0.05), the ratio of health management to school nurse's all work (P<0.05), the ratio of health education to school nurse's all work (P<0.01) and area of school - nurse's room to be used (P<0.05). ## Suggestion for further studies are as follows. 1. School-nurse should exert herself to advance a quality to take care of school population's health. 2. It is necessary that systematic support required to keep school population's health. 3. Home, school and community should make efforts cooperatively and the proper roles of students, teachers, health team members and parents must be achieved.

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The Factors for Food Service Satisfaction of the Elderly Welfare Center Free Lunch Program Participants in Busan (부산 일부지역 복지관 무료급식 이용노인들의 급식만족도에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Lee, Jeong-Sook
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.40 no.1
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    • pp.128-136
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    • 2011
  • This study was carried out to investigate the factors of food service satisfaction of the elderly in Busan. The survey was conducted from September 1 to October 15, 2009 by questionnaires and data analyzed by SPSS program. Fifty point nine percent of the subjects lived alone and the source of living expenses of 70.5% of the subjects was subsidy from government. The most important reason for the elderly to participate in meal service was 'economic difficulty' and 'to meet friend'. The subjects had various chronic degenerative diseases, such as arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiac disease. Sixty-six point eight percent of the subjects needed diet therapy for their diseases, but 87.1% of them don't want to pay the extra fee. Thirty six point five percent of the subjects attained information about lunch program because it was 'close to home' but 20.7% was 'from public officials'. The reasons for the use of the meal service were 'economic difficulty' (40.0%), 'to meet friends' (22.6%), and 'bother to prepare meal' (16.50%). The services provided by welfare center were health care, physical exam and haircut. The score given by the subjects on the satisfaction of meal service was 3.84 on the 5-point maximum scale. Higher satisfaction on kindness of staff, satisfaction of social support and awareness of support resulted in higher satisfaction of food service. It would be effective to provide food service models that meet specific needs of the elderly according to social welfare service and social community activities.

The Location of Medical Facilities and Its Inhabitants' Efficient Utilization in Kwangju City (광주시(光州市) 의료시설(醫療施設)의 입지(立地)와 주민(住民)의 효율적(效率的) 이용(利用))

  • Jeon, Kyung-Sook
    • Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.163-193
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    • 1997
  • Medical services are a fundamental and essential service in all urban areas. The location and accessibility of medical service facilities and institutions are critical to the diagnosis, control and prevention of illness and disease. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study on the location of medical facilities in Kwangju and the utilization of these facilities by the inhabitants. The following information is a summary of the findings: (1) Korea, like many countries, is now witnessing an increase in the age of its population as a result of higher living standards and better medical services. Korea is also experiencing a rapid increase in health care costs. To ensure easy access to medical consultation, diagnosis and treatment by individuals, the hierarchical efficient location of medical facilities, low medical costs, equalized medical services, preventive medical care is important. (2) In Korea, the quality of medical services has improved significantly as evident by the increased number of medical facilities and medical personnel. However, there is still a need for not only quantitative improvements but also for a more equitable distribution of and location of medical services. (3) There are 503 medical facilities in Kwangju each with a need to service 2,556 people. This is below the national average of 1,498 inhabitants per facility. The higher locational quotient and satisfactory population per medical facility showed at the civic center. On the other hand, problem regions such as the traditional residential area in Buk-Gu, Moo-deung mountain area and the outer areas of west Kwangju still maintain rural characteristics. (4) In the study area there are 86 general medicine clinics which provide basic medical services. i. e. one clinic per every 14,949 residents. As a basic service, its higher locational quotient showed in the residential area. The lower population concentration per clinic was found in the civic center and in the former town center, Songjeong-dong. In recently build residential areas and in the civic center, the lack of general medicine clinics is not a serious medical services issue because of the surplus of medical specialists in Korea. People are inclined to seek a consultation with a specialist in specific fields rather than consult a general practitioner. As a result of this phenomenon, there are 81 internal medicine facilities. Of these, 32.1% provide services to people who are not referred by a primary care physician but who self-diagnose then choose a medical facility specializing in what they believe to be their health problem. Areas in the city, called dongs, without any internal facilities make up 50% of the total 101 dongs. (5) There are 78 surgical facilities within the area, and there is little difference at the locational appearance from internal medicine facilities. There are also 71 pediatric health clinics for people under 15 years of age in this area, represents one clinic per 5,063 people. On the quantitative aspect, this is a positive situation. Accessibility is the most important facility choice factor, so it should be evenly located in proportion to demander distribution. However, 61% of 102 dongs have no pediatric clinics because of the uneven location. (6) There are 43 obstetrical and gynecological clinics in Kwangju, and the number of residents being served per clinic is 15,063. These services need to be given regularly so it should increase the numbers. There are 37 ENT clinics in the study area with the lower concentration in Dong-gu (32.4%) making no locational differences by dong. There are 23 dermatology clinics with the largest concentration in Dong-Gu. There are 17 ophthalmic clinics concentrated in the residential area because of the primary function of this type of specialization. (7) The use of general medicine clinics, internal medicine clinics, pediatric clinics, ENT clinics by the inhabitants indicate a trend toward primary or routine medical services. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics are used on a regular basis. In choosing a general medicine clinic, internal medicine clinic, pediatric clinic, and a ENT clinic, accessibility is the key factor while choice of a general hospital, surgery clinic, or an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, thes faith and trust in the medical practitioner is the priority consideration. (8) I considered the efficient use of medical facilities in the aspect of locational and management and suggest the following: First, primary care facilities should be evenly distributed in every area. In Kwangju, the number of medical facilities is the lowest among the six largest cities in Korea. Moreover, they are concentrated in Dong-gu and in newly developed areas. The desired number of medical facilities should be within 30 minutes of each person's home. For regional development there is a need to develop a plan to balance, for example, taxes and funds supporting personnel, equipment and facilities. Secondly, medical services should be co-ordinated to ensure consistent, appropriate, quality services. Primary medical facilities should take charge of out-patient activities, and every effort should be made to standardize and equalize equipment and facility resources and to ensure ongoing development and training in the primary services field. A few specialty medical facilities and general hospitals should establish a priority service for incurable and terminally ill patients. (9) The management scheme for the inhabitants' efficient use of medical service is as follows: The first task is to efficiently manage medical facilities and related services. Higher quality of medical services can be accomplished within the rapidly changing medical environment. A network of social, administrative and medical organizations within an area should be established to promote information gathering and sharing strategies to better assist the community. Statistics and trends on the rate or occurrence of diseases, births, deaths, medical and environment conditions of the poor or estranged people should be maintained and monitored. The second task is to increase resources in the area of disease prevention and health promotion. Currently the focus is on the treatment and care of individuals with illness or disease. A strong emphasis should also be placed on promoting prevention of illness and injury within the community through not only public health offices but also via medical service facilities. Home medical care should be established and medical testing centers should be located as an ordinary service level. Also, reduced medical costs for the physically handicapped, cardiac patients, and mentally ill or handicapped patients should be considered.

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Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of Elderlies in Chollabuk-Do Area (일부 전북지역 노인들의 일상생활동작능력과 수단적 일상생활동작능력)

  • Lee, Ki-Nam;Jeung, Jae-Yeal;Jahng, Doo-Sub;Lee, Sung-Kook
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.65-83
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    • 2000
  • To know the relationship of general characteristics with activities of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living(IADL), we carried out the study on the elderies living in Chollabuk-Do area during 6 months, from June to December in 1999. Study subjects were 281, women and men were 195(69.6%) and 85(30.4%) respectively. Mean ages of women and men were 71.9 and 70.8 respectively. 81.1% elderies has disease and 18.9% were disease free. Disease prevalences of movement joint disease, others, circulatory disease, digestive disease, dental disease, respiratory disease were 50.1%, 25.0%, 10.5%, 9.4%, 8.5%, and 6.3% respectively. The percentages to the use of medical institution in recent were 40.0% for hospital, 16.8% for oriental hospital, 14.5% for public health center, 10.9% for drug store, 10.0% for others, and 7.8% for dental service. The percentages to the improvement of symptom after the use of medical institution were 62.3% for normal, 19.4% for improvement, and 18.2% for non-improvement. The percentages to the health situation were 37.1% for bad, 35.7% for good, and 27.1% for normal. Activities of daily living were 67.1% for 6 scores, 27.9% for 5 scores, 2.1% for 4 scores and ADL of women was lower than the men's. Instrumental activities of daily living were 50.4% for 5 scores, 19.3% for 3 scores, 12.1% for 4 scores and IADL of women was lower than the men's. Frequencies of disability in ADL were 28.9% for incontinence, 6.1% for bathing, 2.9% for meal, 2.5% for walking around house, 1.8% for toilet use, 1.4% for dressing and disability frequencies of women in 6 items of ADL were higher than the men's. The percentages of high, intermediate, low ADL in activities of daily living were 67.1%, 32.5%, 0.4% respectively and decrease of high ADL, increase of intermediate ADL were found with the increasing of age. Frequencies of disability in IADL were 42.9% for payment in and out, 31.8% for payment of written claim, 21.1% for shopping, 16.4% for preparation of meal, and 11.8% for use of bus. All items of women in IADL was higher than the men's but preparation of meal. The percentages of high, intermediate, low IADL in instrumental activities of daily living were 50.4%, 42.5%, 7.1% and decrease of high IADL, increase of intermediate IADL were found with the increasing of age. Mean of ADL with the general characteristics was 5.56 and 2 variables of level of education, health situation were statistically significant. Mean of IADL with the general characteristics was 3.76 and 8 variables of age, sex, level of education, occupation, presence of spouse, duty of living cost, health situation, category of ADL were statistically significant. With the result of stepwise regression, ADL was statistically related with religion, health situation and ADL was statistically related with level of education, living together with family, duty of living cost, health situation.

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Oral Health and Quality of Life of the Orphans in Dong-gu, Daejeon (대전 동구 보육원생의 구강건강 및 구강건강관련 삶의 질)

  • Koong, Hwa-Soo;Song, Eun-Joo;Hwang, Soo-Jeong
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.13 no.3
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    • pp.223-229
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    • 2013
  • The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of oral health promotion program in a group of 9~18-year-old children and adolescents living in four orphanages in Dong-gu, Daejeon. The program was based on oral disease prevention program including oral health education, fluoride application and scaling every six months. Oral health status of total 109 orphans was examined by one dentists who were trained in 2010 Korean National Oral Health Survey. Dental caries index, community periodontal index and modified patient hygiene performance index (M-PHP) were checked using dental unit chair. Child oral health impact profile (COHIP) and subjective oral health recognition survey were carried out. Compared with data of 2010 national sample, the mean of decayed, missing and filled teeth showed no difference between the subjects and test values, but the means of decayed teeth, decayed surface, toothbrushing frequency of the subjects showed to become worse with advancing years in spite of oral health promotion program. COHIP, subjective oral health status showed lower than test values, too. In M-PHP and Calculus index, the subjects showed better by periodic oral health education and scaling. We suggest that oral health promotion program for orphans include oral disease treatment program as well as preventive program to improve oral health of orphans efficiently. And, oral health promotion program has to be connected with psychological support for improving quality of life of orphans.

Search for the Meaning of Social Support in Korean Society (Social Support의 한국적 의미)

  • 오가실;서미혜;이선옥;김정아;오경옥;정추자;김희순
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.264-277
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    • 1994
  • In Korea the concept of social support was first used as a research concept in nursing and has not had much application in the clinical field. Another problem is that research on social support has used a direct translation of the words “social support” into Korean as “sawhejuk jiji”. Three questions were posed to direct the re-search. 1) Is there a concept of social support in Korean society? 2) if so, what words or expressions are used to de-scribe it? 3) further, if so, how is social support structured and how does it function? In order to answer the research questions a three-step research methodology was used : The first step consisted of a literature review on re-search related to social support and on information on the background of, and the way of thinking re-lated to interpersonal relations among Korean people. The second step, which was done to identify whether there is a concept of social support in korean society, involved interviewing a sample of the population. The third step involved a panel discussion that included the members of the research team and three consultants, a sociologist, a philosopher and a scholor in korean literature. A review of the literature on interpersonal relationships in traditional korean society identified a four cirole structure that explains interpersonal relationships. The first circle with “me” at the center is the family but here “me” disappears into the “we” that is essential for a cooperative agricultural society. In the second circle are those close to “me” but outside the family. The third circle includes those with whom “I ” have infrequent but regular contact and with whom correct conduct is important. The last circle is all the people with whom “I” have nothing in common. They are excluded in interpersonal relationships. The literature on interpersonal relationships showed that within the traditional Korean society people lived in villages where most people were very familiar with each other. “Yun”, the social network established the connection and “Jung”, the feeling of affection increased with time as the connection was strengthened. In the traditional village psychological support was provided through “Mallaniki”, “Pumashi” and “Kae” with the latter two also providing material support. In modern Korea there are more informal and formal social networks, like social services and community activities on the formal level and cultural and leisure groups along with “kae’s on the informal level. But even with this modern variety of groups, most social support comes from informal networks that resemble the traditiorlal “Pumashi”, “Kai” md “Mallaniki”. The six member research team interviewed 65 people in order to identify whether there is a concept of social support and then analysed their responses. There were 20 different words describing the reception of the social support and these could be grouped into seven major categories : virtuous, fortunate, helped, supported, blessed, attached(receiving affection) and receiving (grace) benevolence. there were 27 words describing the act of social support which could be categorized into seven major categories : love, looking after, affection(attachment), kindness(goodness), faith, psychological help and material help. for the meaning of social support translated as “sawhe juk jiji” there were a total of 14 different answers which could be categorized into 3 major categories : help, agreement, and faith. In third step, the results of the literature review and the answers to the questions were discussed in a pannel. The results of the discussion led to the following definition of social support in Korea which is shaped like a the four sided pyramid on a base. Social support is the apex of the pyramid and four sides are made up of : “do-oom” (both emotional and material help), “jung” (connectedness, or relationship bound by affection, regard or shared common experience ), “midum” (faith or belief in), “eunhae” (kindness or benevolence). The research team identified “Yun”( the basic network of relationships) as the base of the pyramid and as such the foundation for the components of social support in Korean culture. On “Yun” rest the other four components of social support : “Jung”, “Midum”, “Do-oom”, and “Eunhae”, For social support to take place there must be “Yun”. This is an important factor in social support. In private social network “Jung” is an essential factor in social support. But not in the public social network. “Yun” is a condition for “Jung” and “Jung” is the manifestation of support.

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FTA Negotiation Strategy and Politics in the Viewpoint of the Three-Dimensional Game Theory: Korea-EU FTA and EU-Japan EPA in Comparison (삼차원게임이론의 관점에서 바라 본 유럽연합의 FTA 협상 전략 및 정치: 한-EU FTA와 EU-일본 EPA의 비교를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Hyun-Jung
    • Journal of International Area Studies (JIAS)
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.81-110
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    • 2018
  • In this paper, we examined the regional economic integration, the trade negotiation strategy and bargaining power of the European Union through the logical structure of the three - dimensional game theory. In the three - dimensional game theory, the negotiator emphasized that the negotiation strategy of the triple side existed while simultaneously operating the game standing on the boundary of each side game, constrained from each direction or occasionally using the constraint as an opportunity. The study of three-dimensional game theory is aimed at organizing the process of coordinating opinions and meditating interests at the international level, regional level and member level by the regional union as a subject of negotiation. This study would compare and analyze the recently concluded EU-Japan EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiation process with the case of the EU FTA, and summarize the logic of the three-dimensional game theory applicable to the FTA of the regional economic partnership. Furthermore, the study would illustrate the strategies of the regional economic cooperatives to respond to negotiations. The area of trade policy at the EU level has already been completed by the exclusive power of the Union on areas where it is difficult to politicize with technical features. Moreover, the fact that the policy process at the Union level has not been revealed as a political issue, and that the public opinion process is a double-step approach. In conclusion, the EU's trade policy process constitutes a complicated and sophisticated process with the allocation of authority by various central organizations. The mechanism of negotiation is paradoxically simplified because of the common policy decision process and the structural characteristics of the trade zone, and the bargaining power at the community level is enhanced. As a result, the European Commission would function as a very strong negotiator in bilateral trade negotiations at the international level.

The Effect of Physical Health Status and Social Support on Depression and Quality of Life among the Elderly in G City (거제시 노인의 신체적 건강상태와 사회적 지지가 우울과 삶의 질에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Min-Ja;Oh, Mi-Jung;Lim, Jung-Hye;Chang, Koung-Oh
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.19 no.12
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    • pp.246-257
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    • 2018
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical health status and social support on depression and quality of life among the elderly in G City. This is a descriptive research study of 497 elderly residents in 45 senior citizen centers in G city; the data were collected from March 5 to 30, 2018. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS/win 24.0 program by t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis. In physical health status, the chronic disease score was $1.35{\pm}0.91$, the functional status score was $1.80{\pm}4.45$, and the subjective health score was $3.14{\pm}1.13$. The average score for social support in the emotional network was $5.71{\pm}1.13$. In the sub-region of the social network, the score for frequency of contact with relatives was $2.92{\pm}1.31$, that for contact with friends was $3.18{\pm}0.98$, and that for social participation was $0.68{\pm}0.82$. In the multiple regression analysis of factors affecting depression and quality of life, the explanatory power of physical health status and quality of life was 45.5% and 21.1%, respectively. The explanatory power of depression based on social support and quality of life was 46.7% and 27.5%, respectively. This study indicates that physical health status and social support affect depression and quality of life. Therefore, programs should be developed to increase the physical health status and social support and thus improve the quality of life of the elderly in the community.

Changes in Agricultural Extension Services in Korea (한국농촌지도사업(韓國農村指導事業)의 변동(變動))

  • Fujita, Yasuki;Lee, Yong-Hwan;Kim, Sung-Soo
    • Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.155-166
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    • 2000
  • When the marcher visited Korea in fall 1994, he was shocked to see high rise apartment buildings around the capitol region including Seoul and Suwon, resulting from rising demand of housing because of urban migration followed by second and third industrial development. After 6 years in March 2000, the researcher witnessed more apartment buildings and vinyl house complexes, one of the evidences of continued economic progress in Korea. Korea had to receive the rescue finance from International Monetary Fund (IMF) because of financial crisis in 1997. However, the sign of recovery was seen in a year, and the growth rate of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in 1999 recorded as high as 10.7 percent. During this period, the Korean government has been working on restructuring of banks, enterprises, labour and public sectors. The major directions of government were; localization, reducing administrative manpower, limiting agricultural budgets, privatization of public enterprises, integration of agricultural organization, and easing of various regulations. Thus, the power of central government shifted to local government resulting in a power increase for city mayors and county chiefs. Agricultural extension services was one of targets of government restructuring, transferred to local governments from central government. At the same time, the number of extension offices was reduced by 64 percent, extension personnel reduced by 24 percent, and extension budgets reduced. During the process of restructuring, the basic direction of extension services was set by central Rural Development Administration Personnel management, technology development and supports were transferred to provincial Rural Development Administrations, and operational responsibilities transferred to city/county governments. Agricultural extension services at the local levels changed the name to Agricultural Technology Extension Center, established under jurisdiction of city mayor or county chief. The function of technology development works were added, at the same time reducing the number of educators for agriculture and rural life. As a result of observations of rural areas and agricultural extension services at various levels, functional responsibilities of extension were not well recognized throughout the central, provincial, and local levels. Central agricultural extension services should be more concerned about effective rural development by monitoring provincial and local level extension activities more throughly. At county level extension services, it may be desirable to add a research function to reflect local agricultural technological needs. Sometimes, adding administrative tasks for extension educators may be helpful far farmers. However, tasks such as inspection and investigation should be avoided, since it may hinder the effectiveness of extension educational activities. It appeared that major contents of the agricultural extension service in Korea were focused on saving agricultural materials, developing new agricultural technology, enhancing agricultural export, increasing production and establishing market oriented farming. However these kinds of efforts may lead to non-sustainable agriculture. It would be better to put more emphasis on sustainable agriculture in the future. Agricultural extension methods in Korea may be better classified into two approaches or functions; consultation function for advanced farmers and technology transfer or educational function for small farmers. Advanced farmers were more interested in technology and management information, while small farmers were more concerned about information for farm management directions and timely diffusion of agricultural technology information. Agricultural extension service should put more emphasis on small farmer groups and active participation of farmers in these groups. Providing information and moderate advice in selecting alternatives should be the major activities for consultation for advanced farmers, while problem solving processes may be the major educational function for small farmers. Systems such as internet and e-mail should be utilized for functions of information exchange. These activities may not be an easy task for decreased numbers of extension educators along with increased administrative tasks. It may be difficult to practice a one-to-one approach However group guidance may improve the task to a certain degree.

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